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EPA pauses hazardous waste removal as rain pelts SoCal
Workers remove debris from the charred remains of a home in Altadena.
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Evan Jacoby
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LAist
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Topline:
As rain pelts much of Southern California, the Environmental Protection Agency announced Thursday it has paused hazardous waste removal in the wildfire burn areas. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which has been handling Phase 2 of debris removal, said it has reduced some operations because of the rain.
How we got here: The National Weather Service said the most significant rain is expected Thursday, with as much as 3 inches of rain expected in low-lying areas, while mountain areas could see as much as 6 inches.
Wildfire debris removal progress: Julia Diarmoleo, a spokesperson for the EPA, said household hazardous waste removal is 52% complete and the agency will resume work as soon as the rain subsides. The federal agency has been tasked with entering residential areas destroyed in the wildfires to pick up dangerous materials like batteries, paint, cleaners, solvents and oils. Once the first phase is complete, residents can opt for a free debris removal by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
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Go deeper: Everything you need to know about LA County's free fire debris removal program
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