PHASE 2, USACE FIRE ASH & DEBRIS REMOVAL (PROCESS):

• The Army Corps of Engineers is leading Phase 2 of the debris removal program for the LA County wildfires, in close coordination with local, state, and federal partners.
• Our mission is to safely and efficiently remove fire-damaged debris so communities can begin the process of rebuilding.
• Phase 2 is a systematic process designed to ensure hazardous debris is removed in a way that protects public health and the environment.
• We bring 250 years of engineering expertise and experience to the mission.
• Our cadre includes experts in large-scale disaster debris removal to ensure this process meets the highest standards of safety and environmental responsibility.
• Our work is guided by best practices developed from previous wildfire recovery missions. These best practices ensure we take lessons learned and apply them here in Los Angeles County.
• The Corps of Engineers’ role in debris removal does not include land use planning or rebuilding efforts, but we coordinate closely with state and county officials to support their long-term recovery and rebuilding plans.
• The Consolidated Debris Removal Program is a two-phase process – Phase 1 is the removal of hazardous household materials (HHM); and Phase II is the removal of other fire-related debris (brick and mortar). Phase 1 (removal of HHM) is assigned to U.S. EPA.
• The timeline for Phase 2 of the debris removal program is expected to take a year:
  • EPA must complete Phase 1, Hazardous Household Material removal (end of Feb)
  • In some instances, the EPA may be unable to remove the Hazardous Material from properties when unsafe conditions for work crews are present. These properties may be “deferred” to USACE and may require initial site stabilization to make the property safe for crews to initiate debris removal.
  • Eligible property owners must enroll in a debris removal program – whether privately or through the federally funded program executed by USACE.
  • Enrollment in the program requires submission of an Right-of-Entry (ROE) to the local county/city officials online at recovery.lacounty.gov or in person at a Disaster Recovery Center.
  • The County will review and validate submitted ROEs and transfer eligible properties to USACE for Phase 2 debris removal. The County is also responsible for determining if standing structures (demolition) are approved for removal.
  • FEMA will consult with appropriate agencies for Environmental and Historic Preservation prior to USACE debris removal.
• USACE may utilize a variety of contracting methods to remove debris efficiently and safely. These methods may include leveraging existing contracts, as well as establishing new contracts with both small and large businesses. The acquisition strategy is currently being developed.
• Debris will be separated into numerous material types. Recyclable materials such as metals, appliances and brick/concrete will go to recycling facilities. Ash will be sent to locally approved municipal solid waste landfills.
• All debris is sorted ON-SITE and each type of debris goes to landfills that are PERMITTED to take that type of waste/debris.

REMOVING/PACKING/HAULING DEBRIS:

• Debris Removal Process: Once a property is cleared for Phase 2, our crews carefully remove fire debris, including structural remains, ash, and hazardous materials.
• Packing the Debris: Materials are sorted and prepared for transport following strict environmental protocols. Household hazardous waste is separated before we begin general debris removal to ensure it does not mix with other materials. I’d like to emphasize that ALL debris is sorted onsite, and the debris goes to landfills that are permitted to take that type of debris.
• Transport: Contractors for the Corps of Engineers will transport secured material directly from properties to landfills that are permitted by CalRecycle to accept that type of debris.
• Safety & Containment: The Army Corps of Engineers follows strict procedures to ensure public safety during private property debris removal. When removing fire ash and debris, the material is placed in the bed of a dump truck inside a heavy-duty plastic liner. This liner is tightly wrapped around the ash, after which a tarp is then lowered over the truck to ensure the ash remains contained during transit.
• Dust: Our contractors also utilizes the “wet method” for debris removal, which involves applying water and mist to keep ash on the ground and prevent it from becoming airborne. This approach helps mitigate risks to the community, particularly for standing homes that have been reoccupied.
• Hauling Operations: Trucks transporting debris take the safest, most efficient routes to disposal sites.

DEFERRED PROPERTIES:

• If a property is marked “Phase 1 Deferred,” it means there is a safety hazard on the site such as a standing wall or fire-damaged tree that could collapse or fall. USACE will not allow our workers to enter that site until the safety hazard is mitigated.
• Once the site is made safe, we will proceed with Phase I assessment, removing hazardous materials, hazardous household waste and bulk asbestos materials. When we have cleared the environmental or hazardous issue, we will remove any deferred signs and the property owner will be allowed re-entry to their property prior to Phase 2 debris removal.

TIMELINE & PROGRESS:

• We are committed to moving quickly, but we MUST prioritize safety, environmental protection, and compliance with regulations.
• Our teams are working as efficiently as possible while ensuring that every site is cleared with the necessary trained personnel, care and oversight.
• USACE is continuously assessing and refining the timeline based on conditions on the ground.

• The initial 18-month timeline was set before key details—such as when the EPA could begin Phase 1 or when Rights of Entry (ROEs) would be available and collected—were known. Now, with Phase 1 operations underway, Phase 2 has started.  We continuously assess the timeline to maximize efficiency while maintaining safety and environmental standards.
  • We are now expecting the vast majority of properties will be cleared within a year.
  • To clarify, some properties will start being cleared within the next few weeks and we estimate most will be done within a year.
• The Corps of Engineers and the County estimate that approximately 4.25-4.5 MILLION tons of fire-damaged debris must be removed. (Not including vehicles and trees.)
  • To put that in perspective, 4.25-4.5 million tons of debris would be approximately 110,000 to 150,000 fully loaded dump trucks (assuming 30-40 tons per truck).
  • It would also be roughly 700,000 to 900,000 adult elephants (assuming 5-6 tons per elephant).
  • According to LA County Department of Public Works, this is roughly half of the amount of waste that the entire County produces in one year.
  • There is enough room in local, state, and private landfills to accept this waste.
• Each property is unique, and timelines may vary depending on site conditions, permitting requirements, and other recovery operations.
• Factors such as weather conditions, geography, hazardous material disposal, and logistical constraints may affect progress, but our teams remain focused on completing the debris removal mission as safely and efficiently as possible.
• The estimated volume of debris underscores the scale of the challenge, but we are making progress each day.
• Geographic Challenges – Cliffsides, Bluffs, Mountainsides, Coastlines:
  • The terrain in Los Angeles County includes steep cliffs, rugged bluffs, and fire-damaged properties on unstable mountainsides, making debris removal more complex and hazardous.
  • Specialized equipment and techniques are required to safely remove debris from these areas while preventing erosion, landslides, and additional environmental damage.
  • In coastal and hillside regions, additional precautions are taken to ensure debris and contaminants do not impact waterways, protected habitats, or critical infrastructure.

DEBRIS/DUST/ASH CONCERNS & AIR MONITORING:

• USACE is dedicated to minimizing the dust produced from debris removal operations. Our contractor is using the "wet" method to minimize the material from becoming airborne.
• USACE contractors have real-time perimeter air monitors adjacent to work locations. If there are exceedances of action levels, the contractor will stop work, assess, and remediate the situation as necessary, before restarting work.
• The air monitoring program is being overseen by our contractor's certified industrial hygienist. Calibrated air sampling pumps are used to collect personal exposure samples for asbestos, metals, and respirable dust/crystalline silica. We will use the results of these tests throughout the debris removal process to assess the appropriate personal protective equipment, or PPE, that needs to be used by site workers.
• Contractors entering the “hot zone,” or ash footprint, are required to be in Tyvek suits and half-face respirators since they are working directly in the debris zone and moving about in the ash.
• Workers immediately outside the hot zone as delineated by the contractors with red marking tape, are not moving about in the ash, and therefore, not required to be in Tyvek suits.
• All workers at minimum are required to be in hard hat, safety shoes, safety glasses, and reflective vest.
• USACE contractors are using dust reduction methods that have been derived from lessons-learned from multiple successfully executed debris removal events from the past few years.

PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY:

• Every decision in this mission is guided by the safety of the community, our workers, and the environment.
• Debris from wildfires contains potentially hazardous materials, requiring a structured and controlled removal process.
• It is critical for public health and safety to remove the hazardous waste from its current state, which is in an uncontrolled environment, to a controlled one, so we can minimize negative impacts to the community and environment.
• Continuous monitoring and safety measures are in place to prevent workers from exposure to harmful materials.
• Safety is our top priority. Fire-damaged debris may contain hazardous materials such as asbestos, heavy metals, and other contaminants.
• During debris removal operations, debris and ash is kept wet to mitigate potential migration of ash and dust.
• All debris is sorted on each property to mitigate potential spread of ash and debris to the surrounding community.
• Our trained crews follow strict protocols to protect residents, workers, and the environment.
• Each site undergoes meticulous debris removal, including the removal of up to six inches of topsoil within the ash footprint to address contamination concerns.
  • NOTE: The Corps of Engineers does NOT replace this soil 
• Air monitoring and dust control measures are in place to minimize the spread of debris particles and ensure a safe working environment.
• A specialized team of trained contractors ensure hazardous materials are handled and disposed of properly.
• Protective measures such as air monitoring, dust suppression, and personal protective equipment (PPE) are in place at every site.
  • Every member of the Corps of Engineers debris removal team will be wearing personal protective gear – called PPE – that includes masks, Nomex suits, gloves, heavy-soled footwear AND an air quality monitor.
• We will provide regular debris removal progress updates through our wildfires webpage, located on the Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District website, as well as on the Corp of Engineers Los Angeles District social media platforms (specifically on Facebook/Meta).