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Federal, State Funding for Duluth Lead Line Replacement Uncertain
Without renewed state funds, Duluth risks halting lead line replacements that have removed 25% of lines; federal funding covers only through 2027, city expects 1,000-1,200 replacements this year.
- On Tuesday, the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities urged lawmakers to approve more funding, warning the program will run out of money at the end of 2026.
- The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, federal law, provides $3 billion annually for lead line replacement covering fiscal years 2022–2026, and Minnesota passed a 2023 state matching bill to cover remaining costs.
- City officials note federal grants reimburse 100% of the private portion but only 50% of the public portion of service lines, and Duluth has removed a quarter of its estimated 10,700 lines, planning to replace about 620 in 2026 plus 1,000–1,200 this year.
- Without legislative action, the 2027 construction season faces risk as federal funding lasts through 2027 but state funding will run out this year, leaving "no funding," Maruska said.
- Looking to the long term, the 2037 lead line replacement deadline exists but faces funding uncertainty after 2026, risking public-health impacts on children.
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Federal, state funding for lead line replacement uncertain
DULUTH — In five construction seasons, the city of Duluth has eliminated a quarter of its estimated 10,700 lead service lines across all types of buildings. But state and federal funding uncertainty could stymie that momentum. Federal funding is only guaranteed through 2027, and without action by the Minnesota Legislature, state funding will run out this year. “In the absence of these funding sources, there’s really no funding,” said Jon Maruska…
·Cherokee County, United States
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Total News Sources14
Leaning Left0Leaning Right8Center4Last UpdatedBias Distribution67% Right
Bias Distribution
- 67% of the sources lean Right
67% Right
C 33%
R 67%
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