An appropriations bill that has been approved by the U.S.
Congress includes $2 million in grant funding to study perchlorate
in Santa Clara County.
An appropriations bill that has been approved by the U.S. Congress includes $2 million in grant funding to study perchlorate in Santa Clara County.
The bill brings the total funding available to the county to $3.75 million, which the Santa Clara Valley Water District can use to perform projects relating to the perchlorate contamination that are not required of Olin Corp., which is responsible for the contamination south of Morgan Hill.
The district is currently awaiting replies to two grant applications for $750,000 to study ways to clean perchlorate using recharge ponds and determining the source of the disputed perchlorate plume north of Olin’s former factory site in Morgan Hill.
To qualify for the funding, the district must raise 45 percent in matching funds.
The provision was the result of a joint effort between Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Tracy.
“They have a great record of working together,” said Pombo aide Nicole Philbin. “They represent the same people and when it comes down to making things happen for the people they represent, they don’t let their parties stand in the way.”
