Community News
About Quemetco . . . in our Neighborhood
Now that the Department of Justice has forced Exide to close its facility in Vernon because of years of criminal violations of safety regulations, only one lead-acid battery recycling plant remains west of the Rocky Mountains: Quemetco, in the City of Industry. This facility has been in our community since 1959, now entirely surrounded by homes and schools—Hacienda Heights, Avocado Heights and La Puente together comprise about 140 000 mostly Latino residents—and some Hacienda Heights residents live as close as 400 feet from Quemetco. This facility is regulated by the same state agencies that failed to protect the health of the communities next to Exide.
The Department of Toxic Substances Control and the South Coast Air Quality Management District are not working together to regulate Quemetco, which has a long history of permit violations. In fact, AQMD is currently processing Quemetco's application to increase its throughput by 25% while DTSC is processing a renewal of Quemetco's hazardous waste permit, which does NOT mention their application to increase throughput. Meanwhile, Quemetco was for years discharging lead and zinc into stormwater (which percolates into our groundwater) at levels way beyond benchmarks set by the Water Board.
Quemetco is currently the #3 polluter in LA County and was responsible for 74% of total lead compounds releases into our air and water in 2013, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (see documents below). It also generates, treats, and disposes of hazardous waste. Limited tests for the presence of toxins like lead and arsenic in the neighboring communities have been done but without any subsequent clean up. Today it is imperative that the public be informed in order to expedite the testing and clean up of contaminated sites. The notorious case of Exide, the ongoing clean up around that facility, and Quemetco’s pending application to increase battery processing––all of this make our focus on this facility urgent.
The Department of Toxic Substances Control and the South Coast Air Quality Management District are not working together to regulate Quemetco, which has a long history of permit violations. In fact, AQMD is currently processing Quemetco's application to increase its throughput by 25% while DTSC is processing a renewal of Quemetco's hazardous waste permit, which does NOT mention their application to increase throughput. Meanwhile, Quemetco was for years discharging lead and zinc into stormwater (which percolates into our groundwater) at levels way beyond benchmarks set by the Water Board.
Quemetco is currently the #3 polluter in LA County and was responsible for 74% of total lead compounds releases into our air and water in 2013, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (see documents below). It also generates, treats, and disposes of hazardous waste. Limited tests for the presence of toxins like lead and arsenic in the neighboring communities have been done but without any subsequent clean up. Today it is imperative that the public be informed in order to expedite the testing and clean up of contaminated sites. The notorious case of Exide, the ongoing clean up around that facility, and Quemetco’s pending application to increase battery processing––all of this make our focus on this facility urgent.
CAC's MESSAGE TO YOU:
WE WANT QUEMETCO'S PRODUCTION INCREASE DENIED and the facility shut down. A 1991 Department of Toxic Substances Control soil sampling and investigation documented unsafe levels of lead in commercial and residential properties close to Quemetco, long before the facility installed the WESP and regenerative thermal oxidizer. Until there is more thorough investigation of the areas surrounding Quemetco we are concerned that the facility’s operations potentially have added and will continue to add more lead and other constituents of
concern to these areas.
Where is our PROTECTION? Where is the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) and the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD)? They have the power to deny the expansion and shut Quemetco down.
WE WANT QUEMETCO'S PRODUCTION INCREASE DENIED and the facility shut down. A 1991 Department of Toxic Substances Control soil sampling and investigation documented unsafe levels of lead in commercial and residential properties close to Quemetco, long before the facility installed the WESP and regenerative thermal oxidizer. Until there is more thorough investigation of the areas surrounding Quemetco we are concerned that the facility’s operations potentially have added and will continue to add more lead and other constituents of
concern to these areas.
Where is our PROTECTION? Where is the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) and the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD)? They have the power to deny the expansion and shut Quemetco down.
SCAQMD's 2016 map of the modeled arsenic plume from Quemetco. Sites A and B are where CAC conducted our health study in 2015
We are environmental justice communities
The Cumulative Impacts of Pollution in our Communities | |
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Sept. 21, 2019
Possible risk of toxins from City of Industry battery recycling plant prompts massive county outreach effort
Sept. 13, 2018
Neighbors in Hacienda Heights concerned over lead-smelting plant expansion plans leave meeting frustrated
Sept. 1, 2016
San Gabriel Valley Tribune - Article by Steve Scauzillo
Lead Testing in Hacienda Heights slow by legal issues, low participation
June 3, 2016
San Gabriel Valley Tribune - Article by Steve Scauzillo
Is Industry lead-smelter leaking toxics into the ground water?
May 17, 2016
L.A. Times - Article by Tony Barboza
Battery recycler Quemetco told to reduce cancer risk from arsenic emissions
May 17, 2016
San Gabriel Valley Tribune- Article by Steve Scauzillo
Regulators say cancer risk from arsenic emissions at Industry plant is too high
November 19, 2015
Article by Molly Peterson/KPCC
City of Industry battery recycler ordered to test for lead pollution
AQMD's Health Risk Assessment of Quemetco:
High Arsenic Emissions Increase Community Cancer Risk
High Arsenic Emissions Increase Community Cancer Risk
quemetco_hra_approvalfinal.pdf | |
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scaqmd_agenda_6_23_16.pdf | |
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scaqmd_power_point_6_23_16.pdf | |
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Quemetco Again Violates Hazardous Waste Laws:
July 2016 DTSC Demands Corrective Action
July 2016 DTSC Demands Corrective Action
quemetco_sovjuly2016.pdf | |
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Quemetco - EPA's Toxic Release Inventory 2013
2013_summary_of_tri_information_for_los_angeles-long_beach-anaheim_ca___tri_explorer___us_epa.pdf | |
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L.A. Times on Quemetco
Arsenic levels at second battery recycler draw concerns
Quemetco, based in the City of Industry, has been ordered to perform a health risk study after tests showed elevated arsenic emissions. http://articles.latimes.com/2013/dec/18/local/la-me-arsenic-20131219 Los Angeles County Supervisor Solis on Exide
"For 33 years, state regulators allowed the Exide battery recycling plant in Vernon to operate (on a temporary permit!) while repeatedly violating various environmental laws by doing things like. . ."
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OFFICIAL AGENCIES CORRESPONDENCE
Army Corps of Engineers - January 6, 2015
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Former Supervisor Molina supports Toxic Threat Strike Team - August 13, 2014
gloria_molina_8-13-14.pdf | |
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Dept. of Toxic Substances Control - July 29, 2014
toxic_july_29_2014-1.pdf | |
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CAC opposes DTSC Permit Modification - July 14, 2014
cac_letter_dtsc_7-14-14.pdf | |
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Quemetco requests Class 2 Permit Modification - June 2014
quemetco_public_notice.pdf | |
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CAC request to DTSC for soil and water testing around Quemetco - May 13, 2014
cac_letter_dtsc_5-13-14.pdf | |
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South Coast Air Quality Management District
Public Meeting, Thursday, June 23, 2016 at La Puente High School
scaqmd_agenda_6_23_16.pdf | |
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scaqmd_power_point_6_23_16.pdf | |
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Town Hall Meeting July 7, 2015 Summary
town_hall_meeting_agenda_7-7-15.pdf | |
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toxic_substances_presentation_7-7-15.pdf | |
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public_notice_june_2015.pdf | |
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notice_of_permit_april_2015.pdf | |
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aviso_publico_june_2015.pdf | |
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