Overview
The Chiquita Canyon Landfill in Castaic, California, in northwestern Los Angeles County has been experiencing a subsurface reaction since early 2022. Levels of chemicals (odor-causing and toxic air pollutants) being released into the air are actively monitored onsite and in the nearby communities, and potential health risks are continually being evaluated. The landfill is operated by Chiquita Canyon, LLC.
The Issue
Since early 2022, the Chiquita Canyon Landfill has been experiencing a heat-releasing chemical reaction deep within an inactive portion of the landfill. This reaction is causing several issues for nearby residents, including noxious odors being released into the air and drifting offsite that have generated thousands of complaints. The reaction is also producing additional quantities of liquids in the waste – called leachate – that must be pumped out of the reaction area. Some of this leachate contains benzene, a chemical that, at certain concentrations and when not managed correctly, can harm public health and environment. To avoid such harm, the liquid with hazardous material goes directly into a closed treatment system. Local, state and federal agencies have been collaborating to address concerns about the operations and overall state of the landfill and have issued hundreds of notices of violation to the landfill operator. Conditions at the landfill have caused the reaction area to expand to approximately 30 to 35 acres in size in the northwestern portion of the landfill. This production of leachate impeded the ability of the gas collection and control system to operate effectively, and, along with the significant increase in the production of landfill gas from the reaction, has resulted in an increase in odors. Residents of the communities surrounding the landfill reported almost 6,800 odor complaints in 2023 and more than 9,400 odor complaints have been reported in 2024. Further, the reaction resulted in increased leachate production from approximately 150,000 gallons per week in January 2022 to approximately 950,000 gallons per week in May 2024.
The Response
The Response Multi-Agency Coordination (RMAC) Group oversaw implementation of numerous measures designed to control the reaction at the Chiquita Canyon Landfill, and the Multi-Agency Coordination Action Team (MCAT) will continue its ongoing work to hold the landfill operators accountable for addressing the onsite and offsite impacts of the reaction and to protect human health and the environment. To ensure continuity of the work, and ongoing coordination, the MCAT will be carrying over much of the RMAC’s organizational structure. Bottom line – the same agencies that have been engaged will remain engaged. We are not going anywhere.
In November 2023, local, state, and federal agencies formed the Multi-Agency Coordination Action Team (MCAT) to address the human health and environmental impacts caused by the deteriorating conditions at the Chiquita Canyon Landfill. The agencies that comprise the MCAT investigate, take enforcement actions, and ensure compliance with laws protecting public health and the environment.
The Response Multi-Agency Coordination (RMAC) Group was created in March 2024 and included local, state, and federal on-scene coordinators who worked with the landfill operators to complete a list of tasks designed to help control a heat-releasing chemical reaction deep within an inactive portion of the landfill.
Again, to ensure continuity of the work, and ongoing coordination, the MCAT will be carrying over much of the RMAC’s organizational structure. Bottom line – the same agencies that have been engaged will remain engaged. We are not going anywhere.
