LOS ANGELES– The United States Department of Justice (US DOJ) has taken a major course change, proposing approval of Exide’s bankruptcy plan on behalf of Exide Holdings, Inc., allowing abandonment of the cleanup at the highly contaminated Vernon California site. This would leave the site orphaned, with no functional owner capable of securing it or of completing the cleanup, which is now in mid-stream. The Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) has previously identified risk of chemical contamination onsite moving offsite, if not removed. The cleanup plan would have prevented this, but now would be abandoned if DOJ finalizes the bankruptcy settlement.
Local environmental justice organization, Communities for A Better Environment (CBE), mobilized a letter campaign to USDOJ over the weekend after hearing about the shortened public comment deadline. The comment period is closing after just 11 days; a process that can be open for sometimes at least 30 days. As of this morning, 353 people have submitted comment through the link. The asks are simple, extend the comment period, hold a public hearing, and deny the bankruptcy plan so that Exide is accountable for the clean-up.
“We have been fighting for the cleanup of the facility and our homes for many years now and we need Exide to pay for the full cost of the damage they caused in our communities,” said Idalmis Vaquero, CBE member and Boyle Heights Resident. “Those who have poisoned our communities for over 30 years should not be let off the hook simply because their business model is no longer profitable.