Official sources revealed that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) have initiated the cleanup of debris from private properties destroyed or damaged in the January wildfires in the Los Angeles area starting from Tuesday, February 11th.
According to reports from the city’s news agencies, these federal entities will collaborate with the government of Los Angeles County and affected municipalities to enter properties of disaster victims who have submitted “Rights of Entry” applications to remove damaged structures, including concrete, metal, ash, and hazardous trees.
Colonel Eric Swenson, the commander of the USACE’s field office, stated, “Over the coming days, weeks, and months, residents in the affected areas will see trucks coming and going, equipment mobilizing, and an increase in personnel. As we clear debris and reduce long-term risks to Los Angeles County communities, we ask for patience and understanding from everyone.”
“Rights of Entry” applications can be obtained at any FEMA Disaster Recovery Center or downloaded online at the following link: recovery.lacounty.gov/debris-removal/roe/. The deadline for form submission is March 31st.
Once applications are confirmed, the Corps of Engineers can enter authorized private properties for debris removal after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) clears hazardous materials.
Robert Fenton, FEMA Region 9 Administrator, mentioned that Los Angeles County has received over 7,300 “Rights of Entry” applications thus far.
The EPA’s hazardous waste operations are considered the first phase of the cleanup process. Once property cleanup is completed, residents can choose to allow the Corps of Engineers to proceed with the second phase of cleanup. This process is free for residents, but they must opt-in by submitting a “Rights of Entry” application. Residents also have the option to opt-out of the government’s free program by hiring contractors for cleanup work.
The Corps of Engineers has already commenced the second phase of work at five campuses of the Pasadena Unified School District, which were destroyed in the Eaton fire. According to the agency, debris at Pasadena Rosebud Academy, Franklin Elementary School, and Noyes Elementary School in Pasadena has been cleared.
By the end of this week, cleanup operations will also begin at some schools in the Pacific Palisades area.
To mitigate dust concerns, Swenson noted that measures such as water spraying will be implemented. Additionally, the agency reminded drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists to remain vigilant near construction sites and heavy equipment.
Tara Fitzgerald, incident commander of the EPA’s Southwest Pacific region, explained that the initial phase of actions involves clearing household hazardous materials, such as pesticides, damaged fuel, propane tanks, lithium-ion batteries used in anything from small scooters to large residential energy systems, which could pose risks to returning residents and workers starting the second phase of cleanup.
She revealed that the department currently has over 1,300 personnel and 100 teams on-site conducting the first phase of work, having cleaned up 3,000 pieces of land containing hazardous materials as of Monday.
The EPA aims to complete the first phase of work by February 28th to enable more private properties to undergo the second phase of cleanup. To achieve this goal, Fitzgerald announced that additional hazardous material staging areas will be set up at the Will Rogers State Beach parking lot and the Altadena Golf Course.
While they do not plan to establish more first-phase staging areas, Swenson hinted that the Corps of Engineers may consider opening more staging areas for their cleanup efforts.
As part of the program, Swenson mentioned that the Corps will test six inches of topsoil to ensure the removal of hazards caused by damaged structures or fire remnants. Should property owners have further inquiries, he advised them to contact the county health department for information on soil testing.
Fitzgerald further explained that the EPA has contracted with Clean Harbors to assist in packaging and categorizing hazardous materials, which will then be transported to permitted facilities. She added that city-owned landfills or recycling centers do not accept these items – approved sites are either state, county, or out-of-state owned facilities.
Swenson stated that materials cleared in the second phase will be sent to California’s Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) or county-approved facilities. Concrete, wood, and metal can be recycled and reintroduced into the market. Additionally, they will definitely hire professional contractors to handle issues like asbestos as needed.
Both agencies are implementing multiple measures to ensure that hazardous materials do not leak or damage staging areas, including using multiple layers of plastic or other materials, deep containers, and specialized trucks.