EPA announces use of Sepulveda Basin as California National Guard personnel, equipment staging area
Emergency Response
LOS ANGELES (January 31, 2025) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), on behalf of the California National Guard, has requested the use of land owned and operated by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Los Angeles District at Sepulveda Basin as a staging area and meeting point for National Guard personnel and vehicles for 60 days.
The National Guard will be supporting EPA’s Palisades and Eaton fires recovery mission, which is Phase 1 of the overall cleanup and recovery.
The National Guard will occupy the site, which is located at the corner of Woodley Avenue and Victory Boulevard, beginning February 2, 2025.
The area is leased to the City of Los Angeles’ Department of Recreation and Parks, which has agreed to approve an emergency permit for the use of the property upon USACE’s issuance of a letter of no objection.
No hazardous household material will be stored at this site.
EPA is currently undergoing the largest wildfire hazardous waste cleanup in the history of the agency as it assists local government and residents in the wake of catastrophic fires in Los Angeles County. EPA has completed reconnaissance at 4,927 properties. This includes 2,812 properties impacted by the Eaton Fire and 2,115 properties impacted by the Palisades Fire. Currently, there are 478 personnel deployed and there is expected to be over 1,000 personnel in the field this weekend. EPA is assembling 60 teams to clear hazardous materials from the more than 13,000 residential and 250 commercial fire-impacted properties.
As EPA continues its Phase 1 hazardous material mission, the agency will not block residents from accessing their properties. EPA urges homeowners and families to exercise extreme caution when returning to their properties.
The people of Los Angeles County should be assured that EPA will continue to carry out its mission to assist our fellow Americans in need.
For more information or additional questions, please contact Rusty Harris-Bishop at (415) 972-3140 or email harris-bishop.rusty@epa.gov.
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