LOS ANGELES — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which is working to remove household hazardous wastes from properties destroyed or damaged in the recent wildfires, announced Wednesday it will use a Will Rogers State Beach parking lot as a staging area for storage and processing of such materials from the Palisades Fire.

What You Need To Know

  • The EPA announced it would use a Will Rogers State Beach parking lot as a staging area for storage and processing of such materials from the Palisades Fire

  • The EPA is working to remove household hazardous wastes from properties destroyed or damaged in the recent wildfires

  • EPA officials noted that the lot is a State Parks property operated by the county.

  • Los Angeles City Councilwoman Traci Park objected the EPA's plan, saying "there was no transparency" in the EPA's decision-making process, and said it made no sense to move toxic materials out of the burn area to a public beach

The announcement follows extended debate over where such processing sites should be located, with the agency suggesting previously that a site near the Malibu civic center was being considered — leading to pushback from that city.

In a statement Wednesday, EPA officials said the Will Rogers State Beach lot "will serve as a temporary site for household hazardous materials collected and transported from nearby properties to be consolidated, securely packaged, and safely loaded for transportation to a permanent disposal or recycling facility outside of the area. This location is suitable because it is flat, open land close to damaged properties that require debris removal."

EPA officials noted that the lot is a State Parks property operated by the county.

"All agencies are working closely to complete this critical recovery work safely and efficiently," according to the agency. "The temporary processing site is closed to the public, and EPA is using best management practices to process any hazardous household material and keep it contained within the facility. Throughout this process, EPA will conduct air monitoring to ensure that operations in and around the site are health protective."

The announcement of the site brought immediate criticism from Los Angeles City Councilwoman Traci Park, who told KNX News she objected to the location when it was first suggested weeks ago. She told KNX "there was no transparency" in the EPA's decision-making process, and said it made no sense to move toxic materials out of the burn area to a public beach.

Malibu Mayor Doug Stewart, who was among those objecting to a proposed site in his city's civic center area, issued a statement commending the location decision.

"The addition of a second temporary EPA processing site at Will Rogers State Beach Parking Lot is an important step in ensuring hazardous materials are removed safely and efficiently, helping impacted residents move forward in rebuilding their homes," Stewart said. "As recovery efforts progress, we remain committed to advocating for safeguards that protect our coastal environment and the health of our residents. We will continue working with our federal, state, and local partners to ensure this process is carried out with transparency, safety, and care for our community."

The EPA also faced criticism over a processing site it chose near Irwindale to handle hazardous wastes removed from the Eaton Fire burn area. Multiple cities objected to the site.