California State Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo has announced a renewed bi-partisan call for a state of emergency to support the health and safety of communities impacted by the Chiquita Canyon Landfill.

The letter, which also includes  15 additional legislative signatories, was sent to Governor Gavin Newsom in response to the ongoing underground chemical reaction within the landfill, which has continued to release harmful gasses into the surrounding communities since the reaction escalated in 2023. A community survey conducted by Schiavo’s office highlights the extent of the crisis, with nearly all respondents reporting direct health impacts.

“Residents of Val Verde, Castaic, and students of nearby schools have been subjected to prolonged exposure to harmful emissions, leading to a range of health issues including headaches, nausea, asthma, heart palpitations, and a newly identified cancer cluster. Last week, to get a full understanding of the impacts, I stayed overnight with a family in the area. On their street of 14 houses, seven neighbors have been fighting cancer – one has passed away,” said Schiavo. “While I am grateful for the robust state, federal and county response to the disaster on the landfill site, neighbors just a few yards away do not have the protections or relief they need to keep themselves and their children safe. We must do more and we need to act now before more people get sick, or worse, die. A state of emergency must be declared and we need to focus relief efforts to get the community out of harm’s way and the healthcare and support they need.”

In late 2023, the on-the-ground response at the landfill expanded to include enforcement from local, state, and federal agencies, each providing oversight and issuing violations to the landfill. There has been a coordinated and rapid effort by all parties to remove the toxic liquid, known as leachate, that continues to feed the reaction.

However, due to the nature of the reaction, there is no clear end in sight and the temperature of the fire deep in the landfill remains steady at around 200 degrees. Unfortunately, for the surrounding community, this means they continue to be exposed to toxic and cancer-causing chemicals in the air that the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health identified, such as benzene and carbon tetrachloride, which are known cancer causing chemicals.

Schiavo, U.S. Rep. Mike Garcia and 15 state legislators signed the letter urging  Newsom to make an emergency declaration to bring relief to the Val Verde and Castaic community.

Many of Schiavo’s legislative colleagues, along with representatives from Senator Alex Padilla, Attorney General Rob Bonta and Supervisor Solis offices,  also met with the residents for hours and heard their daily health struggles, which led to the renewed request for a state of emergency declaration to ensure the safety and well-being of the community facing this crisis.

The full request to the Governor can be found HERE.