valve regulated lead acid battery Regulators propose agreement to limit pollution from Exide plant
The air quality regulator has reached an agreement with Exide Technologies to ban its battery recycling plant in Vernon from resuming operations until it implements new controls on arsenic emissions that pose a health risk to the surrounding communityThe emission reduction order will be considered at an open meeting of the independent administrative law group at Maywood College High School on Wednesday evening. The facility has been idle since, when the company suspended operations due to its inability to comply with strict new airport rules. These rules require it to maintain negative pressure in the furnace to prevent the release of toxic air pollutants into the surrounding community. If approved by the hearing committee, these orders will require Exide to comply with these rules and take additional measures to prevent potential customersContaminated dust released during construction and maintenance. Over the past two years, air quality officials on the south coast have issued more than 30 notices of violations against Exide, mainly due to the discharge of too much lead. In May, the company was quoted by the United States. S. The Environmental Protection Agency has violated a series of lead emissions. David Petit, a lawyer with the natural resources protection commission, called the deal "a complete victory for the aviation sector ". "They got everything they wanted and let the factory comply with the new, very strict regulations and all the lawsuits disappeared," he said . ". But the proposal is unlikely to satisfy the community groups and elected officials who have requested the facility to be permanently closed. Nancy Feldman, chief deputy district legal counsel for the aviation sector, said the proposal meant that Exide had essentially acknowledged and agreed to exceed the regulatory requirements. The plant handles about 25,000 car batteries a day and is one of only two lead-acid battery smelters west of the Rocky Mountains. Another, Quemetco. In the City of Industry. For more information on air quality and the environment, see @ tonybarbozatony. Balvasa @ latimes.