State reports major progress in Exide plant cleanup

Governor Gavin Newsom announced major cleanup progress in communities affected by the shuttered Exide battery recycling facility in South Los Angeles. State environmental officials reported that remediation work has reached nearly 6,500 residential parcels and all 7,800 eligible parkways along sidewalks and roads in the surrounding Southeast Los Angeles neighborhoods. Since 2016, California has dedicated more than $700 million to address toxic lead contamination left behind by the former industrial plant in Vernon, marking a major milestone in one of the largest residential cleanup efforts in United States history.

The Department of Toxic Substances Control oversaw the multi-year project, completing soil removal at approximately 80 percent of eligible residential properties where owners granted site access. State officials confirmed that every school, park, and childcare center within the affected zone has also been fully remediated. Local authorities prioritized these sensitive community locations to ensure that children are protected from hazardous chemical exposure in the places where they learn and play daily.

The Exide facility operated for decades before its closure and subsequent abandonment, which left behind widespread lead and arsenic dust across multiple municipalities including Boyle Heights, Maywood, and Commerce. State leaders emphasized that residential cleanup operations remain active for remaining properties whose owners are currently coordinating access with state contractors. California environmental protection officials said that the administration will continue working to complete the remaining parcels and ensure health protections for all impacted families.

The ongoing remediation addresses health risks that previously threatened more than 100,000 residents living near the former smelting site. State agencies continue to collaborate with local health departments to provide outreach, education, and resources to residents throughout the affected region. Officials indicated that work will persist until every eligible property is thoroughly addressed.