[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 56 (Tuesday, April 8, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4968-S4969]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. BOXER:
  S. 820. A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to 
establish a perchlorate pollution prevention fund and to establish 
safety standards applicable to owners and operators of perchlorate 
storage facilities; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
  Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, today I am introducing legislation 
guaranteeing a community's right-to-know about pollution discharges, 
seepage and potential drinking water contamination by the toxic 
chemical perchlorate.
  Perchlorate is the main ingredient in rocket fuel, which accounts for 
90 percent of its use. Perchlorate is also used in lesser amounts for 
ammunition, fireworks, and other products. It dissolves readily in many 
liquids, including water, and moves easily and quickly.
  The sources of drinking water for up to 10 million Californians and 
millions of other Americans are contaminated with perchlorate. Alarming 
levels of perchlorate have been discovered in Lake Mead and the 
Colorado River, the drinking water source for millions of Southern 
Californians. Communities in the Inland Empire, San Gabriel Valley, 
Santa Clara Valley, and the Sacramento area are also grappling with 
perchlorate contamination. In addition, more than 20 million Americans 
in at least 19 states drink water contaminated with perchlorate.
  Perchlorate is a clear and present danger to California's public 
health. Perchlorate poses a variety of serious health risks relating to 
thyroid function, especially in newborns, children, and pregnant women. 
Exposure to perchlorate interferes with the thyroid gland's ability to 
produce the hormones needed for normal prenatal development. This can 
cause both physical and mental retardation. Perchlorate is also linked 
to thyroid cancer.
  Despite the gravity of the situation, we currently have no way of 
knowing who is dumping it or where they are dumping it. We cannot wait 
four more years to address this threat while EPA continues to delay 
regulation and clean ups. Communities need to get moving to protect 
their drinking water sooner rather than later. Guaranteeing a community 
the right-to-know about potential perchlorate contamination is a first 
step.
  My bill would do just this. First, my bill addresses the legacy of 
perchlorate contamination by requiring anyone who has stored more than 
375 pounds of perchlorate since January 1, 1950, to report annually to 
the U.S. EPA, beginning no later than June 1, 2005. This does not apply 
to facilities that store

[[Page S4969]]

perchlorate for a retail or law enforcement purpose. EPA must annually 
publish the list of all perchlorate storage facilities in existence 
since January 1, 1950, beginning no later than June 1, 2005.
  Second, my bill would also require anyone who discharges perchlorate 
into the water to report the discharge, its volume, monitoring methods, 
and remedial actions to the EPA. EPA must publish this information 
annually in the Federal Register beginning no later than June 1, 2005.
  Third, failure to report as required under my bill would result in 
fines. All fines will be deposited into a loan fund for public water 
suppliers and private well owners to pay for clean water when their 
water supply is shut down because of perchlorate contamination.
  Communities have a right to know what is in their water and where it 
comes from. My bill will ensure that communities have the necessary 
information to act now to address the health threat of perchlorate. I 
look forward to working with my colleagues to pass this important 
legislation.
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