GRANTS PROPOSED TO STOP PERCHLORATE.

Byline: Eugene Tong Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - A bill introduced in Congress by two California lawmakers could provide $50 million to clean up contamination by the rocket-fuel ingredient perchlorate in their home state, but it would likely amount to little for decontamination of local sites.

The California Perchlorate Remediation Act introduced by Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Stockton, would set up a grant program administered by the Environmental Protection Agency for state agencies to help finance groundwater cleanup.

``There's no question many communities in California face water supplies contaminated with perchlorate,'' Pombo said in a printed statement. ``Californians expect and deserve high-quality drinking water, and this legislation provides valuable assistance moving forward to make it happen.''

In Santa Clarita, the state's Department of Toxic Substances Control has been overseeing the decontamination of the 996-acre Whittaker-Bermite property along Soledad Canyon Road, where decades of manufacturing and testing weapons has left various chemicals - including perchlorate - in the soil and local groundwater supply.

But Jose Diaz, project manager overseeing the cleanup for the DTSC, said the project isn't likely to get much in federal funding if the bill makes it through Congress, since the effort has primarily been underwritten by Whittaker Corp., which operated on the property.

``We try to get the responsible party to pay,'' he said Thursday. ``Whittaker is still a responsible party. As long as we have that, we don't have to pursue it.

``If (the money) gets filtered through, ... we may get some funding for a pilot study.'' Perchlorate contamination has been found in at least 395 sites in 35 states, and it is widespread in California. The chemical can interfere with the production of thyroid hormones, which are needed for growth and development, though there is disagreement about how much is dangerous.

The state Environmental Protection Agency deemed water with as much as 6 parts per billion safe to drink, while the federal EPA has set a preliminary remediation goal of 24.5 parts per billion.

``Perchlorate contamination of our food and water is a growing threat to public health,'' Feinstein said in a printed statement. ``So far, both the Defense Department and the Environmental Protection Agency have failed to recognize the gravity of perchlorate contamination. In the meantime, communities in California have been forced to suffer the financial burden of trying to provide safe drinking water for their residents.''

Meantime, the DTSC is preparing remediation plans for both the soil and groundwater on the Bermite property, Diaz said. The ground cleanup would include soil removal and treatment, while details for the water plan are still being worked out.

``For the shallow soils, it's what is practical to go after with equipment - about 40 feet depending on the feature of the terrain,'' Diaz said. ``As far as groundwater, we do have a remediation action report that (has) identified data gaps. It's under review.

``The more information, the better for remediation.''

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Eugene Tong, [phone]

eugene.tong(at)dailynews.com