April 21, 2016 

City News Service 

 

Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation on Wednesday providing $176.6 million in funding for environmental testing and cleanup work in neighborhoods surrounding the now-shuttered Exide Technologies battery- recycling plant in Vernon.

 

“Children should be able to play in yards free from toxics,” Brown said. “With this funding plan, we’re doubling down on efforts to protect the community and hold Exide responsible.”

 

State officials said the funding would pay for testing of residential properties, schools, day care centers and parks within a 1.7-mile radius of the plant, and fund cleaning of as many as 2,500 properties with the highest lead levels.

 

There was no immediate word on when the effort would begin or how long it would take. The cleanup effort is subject to an environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act.

 

The Exide plant permanently closed in March 2015. When Exide agreed to close the lead-acid battery recycling plant, it committed to pay $50 million for cleanup of the site and surrounding neighborhoods. Of that amount, $26 million is meant to be set aside for residential cleanup.

 

As of last August, Exide, which filed for bankruptcy in 2013, had paid $9 million into a trust and another $5 million was due to be paid by March 2020, according to state officials.

 

Rep. Xavier Becerra, D-Los Angeles, called for a fast start to the state’s cleanup efforts.

 

“We’ve heard the distressing news recently that children living near the closed Exide plant had elevated blood lead levels so there's no time to waste,” he said. “... I will continue working closely with state and local partners so that the testing and cleanup of homes moves forward expeditiously and above all, in partnership with the families impacted by the lead contamination. We shouldn’t lose focus of what’s at stake here — restoring a clean and safe environment for our families.”

 

Mayor Eric Garcetti released a Spanish-language public service an­nouncement, also featuring actress Angelica Vale, urging residents near the plant to have their property tested, and to undergo blood-lead level testing.

 

“My office will do everything possible to help the (Department of Toxic Substances Control) expedite the cleanup,” Garcetti said. “Identifying the areas and the people affected by lead contamination is a critical first step.” 

Category: Community