City files suit to force perchlorate probe

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California
PRESS-ENTERPRISE
City files suit to force perchlorate probe
Rialto: Officials hope to require those responsible for water pollution
to begin a cleanup effort.
By K. Franke Santos
Thursday, January 22, 2004

Rialto and its water utility filed suit Wednesday to force an
investigation into perchlorate contamination in the city's groundwater
basin and require those responsible to pay for the cleanup.

The suit, filed in U.S. District Court, names 41 people and entities
officials believe are responsible, including the Department of Defense,
San Bernardino County, and Black & Decker Inc. Some of the defendants
named are defunct companies.

Damages were not specified but could go up to $50 million, said Robert
Owen, Rialto's city attorney. The amount will be determined once the
extent of responsibility is known, he said.

The city seeks a jury trial for the suit.

"This is the culmination of two years of work," Owen said. "This is just
the beginning of a very lengthy process."

Because of the complexity of the case, it may continue for five years,
he said.

"We can't continue to wait for people to keep pointing fingers back and
forth while our water keeps getting polluted," said Brad Baxter, the
city's public works director.

This article can be viewed at:
http://www.pe.com/localnews/sanbernardino/stories/PE_News_Local_water22.f08d.html

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