From the Associated Press (Frederick J. Frommer) via AZCentral.com:
A government official briefed by the EPA told the Associated Press on Thursday night that the agency has proposed that the chemical, perchlorate, be regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act. The official, who did not want to be named because a final decision has not been made, said the plan is now under interagency review…
The Defense Department used perchlorate for decades in testing rockets and missiles, and most perchlorate contamination stems from defense and aerospace activities.
In 2008, under President George W. Bush, the EPA decided against regulating the chemical, saying that setting a federal standard would do little to reduce risks to public health. That decision angered environmentalists and Democratic lawmakers. The Pentagon and EPA have tussled over the issue for years, with the Pentagon potentially facing liability if the standard were to force water agencies around the country to undertake costly cleanup efforts. Defense officials have denied trying to influence EPA’s decision and maintain that releases of perchlorate has been reduced as disposal practices have improved. Some states, like California and Massachusetts, have set their own standards.
An EPA spokeswoman, Betsaida Alcantara, said in a statement that the agency is in the process of making a decision on whether to set a drinking-water standard for perchlorate.
More water pollution coverage here. More perchlorate coverage here.