[CPEO-MEF] Defense Department perchlorate report

[lsiegel@cpeo.org]

Department of Defense Announcement:

DoD Releases Report to Congress on Perchlorate in the Southwestern
United States 

In August, DoD submitted a Report to Congress on Perchlorate in the
Southwestern United States (PDF: 1.46 Mb). This report was prepared in
response to a Congressional request by the House Appropriations
Committee for information on perchlorate groundwater contamination in
and around the Colorado River, Southern California, Arizona, and Nevada.
The Committee directed DoD to conduct a joint study with EPA to assess
the extent and scope of contamination and to make recommendations on the following:

* Recommendations for the establishment of a national standard for
acceptable levels of perchlorate groundwater contamination; 

* Determination of the military/defense industry sources that have
contributed to perchlorate contamination; and 

* Appropriate steps to be taken to mitigate or clean up those areas that
are deemed to be the government's responsibility 

The 142-page report provides information on both non-DoD industrial
sites and DoD facilities that have sampled for and detected perchlorate
in groundwater, soil, or drinking water supplies. The report identifies
10 industrial facilities (nine industrial and one NASA facility) in the
tri-state study area that have detected perchlorate in groundwater,
soil, or drinking water supplies. The report also provides perchlorate
sampling data for 22 out of the 28 active, realigned, or closed DoD
facilities in the study area. Five of these DoD facilities are in
located in Arizona and 17 are located in California. In addition, the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and California state regulators have
identified 13 Formerly Used Defense Sites in the southern California
study area that require a more in-depth records search. Results of this
effort are expected in October 2005. 

Only one of the DoD facilities that tested for perchlorate in drinking
water within the study area had a single detection above state
guidance/advisory levels. Yuma Proving Grounds in Arizona reported
perchlorate concentrations in drinking water ranging from less than 4
ppb to a single high hit of 31.9 ppb. Over 90% of the samples were
within 4 to 5 ppb (consistent with the Colorado River concentrations).
This site also sampled for perchlorate in surface water and reported 4.6
to 5 ppb in water supplied by the Colorado River. (Note: Perchlorate is
present in water drawn from the Lower Colorado River at concentrations
that typically average 4 to 5 ppb.) Six DoD facilities in the study area
had perchlorate detections in groundwater including:

...

For the entire announcement and links, go to
http://www.dodperchlorateinfo.net/newsroom/announcements/2005/southwest.html

-- 


Lenny Siegel
Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
c/o PSC, 278-A Hope St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/961-8918
<lsiegel@cpeo.org>
http://www.cpeo.org
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