For over 50 years, Chiquita Canyon Landfill has been a cornerstone of Santa Clarita Valley’s infrastructure, responsibly managing the region’s residential and commercial waste since 1972 until it closed on Dec. 31, 2024.

As many of you know Chiquita is currently responding to an elevated temperature landfill (ETLF) event – a chemical reaction that rarely occurs in landfills – located in an older, closed part of the landfill. In fact, there have only been 10 to 15 reactions of this size in United States history. Rather than shy away from this challenge, the landfill’s team responded with unprecedented speed and determination. Chiquita hired experts and has deployed massive engineering and scientific resources in an effort to minimize the ETLF event and any impacts.

Local, state and federal agencies established a coordinated response through the Multi-Agency Critical Action Team, which includes the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, California Environmental Protection Agency and its boards and departments including the Department of Toxic Substances Control, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, and other relevant authorities. Every step of the mitigation process has been conducted under the strictest environmental standards and in close coordination with these regulators, ensuring that public safety remains a top priority.

Understandably, community members have questions about health and safety. To provide clear, science-based answers,........

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