Rep. Roybal-Allard Statement on Gov. Brown’s Exide Cleanup Proposal

Washington, D.C. – (RealEstateRama) — Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-40), who represents many of the communities around the former Exide Technologies facility in Vernon, as well as the site of the facility itself, issued the following statement today about Governor Jerry Brown’s proposal of a $176.6 million spending plan to fund expedited and expanded testing and cleanup of residential properties, schools, daycare centers, and parks around the former Exide facility:

“I am very pleased to hear that Governor Brown is proposing $176.6 million in funds to test and clean up land around the former Exide plant. Residents of these contaminated areas have been clamoring for urgent relief.

“Governor Brown’s funding proposal, and his support for expediting the cleanup process, are important steps in making our communities safe once again. To date, the state’s effort has been dangerously slow and underfunded. This announcement is a much-needed change of direction in the state’s work to clean up Exide. I am hopeful the governor’s announcement will help ensure that the DTSC will have all the funds needed to test and clean up the affected properties.

“Given the urgency of this crisis, I implore the state legislature to immediately approve this funding in order to expedite the critical work of cleaning up the poisons in our contaminated neighborhoods. The health and well-being of our communities depends on swift and sustained action by the state.”

Ben Soskin ((202) 225-1766)