sť United States Environmental Protection Agency National Priorities List (NPL) * * *Proposed NPL Site * * * EXIDE TECHNOLOGIES - VERNON Vernon, California Los Angeles County (?) Site Location: OLEM/OSRTI Washington, DC 20460 September 2024 The former Exide Technologies - Vernon site (site) is located at 2700 South Indiana Street in the city of Vernon, Los Angeles County, California. The site is situated within an industrial area. The city of Los Angeles is approximately five miles northwest of the site. Site History: The Exide facility began lead recycling operations in 1922. By 1982, the facility was conducting battery recycling and lead-refining operations where lead-acid batteries were crushed and recycled in a secondary lead smelter system at the site. Exide operations were terminated in March 2014. Since 2013, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) has conducted extensive site characterization activities at the site and surrounding areas, including on- site sampling, off-site sampling, and excavations of residential yards. A Chapter 11 bankruptcy was settled in 2020. 1 Site Contamination/Contaminants: Ground water beneath the site is contaminated with trichloroethylene (TCE). Three wells considered downgradient from the site have exhibited historical maximum TCE concentrations above the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Act Maximum Contaminant Level. In addition, lead contamination in soils has been found in the on-site acid pits as well as in the residential neighborhoods around the site. rtft Potential Impacts on Surrounding Community/Environment: TCE is the contaminant of concern and known to be prevalent in area ground water. Residential populations potentially served by impacted drinking water wells range from 133,756 to 459,370 individuals. ^ Response Activities (to date): In 2018, the state began clean-up of soil at residential properties and more than 5,000 properties have been excavated. Since October 2021, the EPA and the DTSC have worked to oversee the actions at the site. Activities completed include decontaminating and tearing down remaining on-site lead battery processing and smelting buildings and assessing on- site soil contamination. B Need for NPL Listing: The state of California referred the site to the EPA for NPL listing to avoid interruptions in site cleanup. TCE contamination in site groundwater likely is a contributor to area wide TCE contamination found in the Los Angeles Basin. Other federal and state cleanup programs were evaluated but are not viable at this time. The EPA received a letter of support for placing the site on the NPL from the state of California. [The description of the site (release) is based on information available at the time the site was evaluated with the HRS. The description may change as additional information is gathered on the sources and extent of contamination. See 56 FR 5600, February 11, 1991, or subsequent FR notices.] For more information about the hazardous substances identified in this narrative summary, including general information regarding the effects of exposure to these substances on human health, please see the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) ToxFAQs. ATSDR ToxFAQs can be found on the Internet at https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/index.asp or by telephone at 1-800-CDC-INFO or 1-800-232-4636. ------- |