The beleaguered operator of a Vernon battery-recycling plant announced the temporary layoffs of nearly all of its employees Monday, weeks after air-quality regulators shut down its operations over air pollution concerns.
The Vernon facility has never received a full permit to operate, as required by federal law, and has been running on a temporary permit for decades.
“These polluters have been allowed to get away with this because they’ve used the rationale that they’re bringing jobs to these poor areas,” said Randy Jurado Ertll, founder of California Latino Environmental Advocacy Network.