The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officially completes “Phase 1” of its Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire cleanup efforts held in Los Angeles on Tuesday, and orders President Donald Trump to move as quickly as possible. It ended just 28 days later.
The Palisades fire burned nearly 24,000 acres and nearly 7,000 acres of structures. The Eton Fire burned over 14,000 acres and destroyed more than 9,000 structures. Originally, federal authorities said the Phase 1 process, focusing on identifying and removing dangerous materials, would take 90 days. flat Up to 1 year.
President Trump and EPA administrator Lee Zeldin set more ambitious goals for 30 days and finished even earlier.
In an exclusive statement to Breitbart News, administrator Zeldin said: I am extremely proud of the incredible work of the team that helps me recover. They set up a bar for future emergency response efforts. ”
Zeldin personally visited the EPA Incident Command Post in Altadena and Pacific Palisard, as well as Burbank, to oversee the Phase 1 process earlier this month.
Hazardous materials removed from burned lots include lithium-ion batteries associated with electric vehicles and power outage systems. Household cleaning products; ammunition; and other items that release dangerous and toxic substances when exposed to fire.
The EPA investigated over 13,000 properties and removed hazardous materials where they discovered them. EPA officials will remain on-site to assist the Army Corps of Engineers in Phase 2 with normal debris removal to deal with 4,000 properties where removal of hazardous waste has been postponed.
The rapid progress of the EPA has become a symbol of accelerated cleanup and reconstruction efforts by the Trump administration and ambassador Rick Grenell, who is a special mission presidential envoy and oversees progress in California. I did. The state and local governments work together.
The removal of phase 2 debris – the final step before reconstruction – has already begun, and the Army Corps of Engineers tells Breitbart News that the process can be completed within a year, six months before the original 18-month estimate. I'm telling you that I want it.
Joel B. Pollack is a senior editor at Breitbart News; Breitbart News Sunday Sirius XM Patriot will be available Sundays from 7pm to 10pm (4pm to 7pm). He is the author of Agenda: What Trump Should Do in His First 100 Daysyou can pre-order on Amazon. He is also the author Trump's Virtue: Lessons and Legacy of President Donald TrumpIt is now available on Audible. He is the winner of the 2018 Robert Novak Journalism Alumni Fellowship. Follow him on Twitter @joelpollak.
