Eaton Fire: Town Hall meeting held after backlash of hazmat site in Irwindale
IRWINDALE, Calif. - Several cities in the San Gabriel Valley held a Town Hall meeting for neighbors concerned about a temporary Eaton Fire hazardous waste site.
Dozens of Duarte residents filled Tuesday night’s city council meeting voicing their concerns about the potential environmental impacts, children’s health, and decreased home values.
"I urge you, the council and the city, to do everything in our power to stop this immediately," said one Duarte resident during public comment.
"Why bring all this toxic stuff and bring it over here fifteen miles away when you can probably just clean it up over there?" asked Duarte City Councilmember Samual Kang when addressing U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials at the meeting.
Fire debris, including lithium electric vehicle batteries, oils, paints, propane tanks and other possible hazardous materials, will be brought into the site daily, processed into appropriate waste streams, packaged for shipment and sent out to be disposed, federal officials said.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Residents, local leaders oppose use of Lario Park as waste site
Duarte Mayor Cesar Garcia raised concerns during the meeting about the types of hazardous materials that will be temporarily stored on the five acres site. "Some of these batteries are still energized and you’re talking about a high risk fire area," said Garcia.
Town Hall meeting set for Eaton Fire waste site
Fire debris, including lithium electric vehicle batteries, oils, paints, propane tanks and other possible hazardous materials, will be brought into Lario Park daily, processed into appropriate waste streams, packaged for shipment and sent out to be disposed, federal officials said.
The EPA has already prepared the site at 15701 E. Foothill Blvd. with spill control measures and plans to monitor air quality during operations.
"We keep a large enough perimeter around the staging area so that if there was an explosion there’s a safety buffer," said EPA incident commander Tara Fitzgerald.
The EPA said it will use a water truck for routine dust suppression to minimize visible emissions and conduct post-sampling of the site to ensure no negative impacts.
Fire debris, including lithium electric vehicle batteries and other possible hazardous materials, will be brought into the site daily, processed into appropriate waste streams, packaged for shipment and sent out to be disposed, federal officials said.
Trucks will use back roads from the fire area to Lario Park to avoid the 210 Freeway. Once processed for shipping or disposal, only U.S. Department Transportation approved trucks will transport materials to selected disposal facilities via the "quickest authorized paths," according to the EPA.
Residents who are concerned with the EPA's plans can call the agency at 833-798-7372.