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Baca perchlorate bill approved by House Natural Resources Committee

Posted by: Maven on February 27, 2010 at 7:22 am

From Congressman Joe Baca:

“Today, the House Natural Resources Committee unanimously approved legislation introduced by Congressman Joe Baca (D-Rialto) that calls for a government based study of the current perchlorate crisis in the Inland Empire. H.R. 4252, the Inland Empire Perchlorate Ground Water Plume Assessment Act, directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study of water resources and perchlorate contamination in the Inland Empire, specifically ordering the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to conduct a study of the Rialto-Colton water basin focused on the perchlorate contaminated plume in Rialto.

“Many families in the Inland Empire are concerned about the quality and safety of the water they drink,” said Rep. Baca. “My legislation calls for a much-needed USGS study of the Rialto-Colton water basin in order to find the best possible solutions to cleaning up the perchlorate contamination in our area. I thank the Chairman Nick Rahall, and my colleagues on the Natural Resources Committee for working with me to move this legislation forward. Every American deserves access to clean, safe drinking water, and my bill helps to safeguard this essential right for Inland residents.” … “


Continue reading at Congressman Joe Baca’s website by clicking here.

February 27, 2010 · Filed Under Drinking Water & Bottled Water

Comments

One Response to “Baca perchlorate bill approved by House Natural Resources Committee”

  1. Clay Rosson on February 28th, 2010 10:49 am

    Dear Respected Congressman Joe Baca,

    I am aware of the plume locations in the basin. As you may be aware by now, there are two plumes. The longer one is coming from the 160-acre site, while the shorter one is flowing from the bunker complex beneath the sedimentation ponds of the concrete operation. We know exactly when those sedimentation ponds were created in 2001. Therefore, we know exactly how long it took to create the shorter plume further to the west. It is effectively a transport experiment that was permitted by San Bernardino County, City of Rialto, and regional water board. If you take the distance and divide it by time traveled, you will have the effective transport of the shorter plume. You can do this on the back of an envelope.

    Now for the best part. With the effective transport number, you can determine roughly how long it will take for perchlorate to reach the Santa Ana River. You can also determine when the contamination hit groundwater at the 160-acre site in the 1980’s.

    I am somewhat disappointed that the California EPA seems to be ignoring the impending pollution of the Santa Ana River with perchlorate which I have determined will happen within 3-5 years from the logic I have just outlined for you.

    Another important point that needs to be addressed is that the Cactus Basin, operated continuously as a stormwater basin by San Bernardino County Flood Control District, has contributed to the spreading of perchlorate contamination. It is easy to see from any of the figures supplied by the City of Rialto: Roadmap to Remedy, although the agencies left Cactus Basin off the map. See how the concentrations of perchlorate radically drop when they reach Cactus Basin due to the dilution from stormwater flows.

    I commend your bill which will have the USGS take a large scope view of the Rialto-Coltin Basin which so many agencies seem to be ignoring at the peril of the inhabitants that are affected.

    Kind Regards,

    Clay Rosson
    Environmental Engineer/ Sustainability Consultant

    If agencies let Santa Ana River be contaminated, all the water treatment facilities will have to be upgraded that have water rights to Santa Ana River water. All agencies should weigh the cost of upgrading the water treatment plants against pumping and treating the plume before it reaches the river.

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