Phase 1 of EPA’s Largest Ever Wildfire Cleanup in Record 28 days.
February 26, 2025
Contact Information
EPA Press Office (press@epa.gov)
WASHINGTON – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the agency completed its Phase 1 hazardous materials mission related to the catastrophic Los Angeles County wildfires in under 30 days. This effort has been the largest wildfire hazardous waste cleanup in the history of the EPA.
“There is still a long road ahead for thousands of residents who lost everything just a few weeks ago, but EPA is proud to do our part in the recovery process. The community will rebuild stronger than ever before,” said Administrator Zeldin.
The EPA partnered with the U.S. military and U.S. Department of Homeland Security to develop and execute a response plan. Under EPA leadership, crews identified and cleared hazardous materials from 13,612 residential properties and 305 commercial properties, paving the way for debris removal and other stages of the recovery effort to move forward. Administrator Zeldin traveled to Los Angeles on February 6, 2025, to survey damage and meet with EPA personnel on the ground.
By the Numbers:
13,612 residential properties surveyed
6,631 Eaton Fire
6,981 Palisades Fire
9,201 properties cleared
4,852 Eaton Fire
4,349 Palisades Fire
4,381 properties deferred to Phase 2
1,038 Electric Vehicles and Bulk Energy Storage Systems Removed
Phase 2 will be conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), as coordinated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Properties deferred to Phase 2 means that due to the presence of unsafe conditions at the property, hazardous waste removal crews cannot complete Phase 1 work. In this case, hazardous waste removal, if required on a particular site, will be completed by the USACE as part of their Phase 2 debris removal work.
FEMA assigned EPA the first phase of the overall recovery and cleanup: to survey, remove, and dispose of hazardous materials and to remove lithium-ion batteries. This work, conducted at no cost to residents, ensured the safety of residents and the workers who will — after the household hazardous materials are gone — undertake Phase 2 of the post-fire recovery.
For more information on EPA’s Phase 1 work, visit the EPA California Wildfires webpage. Learn more about EPA’s lithium-ion battery removal work.
Additionally, EPA convened a working group to coordinate with utilities, state, local and federal stakeholders to expedite cleanup operations and meet unmet needs in the sector. At the request of water utilities, EPA also is providing technical assistance to help bring systems back online. EPA offered technical assistance as local air authorities monitor for air pollution in the communities impacted by both fires.
EPA secured temporary storage, or staging, locations for materials from each fire site. Staging areas are essential to the hazardous material removal process and will enable residents to rebuild their homes faster.
Once the staging areas are no longer needed for EPA’s Phase 1 work, EPA will sample the soil in staging areas to ensure no negative impact to the property and provide the owner with a summary report. Some staging areas may remain during Phase 2 to ensure proper handling and disposal of materials collected from deferred properties. In those cases, USACE will complete the breakdown and sampling of the staging areas when their work is complete.
Please visit EPA’s staging areas for the LA wildfires (pdf) to learn more.
The public can find more information about EPA’s hazardous material removal operations at EPA’s 2025 California Wildfires website.
AIA | LA Wildfire Disaster Response Task Force: Meeting #2 February 5, 2025
Click here for the link to the AIA | LA Wildfire Disaster Response Task Force: Meeting #2 on February 5, 2025
LADBS > Demolition & Debris Removal
On Wednesday, Feb 5, 2025 the City of LA issued a new Information Bulletin that adds another layer of permitting for certain properties. Specifically:
If your property has a slope steeper than 20% (1 foot vertical rise per 5 feet horizontal), you now need an additional City permit.
If your property has a foundation deeper than 3 feet, you also need this extra permit.
The City’s new bulletin states that debris removal from the Palisades Fire must comply with regulations from either the California Department of Toxic Substances Control or the City’s Sanitation Department. In other words, multiple agencies are now involved, making what was supposed to be a simple, single-permit process far more complicated—no matter who handles the debris removal.
SEE THE BULLETIN / GENERAL INFORMATION DOCUMENT NO: P/BC 2025-034
Governor Newsom > LA Rises
Governor Newsom announces LA Rises, a prive-section initiative led by Mark Walker, Earvin “Magic” Johnson and Casey Wasserman to support swift and unified rebuilding of Los Angeles.
https://www.gov.ca.gov/2025/01/28/la-rises/
HOW LA RISES WILL WORK
Fundraising & expanding access to philanthropic and private capital
Formulating financing strategies to close the gap between available resources and the cost to rebuild
Collaborating with other philanthropic and community organizations to maximize the impact of ongoing rebuilding and recovery efforts.
Supporting unified communication efforts to arm Angelenos with up-to-date, factual information, timelines for rebuilding, and available resources.
Q&A with Chief Recovery Officer, Steve Soboroff
Excepts from the CAA/UTA/WME Q&A with Steve Soboroff:
1. Focus on rebuilding, not reimaging
2. Costs will be approximately $1,000-$2,000/SF to rebuild. Hopeful the gap between insurance and building costs will be covered by the government.
3. Desires to turn over a buildable city in 90 days.
STEPS TO RECOVERY
STEP 1: REMOVAL OF TOXIC MATERIALS
This is already happening with FEMA and should be finished in 3 weeks.
STEP 2: RUBBISH CLEARANCE
This could take 6 months to a year.
150,000 trucks working around the clock to clear lots so Owners can rebuild.
You can opt-in to have Army core do this for FREE if you do not have insurance.
Insurance will pay Army core directly.
DO NOT sift through rubbish, it’s highly TOXIC. Temperatures were 2200 degrees, so there is nothing left.
When your lot is cleared, they will remove 6 inches of dirt which is 3 inches more than has ever been removed from prior fires.
They can either remove or leave your slab—it is recommended to remove the slab.
STEP 3: REBUILDING
Visit your site ASAP with your Architect and start working on plans for approval.
Once the phase two is over you should be approved to start construction
Have architect work with insurance company to make sure rebuilding is insurable
Everyone will have a gap between coverage and cost to rebuild because cost of materials and labor will be incredibly high given the scale of the rebuild
If you don’t have plans, they might be able to find your existing plans in city planning
If you want to expand the size of your house, you can, the process will be different, but you are not considered a client of the City and it will take a long time
If you rebuild, don’t rebuild with an attic
DON’T SELL NOW
Soboroff biggest concern is people walk away and developers snap up lots
In one year, they will be investing billions of dollars into the Palisades
Return & Rebuild
A memo by Jordan Kaplan, CEO for Douglas Emmitt to the City of Los Angeles Leaders….
Following the Palisades Fire, my staff reached out to a number of experts to solicit advice on the best way to respond to this disaster. Fortunately, during the time we were soliciting suggestions, the city and the state issued a number of executive orders that will be extremely helpful to the impacted families and businesses.
We have listed below the most important actions that can be taken by our local governments and italicized the ones that have already been achieved through the Mayor’s Emergency Executive Order #1 (“Mayor’s EO”) and the Governor’s Executive Order N-4-25 (“Governor’s EO) so that the remaining group can be assessed and hopefully implemented as soon as possible.
Streamline the Planning, Permitting, and Design Process
1) Provide Dedicated Resources & Integrated Services
Establish a special permitting center in the impacted burn area(s) with representatives from all development services departments. (Mayor’s EO sec. B1)
Establish a dedicated permit desk or portal for fire victims ("Fire Case Workers") to assist with city records, project planning numbers, and guidance throughout the process for actual property owners.
Improve online platforms to streamline submission and approval processes.
2) Fast-Track Approvals
Provide Fast-track approvals for “Eligible Projects” (Mayor’s EO sec. B4 & B5). Those Eligible Projects include those nonconforming properties being repaired or reconstructed with the same nonconforming use, yards, height, number of stories, lot area, floor area, residential floor area, residential density, loading space, parking or off-site signs as the original building, provided that the rebuilt or restored structures or facilities does not exceed 110% of the square footage, height, and bulk existing immediately prior to the Wildfires. Notwithstanding the above, the project may exceed the 110% allowance if it meets current zoning standards.
Expedite permit review (5 days or waived), building inspections (2 days or waived), and issuance of certificates of occupancy (5 days). (Mayor’s EO sec. B3a & B3b)
Allow architects and engineers to self-certify building plans or leverage third-party certifications.
Engage third-party experts to, when appropriate, supplement the building department, manage increased permit volumes, and conduct inspections. • Introduce pre-submission plan reviews to identify and resolve issues early.
Provide standardized plan templates for architects and engineers to streamline plan review.
Allow contractors to submit pre-approved flexible housing plans that bypass individual permit reviews.
3) Reduce Bureaucratic Red Tape and Streamline Regulatory Processes for Eligible Projects
Waive requirements for Coastal Commission and CEQA (Governor’s EO sec. 1).
Waive requirements for HOA and Design Review Board approvals.
Relax code upgrades for Green, LID, and ADA compliance for Eligible Projects.
Expedite or waive departmental clearances, such as grading, DOT, and urban forestry.
Allow for recreational vehicles, tiny homes, modular structures, and mobile homes on affected properties during rebuild for three years. (Mayor’s EO sec. B8)
Rebuild Community and Neighborhood Infrastructure Simultaneously
Land and Site Preparation:
Immediately assess and secure hillside integrity to prevent mudslides. Palisadian John Danhakl, owner of GeoStabilization International—the nation's largest geohazard mitigation and slope stabilization firm—is offering free, rapid preliminary assistance.
Single source hazardous waste cleanup (being provided by the EPA)
Single source debris removal (opt in through Army Corps of Engineers)
Conduct a unified survey of all lots using a single surveyor to ensure efficiency.
Perform a master soil study for all lots with a single geotechnical firm to streamline soil analysis. • Grade all lots simultaneously to reduce costs and expedite timelines.
Upgrade utilities by burying all power lines and expanding water mains and hydrants to enhance safety against future disasters.
Essential Facilities:
Reopen the schools by utilizing modular classrooms and other semi-permanent structures as needed.
Allow buildings such as medical offices, supermarkets, retail stores, and places of worship to be rebuilt with expedited permitting so that people and businesses can thrive in the area.
Eliminate Financial Barriers That Hinder Rebuilding Efforts for Eligible Properties
Waive all transfer taxes (including ULA) for a period of ten years to incentivize developers to build for-sale single family housing and for-rent multi-family housing.
Suspend or substantially reduce property taxes, without requiring an appeal, beginning the date of the fire for a period of five years or until the structure is completed, whichever is sooner, while people are rebuilding
Retain original property tax Proposition 13 basis regardless of the cost to rebuild.
Eliminate permit fees for Eligible ProjectsA memo sent to the City as a proposal for rebuilding following the Palisades/Eaton Fires.
The following groups provided input and support in the preparation of this memorandum:
Palisades Design Network 16 Westside architects collaborating resources to work with the city on rebuilding following the fire (led by Grant Kirkpatrick, founding partner of KAA Design)
Homebound Tech-enabled home builder specializing in post-disaster reconstruction (Samir Malviya, Vice President of Business)
Ceci Clarke Inc. Homebuilder in Pacific Palisades who also lost her home in the Palisades fire.
Geostabilization Intl Nation’s largest geohazard mitigation and slope stabilization firm. (John Danhakl, Managing Partner)
VVA Project Managers Nationwide company providing integrated project & cost management services (Kevin Gold, Managing Director)
Douglas Emmett Builders Large commercial construction company in Southern California and Hawaii (Robert Lutes, Senior Vice President)
Can LA Real Estate Shape Building Codes in Fire Rebuild
The Agency's Jon Grauman, Revel Real Estate's Ben Bacal, Oppenheim Group's Jason Oppenheim, The Agency's Ben Belack and Crest Real Estate's Jason Somers
The Agency's Jon Grauman, Revel Real Estate's Ben Bacal, Oppenheim Group's Jason Oppenheim, The Agency's Ben Belack and Crest Real Estate's Jason Somers
Some of Los Angeles real estate’s biggest names are hoping the industry can activate around fire rebuilding efforts.
At stake is the fabric of communities in which many of them live and do business.
If a home has been listed in the last 12 months and is now available for a lease of 12 months or less, the price cannot be more than 10 percent above what it was last marketed for.
If a home had not been listed for lease in the past 12 months, pricing must be 160 percent of fair market value as determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
A Place to Share
Stay tuned for updates. Have information or updates to share? Get in touch.
Stay tuned for updates. Have information or updates to share? Get in touch.