As residents report severe health impacts, Santa Clarita representatives led a bipartisan letter to state and county leaders Tuesday requesting a state of emergency for Chiquita Canyon Landfill in Castaic.

On Tuesday, a representative from the office of Congressman Mike Garcia, R-Santa Clarita, and Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo, D-Chatsworth, met with community members at Hasley Canyon Park to lead a bipartisan letter petitioning California Governor Newsom and L.A. County 5th District Supervisor Kathryn Barger to declare a State of Emergency at Chiquita Canyon Landfill.  

“Congressman Garcia is grateful for the Assemblywoman’s partnership – and remains committed to working in a bipartisan manner – to resolve this issue for the residents. He is again calling on the county to also support a declaration of a state of emergency. There is no downside to it. It will make even more resources available at all levels of government, and our community deserves it,” said Congressman Mike Garcia’s field representative Tami Stephens. 

Dani Gallegos | KHTS News

In late 2023, the on-the-ground response at the landfill expanded to include enforcement from local, state, and federal agencies, each providing oversight and issuing violations to the landfill.

There has been a coordinated and rapid effort by all parties to remove the toxic liquid, known as leachate, that continues to feed the reaction.

“We are here today to make one thing abundantly clear, that the people of Val Verde, Castaic, and Santa Clarita need help. Los Angeles County and the State and the federal government must do more and they must declare a state of emergency and bring immediate relief to the community, “ said Schiavo. 

Dani Gallegos | KHTS News

  Due to the nature of the reaction, there is no clear end in sight, and the temperature of the fire deep in the landfill remains steady at around 200 degrees. 

Unfortunately, for the surrounding community, this means they continue to be exposed to toxic and cancer-causing chemicals in the air that the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health identified, such as benzene and carbon tetrachloride, which are known cancer-causing chemicals.

“In early 2023, I noticed an awful, putrid smell outside. By early April of 2023, we figured out that it was coming from the landfill. Soon after, my family started experiencing symptoms – my children were always complaining of headaches and allergies and seemed to always be congested or have a cough. Neighbors started comparing symptoms and realized that something horrible was happening to our community. We were being poisoned. Four of my neighbors have been diagnosed with cancer, just this year. Many of my neighbors are experiencing asthma, cardiovascular issues, and other health problems. All this, and L.A. County has refused over and over again to declare a state of emergency. We shouldn’t be left to suffer for several more years – we are desperately asking our county and state to declare a state of emergency,” said Jennifer Elkins, Val Verde resident. 

Val Verde resident, Jennifer Elkins talks about her experience | Dani Gallegos

Garcia has welcomed the EPA’s involvement, led a bipartisan letter urging the Governor for a State of Emergency, called for the immediate suspension of landfill operations except for local waste collection, demanded a thorough investigation to hold responsible parties accountable, secured federal funding for emissions monitoring and emergency response, and introduced the Chiquita Canyon Tax Relief Act.

“Chiquita fully recognizes and regrets that neighboring communities are suffering odor-related impacts as a result of the reaction.  Chiquita is working hard to address and mitigate these impacts.  Adjacent neighbors participating in the Chiquita Community Relief Program have thus far directly received nearly nine million dollars from Chiquita.  In addition, Chiquita has distributed over 1,700 air purifiers to local residents and ensured every school classroom around the landfill has been outfitted with carbon filtration devices.  The current data and evaluations by multiple scientific experts show that there are no anticipated short- or long-term health impacts due to emissions from the Chiquita Canyon Landfill,” said Chiquita Canyon officials.

Alongside Schiavo, representatives from Senator Padilla, Attorney General Bonta’s and Supervisor Solis’ office have also met with the residents for hours and heard their daily health struggles, which led to the renewed request for a state of emergency declaration to ensure the safety and well-being of our community facing this crisis.

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