Drinking Water Contamination

The Pentagon dropped plans to require the testing of drinking water for perchlorate -- the main chemical ingredient of solid rocket fuel -- at sites contaminated by the Defense Department and its contractors.

Perchlorate, the main chemical ingredient of solid rocket fuel, alters the production of thyroid hormones and poses special health risks to developing fetuses and infants.[1] As concern over the potential contamination of water and food supplies with perchlorate has grown, the Defense Department has suppressed investigations into the extent of the problem.

In 1997, the Pentagon and several of its contractors began several toxicological studies of perchlorate. Based on the results of these studies and other research indicating health risks at low exposure levels, EPA in January 2002 proposed a limit of one part per billion of perchlorate in drinking water. This level would require extensive cleanup efforts at numerous sites contaminated by the Defense Department or its contractors.

Subsequently, the Pentagon dropped plans to require definitive perchlorate testing at all active and inactive sites. In addition, while the Defense Department gathered preliminary data in a 2001 survey of military sites, it has yet to share this data with EPA.[5] Instead of proceeding with its scientific investigations, the Administration proposed legislation to provide liability protection for the Pentagon and its contractors from claims related to perchlorate.[6]

[1] EPA, Perchlorate Environmental Contamination: Toxicological Review and Risk Characterization (Jan. 16, 2002).

[2] Perchlorate Runoff Flows to Water Supply of Millions, Wall Street Journal (Dec. 16, 2002).

[3] Id.

[4] Fuel-Ingredient Perchlorate is Center of Fight With EPA on Evaluations Near Bases, Wall Street Journal (June 20, 2003).

[5] Pentagon Hid Pollution Report, Lawmakers Say, Wall Street Journal (May 19, 2003).

[6] Id.; “Defense Transformation for the 21st Century Act of 2003,” S.927, section 301 (Apr. 28, 2003).