Yesterday the Massachusetts Department of Environmental
Protection issued the first standard in the country for rocket fuel
pollution in drinking water. While the standard, proposed at 2 parts
per billion, will not fully protect infants and developing fetuses from
contamination, it is three times stronger than an equivalent standard
currently being contemplated by the California Department of Health
Services.
Leaked into hundreds of California drinking water
sources through careless industry storage and disposal practices,
perchlorate in small concentrations may be linked to attention deficit
disorder, learning disabilities and reduced IQ in children.
The
issuance of a Massachusetts drinking water standard for perchlorate
places a glaring spotlight on the failure of the Schwarzenegger
Administration to adequately hold polluters responsible for leaking
rocket fuel into California's drinking water supplies. Among the
state's recent missteps:
1. The currently contemplated
California standard of six parts per billion fails to consider the full
impact of perchlorate contamination on the health of nursing infants,
developing fetuses and other vulnerable populations.
2. The
currently contemplated California standard eliminates a key legal tool
to require polluters to clean up contamination affecting hundreds of
contaminated wells in several communities and the Colorado River, the
key drinking water supply for Southern California.
3. Despite
the discovery of rocket fuel pollution in the City of Rialto's drinking
water supply nearly eight years ago, state officials have not required
two major responsible polluters - Goodrich and Black & Decker - to
provide an immediate safe, alternative water supply to impacted
residents, nor pay significant penalties for their delay.
Rocket
fuel leaked by the aerospace industry and other polluters has no place
in California's precious drinking water supply. Continued contemplation
of a weak standard that will not fully protect Californians from the
contamination and delayed enforcement action against responsible
polluters are in danger of leaving communities exposed to this
dangerous contaminant.
To protect Californians from this
contaminant, the Schwarzenegger Administration should immediately
establish a drinking water standard for perchlorate at 1 part per
billion or less, require cleanup of contamination to the greatest
extent that is technologically feasible, and levy strong enforcement
action against polluters who continue to delay cleanup of their
contamination.
