NEW YORK, N.Y. — The Con Edison Co. of New York plans to replace thousands of miles of lead underground cables with newer versions made with less hazardous materials.

The project will remove about 2,400 tons of underground lead sheathing through 2009 as part its membership in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's National Partnership for Environmental Priorities Program. The voluntary program aims to reduce or eliminate chemicals that can linger for decades when released into the environment. The private-public program has targeted 31 priority chemicals, such as lead and PCBs.

Con Edison plans to replace 2,400 sections of underground lead-clad electric feeder cables this year with solid dielectric cables made of copper conductors encased in synthetic rubber. The new cables are easier to splice and better for electricity distribution.

In 2009, the company will continue replacing an additional 2,400 sections, each of which is estimated to have about 1,000 pounds of encased lead sheathing that will be recycled nearby.

Eventually the company wants to replace all lead-clad cables -- about 20 percent of the company's underground network -- by 2020, which could account for as much as 15,000 tons of reclaimed lead sheathing.