Today, Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-40) praised the news that Vernon’s Exide Technologies lead-acid battery recycling facility will permanently close.   Congresswoman Roybal-Allard represents the City of Vernon, as well as many cities and communities affected by the Exide plant’s pollution, including Bell, Bell Gardens, Commerce, East Los Angeles, Huntington Park, and Maywood.

Congresswoman Roybal-Allard issued the following statement about the Exide plant’s closure:

“The permanent closure of the Exide Technologies plant is a landmark public health victory for the 40th District.  After years of operation, the plant has grossly contaminated much of the soil and air of the surrounding communities.  I have been greatly concerned about the health hazards that the Exide plant poses to my constituents, and that is why I have been a vocal supporter of the plant’s closure.

“While I recognize Exide had made efforts to update the facility’s air pollution control systems and complete renovations, the reality is that it was too little too late.  Given Exide’s history, there was little reason to believe in its promises of corrective action.

“It is regrettable that Exide will avoid criminal prosecution as a result of its agreement with the government to shut down this plant, but at least the plant is now permanently closed.  I hope authorities can swiftly complete the decontamination of the site and its surrounding communities.”

In recent years, Congresswoman Roybal-Allard and her staff attended numerous meetings and hearings regarding Exide and its many notices of violations from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), and the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC).  SCAQMD had ordered the shutdown of all operations at Exide until maintenance and renovations were completed to the plant due to high levels of lead and arsenic emissions.

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