Torres, Reiner Promote Toxic Tipster Effort : Pollution: Officials ask anyone with information about sources of toxic waste in Azusa and Irwindale to call a toll-free federal hot line.

Polluters, not taxpayers, should pay to clean up the contaminated ground water of the San Gabriel Valley, Rep. Esteban E. Torres (D-La Puente) and Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Ira Reiner said at a press conference Monday designed to boost the visibility of a new toll-free “toxic tipster” phone line.

Torres, Reiner and the East Valleys Organization, an activist group working on pollution issues in the region, have teamed up with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to offer $100,000 in rewards to people who provide authorities with information about polluters in the San Gabriel Valley.

Federal environmental officials are specifically seeking information about possible polluters in an industrial area on both sides of the Foothill Freeway in Azusa and Irwindale, where there are a number of serious contamination problems. The EPA estimates that the cleanup will cost between $850 million and $1 billion.

“There is some urgency,” said Carol Montano of the East Valleys group, explaining that the toll-free number, (800) 244-6808, will end July 20, five weeks after opening. Later, another polluted area will be targeted and the toll-free line will be set up again, Montano said. So far, EPA officials say they have received 25 calls.

To encourage the use of the free line, Torres has sent out notices to 138,000 San Gabriel Valley households, and the East Valleys Organization has distributed 10,000 leaflets in English and Spanish, saying: “Help us track down ground-water polluters in the San Gabriel Valley.”

EPA officials have said there is little federal money available for the cleanup, so Reiner and Torres said it is important to identify those responsible for the pollution and make them pay.

“The very best witnesses are former employees,” Reiner said. He encouraged calls from anyone who has first-hand knowledge of illegal disposal of wastes that could have polluted the ground water.

Callers who contribute valuable information may be eligible for up to $10,000, the district attorney said.