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WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Grace F. Napolitano (D-Norwalk) today added $11.2 million in funding for the cleanup of contaminated groundwater in Central Basin to H.R. 123, a bill written by Congressman David Dreier to address groundwater contamination in the San Gabriel Basin. Napolitano wrote an amendment for extra funding to ensure the continued cleanup of volatile organic compounds like perchlorates that have been found in Pico Rivera, Santa Fe Springs, and Whittier.
“Much has been cleaned up in Central Basin and the San Gabriel Basin, but much still needs to be done,” said Napolitano. “Continuing the cleanup effort will increase our region’s clean water supply and protect our communities against drought cycles, global warming, and decreasing water supply from the fragile San Francisco Bay Delta. Adding funds for Central Basin to this bill is not only logical, it is a forward-looking step to protect our communities’ water from the threats it faces today and will face tomorrow. The amendment will benefit millions.”
Since groundwater cleanup efforts were authorized in 2000 Congress has appropriated over $80 million to aid state and local officials in cleaning up contaminated groundwater in the San Gabriel Basin and the adjacent Central Basin. The funding has been used to treat nearly 313,000 acre-feet of water, remove over 20 tons of contaminants, and halt the contamination from spreading further down stream. Earlier this year the Central Basin Municipal Water District, the entity responsible for groundwater cleanup efforts in Central Basin, announced that it would cease cleanup operations. The funding Napolitano added to H.R. 123 will allow operations to continue.
The House Committee on Natural Resources unanimously approved Napolitano’s Central Basin amendment in a markup session. The bill was then approved by the Committee and is now ready for consideration by the whole House of Representatives.
“Adding money for Central Basin to this bill is a major triumph for our communities,” said Napolitano. “My residents in Pico Rivera, Santa Fe Springs, and Whittier can now be confident that their homes and businesses will have clean, safe water well into the future.”
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