[CPEO-MEF] Defense Firm to Help Inquiry

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Defense Firm to Help Inquiry Into Industry Water Pollution
Goodrich Will Turn Over Documents
To Help Catch Perchlorate Polluters
By PETER WALDMAN
Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

A defense contractor handed local and state agencies an important
victory in the spreading national battle over water pollution from
perchlorate, agreeing to help clean Southern California water supplies
and to help authorities identify possible polluters.

The two-year agreement commits Goodrich Corp. to pay $4 million for
treatment facilities to clean contamination in the so-called Inland
Empire east of Los Angeles, where local officials say they're needed to
ensure adequate drinking-water supplies this summer. Goodrich isn't
admitting any responsibility for pollution in the pact, which a company
spokeswoman confirmed was expected to be signed in the coming days.

But just as important, say California officials, the agreement pledges
Goodrich's cooperation in identifying other parties responsible for
perchlorate dumping in the region. That includes turning over access to
its historical documents and scientific research expected by regulators
to implicate other military contractors and the U.S. Department of
Defense.

This article can be viewed at:
http://online.wsj.com/article_email/0,,SB1042155505208345784,00.html

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