Congressman Robert Garcia Urges Support for Superfund Designation of Exide

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Robert Garcia (CA-42) sent a letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan urging support for adding Exide Technologies, Inc., in Vernon, California, to the National Priorities List (NPL) for a Superfund designation. The letter highlights the need for federal resources to facilitate a long-term comprehensive cleanup of the affected communities and to secure environmental justice for the residents of Southeast Los Angeles. Congressman Garcia emphasized that any federal cleanup must address soil, air, and other lead pollution sources, in addition to groundwater. He also called for improved community engagement and outreach, particularly targeting renters and Spanish speakers. To read the full letter, click here.

Excerpts of the letter can be found below. 

“Dear Administrator Regan,

Thank you for your commitment to addressing critical threats to human health and the environment. I am writing in support of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed addition of Exide Technologies, Inc., in Vernon, California to the National Priorities List (NPL) and the federal resources necessary for a long-term, comprehensive cleanup of the affected communities.

One of my first actions in Congress was writing with our California Senators on February 13, 2023, to urge you to designate this as a Superfund site. In our letter, we highlighted that, ‘the severity of the crisis, the failure of past remediation efforts to create healthy communities, and the risk to public health requires assistance from the EPA and the resources available under the Superfund program.’ Additionally, I directly raised this issue with you during a July 10, 2024, hearing of the Oversight and Accountability Committee.

For decades, Exide Technologies released dangerously high levels of lead, trichloroethylene (TCE), a known human carcinogen, and other toxic substances in the air, water, and soil of the residential cities and neighborhoods surrounding Vernon—notably Maywood, Commerce, East Los Angeles, and Boyle Heights, California. The impact of this environmental degradation has been most severe in historically underserved, Latino communities.

There are no safe levels of lead for any family or child. As you know, lead is a potent toxicant linked to severe behavioral, developmental, and educational impacts, and it is also a contributor to high blood pressure and heart disease. The federal government’s intervention is essential to fully correct the failures of past remediation efforts and to resolve this crisis.

The Southeast L.A. communities I represent deserve the basic right to a clean, safe environment—not just groundwater. If your investigation confirms soil lead contamination above background levels linked to the Exide site, it is essential that the EPA collaborates with the community to implement a cleanup plan aligned with California’s lead contamination standard of 80 parts per million.

The time has come for decisive federal action to rectify these long-standing environmental injustices. I stand ready to collaborate with the EPA to ensure a comprehensive resolution to this crisis and to help bring about a future where every resident can live without the threat of pollution in their homes, air, and water.”

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