Local News in Brief : EPA Urged to Clean Water
Rep. David Dreier (R-Covina) and Assemblywoman Sally Tanner (D-El Monte) on Friday called on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to clean up polluted ground water in the San Gabriel Valley, even though it might cost $800 million.
Dreier and Tanner said they were responding to the EPA’s suggestion that local water agencies may have to pay for plants to treat water contaminated with industrial solvents.
Residents did not pollute the ground water, Tanner said, and it is unfair to make them pay for cleaning it up through higher water bills while Superfund money is spent elsewhere.
The two officials signed a letter to EPA Administrator Lee Thomas, urging that the agency adhere to its customary practice on Superfund projects of paying 90% of the cost, with the remaining 10% charged to the state.
EPA spokesman Terry Wilson said the agency is “not backing away” from the problem. But other EPA officials have said it is unclear how the work can be financed.
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