Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

IRWINDALE - Azusa, Baldwin Park, Duarte and Irwindale announced their opposition to a plan by the EPA to dump debris left by the Eaton Fire in an open field near the San Gabriel River and are working to shut down the operation.

The Environmental Protection Agency has already prepped and set up operations at the Lario Staging Area, 15701 E. Foothill Blvd. The above-mentioned cities alleged they did not receive advanced notification about the debris processing site, nor were the cities given the opportunity to register concerns about potential soil, water and air contamination.

The site is slated to open early this week for the collection and processing of hazardous household debris, including lithium electric vehicle batteries.

“While the Cities are completely in solidarity with our neighboring communities, we are extremely disappointed with the lack of respect to our local residents for not being notified of the EPA’s clean up efforts and having toxic materials transported to our backyards,” according to the City of Duarte in a written statement, adding “the Cities will work to formally oppose this site, as well as mobilize efforts to shut down the site as soon as possible.”

Eric Nold, on-scene coordinator with the EPA, is working at the Lario processing site and said “We don’t want to do any of this type of activity out there in the middle of the community.”

Debris is slated to be brought in daily via backroads to avoid the freeways.

The Lario Staging Area is adjacent to the San Gabriel River Bikepath, frequented by bicyclists. To the north are the San Gabriel Canyon spreading grounds and Santa Fe Dam Recreational Area to the south.

The EPA has outlined measures to minimize the impact of the debris to be processed at the site, including spill control measures, continuous perimeter, air monitoring, water trucks to reduce visible, dust emissions and plastic lining to be applied to all material processing areas.

Debris will be sorted into appropriate waste streams and packaged for proper shipment and disposal.

Duarte officials are working with Senator Rubio’s Office to host a town hall in Duarte and allow residents to voice their concerns. More information about this forum is underway, according to Duarte officials.

In the meantime, residents concerned about the processing site are urged to express concerns by calling the USEPA at 1-833-798-7372.

IRWINDALE - Police arrested a man August 6 accused of stealing more than $20,000 in equipment from an Irwindale business.

The suspect, 28-year-old Juan Antonio Garcia Hernandez of Duarte, is accused of repeatedly burglarizing a refrigerant recycling business in the 5200 block of Fourth Street since May 27.