USACE Clears, Receives Final Sign Off for Nearly 2,000 Properties in Pacific Palisades

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

Debris removal work continues in Pacific Palisades following the January 7 fire, with Mayor Karen Bass announcing on May 19 that “nearly 2,000 properties” in the city of Los Angeles have been cleared by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and received final sign off from LA County.

As of May 19, 54 permits had been issued for 40 addresses related to rebuilding efforts, with “hundreds of applications” in the “process of being reviewed,” according to Bass.

Sites cleared to date in the Palisades fire area, which includes the Palisades, Malibu and unincorporated county areas, by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was 3,107 as of May 19. Final sign offs were 2,404—which is 57% of the total rights of entry USACE received, according to Public Affairs Officer Melanie Peterson.

USACE announced on Tuesday, May 20, that it has cleared and received final sign off for more than 5,000 properties across the Eaton and Palisades fire areas.

The number of sites cleared on average for the last five days in the Palisades fire area as of May 19 was 42: “This number is going down as we get to some of the sites with greater complexity,” Peterson explained.

Debris removed from the Palisades fire area totals approximately 919,892 tons. There were 92 crews removing debris as of May 19.

When it comes to residential properties in the city of Los Angeles that have not opted in or out of the government-run debris removal program, the most recent number available as of May 16 was 36.

“Getting all of the debris picked up—and I do mean every last piece of it—as soon as possible has to be a top priority because the debris continues to present health and environmental risks to residents and workers, especially our waterways, our ocean and our wildlife,” Councilmember Traci Park said on May 15, noting the city would be starting an abatement process for non-responsive properties within its jurisdiction.

The abatement process will apply to residential properties in the city of LA that have not opted in or out, have opted out by not pulled permits for private debris clearance, or pulled permits but have not completed the work, Park described, “to make sure that all properties are being timely cleared.” For those unable to clear privately, Park said there is a process to have USACE do it before they depart the Palisades area.

Letters from the Department of Building & Safety were anticipated to go out to residential property owners that have not opted in or out this week, Park said. Later in May, letters will be sent to property owners that have opted out and have either not pulled permits to clear debris or have not received final clearance from the county confirming the removal is complete.

“I hate that we have to do this, I really do,” Park said, “but clearing this debris is necessary for you and for your neighbors to return and to rebuild safely … ”

For commercial properties in the Palisades fire area, a virtual webinar on the wildfire debris removal process took place on Wednesday, May 14, which included presentations and information from the Mayor’s Office, LA County Department of Economic Opportunity, City of Malibu and others.

Debris removal for commercial properties, similar to residential properties, is divided into two main phases: Phase 1 (Hazardous Waste Removal), managed by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and USACE, was completed at no cost. Phase 2 (General Debris Removal) includes “removal of remaining debris, including structural remains, ash and non-hazardous waste,” is, in most cases, handled privately.

“Commercial properties are not included in the government-run debris removal program being conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and must arrange for private debris removal,” according to the mayor’s office. “In rare cases, a commercial property may be granted a ‘special inclusion’ based on specific criteria, but this is not guaranteed. Even if owners are awaiting a special inclusion request, they should proactively begin the process of private debris removal.”

For “commercial properties in the unincorporated areas of the County, Los Angeles City and City of Malibu,” property owners are required to “hire a licensed contractor for Phase 2 debris removal,” according to information sent after the webinar.

Rights of entry forms for commercial properties “destroyed or damaged” in the fire were due on April 15. For the “rare cases” that are approved, USACE will complete the cleanup. Specific criteria for inclusion of commercial properties are “an immediate threat to public health and safety due to debris,” “barriers to the commercial entity completing debris removal independently,” “insurance coverage and status of claim,” and “economic impact of debris removal on the commercial entity and community.”

Those waiting for a decision are encouraged to “be prepared” to handle cleanup privately in the case of a denial by applying for the permit (available through epicla.lacounty.gov) and beginning the debris removal process.

“The permit turnaround time is immediate once all the appropriate documentation has been uploaded,” said Chris Sheppard (LA County Department of Public Works principal engineer) during the webinar.

The deadline to obtain a debris removal permit for unincorporated areas of the county is June 1, with debris removal required to be complete by June 30.

“Properties not complying with the deadlines (e.g. permit and removal of debris) are subject to applicable nuisance abatement procedures and associated penalties per local ordinance,” read the information.

The June 1 and June 30 deadlines also apply for private property owners who have opted out of the government-run debris removal program in unincorporated areas.

“If a property owner fails to meet the above deadlines, the county may take steps to remove fire ash and debris from the property; the cost of this debris removal will be charged to the property owner,” the county wrote. “If not paid, the cost may be recovered through a lien on the property.”

There is an appeal process in place for both residential and commercial property owners in unincorporated parts of the county.

An additional virtual webinar, “Wildfire Debris Clean Up for Commercial Property Owners,” will take place on Thursday, May 22, from 10 to 11 a.m. Those interested can RSVP at bit.ly/LAwildfirerecovery.

When it comes to commercial and residential properties in the city of LA, officials are “still evaluating what our deadlines are going to be” for its abatement process, a representative from the mayor’s office said.

More information is available at recovery.lacounty.gov. There is also an LA County Public Works Hotline: 844-347-3332.