The Region : Pollution Cleanup Funds

After a recent veto by Gov. George Deukmejian of a $1-million proposal to aid the cleanup of San Gabriel Valley ground-water pollution, the state Legislature has approved $1.1 million for the project.

The money would go toward remedying pollution in Azusa and Baldwin Park. Assemblywoman Sally Tanner (D-Baldwin Park) said she is working to persuade Deukmejian to authorize the new bill, which passed unanimously late last week.

The money would come from a state Department of Health Services account, first funded five years ago with $1.4 million to correct pollution affecting three El Monte water companies. Only $300,000 of the state money has been used because federal funds became available for the project, said a spokeswoman for Tanner.

In vetoing the $1-million appropriation request in late July, Deukmejian claimed that the San Gabriel Valley cleanup did not rate high enough on the state’s priority list of pollution problems.