On October 12th, 2011, 16-year-old Armando Ramirez was cleaning out a tunnel at Community Recycling and Resource Recovery, Inc., a large scale waste facility in Lamont, California when he collapsed, suddenly overcome by hydrogen sulfide. Hydrogen sulfide is a toxic gas that attacks the central nervous system and is produced when facilities improperly compost organic waste. Armando's 22-year-old brother, Eladio attempted to rescue Armando but was overcome by the fumes himself. Armando died before he reached the hospital. Eladio was pronounced brain-dead and died two days later after being removed from life support. Family members reported that the brothers were not provided with any safety protection other than a flimsy painter's mask and rubber boots.

Since opening in 1993, Community Resource and Recycling has repeatedly been fined and cited for violating local and state regulations. Yet last year, the local government voted to allow the waste facility to continue operating illegally, putting both workers' and nearby residents' health at risk. Local residents and state politicians are now asking the County to close the facility.

We urge the Board of Supervisors for the County of Kern to revoke Community Recycling's permit to operate.

Kern County Board of Supervisors: Use this tragedy to take a positive step to protect the health and safety of your residents. Regardless of race, place or income everyone has the right to be safe and healthy where they live, work, play and pray.

To learn more about this tragedy: 

http://www.bakersfieldnow.com/news/local/132282683.html