News Coverage
Proposal Aims to Discover Sources of Toxic Perchlorate That Taints Water
Bill would require firms to report storage of 500 pounds or more of the toxic substance.
Published May 7, 2003
Concerned about the prevalence of perchlorate in California's water supplies, two state lawmakers are sponsoring legislation that would require companies to reveal whether they have possessed large quantities of the toxic rocket fuel ingredient at any time over the past half-century.
Defense contractors are already lining up in opposition, arguing that such a regulatory standard would be impossible for them to meet.
The legislation by state Sens. Nell Soto (D-Pomona) and Gloria Romero (D-Los Angeles) comes as California officials increasingly discover perchlorate contamination throughout the state. Eighty-one water systems have already been found to be tainted in 10 counties, including Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, Riverside and San Bernardino.