EPA to visit Calif town near toxic dump to talk with families about birth defect cluster

EPA to visit Calif town with birth defect cluster

KETTLEMAN CITY, Calif. — An Environmental Protection Agency official says he will visit a California farm town near the largest toxic waste dump in the West, but the agency has no plans to investigate birth defects there.

Jared Blumenfeld, administrator for the EPA’s Pacific Southwest region, said Wednesday he plans to visit families in Kettleman City next week to discuss the situation.

The state is conducting its own health study, which is expected to be released in February.

The Kings County Board of Supervisors recently approved expansion of the waste site operated by Chemical Waste Management Inc.

The dump expansion still needs state and federal approval, and opponents have filed suit to stop it.

(This version CORRECTS APNewsNow. RECASTS to correct that EPA is not launching investigation, but will visit the site.)