Feinstein staffers visit Kerr-McGee

Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2003 | 9:19 a.m.

Staffers from the office of Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., on Tuesday toured the Kerr-McGee Chemical plant in Henderson, the source of perchlorate contamination in Lake Mead.

The plant produced perchlorate, a salt used in rocket motors, for decades, ending in 1998. Kerr-McGee, under the supervision of the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, has installed more than 30 wells over the last two years in an effort to stop groundwater from migrating from the Henderson plant to Las Vegas Wash and then into Lake Mead.

Feinstein last week wrote to the company demanding more action to remove the contaminant. Pat Corbett, the Oklahoma City-based environmental affairs director for the company, said Kerr-McGee is doing everything it can to remove the contaminant.

The heads of Feinstein's San Diego and Los Angeles offices traveled to Henderson for the tour. Corbett said the pair saw the company's plan for blocking and extracting the contaminated groundwater for treatment.

Howard Gantman, a Feinstein spokesman, said the report from the two staffers has not come back to his office and will have to be evaluated.