Former Exide property could be designated a Superfund site

Al Seib / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

VERNON — Congressman Robert Garcia announced Friday an important milestone towards a Superfund Designation, which would fund lead contamination cleanup, for neighborhoods in Southeast Los Angeles County that were polluted by the former Exide Technologies Inc. facility.

Following a preliminary assessment, and as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalizes its site investigation, Region 9 of the EPA has written to the State of California seeking the State’s agreement in designating the site as a Superfund site. This moves the community closer to its goal of major federal funding for the cleanup of toxic lead pollution. In February 2023, Congressman Garcia joined California’s Senators seeking a Superfund National Priorities List designation for Exide.

“For far too long, Southeast LA communities have suffered from unsafe lead levels caused by politically connected polluters that the Trump Administration let off the hook,” said Rep. Garcia. “With the move towards a Superfund designation and federal aid, we're advancing toward securing these communities' fundamental right to a safe, healthy environment. I commend Governor Newsom’s efforts and am pleased with the progress in our push for federal action. Ensuring a safe environment for these residents is not just a goal—it's a human right, and we are closer to achieving it.”

Congressman Garcia knows how critical it is to ensure the communities affected by the Exide contamination have the resources to combat its devastating impacts. Shortly after coming to Congress, Congressman Garcia joined Senators Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla in calling on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to designate the former Exide Technologies Inc. facility to the Superfund National Priorities List, correcting decades of missteps by the federal government that left Southeast Los Angeles Communities susceptible to toxic environmental pollution.