Perchlorate Links
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EPA has established an official reference dose (RfD) of 0.0007 milligrams per kilogram of body weight per day (mg/kg/day) of perchlorate. This level is consistent with the recommended reference dose included in the National Academy of Sciences' January 2005 report. A reference dose is a scientific estimate of a daily exposure level that is not expected to cause adverse health effects in humans. See Perchlorate and Perchlorate Salts (http://www.epa.gov/iris/subst/1007.htm).
On this page
- Policies and Guidance
- Perchlorate Occurrences
- Perchlorate Analytical Detection Methods
- National Academy of Sciences' (NAS) Review
- EPA Perchlorate Resources
- Site-specific Perchlorate Information
- Other Federal Agency Resources
- Additional Information Resources
- State Perchlorate Advisory Levels and Other Resources
This is not a comprehensive list of documents available on this topic. For a full list of all relevant documents, please visit the FFRRO Library (http://cfpub.epa.gov/fdrl/).
Policies and Guidance
EPA Documents
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Memorandum: Revised Assessment Guidance for Perchlorate (PDF) (2 pp, 650K) - January 8, 2009
http://www.epa.gov/fedfac/documents/perchlorate_memo_01-08-09.pdf
In January 2006, OSWER issued guidance regarding perchlorate and the cleanup of sites under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). The January 8, 2009 "Revised Assessment Guidance for Perchlorate" Memorandum formally withdraws that guidance. In addition, because EPA also issued an Interim Drinking Water Health Advisory for Perchlorate (PDF) (49 pp, 406K) on January 8, 2009, the "Revised Assessment Guidance for Perchlorate" Memorandum indicates that where no federal or state applicable or relevant and appropriate (ARAR) requirement exists under federal or state law, the Interim Health Advisory of 15 ug/L (or 15 ppb) is recommended as the preliminary remediation goal (PRG) for perchlorate when making CERCLA site-specific cleanup decisions where there is an actual or potential drinking water exposure pathway. See also the Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water's page on Perchlorate. -
Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER): Assessment Guidance for Perchlorate (PDF) (3 pp, 443K) - January 26, 2006
http://www.epa.gov/fedfac/pdf/perchlorate_guidance.pdf
This policy supersedes the January 2003 policy below. -
OSWER: Perchlorate Questions and Answers Document - March 31, 2003
http://www.epa.gov/fedfac/documents/perchlorate_qa.htm
This Questions & Answers document serves to clarify the January 22, 2003 Status of EPA's Interim Assessment Guidance for Perchlorate issued by OSWER. [Note: this policy has been superseded by the January 2006 policy above.] -
OSWER: Status of EPA's Interim Assessment Guidance for Perchlorate - January 22, 2003
http://www.epa.gov/fedfac/documents/perchlorate_memo.htm
This policy has been superseded by the January 2006 policy above. -
Office of Research and Development: Interim Assessment Guidance for Perchlorate (PDF) (4 pp, 226K) - June 18, 1999
http://www.epa.gov/fedfac/pdf/intguid0699.pdf
Department of Defense (DoD) Documents
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Policy on DoD Required Actions Related to Perchlorate (PDF) (3 pp, 34K) - January, 26, 2006
https://www.denix.osd.mil/portal/page/portal/content/environment/MERIT/EC/ECAL/Perchlorate/PolicyGuidance/PERCHLORATEPOLICY.PDF
This guidance supercedes the September 29, 2003 DoD "Interim Policy on Perchlorate Sampling." -
DoD, California Perchlorate Sampling Prioritization Protocol
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DoD, California Perchlorate Sampling Prioritization Protocol Reached (News Release) - October 1, 2004
http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=7798 -
Cover Memorandum for Prioritization Protocol for Perchlorate Impacts to Drinking Water from DoD Facilities in California (PDF) (2 pp, 300K) - September 23, 2004
http://www.epa.gov/fedfac/pdf/dodcalttr.pdf
Developed by the California Perchlorate Working Group (CA-PWG) -
Prioritization Protocol for Perchlorate Impacts to Drinking Water from DoD Facilities in California (PDF) (8 pp, 65K) - August 2004
http://www.epa.gov/fedfac/pdf/dodca0804.pdf -
Elaboration on the Prioritization Protocol for Perchlorate Impacts (PDF) (8 pp, 38K)

http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/HazardousWaste/Perchlorate/upload/SMBRP_FLY_Perc-Protocol_Elaboration.pdf -
DoD/Cal-EPA Perchlorate Workshop: Action Plan for Follow-up Activity (PDF) (2 pp, 24K)

http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/perchlorate/upload/smbrp_fly_perc_ws.pdf -
California Department of Toxic Substances Control: Perchlorate

http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/perchlorate/
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Department of Army Guidance for Assessing Potential Perchlorate Contamination (PDF) (25 pp, 1.1MB) - June 11, 2004
http://www.epa.gov/fedfac/pdf/armygu0604.pdf
This policy supersedes the June 27, 2003 Department of Army Guidance for Assessing Potential Perchlorate Contamination (PDF) (9 pp, 1.1MB). The purpose of this guidance is to provide the Army with a consistent framework for addressing potential perchlorate contamination resulting from ongoing activities as well as past practices. -
Sampling and Testing for Perchlorate at DoD Installations: Interim Guidance (PDF) (3 pp, 496K)
http://www.navylabs.navy.mil/Archive/PerchlorateInterim.pdf
Detailed instruction for perchlorate sampling, analysis, and data capture at Navy installations. -
Interim Policy on Perchlorate Sampling (PDF) (7 pp, 1MB) - September 29, 2003
http://www.epa.gov/fedfac/pdf/percpol0903.pdf
This policy supercedes the November 13, 2002 memorandum: Perchlorate Assessment Policy (PDF) (1 pg, 56K)
Perchlorate Occurrences
EPA Documents
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Known Perchlorate Releases in the U.S. - March 25, 2005 | PDF Version (7 pp, 921K) | XLS Version (71K)
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Known Perchlorate Releases in the U.S. - September 23, 2004 (PDF) (6 pp, 804K) | XLS Version (108K)
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Transmittal of Perchlorate Maps and Table, Updated April, 2003 (PDF) (4 pp, 110K)
http://www.clu-in.org/download/contaminantfocus/perchlorate/perchloratemapmemo05-14-03.pdf-
Map of Perchlorate Manufacturers and Users as of April, 2003 (JPG) (69K)
http://www.epa.gov/fedfac/images/perchlorate_manuf_users_map.jpg -
Known or Suspected Perchlorate Manufacturers/Users in U.S. - As of April 2003 (XLS) (49K)
http://www.epa.gov/fedfac/documents/knwn_perch_mftrs_usrs_04_03.xls -
Map of Perchlorate Releases as of April, 2003 (PDF) (1 pg, 356K)
http://www.epa.gov/fedfac/pdf/percrele0403.pdf -
Occurrence and Potential Sources of Perchlorate Releases to the Environment as of April, 2003 (PDF) (6 pp, 53K)
http://www.epa.gov/fedfac/pdf/percocc0403.pdf
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Letter from U.S. Representatives John Dingell (MI) and Hilda Solis (CA) - February 5, 2004
http://www.epa.gov/fedfac/documents/dingell_solis_feb5.htm
Letter requesting information on perchlorate and other munition-constituents contamination at DoD facilities.-
EPA's Interim Response (PDF) (6 pp, 493K) - February 6, 2004
http://www.epa.gov/fedfac/pdf/dingel_rspn1_2_6_04.pdf -
EPA's 2nd Response Letter (PDF) (2 pp, 251K) and Enclosures (PDF) (19 pp, 793K) - April 20, 2004
http://www.epa.gov/fedfac/pdf/dingel_rspn2_4_20_04.pdf
http://www.epa.gov/fedfac/pdf/dsrespenc.pdf -
EPA's 3rd Letter and Enclosures (PDF) (35 pp, 3.7MB) - June 18, 2004
http://www.epa.gov/fedfac/pdf/dingsol0604.pdf
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Transmittal of Primary Sources of EPA Perchlorate Manufacturers and Users Data (PDF) (1 pp, 77K) - September 23, 2004
http://www.epa.gov/fedfac/pdf/mjoshltr.pdf-
Nationwide Occurrence of Perchlorate Contamination (PDF) (2 pp, 3.7MB) - May 11, 1998
http://www.epa.gov/fedfac/pdf/reg9ltr98.pdf -
Kerr McGee Chemical LLC response to 104(e) request (PDF) (13 pp, 21MB) - April 17, 1998
http://www.epa.gov/fedfac/pdf/covington.pdf -
American Pacific Corporation response to 104(e) request (PDF) (12 pp, 19MB) - April 14, 1998
http://www.epa.gov/fedfac/pdf/gibson.pdf -
Primary Domestic Ammonium Perchlorate (AP) Users for Propulsion Applications (Air Force) (PDF) (3 pp, 5MB) - January 1998
http://www.epa.gov/fedfac/pdf/propapps.pdf -
Potential Applications for AP Biodegradation - Contact Information - 4/30/97 (PDF) (2 pp, 3.7MB) - April 30, 1997
http://www.epa.gov/fedfac/pdf/bioapps.pdf -
Aerojet-General v. PEPCON (from EPA Superfund project file: Aerojet, CA) (PDF) (2 pp, 3.3MB) - August 17, 1990
http://www.epa.gov/fedfac/pdf/aerojet.pdf -
Kerr McGee Chemical LLC supplemental response (PDF) (6 pp, 8.7MB) - March 7, 2001
http://www.epa.gov/fedfac/pdf/covington-km.pdf -
Occidental Chemical Corporation (OxyChem) response to EPA information request (PDF) (8 pp, 13MB) - January 29, 2002
http://www.epa.gov/fedfac/pdf/oxychem.pdf -
Air Force Installations Having Used and/or Stored Ammonium Perchlorate (PDF) (4 pp, 5.6MB) - July 24, 1998
http://www.epa.gov/fedfac/pdf/af98.pdf -
Army and Navy Site Listings for Perchlorate (PDF) (6 pp, 9MB) - October 8, 1998
http://www.epa.gov/fedfac/pdf/afoct98.pdf
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Department of Defense (DoD) Documents
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Department of Defense BRAC Installations with Perchlorate Detection Data Collected by April 2004 (PDF) (7 pp, 253K) - July 7, 2004
http://www.epa.gov/fedfac/pdf/bracrep1.pdf-
Senator Feinstein's Response to DoD Report on Perchlorate Occurrence at BRAC Properties (PDF) (3 pp, 10K) - July 23, 2004
http://www.epa.gov/fedfac/pdf/feinbrac0704.pdf
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Response Letters from Acting Assistant Under Secretary Michael W. Wynne to Senators Feinstein, Boxer, and Reid (PDF) (3 pp, 123K) - October 7, 2003
http://www.epa.gov/fedfac/pdf/osd_response_to_boxer_feinstein_reid7oct03.pdf -
Response Letters to U.S. Representatives Dingell and Solis (PDF). (6 pp, 333K) - October 6, 2003
http://www.epa.gov/fedfac/pdf/osd_response_to_dingell-Solis6oct03.pdf-
Perchlorate Sampling Conducted Since 2001 (PDF) (5 pp, 460K) and NPL Facilities: Perchlorate Sampling (PDF) (7 pp, 696K)
http://www.epa.gov/fedfac/pdf/enclosure4sampling_since2001.pdf
http://www.epa.gov/fedfac/pdf/enclosure5npl_facility_sampling.pdf
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Response letter from J.P. Woodley, Assistant Under Secretary of Defense (Environment), to Senators Boxer, Feinstein, and Reid with attachment of results of DoD's 2001 Perchlorate Survey - May 30, 2003
http://www.epa.gov/fedfac/documents/dod-perchlorate.htm
Perchlorate Analytical Detection Methods
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Analytical Methods Developed by the Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/methods/analyticalmethods_ogwdw.html
Provides a link to EPA methods for detecting perchlorate in drinking water. -
Drinking Water Methods Developed by the National Exposure Research Laboratory (NERL
http://www.epa.gov/nerlcwww/ordmeth.htm
Provides a link to newly developed method(s) for perchlorate detection. -
Field Screening Method for Perchlorate in Water and Soil (PDF) (36 pp, 165K)
http://www.crrel.usace.army.mil/library/technicalreports/TR04-8.pdf
National Academy of Sciences (NAS) Review
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Report in Brief: Health Implications of Perchlorate Ingestions (PDF) (4 pp, 611K) - March 2005
http://www.epa.gov/fedfac/pdf/nasrprt0305.pdf -
Health Implications of Perchlorate Ingestion (NAS Technical Review)
- January 2005
http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=11202 -
EPA's letter to NAS, requesting review (PDF) (5 pp, 172K) - March 19, 2003
http://www.epa.gov/fedfac/pdf/Brief_Perchlorate_NAS.pdf
EPA, in conjunction with the Department of Defense (DoD), the Department of Energy (DOE), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), requests a review by NAS of the science about the health impacts of perchlorate. -
National Academy of Sciences (NAS) Review of the Health Implications of Perchlorate Ingestion (2005)
http://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/cfm/recordisplay.cfm?deid=72117 -
Health Implications of Perchlorate Ingestion.

http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?isbn=0309095689
EPA Perchlorate Resources
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Perchlorate and Perchlorate Salts
http://www.epa.gov/iris/subst/1007.htm -
Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water: Perchlorate
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/contaminants/unregulated/perchlorate.html -
Occurrence Data: Accessing Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Data
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/ucmr/data.html -
The Effects of Ammonium Perchlorate on Thyroids: Pathology Working Group Report (PDF) (15 pp, 114K) - May 4, 2000
http://oaspub.epa.gov/eims/eimscomm.getfile?p_download_id=4605 -
Contaminated Site Clean-up Information (CLU-IN)
http://clu-in.org/
This Web site provides information about innovative treatment and site-characterization technologies to the hazardous waste remediation community. -
Contaminated Site Clean-up Information: Perchlorate
http://www.clu-in.org/contaminantfocus/default.focus/sec/perchlorate/cat/Overview/ -
Perchlorate Treatment Technology Update: Federal Facilities Forum Issue Paper (PDF) (80 pp, 686K)
http://www.clu-in.org/download/remed/542-r-05-015.pdf
This issue paper provides information about technologies available for treatment of perchlorate contamination in environmental media, including technologies that have been used to date and others that show potential for treating such contamination. -
Errata Sheet (September 2005): Perchlorate Treatment Technology Update -- Federal Facilities Forum Issue Paper (EPA 542-R-05-015; May 2005) (PDF) (4 pp, 105K)
http://www.epa.gov/fedfac/pdf/ffrro_perchlrt_errata.pdf
This errata sheet identifies corrections to information provided in U.S. EPA Perchlorate Treatment Technology: Update (May 2005).
Site-specific Perchlorate Information
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Federal Facility and Superfund Sites Where Action Has Been Taken to Address Perchlorate Contamination
http://www.epa.gov/fedfac/documents/perchlorate_site_summaries.htm
These summaries provide information on federal-facility and private Superfund sites that have perchlorate contamination and the actions that are being taken to address that contamination. -
Perchlorate in Henderson, NV - Significant Controls Are Operating (July 2004) (PDF) (3 pp, 242K)
http://www.epa.gov/fedfac/pdf/kerrmcgee_072004.pdf
Fact sheet and annotated aerial photograph summarizing the perchlorate-control strategy at the Kerr McGee Chemical Company site in Henderson, Nevada -
Perchlorate Monitoring Results: Henderson, Nevada to the Lower Colorado River - December 2005 Report (PDF) (29 pp, 4.2MB) - February 2006
http://www.epa.gov/fedfac/pdf/perrpt12_05.pdf
For the Tronox (formerly Kerr McGee) plant located in Henderson, Nevada
Other Federal Agency Resources
Government Accountability Office (GAO)
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Perchlorate: A System to Track Sampling and Cleanup Results is Needed (PDF) (79 pp, 2.2MB) - May 2005
http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d05462.pdf-
DoD Comments on Draft GAO Report (PDF) (14 pp, 180K) - April 26, 2005
http://www.epa.gov/fedfac/pdf/gao_perch_dod_rprt.pdf -
EPA Comments on Draft GAO Report (PDF) (8 pp, 476K) - April 26, 2005
http://www.epa.gov/fedfac/pdf/epa_cmnts_gao_perch_rprt.pdf
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DOD Operational Ranges: More Reliable Cleanup Cost Estimates and a Proactive Approach to Identifying Contamination Are Needed (PDF) (54 pp, 6MB) - May 2004
http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d04601.pdf
This GAO Report to Congressional Requesters specifically addresses DoD's perchlorate sampling activities and provides recommendations.
Department of Defense (DoD)
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Defense Environmental Network & Information eXchange (DENIX): Perchlorate
https://www.denix.osd.mil/portal/page/portal/denix/environment/MERIT/EC/ECAL/Perchlorate
Perchlorate information for defense installations and environmental communities -
Navy Environmental Sampling & Testing Programs: Perchlorate
http://www.navylabs.navy.mil/Perchlorate.htm -
Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP)
http://www.serdp.org/
DoD's corporate environmental research and development (R&D) program, planned and executed in full partnership with the Department of Energy (DOE) and EPA. -
Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP)
http://www.estcp.org/
A corporate DoD program that promotes innovative, cost-effective environmental technologies through demonstration and validation at DoD sites.
US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
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Bosque and Leon River Watersheds Study Final Report: Executive Summary (PDF) (2 pp, 139K) - February 2004
http://www.swf.usace.army.mil/pubdata/ppmd/perchlorate/documents/final_report/pdfs/divided/executive%20summary.pdf
Assesses the impact of perchlorate associated with the former Naval Weapons Industrial Reserve Plant at McGregor, Texas
United States Department of Health and Human Services
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Health Effects Assessment for Environmental Perchlorate Contamination: The Dose Response for Inhibition of Thyroidal Radioiodine Uptake in Humans
http://www.ehponline.org/members/2002/110p927-937greer/greer-full.html
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)
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Health Consultation: Perchlorate Contamination in the Citizens Utilities' Suburban and Security Park Water Service Areas
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/HAC/PHA/citizens/cus_toc.html
Prepared by the California Department of Health Services
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
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Perchlorate Questions and Answers
http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodSafety/FoodContaminantsAdulteration/ChemicalContaminants/Perchlorate/ucm077572.htm -
2004-2005 Exploratory Survey Data on Perchlorate in Food
http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodSafety/FoodContaminantsAdulteration/ChemicalContaminants/Perchlorate/ucm077685.htm
Federal Remediation Technologies Roundtable
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Federal Remediation Technologies Roundtable
http://www.frtr.gov/
Works to build a collaborative atmosphere among federal agencies involved in hazardous-waste cleanup, such as perchlorate
Additional Information Resources
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Texas Tech University Water Resources Center: Water Resources Research

http://www.waterresources.ttu.edu/research.htm -
Federal Register Notices
http://www.epa.gov/fedfac/documents/fed_register.htm
State Perchlorate Advisory Levels and Other Resources
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State Perchlorate Advisory Levels as of 4/20/05 (PDF) (1 pg, 13K)
http://www.epa.gov/fedfac/pdf/stateadvisorylevels.pdf -
Arizona (14 parts per billion)
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Arizona Department of Environmental Quality: Perchlorate Studies

http://www.azdeq.gov/function/about/perch.html -
Perchlorate in Arizona: Occurrence Study of 2004 (PDF) (83 pp, 1MB)
http://www.epa.gov/fedfac/pdf/AZperch1201.pdf
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California (6 parts per billion)
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Perchlorate in Drinking Water

http://www.cdph.ca.gov/certlic/drinkingwater/pages/Perchlorate.aspx -
History of Perchlorate in California Drinking Water

http://www.cdph.ca.gov/certlic/drinkingwater/Pages/Perchloratehistory.aspx -
California Environmental Protection Agency Memorandum on Perchlorate Prioritization Protocol (PDF) (1 pg, 49K) - September 28, 2004
http://www.epa.gov/fedfac/pdf/protocol_memo.pdf -
California Environmental Protection Agency letter to the Department of Defense (DoD) (PDF) (2 pp, 115K) - September 28, 2004
http://www.epa.gov/fedfac/pdf/beehlerpwg.pdf -
California Environmental Protection Agency: OEHHA Announces Health Goal for Perchlorate in Drinking Water (News Release) (PDF) (2 pp, 21K) and Fact Sheet: Public Health Goal for Perchlorate (PDF) (3 pp, 27K)
http://www.epa.gov/fedfac/pdf/cal_phg_press.pdf
http://www.epa.gov/fedfac/pdf/cal_phg_fs_perch.pdf
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Maryland (1 part per billion)
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Massachusetts (2 parts per billion)
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Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection: Perchlorate Information

http://www.mass.gov/dep/water/drinking/percinfo.htm -
First in the Nation, Massachusetts Perchlorate Standards Take Effect
- July 28, 2006
http://www.stormwaterauthority.org/library/view_article.aspx?id=589 -
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection notice to public-water suppliers to monitor systems for perchlorate (PDF) (3 pp, 129K) - February 2, 2004
http://www.epa.gov/fedfac/pdf/mass_percpws_01_30_04.pdf -
Sites Confirmed by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection with Perchlorate Levels Above 1.0 part per billion (ppb) (micrograms per liter (ug/L)) as of December 3, 2004 (PDF) (5 pp, 14K)
http://www.epa.gov/fedfac/pdf/mass_dep_perchlorate_12_03_2004.pdf -
Massachusetts Military Reservation: Perchlorate
http://www.epa.gov/region01/mmr/perchlorate.html -
Massachusetts Military Reservation: Impact Area Groundwater Study Program
http://groundwaterprogram.army.mil/groundwater/ -
Draft Report: The Occurrence and Sources of Perchlorate in Massachusetts (PDF) (51 pp, 1.4MB)
- Updated April 2006
http://www.mass.gov/dep/cleanup/sites/percsour.pdf
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Nevada (18 parts per billion)
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Nevada Division of Environmental Protection: Bureau of Water Quality Planning (BWQP)

http://ndep.nv.gov/bwqp/bwqp01.htm
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New Mexico (1 part per billion)
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Oregon (No State Action Level)
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Oregon Department of Environmental Quality: Perchlorate in Oregon

http://www.deq.state.or.us/er/perchloratesites.htm -
Perchlorate in the Lower Umatilla Basin Groundwater Management Area - Issues and Answers (PDF) (3 pp, 42K)
- Updated June 2005
http://www.deq.state.or.us/er/docs/PerchlorateSites/PerchloFAQFINALsm.pdf
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New York
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5 parts per billion (ppb) drinking water planning level
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18 ppb public notification level
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Texas
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17 parts per billion (ppb) residential protective cleanup level (PCL)
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51 ppb industrial/commercial PCL
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Texas Department of Health: Perchlorate (PDF) (2 pp, 101K) - October 2002
http://www.epa.gov/fedfac/pdf/tdh_gen_perch_fs.pdf -
Texas Department of Health: Physician Fact Sheet - Perchlorate (PDF) (2 pp, 108K) - October 2002
http://www.epa.gov/fedfac/pdf/tdh_phys_perch_fs.pdf
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