"Air district officials filed a lawsuit Thursday seeking up to $40 million from a Vernon battery recycler accused of posing a health risk for emitting too much lead and arsenic."

"The South Coast Air Quality Management District sued Exide Technologies in Los Angeles County Superior Court, accusing the company — one of the world's largest manufacturers and recyclers of lead-acid batteries — of exposing tens of thousands of people to cancer-causing chemicals and failing to take timely action to address problems with pollution control systems.

“Exide has had a steady stream of operational problems that have resulted in excess toxic emissions,” said air district executive officer Barry Wallerstein."

Jessica Garrison reports for the Los Angeles Times January 16, 2014. [2]