LOS ANGELES (CNS) – Beginning Tuesday, residents whose homes were damaged or destroyed in the region’s recent wildfires will be able to formally opt in to have the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers clear debris from their properties for free.
The debris removal process is currently in Phase 1, which is the removal of hazardous materials from properties by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to ensure the debris areas are safe for people to enter.
Once the EPA finishes its work, the Corps of Engineers will be able to move in and physically remove the debris from properties whose owners opt- in to the free removal program. Residents can also opt out of the program and hire their own contractors to conduct the work.
It remains unclear how long the EPA hazardous-waste removal will take.
But beginning Tuesday, residents will be able to fill out “Right of Entry” forms to opt in or out of the clearance program. Details are available online at recovery.lacounty.gov/debris-removal/.
“I want to commend the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Los Angeles County Public Works for expediting the availability of Right of Entry forms,” county Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who currently chairs the Board of Supervisors, said in a statement. “This is a critical milestone and first step forward towards ensuring wildfire survivors can begin clearing debris and rebuilding their homes without delays.”
Barger said having residents complete the forms now will expedite the removal process once the Corps of Engineers is cleared to move in and begin the clearance work.
“It’s imperative that our county along with collaborating federal and state agencies continue working around the clock to remove barriers and provide the resources needed for a swift recovery,” she said. “I am committed to doing everything possible to help our communities heal and quickly rebuild.”
The county Department of Public Works is coordinating the debris- removal process in conjunction with the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers.
On Friday, President Donald Trump took a tour of the Palisades Fire burn area, and said later that residents should be allowed to immediately access their properties to clear debris — dismissing the idea that anything hazardous remains since the homes were largely reduced to rubble.
EPA officials insist, however, that household hazardous wastes, such as oils, paints, lithium-ion batteries, pesticides and propane tanks present a danger to returning residents, particularly if their containers were damaged in the fire.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said residents will be permitted to do their own debris removal if they choose, but only when it is safe to do so.
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