Federal Energy Bill Contains $10.7 Million for Rockwell Cleanup : Legislation: The measure passed by the House Appropriations Committee would also provide money for area recreation projects.

WASHINGTON--The House of Representatives is expected to pass a federal energy and water spending bill next week that contains nearly $15 million for San Fernando Valley projects--including the cleanup of contaminated Rockwell International facilities west of Chatsworth, and recreational improvements at the Sepulveda Basin, Hansen Dam and Los Angeles River.

The $21.5-billion Energy and Water Appropriations Act for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1 includes $10.7 million for the removal of radioactive and chemical contamination at Rockwell’s Santa Susana Field Laboratory.

It also contains:

* $2 million for recreation projects in the Sepulveda Basin.

* $1.27 million to begin construction of a 15-acre swimming lake at Hansen Dam.

* $1 million to study the possible revitalization of the Los Angeles River.

San Fernando Valley lawmakers who went to bat for each of the programs expressed satisfaction that the figures contained in the bill are equal to or only slightly below the amounts they had requested in a particularly tight budget year, aides said.

The full House is scheduled to act next week on the energy and water bill, which was passed by the House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday. The Senate must still adopt its version of the spending plan. Conferees from each chamber will then reconcile the differences.

The Department of Energy plans to use the $10.7 million to continue cleaning up Rockwell chemical and radioactive contamination, found mostly at low levels in the soil and buildings, and to upgrade pollution controls and equipment.

The total includes $3.4 million for decontamination of the “hot lab”--a heavily shielded workshop where highly radioactive materials were handled by remote control--and $2 million to dig out and remove sodium from the burn pit, a former disposal area. Another $512,000 is earmarked for ground-water assessment and cleanup.

The department originally projected it would spend $12.6 million on Rockwell in 1992 under its six-year, $37.3-million plan to clean up the site. But it obtained $1 million it had not anticipated for the decontamination in this year’s budget and decided to defer another $1 million for the burn pit cleanup until 1993, when the money will be needed, said John Frith, press secretary for Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Simi Valley), whose 21st District includes the site.

“The bottom line is that they got full funding at the field lab,” Frith said.

The $2 million for the Sepulveda Basin is part of a continuing project to expand recreational facilities there. The city of Los Angeles has agreed to match the federal contribution by expanding the basin’s water-pumping system to irrigate new recreation areas.

Rep. Anthony C. Beilenson (D-Los Angeles) had requested $2.5 million--the same amount allocated to the basin for the current year. He plans to ask for the other $500,000 next year.

“We hope that they’ll use the money to finish whatever needs to be done at Lake Balboa Park, to do some restoration of Bull Creek and to develop some additional acreage of informal park area,” said Melissa Kuckro, an aide to Beilenson. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which owns the flood-control basin, will decide how to use the funds.

Beilenson also sought the $1 million for an 18-month study of potential recreational, transportation and water conservation uses for the Los Angeles River. Mayor Tom Bradley hopes to transform the waterway--used for flood control--into a greenbelt featuring bike paths and riding trails. Beilenson had unsuccessfully requested the funds last year.

The $1.27 million for the Hansen Dam Recreation Area in the northeast Valley would be used to complete designs of a master plan to revitalize the long-neglected recreational area as well as to begin construction of a $10-million, 15-acre lake. The process is expected to get started later this year.

The federal figure includes $875,000 from a 5-year-old trust fund generated by the fees paid by a contractor who is digging silt from flood-control channels at Hansen Dam. The contractor, who sells the silt to construction firms, pays 15 to 25 cents into the fund for each ton removed. Rep. Howard L. Berman (D-Panorama City), who sponsored legislation creating the trust fund, persuaded the Appropriations Committee to add another $400,000 this year.

In addition, the city Department of Parks and Recreation plans to sign an agreement to match federal funds allocated to Hansen Dam, said Michael S. Powell, an aide to Berman. The site, also owned by the Corps of Engineers, straddles Pacoima and Lake View Terrace.

The master plan--which is awaiting final approval by the Corps--also calls for construction of a 70-acre boating lake, ball fields and other facilities. A $298.8-million Los Angeles recreation bond measure on the June ballot would provide an additional $15 million for the renovation of Hansen Dam.

“At a time of severe fiscal constraint . . . we did very well,” Powell said, adding that Berman is pushing for a higher figure for the northeast Valley site in the Senate version of the energy and water bill. He said the lawmaker “is very strongly committed to seeing this through.”