Dr. Wells Appointed Technical Advisor to Exide Community Group

Jim Wells of L. Everett & Associates have been appointed to serve as technical advisor to the Exide Community Advisory Group, working with South Coast Air Quality Management District and California Department of Toxic Substances Control on environmental issues related to cleanup of lead and other contaminants from the former Exide secondary lead smelter in Vernon, California. Dr. Wells has a particular area of expertise in the fate and transport of metals in the environment. The Advisory Group is made up of stakeholders from regulatory agencies, local governments, academia, advocacy groups and community representatives from areas around the Exide facility.
This 15-acre Exide facility had operated since 1922 as a secondary lead smelter, recycling automobile batteries (among other things). It has long been known that the site itself is severely contaminated. However, recent off-site sampling has found elevated levels of lead in the soil of residential and commercial properties up to about 1.5 miles from the facility. An extensive body of medical and scientific research has identified many toxic effects associated with lead exposure. Even low levels of lead in the blood of children can result in neurological effects and learning problems. For women of child-bearing age, lead exposure during or before pregnancy can lead to reduced growth of the fetus, premature birth and other physical effects. There are approximately 10,000 homes within a 1.5 mile radius of Exide, so this situation is a major public health concern.
As Technical Advisor, Dr. Wells will assist the Community Advisory Group on scientific and engineering matters related to the RCRA closure project, characterization and remediation planning for the offsite areas, and other Exide related technical analyses.