1st Toxic Waste Burner for Calif.

The federal Environmental Protection Agency, following the lead of state health officials, today approved construction of California’s first toxic waste incinerator in Vernon, near heavily populated areas of southeastern Los Angeles County.

The federal approval came amid stepped-up efforts by environmentalists, politicians and local citizen groups to persuade the federal agency to order an environmental impact report before issuing permits to California Thermal Treatment Services Inc. But EPA officials said that since the Vernon proposal has been the subject of examination by several state and local agencies, a formal impact study would not be needed. The company now only needs local permits from the Vernon City Council before construction.