Barbara Boxer: “The Montrose Chemical Corporation holds the distinction of being the largest producer of DDT in the world. That is not a…”

“The Montrose Chemical Corporation holds the distinction of being the largest producer of DDT in the world. That is not a great distinction since we know what a poison DDT is. It discharges tons of DDT through storm sewers into the ocean off the Palos Verdes peninsula, and 100 tons of it sits on the ocean floor there. DDT is classified as a probable human carcinogen. It is thought to have severe liver and neurological impacts, and it has also recently been identified as a chemical which may promote breast cancer. We know DDT is causing harm to the ocean, i.e. Santa Monica Bay, because the DDT goes up through the food chain where it reaches the bald eagles. Of course, we know those bald eagles were brought to the brink of extinction by DDT, and we know it causes the eagle eggs to thin and to fail to successfully hatch. EPA estimates it will cost $150 million to restore the ocean where that dump is. The report language, in our strong opinion, with legal authorities across this country, tells us that it would prohibit the EPA from cleaning up this site until the NAS report comes out. And then even after that, Montrose will go back into court. Mind you, they have already spent $50 million fighting the cleanup. Their position is: Let the DDT just sit there. Don't cap it off. Don't do anything. In the meantime, it is poisoning the environment there. I don't understand why we do these things. When I talk to my constituents, their eyes roll.”