Environmental Protection Agency administrator Lisa Jackson said that setting the standard will protect public health and spark new technologies to clean up drinking water. Based on monitoring conducted from 2001 to 2005, 153 drinking water sources in 26 states contain perchlorate. The standard could take up to two years to develop, the EPA said.
Perchlorate is also used in fireworks and explosives. In most cases, water contamination has been caused by improper disposal at rocket testing sites, military bases and chemical plants.
"As improved standards are developed and put in place . clean water technology innovators have an opportunity to create cutting edge solutions that will strengthen health protections and spark economic growth," Jackson said in a statement.
Jackson is expected to make that case before a Senate panel Wednesday, where she will likely face opposition from Republicans who plan to take on the EPA over air pollution regulations, controls on the gases blamed for global warming, and other regulations. Oklahoma Sen. James Inhofe, the top Republican on the environment panel, will bring forward legislation Wednesday to strip the agency of its ability to control heat-trapping gases under the Clean Air Act. House Energy and Commerce Chairman Fred Upton, R-Mich., will release an identical draft bill.
Rocket Fuel Chemical Tap Water
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