Contamination From Old Oxnard Recycling Plant Spreads To Wetlands

OXNARD (AP) — The Environmental Protection Agency says contamination is spreading from an old coastal Oxnard metal recycling plant, which is now a federal Superfund site.

The EPA reported Thursday that lead, zinc and other pollutants are migrating from the 40-acre Halaco plant to the neighboring Ormond Beach wetlands, which is home to several rare and endangered species.

Superfund project manager Wayne Praskins tells the Ventura County Star that the discovery complicates cleanup efforts and the EPA will likely need to expand the Superfund cleanup to include areas adjacent to the site.

The Halaco shut down the plant years ago and filed bankruptcy, leaving a massive waste heap laden with heavy metals and trace amounts of radioactive thorium.

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