State Regulators Face Tough Questions Over Lead Contamination Near Exide Battery Plant

VERNON (CBSLA.com) — Concerns continue to mount over lead contamination near the Exide Technologies battery recycling facility.

State regulators Thursday night answered some tough questions about the hazardous waste during a public meeting in Boyle Heights.

Members of the community referenced a CBS2/KCAL9 report from several weeks ago. In it, experts revealed soil samples from residential areas around the Exide facility in Vernon showed lead contamination far more grievous than previously suspected.

Barbara Lee, the newly-appointed director of the California Department of Toxic Substances Control, said there was no immediate cause for concern. But that answer didn't go over well with some of the residents present, according to CBS2/KCAL9's Randy Paige.

"What am I going to do?" homeowner Terry Cano said. "Oh, it's 'not an immediate problem,' but 'Son, you can't go outside and play. And I don't want you to run too much because I don't want to breathe in too much of this bad air.' I mean, give me a break."

Lee said she didn't have much more information to share at this particular meeting but hoped to have more for them soon.

According to Paige, that answer didn't sit well with many people at the meeting.