Waste Disposal Site in Castaic, California - Chiquita Canyon Landfill
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has taken decisive action to ensure the safety and well-being of the public and the environment by issuing a Unilateral Administrative Order (UAO) to Chiquita Canyon, LLC, the operator of the Chiquita Canyon Landfill. This landfill, a 639-acre municipal solid waste facility located in Los Angeles County, has been in operation since 1972.
The UAO, issued under Section 7003 of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and Section 106 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), was a response to a significant Subsurface Elevated Temperature event that started in May 2022. This event has grown in size and impact, causing off-site impacts such as odors and emissions, and resulting in increased leachate production.
The UAO, which was issued on February 21, 2024, requires Chiquita Canyon, LLC to perform specific actions to address these issues. This includes expanding the geomembrane cover with at least an additional 100 acres of a less permeable EVOH geomembrane cover on the landfill surface. The company is also directed to install temperature probes to monitor the progress of the reaction and a geomembrane landfill cover.
Moreover, the UAO directs Chiquita Canyon, LLC to conduct increased air and water monitoring to ensure the safety of the surrounding environment. A multi-agency task force (MCAT), formed on November 30, 2023, is overseeing the Landfill's operations and state, with EPA leading the task force.
The administrative record, containing all relevant documents and oral information that EPA considered when determining the UAO, provides the public with convenient access to information to allow them to constructively comment on site activities and to understand the issues relating to the selection of the response action at the site.
The UAO serves as a means to enforce corrective or remedial actions when there is an environmental hazard or illegal discharge, even if the responsible party does not agree or cooperate. This mechanism ensures that responsible parties cannot delay environmental corrective actions by withholding consent, allowing government agencies to act decisively to protect the environment and public health.
On June 4, 2024, EPA issued a Finding of Violation to Chiquita Canyon LLC for violations of the Clean Air Act and its implementing regulations. A community meeting was held by EPA on March 21, 2024, for the public to hear from local, state, and federal regulators overseeing the Chiquita Canyon Landfill.
As of July 2025, Chiquita Canyon, LLC has installed approximately 46 acres of HDPE geomembrane cover over the northwest corner of the landfill. Free viewers and readers are available to access documents on the website, and assistance can be provided for issues with assistive technology.
The EPA's decisive action serves as a reminder of its commitment to protecting public health and the environment, particularly in the face of non-compliance or environmental hazards. The agency will continue to monitor the situation at the Chiquita Canyon Landfill and take necessary actions to ensure the safety of the community and the environment.
- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced that Chiquita Canyon Landfill, a municipal solid waste facility, is facing a Unilateral Administrative Order (UAO) due to a Subsurface Elevated Temperature event that started in May 2022.
- The UAO, issued under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), requires Chiquita Canyon, LLC to expand the geomembrane cover and install temperature probes for monitoring purposes.
- The UAO also demands increased air and water monitoring to ensure the safety of the surrounding environment, with a mult-agency task force (MCAT) overseeing the Landfill's operations.
- The administrative record provides public access to information about site activities, allowing constructive comments on site issues and understanding the selection of the response action at the site.
- EPA issued a Finding of Violation to Chiquita Canyon LLC for Clean Air Act violations, and a community meeting was held in March 2024.
- The EPA's UAO ensures that responsible parties cannot delay environmental corrective actions by withholding consent, allowing government agencies to act decisively to protect the environment and public health.
- As of July 2025, Chiquita Canyon, LLC has installed HDPE geomembrane cover over the northwest corner of the landfill.
- With this decisive action, the EPA reaffirms its commitment to protecting public health and the environment, particularly in the face of non-compliance or environmental hazards.
- The EPA will continue to monitor the Chiquita Canyon Landfill situation and take necessary actions to ensure the safety of the community and the environment, with updates available on their website and assistance provided for issues with assistive technology.
