In a striking demonstration of federal efficiency and cooperativeism, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proud to have completed the cleaning of the biggest hazardous materials in its history.
When President Trump issued an executive order on January 24, 2025, instructing the EPA to complete the dangerous goods mission on such an ambitious timeline, some questioned whether this was achievable. The unprecedented scale of the two disasters (Eton Fire and Palisade Fire) called for a timeline for recovery, including summer. Under President Trump's leadership, we decided to deliver for Californians who had been devastated by wildfires, so we accepted the challenge and quickly expanded to more than 1,000 staff on the ground within a few days.
I traveled on February 6th to personally investigate the damage in both Altadena and Pallisards in the Pacific Ocean. Many Californians lost their homes and livelihoods, but in the face of this tragedy, they were moved by their resilience. As the EPA provides the fastest emergency response, it was important that this community be able to begin rebuilding as soon as possible.
Thanks to the tireless efforts of thousands of dedicated experts, what usually took months to do within 30 days has been achieved. The EPA crew evaluated 13,612 residential properties and 305 commercial properties. They cleared hazardous goods from 9,201 real estate and removed 1,038 electric vehicles and bulk energy storage systems.
One of the most notable factors in this achievement is the technical complexity involved. The home contains countless dangerous materials, from regular household cleaners and pesticides to automotive liquids and propane tanks. Wildfires have transformed these everyday items into dangers in environments that require special handling and disposal. The most difficult are lithium-ion batteries from damaged electric vehicles and household energy systems, which can spontaneously re-flame or explode even after the fire appears to have disappeared.
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) workers are holding a bucket of burnt lithium-ion batteries removed from electric vehicles (EVs) after the Palisard fired in the Pacific Palisade area in Los Angeles, California, USA on Thursday, January 30, 2025.
The success of this operation shows what is possible when barriers to effective government action are removed. Through executive action, partnerships with the US military and the Department of Homeland Security, and governments at all levels of government working effectively to work together to develop and implement response plans that prioritize speed without compromising safety. The agency has established a strategic staging area for the disposal of hazardous materials, allowing for safe temporary storage and efficient disposal that prevents environmental pollution.
For the thousands of Californians who have lost everything, the EPA's work represents more than environmental protection. The agency's Phase 1 work, carried out free to residents, paves the way for the US Army Corps of Engineers to launch a Phase 2 debris removal project.
When challenges appeared, the agency adapted to meet them immediately. For example, if lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles were found to be particularly problematic, a specialized team was quickly deployed to address this latest danger.
As part of President Trump's efforts to make water accessible to affected communities, the EPA has convened a working group to coordinate with utilities and other stakeholders to ensure rapid water systems repair, which is critical to the community's recovery.
This operation exists as a case study for effective emergency response. Clear orientation, interagency coordination, rapid resource mobilization, and technical expertise all survived seemingly insurmountable challenges. By completing this mission within 30 days, the EPA has significantly improved the timeline for affected communities to rebuild.
Although 4,381 properties have been postponed to phase 2 due to unsafe conditions, a comprehensive approach ensures that even these most severely damaged sites will receive appropriate treatment as part of their ongoing recovery efforts. For residents who lost everything just a few weeks ago, this accelerated timeline offers something valuable: a hope for a faster return to normalcy.
For the thousands of families evacuated by these catastrophic fires, the path to this future remains long. However, thanks to the rapid and thorough removal of dangerous materials from the EPA, its roads are exempt from the most dangerous obstacles. We are confident that the community will rebuild a stronger reconstruction than ever before.
The EPA is honored to have done our part in supporting Los Angeles County during this necessary time. Even the most challenging environmental challenges can be addressed head-on at incredible speeds. For communities across America facing future disasters, this record-breaking cleanup provides both a model to follow and a reason for hope.
