Perchlorate: A Scientific, Legal, and Economic Assessment

Perchlorate, a naturally occurring and synthesized chemical, is generating intense publicity, scientific debate, regulatory scrutiny and litigation across the United States. The substance has been widely used for over 60 years in the production of rocket fuel, flares, fireworks, electronics and munitions, but did not emerge as a significant environmental issue until the mid-1990s, when improved analytical testing methods permitted its detection in groundwater at 4 parts per billion. As of 200…