Staff Writer, @PubHealthWatch. Former California Newsroom. @KQED Science. Former @NPR, @CAReportingProj, @ISeeChange, @SCPR. mpeterson at https://teapawt.org/t.co/CMpfcUnPQ5
Los Angeles, CA
Joined April 2009
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saw these signs and a very bored volunteer (thank you for your service) at the @YMCALA @AndersonMungerYMCA in Koreatown, love that the Koreatown Y is a voting hub
the nearest sign to the entrance was for @GraceforLA, running to unseat Heather Hutt in CD10
California Code of Regulations regarding electioneering etc at polling places, drop boxes: sos.ca.gov/administration/re… @Mollydacious
very much looking forward to working with these brilliant people and serving this org which has given me so much for so long, and I'm not just talking about the tipsheets. join us if you haven't already!
Please join us in welcoming SEJ's new and returning board members @MegMcGuire @Mollydacious @cgrey307 @tonybarboza @rebleber @tikroot @schapiro, #SEJ2025 conference co-chairs @ktblust @debkrol @dsmith_tuscon, and our new Editorial Director of Conferences & Events, @lisa_palmer!
Molly Peterson retweeted
Please join us in welcoming SEJ's new and returning board members @MegMcGuire @Mollydacious @cgrey307 @tonybarboza @rebleber @tikroot @schapiro, #SEJ2025 conference co-chairs @ktblust @debkrol @dsmith_tuscon, and our new Editorial Director of Conferences & Events, @lisa_palmer!
Molly Peterson retweeted
More info here in original story from August: latimes.com/california/story…
A little bit after that @MackenzieMays filled out the picture for the LA Times with more about political contributions: latimes.com/california/story…
My favorite piece of California legislation this year was revealed to me by Patrick @redford at Defector: defector.com/clippers-fans-a…
Molly Peterson retweeted
NEW from @Mollydacious @pubhealthwatch: "Clean hydrogen could be the angel of decarbonizing the energy sector, but...poorly defined hydrogen could be the devil, because it might prolong the use of fossil fuels." publichealthwatch.org/2024/0…
Molly Peterson retweeted
Detailed, well researched article about lead battery recycling smelters in California.
As an old Materials Engineer I am appalled at this whole mess.
California's Department of Toxic Substances Control just released the operating permit for Ecobat, the lead-battery recycling facility in City of Industry. As I reported, there's a contentious atmosphere around the plant into which this permit is dropping: publichealthwatch.org/2024/0…
I'll have a story at @pubhealthwatch soon. This is simply the beginning of a four-month comment period, and a lot more reading of these materials before November 18. More about that too, later. //
HOWEVER cleaning up lead isn't easy. Initial estimates for cleaning up Exide have matured into quadruple that, after several practical and contracting problems at LA County's OTHER lead smelter. It's more, but it's not clear why $21.8m would be enough.
Closure funding requirements tripled. But they're still at $25.3 million, and there's serious question whether that's enough. For onsite corrective action, required funding had been less than half a million dollars. Now it's at $21.8 million. Significantly more. ...
DTSC is touting this as an increase in oversight, which seems true. But more than before also isn't a high bar to clear. dtsc.ca.gov/2024/07/16/news-…
Since the permit expired and was "administratively extended" in 2015, DTSC issued an enforcement order for corrective action in 2018 and a reached a consent agreement w/Ecobat in 2020. It's in conjunction w/ the latter that the soil testing is mandated under the permit's terms.
DTSC also has corrective action for Ecobat: the company has to test 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile out from its fenceline for lead and arsenic. Nothing in the permit should be construed to limit corrective action "including corrective action beyond the facility boundary."
...in this draft permit, if Ecobat has an unplanned shutdown, it would have to notify DTSC within an hour. it can't store waste longer than a year, and the smelter has to notify DTSC if there are cracks, gaps, or tears in units that safely control the hazardous waste.
After a quick read, the draft permit includes new special conditions: the smelter has to hold annual public meetings to fully disclose enviro monitoring data required over the past year; it must sample and test the materials it burns in the kiln each month...
Three days ago community members rallied outside Ecobat, as part of a month-long groups of actions among multiple neighborhoods next to hazardous waste facilities. Some want the facility shut down:
ALT about 16 protesters stand on a public sidewalk outside and to the right of Ecobat's driveway entrance on Salt Lake Ave in the City of Industry, Los Angeles County, California.
ALT vertical image of a single protester wearing converse sneakers; they have grey and black hair, are wearing sunglasses and a mask, and hold a sign. the sign says "STOP QUEMETCO POLLUTING" with a hand-drawn image of a globe with industrial polluting buildings atop it.
DTSC has published the draft operating permit, the post-closure permit, public notices, and unusually, a memo about Ecobat's compliance history. Also unusually all of these documents are in Spanish and Chinese as well as English, which neighbors to the facility had requested.
At one point the permit was expected last year. Then earlier this winter, then the spring, and now it's published in summer. A four-month public comment period till November starts now. The documents are here: envirostor.dtsc.ca.gov/publi…