RIALTO’S ROCKET FUEL CONTAMINATION AND
THE CLEANUP AND ABATEMENT ORDER DRAFT

Complete Amended Abatement Order Draft

 

Perchlorate was discovered in the Rialto/Colton Water Basin in 1997, almost ten years ago, yet there is no long-term cleanup plan for the basin. The contamination in the Rialto Area is only getting worse—recently 10,000 ppb (one of the highest levels in the United States) of perchlorate was discovered in Rialto. A cleanup and abatement order was issued recently, but to date, polluters have not been forced to cleanup their mess.


PERCHLORATE CONTAMINATION IS THREATENING PUBLIC HEALTH: At very low concentrations in drinking water, this toxin can lead to an increased risk of neurological development problems such as learning disabilities, decreased IQ and attention deficit disorder.


PERCHLORATE CONTAMINATION FURTHER STRAINING SCARCE WATER SUPPLIES


PERCHLORATE CONTAMINATION HAMPERING THE LOCAL ECONOMY: To ensure basic water supply needs are met and pursue polluters for cleanup, residents of Rialto have seen their water utility bills increased, sometimes as much as 65 percent. One perchlorate treatment system costs $1 million and $300,000 to $500,000 a year to operate. Of the more than $200-300 million it will cost to clean up perchlorate contamination in the Rialto region, less than $10 million has been recovered to date from corporate parties.

DRAFT OF CLEANUP AND ABATEMENT ORDER ISSUED:

On October 17, 2006 the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board (Water Board) issued a draft cleanup and abatement order to Goodrich Corporation, Black & Decker, Inc., and PyroSpectacular, Inc. Even though the order does not impose monetary penalties if the polluters do not meet the deadlines set in the order, it is a significant step forward. The order will:

  1. Hold Goodrich Corporation, Black & Decker, Inc., and PyroSpectacular, Inc. jointly and severally liable for the perchlorate contamination cleanup in Rialto and Colton.
  2. The polluters must replace the water (pay for treatment until the perchlorate is completely gone) for all contaminated wells above 6 ppb and the treated water should have the quality comparable to the water quality of 1950 (before the polluters contaminated the water).
  3. The polluters must develop a water contingency plan for wells below 6ppb, but are at risk of further contamination by the migration of the plume. Even though the order does not require the polluters to replace the water for the wells with perchlorate at levels from 1ppb to 5ppb, if the water companies choose to install treatment systems on those wells to meet the demands of the residents, the polluters would be required to reimburse the water companies thorough an amended order.
  4. The order mentions that the perchlorate Public Health Goal (PHG) might be lowered, therefore the list of wells required for water replacement would change to reflect the new PHG.
  5. Workplan for cleanup will be submitted in March 2007.
  6. The polluters are required to reimburse the cities of Rialto and Colton and West Valley for cleanup costs incurred to date. This is the first time that a Regional Water Quality Control Board has required polluters to reimburse parties for cost inquired.