2006 CPEO Military List Archive

From: Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>
Date: 4 Aug 2006 16:36:50 -0000
Reply: cpeo-military
Subject: [CPEO-MEF] Spike in Rialto (CA) perchlorate
 
For Immediate Release:
August 2, 2006


New Pulse of Rocket Fuel Pollution Threatens Local Drinking Water Wells


New pollution tests show a new pulse of toxic perchlorate pollution threatens to spread to Rialto drinking water wells without action to halt the spread of contamination.

"Polluters responsible for the contamination Rialto's drinking water supplies should immediately step up to the plate and clean up the mess they've made," stated Sujatha Jahagirdar, Clean Water Advocate for Environment California Research & Policy Center and author of a white paper that analyzed recent pollution testing results.

Perchlorate pollution leaked by the defense industry and other users pollutes drinking water supplies for millions across the country. Rialto is at the epicenter of this contamination crisis, with some of the highest levels of contamination in the country.

According to state and federal officials, a rocket fuel manufacturing and processing facility operated by Goodrich Corporation in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s is a major source of this contamination. Depositions given by former employees, recount the disposal of thousands of pounds of waste rocket fuel from the manufacturing process in a large unlined pit behind the Goodrich facility.

Levels of perchlorate pollution in well PW-2, located close to the historic 'burn pit' used by Goodrich spiked sharply in 2006 – from an April 2005 concentration of 53 ppb (parts per billion) to an April 2006 concentration of 10,000 ppb.

Despite the discovery of contamination in Rialto nearly ten years ago, Goodrich Corporation has not instituted a clean up plan. While this delay continues, the contamination continues to spread. At low concentrations in drinking water perchlorate can lead to health effects such as Attention Deficit Disorder, learning disabilities and decreased IQ in children.

Prompted by the recent discovery of spiking contamination levels and continued discharger recalcitrance, the City of Rialto last night passed a strongly-worded resolution that calls for immediate action by Goodrich Corporation and other parties responsible for contaminating the city's aquifer to clean up their contamination.

"The spread of contamination and last night's call from the Rialto City Council send a clear message to Goodrich Corporation and other perchlorate polluters across the country," stated Davin Diaz, Campaign Director of the Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice. "Goodrich Corporation must step forward to restore this aquifer to health."


###


For the original press release, go to
http://www.environmentcalifornia.org/newsroom/clean-water-news/clean-water-news/new-pulse-of-rocket-fuel-pollution-threatens-local-drinking-water-wells

--


Lenny Siegel Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight c/o PSC, 278-A Hope St., Mountain View, CA 94041 Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545 Fax: 650/961-8918 <lsiegel@cpeo.org> http://www.cpeo.org


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