# California Declares Exide Cleanup Success Despite Persistent Lead Soil Contamination State officials report 6,500 homes remediated, yet soil samples reveal lingering toxic lead levels. - **Source:** [Los Angeles Times – California](https://www.latimes.com/california) - **Published:** 2026-11-06 - **Topic:** [health](https://brifing.si/c/health) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/cd193aa7-8f9c-4c40-a3f9-f28c4a59020c ## State Claims Cleanup Progress California officials recently announced that 6,500 homes surrounding the shuttered Exide battery recycling plant in Vernon are now considered clean. Governor Gavin Newsom stated that all schools, parks, and childcare centers in the affected area have been remediated. This effort represents approximately 80% of the 8,000 total properties eligible for state-funded soil cleanup. ## Legacy of Toxic Emissions The Exide facility operated for decades in Vernon, melting down lead-acid car batteries and releasing toxic lead dust into neighboring communities like Boyle Heights and Maywood. Following the plant's closure in 2015, the company avoided criminal charges but later abandoned the site during bankruptcy, leaving taxpayers to fund the massive $700 million cleanup project. ## Discrepancies in Soil Testing Independent research and recent state notifications reveal that some remediated properties still contain lead levels exceeding California’s residential standards. Homeowners reported receiving letters from the Department of Toxic Substances Control confirming that lead remains in deeper soil layers. These areas were reportedly left untreated due to physical obstructions like utility lines and tree roots. ## Containment Over Total Removal State officials explained that where total soil removal was impossible, they installed clean soil and landscaping materials to prevent resident contact with lead. However, these measures have sparked concerns regarding the long-term efficacy of the remediation. Residents and environmental advocates question whether this capping strategy sufficiently protects families from lingering subsurface toxic contamination. ## Calls for Further Action Jane Williams, executive director of California Communities Against Toxics, suggests that the state must redeploy work crews to address homes that failed to meet safety goals. She also emphasized that the current 1.7-mile cleanup zone may be too narrow, as independent testing has identified excessive lead levels in soil beyond the state's designated boundaries. ## Financial and Regulatory Context California has spent over $700 million on the Exide cleanup, a burden shifted to taxpayers after the company’s bankruptcy. State lawmakers are currently pushing for the site to be designated as a federal Superfund priority. This designation would theoretically unlock additional federal funding to accelerate the remaining cleanup work for the 1,500 properties still pending. ## Broader Environmental Health Risks The ongoing struggle in Southeast Los Angeles highlights the persistent challenges of managing industrial legacy pollution in densely populated urban areas. Beyond soil remediation, the region faces broader environmental health issues, including aging infrastructure. Recently, the EPA announced $27.5 million in federal funding to help California replace lead pipes that deliver water to homes. ## Future Oversight Requirements The discrepancy between state declarations of safety and findings from soil samples underscores the need for continued transparency and rigorous testing. Moving forward, the Department of Toxic Substances Control faces pressure to reconcile these data gaps. Ensuring long-term safety for residents will require consistent monitoring and potentially additional remediation efforts at previously cleared sites. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-11-06/california-exide-clean-up — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._