New York governor directs agencies to investigate lead cables
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[July 21, 2023]
By David Shepardson and Mrinalika Roy
(Reuters) -New York Governor Kathy Hochul on Thursday directed state
departments to investigate health risks associated with old lead-clad
cables left by telecommunication companies.
The Wall Street Journal this month reported that telecom companies,
including AT&T and Verizon Communications, had left toxic lead cables on
poles, underwater and buried under ground across the U.S. including in
New York.
The investigation is to better understand the inventory and ownership of
such cables in New York, Hochul said.
As part of the effort, 246 telecommunication companies operating in the
state were asked to provide a full inventory of lead-containing aerial
and buried cable owned by them, both in operation and those unused.
"Lead-covered cables pose a serious threat to communities across New
York ... We will hold the telecommunication companies responsible and
take swift action to remediate any problems," Hochul said.
Verizon said it is "taking these concerns regarding lead-sheathed cables
very seriously. Lead-sheathed infrastructure has not been deployed in
decades by Verizon or its predecessor companies."
AT&T declined to comment but says it believes the cables pose no public
health risk.
"If there’s any new scientific data, we’ll work cooperatively with all
stakeholders to address new safety concerns," AT&T CEO John Stankey said
in an email to employees.
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The Communications Workers of America said on Thursday that AT&T agreed
to allow employees who may have been exposed to lead during work to
receive paid time off to be tested for lead levels.
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![](../images/072123PIX/news_a62.jpg)
New York Governor Kathy Hochul speaks
during a press conference to announce vehicle congestion pricing
plan in New York City, U.S., June 27, 2023. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File
Photo
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2023/Jul/21/images/ads/current/businessdirectory_dailycover_2023.png)
"AT&T’s commitment to addressing our members’ exposure to lead must
go beyond point-in-time testing of blood lead levels and incorporate
proper follow up," the union said.
AT&T said in a court filing it planned voluntary testing for
employees who work with or have worked with lead-clad cables,
expanding a prior practice of providing testing for technicians
involved in lead-clad cable removal.
Federal Communications Commission chair Jessica Rosenworcel on
Thursday said she had reached out to the Environmental Protection
Agency and White House Council of Environmental Quality to discuss
lead-cable concerns.
"We want to discuss with them what their plans are and want to
figure out how we can assist them going ahead," said Rosenworcel,
who heads the telecom regulator.
U.S. Representative Pat Ryan of New York on Thursday wrote to the
CEOs of Verizon, AT&T and industry group U.S. Telecom, demanding
that they remove lead cables.
"They need to clean up their mess and safely remove these cables
immediately," Ryan said.
(Reporting by Mrinalika Roy in Bengaluru; Editing by Vinay Dwivedi
and Marguerita Choy)
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