In California, 5 Kettleman City Infants Born With Birth Defects in 14 months, 3 Die

Kettleman City, CA – Parents of infants born with birth defects in the tiny San Joaquin Valley town of Kettleman City will spoke out on Wednesday, July 8, 2009 to plea for a halt to more pollution in their community. The press conference will take place in front of the Kings County Government Center, 1400 West Lacey Boulevard, Hanford, California.

Parents of children born with cleft palates and other defects, including parents of infants who died, will be joined by community and environmental justice groups to call on government agencies to declare a health emergency and institute a moratorium on permits for new pollution.

El Pueblo, Kids Protecting Our Planet, Greenaction and the Center on Race, Poverty and the Environment will also announce a major march and rally to be held in Kettleman City on Saturday, July 18th to honor the infants who have passed away and to call on government agencies to stop the proposed expansion of the Chem Waste Kettleman Hills toxic waste dump and the proposed power plant in Avenal.

A community health survey conducted last year by community groups and Greenaction uncovered the birth defects. Five children were born with birth defects in approximately 14 months starting in September 2007, and three of the infants died. It is estimated that approximately 30% of children born in this period had birth defects, a staggering percentage. Information is confirmed on four of the infants, with information being sought for the fifth.

Kings County Health Agency staff were told about this birth defect cluster over six months ago but have done nothing to investigate. At the same time, the Kings County Planning Agency, the State Department of Toxics and the United States Environmental Protection Agency all continue to attempt to issue new permits for the proposed expansion of the Chemical Waste Management hazardous waste facility. Adding insult to injury, the California Energy Commission is trying to approve the proposed Avenal Energy Project over community opposition.

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/07/09/18606570.php