Wildfire Cleanup: EPA Deems 4,400 Properties Too Dangerous To Clear

LOS ANGELES, CA — Federal officials on Wednesday announced they've completed the first phase of cleanup following the Eaton and Palisades fires, meeting the 30-day timeline requested by local leaders.

As part of the first phase of a two-phase cleanup operation, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency removed household hazardous materials from 9,000 properties impacted by the fires, including more than 1,000 lithium-ion batteries.

However, the EPA deemed another 4,400 properties too dangerous to clear. The hazardous materials will be removed from those properties by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers during its work on the second phase of the cleanup.

Phase 2 centers around the Army Corps — and private contractors hired by property owners — removing all other materials, including ash and other debris, from fire-damaged properties. That work is already underway and began as soon as hazardous materials were cleared from individual properties, officials said.

"EPA's ability to complete this essential first phase of the cleanup is due to the dedication and hard work of our EPA staff and contractors, our federal, state and local partners, and the support of the community," Tara Fitzgerald, EPA's incident commander, said in a statement. "We recognize this is just the first step on the road to recovery and rebuilding, and we will continue to support our partner agencies as they move through this process."

Much more work needs to be done: The January fires collectively generated 4.5 million tons of waste — which is nearly equal to half of the 11 million tons the county generates in a typical year, according to county Public Works Director Mark Pestrella.

The milestone comes amid ongoing concerns by residents about how the waste is being handled, including at debris processing sites at Will Rogers State Beach and Lario Park in Irwindale.

• Read more: LADWP Restores Water To 2,000 Pacific Palisades Customers

The LA County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved increases in daily allowable dumping limits at the Lancaster Landfill and the Sunshine Canyon Landfill in Granada Hills.

Additionally, the board temporarily removed dumping restrictions at the Calabasas Landfill, allowing the site to accept fire debris.

Calabasas Mayor Peter Kraut and Mayor Pro Tem James Bozajian said the city opposed accepting fire debris at the Calabasas Landfill.

"We have little reason to believe hazardous and non-hazardous materials can be separated," Bozajian said.

• Read more: Air Quality Testing Reveals Hourly Info On Impact Of LA Wildfire Cleanup

County and federal officials insisted at the meeting that hazardous wastes removed from the fire zones by the EPA were not being taken to any of the landfills, but instead to other dumps that are capable of handling such debris. They also contended that fire debris such as ash and wood being removed from the fire areas by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, while potentially dangerous in an uncontrolled environment, is being packaged, delivered and stored at the dumps in such a way as not to present a danger to the community.

City News Service contributed to this report.