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ENVIRONMENT - In a critical move to safeguard public health and the environment, Los Angeles County has filed a lawsuit against Waste Connections, the owner of Chiquita Canyon Landfill, accusing the company of failing to control a hazardous chemical reaction that has been smoldering beneath the landfill’s surface for nearly two years. This environmental crisis has plagued the nearby communities of Castaic and Val Verde with toxic fumes and hazardous liquids.
The Environmental Crisis
Since late 2021, a rare high-temperature chemical reaction has been cooking garbage in a dormant 30-acre section of Chiquita Canyon Landfill. This reaction has created dangerous conditions, including the release of putrid gases and harmful liquids seeping through the landfill's surface. Despite intervention efforts ordered by federal, state, and county environmental agencies, the situation remains unresolved, with local residents reporting severe health problems such as headaches, asthma, heart palpitations, and even cancer.
Regulatory Failures and Legal Action
Citing prolonged inaction, the county’s lawsuit seeks a court order to halt the emissions and impose civil penalties on Waste Connections. The county has also requested the appointment of a court-ordered receiver to assume operational control of the landfill if immediate compliance is not achieved.
“This lawsuit is a necessary step to ensure accountability and compliance with the rules that protect our residents and the environment,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger. “We must hold the responsible party accountable and continue doing everything possible to restore safe and healthy living conditions for our communities.”
Senior Deputy County Counsel Dusan Pavlovic reinforced this stance, stating, “Despite repeated enforcement actions and abatement orders, the landfill operators have not adequately addressed the situation. This lawsuit seeks to ensure immediate action to stop the harm. The resources that have been deployed in the community fall woefully short.”
Community Uproar and Calls for a State of Emergency
Local advocacy groups, including Citizens for Chiquita Canyon Closure, have intensified their efforts, demanding that the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors declare a State of Emergency. On December 17th, concerned residents and activists plan to convene at the Board of Supervisors meeting to underscore the ongoing public health crisis.
“This lawsuit is just the beginning,” said a representative from the advocacy group. “Without a State of Emergency, there will be no significant relief for the residents suffering from constant exposure to hazardous gases like methane and benzene.”
Families have vowed to pull their children out of school as a form of protest, highlighting the urgency of the crisis. The landfill has continued operations despite accumulating hundreds of environmental violations from agencies such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA), South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD), and CalOSHA.
Next Steps and Potential Outcomes
The lawsuit aims to compel Waste Connections to extinguish the chemical fire, stop toxic emissions, and pay civil penalties for environmental and public health violations. If the court agrees to appoint a receiver, it could mark a turning point in managing the landfill’s ongoing crisis.
As the legal battle unfolds, affected residents continue to live under the shadow of the landfill’s dangerous emissions, hoping that judicial action will finally bring the relief and justice they have long awaited.
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