[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 54 (Tuesday, March 31, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4071-S4072]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. HATCH:
  S. 745. A bill to amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater 
Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to 
participate in the Magna Water District water reuse and groundwater 
recharge project, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy 
and Natural Resources.
  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I rise to speak today regarding a troubling 
situation facing Magna Water District in Utah. Magna's drinking water 
is threatened by contamination from an underground plume of perchlorate 
which is heading towards its wells. The perchlorate is the result of 
decades of rocket motor production at a Department of Defense site 
currently operated by Hercules, ATK Launch Systems. In order to address 
the threat to its water system, the district plans to implement a 
unique water reuse and groundwater recharge project that would serve to 
demonstrate a bio-destruction process combining wastewater with a 
desalination brine stream to destroy the perchlorate. This new 
technology would give water districts throughout the country a more 
effective and more economical method of mitigating perchlorate 
contamination.
  The district has already invested a significant amount of its own 
funds toward the effort, and it is now seeking a 25 percent match from 
the Federal Government. This funding would preserve the district's 
crucial water resources while finding an efficient and beneficial use 
of treated industrial and domestic wastewater. In addition, this 
funding is vital in order to provide our Nation with a better way to 
destroy harmful perchlorate plumes that may threaten community water 
supplies.
  As you know, our Nation's clean water supply is a precious asset to 
our country. In desert places like Utah, the need for the best use of 
our available water is critical to preserving the limited amounts of 
clean water available

[[Page S4072]]

to us. This water reuse and groundwater recharge technology is crucial 
to ensure clean drinking water for the citizens of Magna. Not only 
would this funding benefit the Magna district, but it would provide our 
Nation with an inexpensive and powerful new tool to clean up 
contaminated water. This is an investment in our Nation that will be 
paid back many times over.
  I urge my colleagues to lend their support to this important 
legislation.
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