[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 36 (Tuesday, March 28, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H1422-H1426]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               SAN GABRIEL BASIN WATER QUALITY INITIATIVE

  Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 910) to authorize the Secretary of the Army, acting through 
the Chief of Engineers and in coordination with other Federal agency 
heads, to participate in the funding and implementation of a balanced, 
long-term solution to the problems of groundwater contamination, water 
supply, and reliability affecting the San Gabriel groundwater basin in 
California, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                H.R. 910

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``San Gabriel Basin Water 
     Quality Initiative''.

     SEC. 2. SAN GABRIEL BASIN RESTORATION.

       (a) San Gabriel Basin Restoration.--
       (1) Establishment of fund.--There shall be established 
     within the Treasury of the United States an interest bearing 
     account to be known as the San Gabriel Basin Restoration Fund 
     (in this section referred to as the ``Restoration Fund'').
       (2) Administration of fund.--The Restoration Fund shall be 
     administered by the Secretary of the Army, acting through the 
     Chief of Engineers (in this Act referred to as the 
     ``Secretary''). The Secretary shall administer the Fund in 
     cooperation with the San Gabriel Basin Water Quality 
     Authority, or its successor agency.
       (3) Purposes of fund.--
       (A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the amounts 
     in the Restoration Fund, including interest accrued, shall be 
     utilized by the Secretary--
       (i) to design and construct water quality projects to be 
     administered by the San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority 
     and the Central Basin Water Quality Project to be 
     administered by the Central Basin Municipal Water District; 
     and
       (ii) to operate and maintain any project constructed under 
     this section for such period as the Secretary determines, but 
     not to exceed 10 years, following the initial date of 
     operation of the project.
       (B) Cost-sharing limitation.--The Secretary may not 
     obligate any funds appropriated to the Restoration Fund in a 
     fiscal year until the Secretary has deposited in the Fund 
     an amount provided by non-Federal interests sufficient to 
     ensure that at least 35 percent of any funds obligated by 
     the Secretary are from funds provided to the Secretary by 
     the non-Federal interests. The San Gabriel Basin Water 
     Quality Authority shall be responsible for providing the 
     non-Federal amount required by the preceding sentence. The 
     State of California, local government agencies, and 
     private entities may provide all or any portion of such 
     amount.
       (b) Compliance With Applicable Law.--In carrying out the 
     activities described in this section, the Secretary shall 
     comply with any applicable Federal and State laws.
       (c) Relationship to Other Activities.--Nothing in this 
     section shall be construed to affect other Federal or State 
     authorities that are being used or may be used to facilitate 
     the cleanup and protection of the San Gabriel and Central 
     groundwater basins. In carrying out the activities described 
     in this section, the Secretary shall integrate such 
     activities with ongoing Federal and State projects and 
     activities. None of the funds made available for such 
     activities pursuant to this section shall be counted against 
     any Federal authorization ceiling established for any 
     previously authorized Federal projects or activities.
       (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--
       (1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated to 
     the Restoration Fund established under subsection (a) 
     $85,000,000. Such funds shall remain available until 
     expended.
       (2) Set-aside.--Of the amounts appropriated under paragraph 
     (1), no more than $10,000,000 shall be available to carry out 
     the Central Basin Water Quality Project.

     SEC. 3. PERCHLORATE.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary, in cooperation with 
     Federal, State, and local government agencies, is authorized 
     to participate in studies and other investigative activities 
     and in the planning and design of projects determined by the 
     Secretary to offer a long-term solution to the problem of 
     groundwater contamination caused by perchlorates.
       (b) Investigations and Projects.--
       (1) Bosque and leon rivers.--The Secretary, in coordination 
     with other Federal agencies and the Brazos River Authority, 
     shall participate under subsection (a) in investigations and 
     projects in the Bosque and Leon River watersheds in Texas to 
     assess the impact of the perchlorate associated with the 
     former Naval ``Weapons Industrial Reserve Plant'' at 
     McGregor, Texas.
       (2) Caddo lake.--The Secretary, in coordination with other 
     Federal agencies and the Northeast Texas Municipal Water 
     District, shall participate under subsection (a) in 
     investigations and projects relating to perchlorate 
     contamination in Caddo Lake, Texas.
       (3) Eastern santa clara basin.--The Secretary, in 
     coordination with other Federal, State, and local government 
     agencies, shall participate under subsection (a) in 
     investigations and projects related to sites that are sources 
     of perchlorates and that are located in the city of Santa 
     Clarita, California.
       (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--For the purposes of 
     carrying out the activities authorized in this section, there 
     is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary 
     $25,000,000, of which not to exceed $8,000,000 shall be 
     available to carry out subsection (b)(1), not to exceed 
     $3,000,000 shall be available to carry out subsection (b)(2), 
     and not to exceed $7,000,000 shall be available to carry out 
     subsection (b)(3).

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. 
Borski) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster).
  Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 5 minutes to the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier), the distinguished chairman of 
the Committee on Rules, who is the principal author of this legislation 
and the driving force behind it.
  Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by saying first, I 
serve on the Committee on Rules, and it is a great thrill to stand here 
suspending the rules for consideration of this very important 
legislation.
  I want to congratulate the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster), 
the distinguished chairman of the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure, my very good friend, whom I supported in his quest for 
Whip 2 decades ago; and also the gentleman from New York (Mr. 
Boehlert), the very distinguished chairman of the Subcommittee on Water 
Resources and Environment; along with the gentleman from Pennsylvania 
(Mr. Borski), the ranking minority member of the subcommittee.
  Also, I would like to point to several of my colleagues from the San 
Gabriel Valley, the gentleman from California (Mr. Martinez), who is 
here and who, in fact, reminded me of an event out in California that 
they came to him and talked to him about introducing this legislation, 
and I am very pleased that he has played a key role in helping to make 
this possible; our colleague, the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. 
Napolitano), who joined in cosponsoring; and also a very important 
driving force behind this legislation has been my colleague, the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Rogan), with whom I share representation 
of the City of Pasadena, which is in the San Gabriel Valley.
  We are here for consideration of some legislation that is very, very 
important not just for Southern California; but, in fact, for the rest 
of the Nation.

[[Page H1423]]

  I see the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sessions), my colleague from the 
Committee on Rules, here on the floor. He is very concerned about the 
discovery of perchlorates in groundwater, and it poses a very serious 
threat to many parts of the country. So this legislation is not simply 
geared towards dealing with the problem that has developed in Southern 
California but for the entire Nation.
  During the 1950s and 1960s, when we were in the midst of our buildup 
which allowed us to win the Cold War, there were many companies which 
legally, and I underscore the word ``legally,'' dumped spent rocket 
fuel; and, in so doing, it has created problems which have just 
recently come to the forefront.
  I will say that we found that the threat of contaminated water in 
Southern California could affect literally millions of people. 
Literally millions of people could be affected by this.
  And so, a very strong consensus plan was put together among those in 
Southern California who deal with the water issue. I am pleased that, 
in looking at that consensus plan, that we were able to come up with 
legislation which is designed to provide $75 million for the cleanup 
and then a very important $25 million to deal with research into ways 
in which we can ensure that this problem will not expand in other parts 
of the country.
  And so I will say that I know that this very important environmental 
legislation will enjoy strong bipartisan support, as has been evidenced 
by those who serve on the committee of jurisdiction and other members 
from around the country who I know are strongly committed to this.
  I want to say that I believe we should move this as expeditiously as 
possible. This is, in fact, a public-private partnership. I believe 
that those who are responsible for dumping this spent rocket fuel 
should be responsible. But unfortunately, many of those businesses 
which are responsible are no longer in operation. And so that is why we 
have had to step up to the plate and take on part of this 
responsibility.
  Now, we could have embarked on a big load of litigation. But would 
those lawsuits do anything to clean up the groundwater contamination, 
the threat that those perchlorates have? No.
  And so that is why the responsible thing for us to do is to say to 
those businesses which are still in existence, like Arrowjet and other 
companies, that they need to shoulder part of this responsibility. But 
at the same time, when we have businesses that are no longer there, to 
make sure that we have clean drinking water in Southern California and 
in the rest of the Nation, it is important for us to again step up to 
the plate and take on the responsibility of cleaning it up and making 
sure that we do not have a threat that is posed.
  And so I am pleased with the very, very strong support that we have 
enjoyed on this legislation. I hope very much that we will be able to 
move it through both bodies. And while there was early indication that 
the Army Corps of Engineers and the White House was less than 
supportive on this, I am convinced that President Clinton will want to 
join this strong bipartisan coalition and lend his support for this 
very important measure.
  I again thank my very good friend, the gentleman from Pennsylvania 
(Mr. Shuster), the gentleman from New York (Mr. Boehlert), the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Borski), and the leadership of their 
committee and the subcommittee for the expeditious way in which they 
have moved this very responsible legislation.
  Mr. BORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. BORSKI asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. BORKSI. Mr. Speaker, the San Gabriel Basin is facing a serious 
water quality and public health problem. The groundwater aquifer 
underlying this basin has been contaminated with a variety of hazardous 
substances, threatening the primary water supply of over 1.5 million 
people in Southern California.
  There is also evidence that this contamination may be spreading to 
the surrounding aquifers that supply drinking water for a majority of 
the residents of Los Angeles County.
  I want to commend the gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier), our 
distinguished chairman of the Committee on Rules; the gentlewoman from 
California (Mrs. Napolitano); the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Martinez); and the gentleman from California (Mr. Horn), a valuable 
member of our committee; and the entire area delegation for bringing 
this matter to the attention of the committee and for their efforts to 
address the cleanup of contaminated groundwater in the San Gabriel 
Basin.
  The bill we are considering today would authorize the creation of a 
restoration fund to approve water quality within the basin. Monies from 
this fund could be used by the Secretary of the Army in conjunction 
with local water quality authorities to construct, operate, and 
maintain projects within the San Gabriel Basin.

                              {time}  1430

  This legislation would authorize funding for the design, planning, 
and construction of water quality projects in the Central Basin region 
of California. It is envisioned that these projects would be helpful in 
halting the spread of perchlorate contamination into the neighboring 
aquifers.
  Mr. Speaker, portions of the San Gabriel Basin have been designated 
as a Superfund site. That program assigns liability for cleanup costs 
to responsible parties. Nothing in this bill affects the application of 
Superfund's liability provisions to the recovery of the Secretary's 
costs under this bill. As the committee report clearly states, nothing 
limits the authority of the United States to pursue remedial action and 
to recover its costs from responsible parties, including the costs of 
work performed under this bill. I fully expect the Secretary of the 
Army to exercise his fiduciary responsibilities and recover 
expenditures made under this bill from responsible parties where such 
costs are recoverable under Federal or State law.
  Finally, this bill would include within the existing studies, 
investigations and projects on perchlorate contamination an 
authorization that certain amounts be used to address contamination at 
designated sites in Texas and California. These projects are authorized 
to develop new and innovative solutions to the problem of groundwater 
contamination caused by perchlorates. I want to commend the gentleman 
from Texas (Mr. Edwards) and our committee colleagues the gentleman 
from Texas (Mr. Lampson) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sandlin) for 
their work on behalf of this provision.
  I urge an ``aye'' vote on this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Boehlert), the distinguished chairman of 
our Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
  Mr. BOEHLERT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished gentleman for 
yielding me this time.
  I rise in strong support of H.R. 910, a bill to clean up groundwater 
contamination and protect water supply in the San Gabriel and Central 
Basins in California.
  Let me start out by first acknowledging the super efforts of the 
distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier), chairman of the 
Committee on Rules, who brought this matter to our attention. He has 
been a leader in this effort. I also wish to acknowledge the area's 
bipartisan delegation, including the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Horn) and the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Millender-McDonald), 
both of whom serve on the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure. There are a whole lot of people responsible for the 
success we are going to enjoy today, none more important than the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster) the chairman of the full 
committee and the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar) the ranking 
Democrat as well as my partner, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. 
Borski).
  Contamination of the groundwater in the San Gabriel Basin was first 
detected back in 1979. EPA placed the valley on the Superfund's 
national priorities list in 1984. Here we are 16 years later with very 
little progress.
  At its hearing on this legislation last fall, the Subcommittee on 
Water Resources and Environment learned that

[[Page H1424]]

contamination from the San Gabriel Basin has already spread into the 
adjacent Central Basin aquifer. This groundwater contamination now 
threatens the drinking water for half of Los Angeles County. That is 
totally unacceptable.
  Under H.R. 910, the Federal Government would assist the San Gabriel 
Water Quality Authority in conducting groundwater cleanup projects, and 
we provide $75 million for that purpose. We also authorize $25 million 
for investigation into solutions to groundwater contamination caused by 
perchlorate, a component of rocket fuel. As has been said so eloquently 
by previous speakers, this is a must-do bill; and we should put it on a 
fast track.
  Mr. BORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from California (Mr. Martinez), a Member representing the San 
Gabriel area and one who worked very hard on this bill.
  Mr. MARTINEZ. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleagues on both 
sides of the aisle today in support of H.R. 910, the San Gabriel Basin 
Water Quality Initiative introduced by my good friend and San Gabriel 
Valley neighbor, the chairman of the Committee on Rules the gentleman 
from California (Mr. Dreier).
  It is refreshing to sponsor and cosponsor legislation which not only 
crosses party lines but is also strongly supported by 
environmentalists, local government, and business. It is a bill that 
came together because of the people who were concerned in that area in 
an effort to try to avoid costly lawsuits and long litigation.
  Since contaminants were discovered in the San Gabriel Valley water 
supply some 20 years ago, there has been a concentrated effort to find 
a solution that equitably distributes the responsibility for the 
pollution while removing the contaminants from our water supply as 
quickly as possible.
  The rocket fuel contamination is a by-product of Federal contract 
work. For years the Federal Government contracted with local firms to 
produce greatly needed aircraft and rocket parts. Unknown to any at the 
time, this production led to the leakage of rocket fuel and other 
substances into the aquifer, polluting the area's groundwater supplies. 
There is no question that the groundwater in the San Gabriel Valley is 
contaminated. Over one-quarter of the 366 water supply wells in the San 
Gabriel Valley have been contaminated, affecting approximately 1.4 
million residents of the greater part of Los Angeles County. Much of 
the water pollution is a product of Federal contract work. These 
pollutants are rapidly making their way underground into the Central 
Basin of Los Angeles County.
  I strongly support H.R. 910, the San Gabriel Basin Water Quality 
Initiative. H.R. 910 addresses the importance of researching rocket 
fuel contamination and aims to stop the spread of contamination in an 
economical and time sensitive manner. It is time for the Federal 
Government to catch up with the others in the San Gabriel Basin in 
assuming responsibility for its actions. Eleven potentially responsible 
parties have voluntarily agreed to contribute over $200 million in 
cleanup expenses. While this funding will cover a large portion of the 
cleanup, Federal funds are necessary to ensure cooperation by the 
potentially responsible parties and act as an immediate solution to an 
ever growing problem.
  Although there are still many hurdles to overcome in saving our water 
supply, the time for Federal action is now. The primary responsible 
parties in the San Gabriel Basin have demonstrated their commitment to 
saving the region's groundwater with their checkbooks. They are doing 
it with their checkbooks. It is time for the Federal Government to use 
this broadly supported bill as an opportunity to do the same.
  Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Horn), a member of our 
committee.
  Mr. HORN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. 
Shuster) for this. The gentleman from Pennsylvania chairs the most 
bipartisan committee in this House and Members can tell how both sides, 
the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster), the gentleman from 
Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar), the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Borski), 
and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Boehlert) have come together and 
moved this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, the legislation we consider today is absolutely 
essential. H.R. 910, the San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Initiative, 
will help restore vital groundwater resources in California where up to 
3 million have lost or are in danger of losing access to critical 
groundwater reserves in our area. H.R. 910 is the key to fixing this 
problem.
  The bill is a product of local cooperation that should be also an 
example to other areas of the country. Faced with a difficult and 
expensive problem, the local stakeholders have come together to restore 
and maintain groundwater for millions of people. H.R. 910 authorizes 
the closure of a small but critical gap in funding needed to accomplish 
this goal.
  Here in Congress, this bill is also a product of cooperation as I 
noted earlier. The gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier), the 
distinguished chairman of the Committee on Rules, has forged a 
bipartisan coalition to support this bill. If a real cleanup is going 
to occur in California or elsewhere, it requires the level of 
cooperation demonstrated in H.R. 910.
  Let us pass this model pilot program. If this program is successful, 
many parts of our Nation will soon follow. Vote for H.R. 910.
  Mr. BORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
California (Mrs. Napolitano), a prime sponsor of the bill.
  Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I am so happy that I am hearing the 
support, the bipartisan support for this measure, and I am also here to 
join as an original cosponsor of this measure. I would like to also 
thank my good friend and respected colleague the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Dreier) for offering this legislation and helping it 
move quickly through the House.
  I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Borski) and others from 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for understanding 
the importance of this particular area of contamination in California 
that has affected a lot of us that live and work in those areas.
  The San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Initiative is of critical 
importance to the people of my district. Those water aquifers, the 
underground streams running through the San Gabriel Valley which supply 
drinking water to 1.4 million people, have been known to be 
contaminated with volatile organic compounds for over two decades.
  I have been working on this issue and trying to bring it to some kind 
of closure since I served on the local city council and managed to get 
a water coalition and been following its nonprogress. Then in the past 
3 years, perchlorate and other dangerous chemicals related to rocket 
fuels have also been found in that water. The contamination is seeping 
below the spreading grounds at Whittier Narrows and into my district. 
Volatile organic compounds have seeped from the San Gabriel Basin into 
the Central Basin and it comes down into my area, a large underground 
water system that provides water for an additional 1.5 million people 
in Montebello, Pico Rivera, Whittier, Santa Fe Springs, Norwalk, Long 
Beach, and other communities.
  H.R. 910, the San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Initiative, provides 
the way and the means by which Federal, State and local government 
agencies and private business can collectively work towards a timely 
cleanup of the important San Gabriel and Central water basins, and will 
also serve as my colleagues have heard as an example of how aquifer 
contaminants can be addressed and effectively implemented to clean up.
  Since it was a Federal Government defense contract that led to the 
introduction of the perchlorate and other rocket fuel related chemicals 
into our groundwater, I believe that the Federal Government has its 
share of responsibility and should take a role in helping clean up the 
contaminated area that threatens our communities.
  This legislation will help more than 3 million people in our county 
that trust the water that flows from their tap.
  Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sessions).

[[Page H1425]]

  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to work with 
the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster) today.
  I rise in support of H.R. 910, the San Gabriel Basin Water Quality 
Initiative. I commend not only the gentleman from New York (Mr. 
Boehlert) but also the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster) for 
bringing this legislation to the floor in such a quick and expedited 
manner.
  H.R. 910 is sponsored by my colleague the gentleman from California 
(Mr. Dreier). I believe it provides a national model for protection of 
our Nation's water supply from perchlorate. Perchlorate is an inorganic 
chemical used to manufacture solid rocket fuel and other explosives. I 
want to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier) for his 
assistance in addressing this important conservation issue in a part of 
my district which also impacts the entire Brazos River Corridor in 
Central Texas by adding funding to the study of perchlorate 
contamination originating from the former Naval Weapons Industrial 
Reserve Plant in McGregor, Texas.
  With this funding, the Brazos River Authority and the Corps of 
Engineers will be able to carefully assess the extent of perchlorate 
contamination in this very critical watershed. By doing so, they will 
not only protect the drinking water of Central Texas but will also 
protect the Brazos Basin from Waco to the Gulf of Mexico.
  I am grateful to my colleagues in the Brazos Basin including the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay), the majority whip; the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Combest); the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Thornberry); and the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Brady), all of whom have united in requesting 
this provision. Texans are proud to join with our colleagues from not 
only California but also other areas of the country in creating a 
national model for addressing this threat of perchlorate.
  Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Rogan).
  Mr. ROGAN. Mr. Speaker, first I thank the distinguished chairman of 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for yielding me this 
time.
  I rise today in strong support of H.R. 910, the San Gabriel Basin 
Water Quality Initiative. In the Southern California area, like much of 
the West, water is possibly the most precious commodity for local 
cities. However, in parts of my district and in water tables throughout 
the Los Angeles Basin, contamination as a result of industrial runoff 
has become a serious threat to public safety.
  In 1984, this water basin was designated a Superfund site. The 
problem continues.

                              {time}  1445

  Today, cleanup is vital, and it is imperative that government act at 
all levels.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 910 is supported by a bipartisan coalition 
interested in protecting the environmental resources in and around the 
Los Angeles area. This legislation will establish the San Gabriel Basin 
Restoration Fund that will be comprised of a unique partnership of 
State, local and Federal funding sources.
  Our measure will authorize $75 million over 5 years and set aside $25 
million for research and development of treatment programs to ensure 
that the mistakes of the past are not the mistakes of the future. This 
bill will improve the quality of the environment in the San Gabriel 
Basin region and will put the resources of the Federal Government 
behind local environmental experts.
  Even more significant is the opportunity to make the San Gabriel 
Valley Water Quality Initiative a test case for similar programs around 
the country. The Los Angeles area faces unique challenges, but by 
uniting these officials, we are confident that these challenges can be 
met and the environment protected. What is more, the San Gabriel Water 
Quality Initiative can serve as a model for similar areas when they 
confront cleanup of underground contamination.
  Finally, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the distinguished gentleman 
from California (Mr. Dreier), the chairman of the Committee on Rules, 
for his incredible leadership on this bill and in bringing it before 
the committee.
  Mr. BORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, this is a powerful piece of environmental 
legislation, and I strongly urge its support.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend our esteemed colleague from California, 
Congressman David Dreier, for his leadership on this important 
environmental legislation.
  Ground water contamination was discovered in the San Gabriel Basin in 
1979. EPA placed this area on the Superfund national priorities list in 
1984. Although this basin provides drinking water to 1.4 million 
people, EPA is only now getting around to addressing the contamination 
at this site.
  To make matters worse, in 1997, perchlorate was discovered in the 
groundwater. Percholorate is a component of rocket fuel and is very 
difficult to treat.
  And just this past year, the local community received even more 
devastating news: The contamination from the San Gabriel Basin has 
spread into the Central Basin aquifer that provides drinking water for 
half of Los Angeles County.
  On a bipartisan basis, the representatives of the San Gabriel Valley 
and the Central Basin, led by Representative Dreier, worked with the 
local community to develop a solution to this problem. I commend their 
efforts and congratulate them on this legislation.
  I also would like to thank the committee's ranking Democratic member, 
Congressman Jim Oberstar, as well as Subcommittee Chairman Boehlert and 
Congressman Bob Borski for their help in moving this important 
legislation forward.
  Under the solution advanced by the local community and their 
congressional delegation, the Army Corps of Engineers will help the 
local community work with the State and the business community to build 
water treatment projects that will stop the spread of contamination and 
protect their water supplies.
  These treatment plants will accelerate the cleanup of the San Gabriel 
Basin in advance of EPA's cleanup schedule. This effort also should 
reduce the overall cost of the cleanup because it is a lot cheaper to 
keep groundwater from getting contaminated than it is to clean it up.
  This assistance should lead to a true public-private partnership for 
addressing an historic contamination problem of enormous magnitude.
  As we looked at this matter, we also discovered that perchlorate 
contamination is a national problem, particularly at facilities that 
have manufactured or tested solid rocket fuels for the Department of 
Defense or NASA.
  To address this, H.R. 910 authorizes $25 million for research into 
solutions to groundwater contamination caused by perchlorate.
  Again, I congratulate the sponsor of this legislation and urge all 
Members to support H.R. 910.
  Mr. GARY MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 
910, the ``San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Initiative.'' The San 
Gabriel Basin supplies drinking water for almost one and a half million 
people in Southern California. It is a valuable natural asset whose 
management is vital for all who depend on it.
  H.R. 910 encourages the input of local industry and businesses, 
community and environmental leaders and government officials from the 
local, state and federal levels. Instead of costly litigation to punish 
or shield from liability, H.R. 910 provides incentives for these groups 
to participate in clean up and management efforts for ground water and 
water sources affecting the San Gabriel Water Basin.
  One of the greatest obstacles to ground water clean up is the 
economic cost incurred by private industry and the controlling 
government authorities. This bill addresses this problem by authorizing 
funding for technology research that will allow for more cost-effective 
clean up. Beyond this effort, it also provides for technology 
development that will help maintain cleaner groundwater systems.
  As our population continues to grow, it is important that we protect 
our groundwater resources against pollution. H.R. 910 provides $25 
million dollars in research funding to study ways to prevent future 
groundwater contamination in areas, like the San Gabriel Basin, which 
supply drinking water. Through this research private industry and 
government agencies will have better resources to devise water 
management plans for future development.
  I believe that this bill provides us with a model for future clean up 
efforts around the country. It maintains the groups already involved in 
the clean up while empowering those who have vested interests in this 
clean up effort. I would like to thank the Chairman of the Rules 
Committee for his efforts in constructing this legislation, and urge 
Members of this House to support H.R. 910.
  Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Petri). The question is on the motion

[[Page H1426]]

offered by the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 910, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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