Dianne Feinstein: “I'm pleased to introduce this bill today to help California drinking water providers address the growing problem of…”

“I'm pleased to introduce this bill today to help California drinking water providers address the growing problem of perchlorate contamination. The California Perchlorate Contamination Remediation Act authorizes funds for perchlorate remediation of contaminated water sources. The bill provides: $50 million in grants for cleanup and remediation of perchlorate in water sources, including groundwater wells; and $8 million for research and development of new, cheaper, and more efficient perchlorate cleanup technologies. The bill also expresses the sense of Congress that the Environmental Protection Agency should promulgate a national drinking water standard for perchlorate as soon as practicable. The Defense Department and NASA use perchlorate in rocket fuel, missiles, and at least 300 types of munitions. The Defense Department has used perchlorate since the 1950s. Perchlorate has a short shelf-life, and must be periodically replaced in the country's rocket and missile inventories. Perchlorate readily permeates through soil and can spread quickly from its source. Over the last half century, improper disposal has allowed perchlorate to seep into surface and groundwater supplies. Perchlorate contamination of drinking and irrigation water is a serious threat to public health. Perchlorate interferes with the uptake of iodide into the thyroid gland. Since iodide helps regulate thyroid hormone production, perchlorate disrupts normal thyroid function.…”