After years of uncertainty, Exide is now eligible to become a Superfund site

A year after government officials gathered in Boyle Heights to call for an expedited Exide cleanup, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has determined that the former Vernon battery plant, and areas around it, are eligible to become a Superfund site.

What it means

The designation would free up federal resources and expertise to fund and oversee cleanup efforts “of the contaminated groundwater and soil that have inflicted a generation of illness on neighborhood families,” the County of Los Angeles said in a July 9 statement.

An EPA report published in June states that the site is eligible for its National Priorities List of Superfund Sites due to the presence of trichloroethylene (TCE) in the soil that has caused groundwater contamination. The next step is for the EPA to determine if it will officially list Exide as a Superfund site, which as the county notes, is not guaranteed.

The backstory

“After nearly a generation of battling for accountability and protection for the children and families who continue to be victimized, we are one step closer to achieving that goal,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis in the county statement.

“The EPA’s decision clears a major hurdle, but it is not a victory lap… It does, however, make sure that the people… who continue to suffer the consequences of an egregious offender who knowingly released toxins into their water, soil and air have not been forgotten.”

Site of a lead cleanup on Esperanza Street.

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Alex Medina

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Boyle Heights Beat

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The EPA report states that a “historical release” of TCE, a known carcinogen, was documented in the south yard of the former facility, adding that it was “used as a cooling medium during the extrusion of metal bars and stock into various shapes.” Several groundwater wells around the now-closed facility were found to have TCE levels higher than federal limits, according to the LA Times.

Why it matters

Exposure to the chemical can cause central nervous system impairment, has harmful effects on lungs, kidneys, liver and heart as well as posing an increased risk of autoimmune disease and cancer, according to the EPA.

Exide also dumped lead, arsenic and other harmful chemicals into the air, ground and water.

The facility was shut down in 2015 and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) agreed not to prosecute Exide in exchange for safely closing down the plant. In 2020, the EPA and DOJ supported a bankruptcy plan that would protect the company from any criminal liability and responsibility for the clean up.

“Our communities have suffered for too long,” said Solis. “We must move forward on this long-overdue effort to address the ongoing environmental justice from Exide.”