DUARTE – Four cities are formally opposing the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) intentions of designating a Los Angeles County park to collect and process hazardous household debris from the Eaton Fire without first notifying its residents.
The cities of Azusa, Baldwin Park, Duarte, and Irwindale released a joint statement on the AccessDuarte.com website which urges residents in their communities to mobilize efforts to oppose Lario Park from being used in this manner.
”On Thursday, January 23, 2025, The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a federal agency, designated unincorporated Lario Park to collect and process hazardous household debris left behind by the Eaton Fire, including lithium electric vehicle batteries. All operations, including transportation, processing, and implementing safety precautions will be overseen by the EPA.
Per the EPA, all material processing areas in the site have been lined with plastic and spill control measures have been placed around the processing areas. Continuous perimeter air monitoring will be done around the site. A water truck will conduct routine dust suppression to reduce visible dust emissions. Post-sampling of the site will be conducted to verify no negative impacts were created. Materials will be brought into the site daily, processed into appropriate waste streams, packaged for shipment and proper disposal, and shipped out routinely when full loads are generated. Transportation stake-bed trucks will take backroads from the fire area to the site, avoiding Interstate 210. Once processed for shipping/disposal, only Department of Transportation approved trucks will transport materials to selected disposal facilities via the quickest authorized paths. The site will start operations early next week.
The Cities of Azusa, Irwindale, Baldwin Park, and Duarte (Cities) did not receive advanced notification nor were given an opportunity to express concerns regarding the cities’ close proximity to the site, and the potential negative effects this could have on its communities. The Cities of Azusa, Irwindale, Baldwin Park, and Duarte therefore oppose the operation of a collection and processing site at Lario Park or any site that we believe could negatively affect our communities.
While the Cities are completely in solidarity with our neighboring communities, we are extremely disappointed with the lack of respect to our local residents for not being notified of the EPA’s clean up efforts and having toxic materials transported to our backyards.
The Cities will work to formally oppose this site, as well as mobilize efforts to shut down the site as soon as possible. We are currently working with Senator Rubio’s Office to host a townhall in Duarte and allow residents to voice their concerns. More information about this forum is underway.
For additional information, please contact the City Manager’s Office at 626-357-7931. For residents who are concerned about the hazardous waste site, we encourage you to express your concerns by calling the USEPA at 1-833-798-7372.”
