In 2001, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts began documenting the abnormally high perchlorate levels found in Massachusetts groundwaters. Recently, Carol Rowan West, Director for the Office of Research & Standards at MassDEP, testified before the US Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works with regards to the increasing levels of perchlorate being found throughout the public water supplies in Massachusetts, as well as the rest of the United States. Below is a transcript of her testimony and follow-up questions from members of the committee. Please visit the U.S. Senate Committee's Environment & Public Works hearing page to view a webcast of the entire testimony. (please note that to view some webcasts, users must have Real Player installed on their computers.) 

Transcript of testimony
MS Word 40 KB | PDF 60 KB

Transcript of follow-up questions
MS Word 48 KB | PDF 31 KB

In 2008, U.S. EPA determined that a national drinking water regulation for perchlorate would not present "a meaningful opportunity for health risk reduction for persons served by public water systems," and requested public comment on this preliminary determination. MassDEP has responded to the notice with the following comments.

Federal Register summary: Web site
MassDEP's response to the preliminary regulatory determination
MS Word 89 KB | PDF 77 KB

Office of the Inspector General's report: Web site
MassDEP's response to Office of the Inspector General's report
MS Word 61 KB | PDF 13 KB

Fact Sheet: Addressing Perchlorate and Other Emerging Contaminants in Massachusetts

MassDEP efforts to address perchlorate in Massachusetts water supplies
Web page

Perchlorate Q&A

Web page

Official Communications Regarding Perchlorate

Letter to USEPA Assistant Administrator Grumbles on Perchlorate Contamination in Drinking Water in Massachusetts
PDF 43 KB

Fireworks Best Environmental Management Practices

Letter to fireworks contractors and other interested parties concerning fireworks containing perchlorate
Web page

Letter to Blasting Contractors and Interested Parties

Web page

Letter to Certified Labs Regarding Perchlorate Testing

MS Word 47 KB | PDF 37 KB

Perchlorate Toxicological Profile and Health Assessment

June, 2006 Update
MS Word 700 KB | PDF 408 KB

Addendum to the Perchlorate Toxicological Profile and Health Assessment

June, 2006 Update
MS Word 239 KB | PDF 157 KB

Letter to Public Water Suppliers concerning new perchlorate regulations, September 2006

Web page

Perchlorate fact sheet for Public Water Suppliers, September 2006

Web page

Back to Perchlorate Index

Drinking Water Standard

7/28/2006 - revisions to 310 CMR 22.00
Redline/Strikeout version
MS Word 411 KB | PDF 231 KB

Site Cleanup Standards and Notification Criteria

7/28/2006 - Revisions to 310 CMR 40.0000, the Massachusetts Contingency Plan ("MCP")
MS Word 60 KB | PDF 19 KB

Response to Comments

Response to Comments on the Public Hearing Draft of Perchlorate Regulations
MS Word 218 KB | PDF 170 KB

Back to Perchlorate Index

DPH Information on Perchlorate Testing of Bottled Water

In June 2004, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) in conjunction with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) began perchlorate monitoring of bottled water... more

Evaluation of Perchlorate Contamination at a Fireworks Display, Dartmouth, Massachusetts

Web Page

Occurrence and Sources of Perchlorate in Massachusetts

PDF 1.4 MB | MS Word 1.2 MB

Perchlorate Monitoring Results - Confirmed Above 1.0 ppb

PDF 17 KB

Testing Labs

Certified perchlorate laboratories and related information
Web page

Perchlorate Reporting Form

Form for use by certified operators and water-testing labs.
Web page

Back to Perchlorate Index

Perchlorate Sampling Requirements for Public Water Systems

Includes MCL violations; monitoring waivers; CCR requirements; best available treatment technology; best environmental management practices; MassDEP contact information.
MS Powerpoint 98 KB | MS Word 73 KB | PDF 92 KB

Back to Perchlorate Index