News Release

T – 13 – 14
Miriam Barcellona Ingenito, Acting Director

Contact: Tim Reese
(916) 323-3395
treese@dtsc.ca.gov

DTSC Finds that Exide’s Permit Application is Deficient

SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) today gave Exide Technologies 30 days to correct deficiencies in its permit application. If Exide does not correct these deficiencies within 30 days, the Department will begin taking the necessary steps to deny the company’s application to handle hazardous waste at its Vernon facility.

Under state law, DTSC must begin a permit denial process if an applicant does not submit a complete permit application package after the Department’s third “Notice of Deficiency.” Exide has received two previous notices, one in 2011 and the second in 2012.

“Exide Technologies has had three chances to submit a complete permit application that demonstrates the company can safety operate and close the facility, and each time Exide has fallen short,” said DTSC Acting Director Miriam Barcellona Ingenito.

A Notice of Deficiency details each shortcoming in the application and instructs applicants on how to correct them. DTSC issued Exide a third Notice of Deficiency on its permit application because the application:

• Fails to provide an accurate cost estimate to ensure Exide can safely clean up the site after it has permanently ceased operations. Specifically, the application fails to accurately describe actions needed to clean up lead contamination throughout the facility, demolish structures, and remove contaminated soil underneath the facility;
• Fails to accurately describe the amount of lead-contaminated waste that needs to be safely removed from the site for treatment and disposal when the facility permanently closes;
• Fails to include a safety assessment of all tanks that hold waste, including tanks that hold acidic hazardous wastes that could overflow during an earthquake;
• Fails to describe all rooms where waste is handled so that it can be safely managed; and
• Fails to describe the correct sampling needed to characterize toxic contamination that must be cleaned up after the facility is permanently closed.

Exide Technologies receives used lead-acid batteries at its Vernon facility and recycles them to recover and sell the lead. Exide has been operating under an interim status authorization while applying for a full permit.

View a copy of the Notice of Deficiency and photographs of the Vernon facility from the Exide web page.

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FOR GENERAL INQUIRIES: Contact the Department of Toxic Substances Control by phone at (800) 728-6942 or visit www.dtsc.ca.gov. To report illegal handling, discharge, or disposal of hazardous waste, call the Waste Alert Hotline at (800) 698-6942.