[CPEO-MEF] GOVERNOR SIGNS ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION FOCUSING ON PERCHLORATE CO

[CPEO Moderator <cpeo@cpeo.org>]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:        Steve Maviglio

September 29, 2003

916/445-4571

GOVERNOR SIGNS ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION FOCUSING ON PERCHLORATE
CONTAMINATION

SACRAMENTO-Governor Gray Davis today signed two bills that protect and
guard California's drinking water sources from perchlorate
contamination and another that bolsters water quality enforcement.

"Perchlorate is a growing concern. It is a legacy pollution issue left
over from the Cold War," said Governor Davis. "American ingenuity won
that struggle, now it can win the battle against this chemical that
could make much of the state's water undrinkable."

The two perchlorate bills require the state to establish management
practices for perchlorate, institute a process of notification by
owners of perchlorate facilities within five miles of a public
drinking water wells contaminated by perchlorate, guarantee consumers
clean replacement water when contamination is discovered; and
establish an electronic database to allow better coordination of
perchlorate management activities between the state and local
agencies.

"These bills ensure that Californians will have clean sources of
drinking water.  Through proactive notification, the State will
establish a system of tracking perchlorate use and improve
coordination between State and local agencies," said Davis.

Senate Bill 1004 by Senator Nell Soto (D-Colton) requires owners of
perchlorate facilities to notify the State Water Resources Control
Board about their storage of perchlorate from 1950 to the present,
where their perchlorate is stored, and the volume of perchlorate
stored. The bill emphasizes the authority of the nine Regional Water
Quality Control Boards to order perchlorate facility owners to replace
drinking water supplies that have been damaged by perchlorate.

"Governor Davis has always supported common sense protections for the
environment and for human health. When he signs my bill, SB 1004,
communities across our state will have new tools to find perchlorate
before it has spread," said Sen. Soto.  "And SB 1004 will ensure that
polluters, not consumers, pay the cost of replacing contaminated
water."

Assembly bill 826 by Assemblymember Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa
Barbara), establishes a statewide database connecting Cal-EPA's
hazardous waste materials with data from local agencies.  The bill,
called the Perchlorate Contamination Prevention Act, directs the
Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) to develop best
management practices for perchlorate by December 31, 2005.  These
management practices would ensure that perchlorate and perchlorate
materials are handled in a safe manner and that there is consistent
statewide management of perchlorate.

"The development of management practices for perchlorate and
perchlorate materials combines the concepts of environmental
protection, pollution prevention, and environmental stewardship," said
Ed Lowry, DTSC Director. "A consistent management practice also
ensures consistent enforcement of hazardous waste management laws."

Perchlorate is a significant threat to California's drinking water
sources. Perchlorate is a white powder used in the combustion of
rocket fuel and explosives. Perchlorate is a primary source of
contamination in California drinking water, passing MTBE in the number
of wells affected.  Statewide, perchlorate contamination has been
found in eastern Sacramento County, Simi Valley, San Gabriel Valley,
the Rialto-Colton Basin, water sources for the Santa Clara Valley
Water District, and in the Colorado River, which supplies water to
Southern California.

"These bills strengthen protection measures to ensure that our
drinking water supplies are safe and healthy," said Arthur G. Baggett,
Jr., Chairman of the State Water Resources Control Board. "Identifying
potential contamination sources and preventing release of perchlorate
to the environment, rather than attempting to cleanup after-the-fact,
is more protective of the health of Californians."

Governor Davis also signed another water quality bill, Assembly Bill
1541 by Assemblymember Cindy Montanez (D-San Fernando), which makes
failing to file a water quality discharge monitoring report subject to
a mandatory administrative penalty of $3,000 for each 30-days the
report is late. The bill would increase compliance with permit
monitoring requirements and allow the water boards to better assess
water quality conditions.

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