Washington – The U.S. House of Representatives authorized $50 million for groundwater remediation in Southern California today under a bill introduced by Rep. Joe Baca (D-Rialto).

The House passed The Southern California Groundwater Remediation Act, H.R. 18, which authorizes $50 million for groundwater remediation in areas covered by the Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority, including Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. The money will be administered by the Secretary of the Interior through the Bureau of Reclamation.

The funds will help cities in the areas covered to remove perchlorate from their water supplies. Perchlorate has been detected in 186 sources in the counties served by the Santa Ana watershed. In San Bernardino County it has jeopardized the water supplies of 500,000 residents.

“Perchlorate contamination is more than just a health concern. The economic costs of providing safe drinking water are becoming more and more of a burden on our communities,” said Rep. Baca.

Perchlorate is a main ingredient in rocket fuel and is linked to thyroid damage. It is left in the water from former military sites, defense contractors and other industries.

“By most accounts, perchlorate in water comes from a federal source,” said Rep. Baca. “We must reverse the trend where innocent hardworking families pay for a federally-created problem that no one will take responsibility for.

“Our communities are tired of watching the finger pointing and waiting for someone to step up to the plate. It is time that we stop arguing and start delivering instead.“

Action on perchlorate clean up has been delayed due to high costs, a debate over who holds responsibility for the contamination, and lack of a clear standard for what level of perchlorate is dangerous. Rep. Baca’s bill will allow communities to get the money they need for perchlorate clean up without the debate.

The Southern California Groundwater Remediation Act also passed the House in September 2004 as H.R. 4606. The bill was introduced in the Senate, but Congress adjourned without passage. The bill was reintroduced in the 109^th Congress on January 5, 2005.

The bill has gained bipartisan support from co-sponsors Rep. Grace Napolitano, Rep. Ken Calvert, Rep. Gary Miller and Rep. Dana Rohrabacher.