Midday Sunday: East Yard Communities for Justice

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The grass roots organization East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice believes there is a double standard for the remediation of environmental pollution in Southern California.

Compared to the residents of Porter Ranch who have been affected by a gas leak at the Southern California Gas Company's site at Aliso Canyon, the EYCEJ believes the people of Commerce, Vernon and surrounding cities have been poisoned for decades by lead from the now closed Exide battery re-cycling plant.

It is, the EYCEJ believes, an example of the Exide victims being treated like second class citizens.

East of the EYCEJ's focus area, some Montebello residents believe the leak at Aliso Canyon is reminiscent of SoCal Gas leaks in their city from the 1970s through the 1990s.

They remain vigilant for new problems related to the current pump sites and old, abandoned underground storage tanks.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District has not detected any problems in the Montebello area during its most recent monitoring.

More information about the remediation efforts can be found at these websites:

East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice

Air Quality Management District

California Department of Toxic Substances Control

Sierra Club Angeles Chapter

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