[CPEO-MEF] HUNDREDS IN SAN MARTIN SEEK ANSWERS

[CPEO Moderator <cpeo@cpeo.org>]

California
Posted on Thu, Feb. 13, 2003
Contaminated wells cause worry
HUNDREDS IN SAN MARTIN SEEK ANSWERS
By Frank Sweeney and Pat Lopes Harris
Mercury News

About 800 angry and worried San Martin residents jammed into a school
auditorium Wednesday night, demanding answers about perchlorate
contamination in a third of the drinking water wells tested so far in
the rural community south of San Jose.

But water and health officials had few answers because they don't know
the extent of the contamination or the full health effects of
perchlorate on the human body.

``There are many questions for which we don't have answers,'' said Susan
Fitts, chief spokeswoman for the Santa Clara Valley Water District.
``The answers don't exist.''

The meeting at San Martin-Gwinn School drew so many people to hear a
panel of experts that the crowd overflowed into another meeting room
where they watched the meeting on closed circuit television. Residents
wanted to know more about perchlorate, which is used in explosives and
highway flares and has been linked to thyroid disorders. The water
district on Tuesday reported that more than a third of the water wells
tested so far have shown signs of the chemical.

``Make a plan,'' said Rudy Boynton of Gilroy, who lives near a well that
tested positive. He called on officials to develop a cleanup plan now,
rather than waiting until the full extent of contamination is known.
``Do something for us.''

This article can be viewed at:
http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/5171298.htm

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