Stipulated Order for Abatement

This page was last updated on January 17, 2025

 

Recent Updates

Summary of Activities

Chiquita’s December 2024 State of the Landfill Report is available here (en Español). This report provides a summary overview of the Elevated Temperature Landfill event that is occurring in a portion of the Landfill and the efforts Chiquita and its experts are taking to mitigate this event. This report includes data and information as of October 31, 2024 or Quarter Three of 2024. Chiquita intends to update this report periodically with more recent data, information, and analysis.

Here is a summary of the activities Chiquita has taken and/or mitigation measures Chiquita has implemented over the past week (1/13/25 – 1/17/25).

The source of any odors coming from the Chiquita Canyon Landfill is an increase in the production of landfill gas (LFG) and liquids at the Landfill. This increase in LFG and liquids production is due to an abnormal biotic or abiotic process (also known as a landfill reaction) taking place deep within a lined, but older and, inactive portion of the Landfill waste mass.  This reaction is not a fire or subsurface oxidation event within the waste mass, and is not related to current waste disposal operations at the Landfill.

Chiquita continues to work diligently with all of its regulators to address this landfill reaction and any related impacts. In November 2023, local, state, and federal agencies formed a Multi-Agency Critical Action Team (“MCAT”), led by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”), to coordinate regulatory efforts. In March 2024, this coordination shifted into a new phase, and the County, CalEPA, and U.S. EPA created a Response Multi-Agency Coordination Group (“R-MAC”) composed of federal, state, and local onsite coordinators. On October 14, 2024, the RMAC ended the emergency response phase of their work and the R-MAC disbanded. The MCAT now leads the regulatory efforts at the Landfill.

Public Notification: Toe Drain Installation Work

Chiquita has installed a new toe drain at the west and north slopes of the landfill as part of its continued mitigation of the ongoing elevated landfill temperature (ETLF) event or reaction. The west and north slopes were impacted by the increased leachate production. To avoid odors from the leachate, as well as to prevent leachate from commingling with stormwater, the west slope was previously covered by a plastic cover called a scrim. To improve leachate drainage and conditions at the west and north slopes, Chiquita removed the scrim and excavated into the waste mass to install a drain and sumps that will better control the leachate. Chiquita has now completed the excavation portion of this project, and has installed the new toe drain and covered the top deck, north slope, and west slope areas with a 30-mil geosynthetic cover.

Because no further excavation is expected to be performed as part of this project, Chiquita is discontinuing its weekly updates on this project. Chiquita will continue to work with its regulators to address the reaction and any impacts.

Odor Mitigation Efforts

In coordination with its many regulators, Chiquita is doing everything in its power to reduce odors originating from the Landfill. On September 6, 2023, Chiquita entered into a Stipulated Order for Abatement with the South Coast AQMD (view the Spanish version) that requires Chiquita to implement many mitigation measures designed to study the reaction, its potential impacts, and potential ways to mitigate the reaction and its potential impacts. This Stipulated Order has since been modified on January 17, 2024, March 21, 2024, April 24, 2024, August 27, 2024 and November 13, 2024. The November 13, 2024 Modified Stipulated Order will be posted once available.

On February 21, 2024, Chiquita received a UAO from the EPA requiring Chiquita to submit workplans for its existing and future efforts to address the reaction and any impacts and conduct additional work to address the reaction.

On June 6, 2024, Chiquita received a Compliance Order from the LEA requiring Chiquita to implement additional mitigation measures to address the reaction.

Among other things, in accordance with the Stipulated Order, the LEA’s letters, and the UAO, Chiquita is implementing the following mitigation measures:

Completed actions

  • Submitted an updated liquid modeling report 
  • Installed a remote monitoring system for temperature in 20 wellheads
  • Submitted a source test report for leachate and condensate vapor sampling at the Landfill
  • Submitted the Winder Barrier Evaluation Study
  • Submitted Ambient Air and Emissions Monitoring Study
  • Submitted Health Impacts and Odor Impacts Assessment Reports to South Coast AQMD
  • Installed flow meters on the landfill gas piping
  • Completed two quarterly inspections of the landfill gas and liquids piping network
  • Installed pressure gauges on the leachate tanks
  • Submitted an expert report on landfill gas generation and control capacity
  • Submitted Model of Liquid Generation and Total Quantity Report to South Coast AQMD
  • Submitted Pipe Materials Temperature Study to South Coast AQMD
  • Submitted further revised dewatering guidelines to South Coast AQMD
  • Submitted the findings of the second flux chamber study to South Coast AQMD
  • Submitted permit applications to incorporate the leachate treatment system into Chiquita’s existing landfill gas control system
  • Submitted a permit application for the landfill gas collection system under the geosynthetic cover
  • Installed 117 dewatering pumps in landfill gas wells 
  • Submitted a revised proposal for additional air modeling
  • Installed 20 temperature monitoring probes in and around the reaction area
  • Submitted a report on potential DMS treatment methods
  • Submitted reports on the testing of the headspace vapors from the leachate tanks
  • Submitted a work plan to restart dewatering
  • Submitted a recommendation on the installation of a remote well pressure and temperature monitoring system
  • Submitted permit applications to further modify Chiquita’s landfill gas and liquids collection systems
  • Designated an Inspection Liaison
  • Submitted workplans listing the actions Chiquita is taking and plans to take to address the reaction
  • Submitted a report on the feasibility of containment of discharges of pressurized leachate
  • Submitted a slope stability analysis of the western and northern slopes of the Reaction Area
  • Installed and began operating a new permanent flare (Flare 3)
  • Installed and began operating a second portable thermal oxidizer
  • Installed over 260 new vertical wells
  • Submitted design and installation schedules for the continued expansion of the landfill gas wellfield
  • Submitted an application for a Rule 1150 excavation management plan
  • Submitted an updated workplan and installation schedule for the geosynthetic cover
  • Submitted the proposal for an additional air modeling study to South Coast AQMD
  • Submitted a slope stability analysis work plan to the LEA
  • Submitted the protocol for an additional flux chamber study to South Coast AQMD
  • Submitted a report on the cause(s) of the landfill reaction and solutions to slow and stop the reaction to South Coast AQMD
  • Submitted initial and revised dewatering guidelines to South Coast AQMD
  • Submitted a report on air dispersion modeling and a study to determine odor and emission transport of odors from the Landfill to South Coast AQMD
  • Submitted a report on the feasibility and availability of a continuous community emission monitoring system for DMS to South Coast AQMD
  • Submitted a report on landfill best management practices and alternative methods to minimize the release of fugitive surface gas and related odors to South Coast AQMD
  • Submitted the findings of the initial flux chamber study to South Coast AQMD
  • Submitted an application for a fourth permanent flare

Ongoing actions

  • Report on leachate tank numbers and quantities of liquid collected and treated on a weekly basis
  • Increase 24-hour sampling for VOCs in the community
  • Host biweekly and monthly meetings between technical teams at Chiquita and South Coast AQMD
  • Expeditiously dewater the landfill to the maximum extent feasible
  • Implement mitigation measures while drilling new wells
  • Prevent standing leachate and the pooling or ponding of leachate exposed to the atmosphere
  • Conduct twice daily inspections for liquid/leachate seepage, once in the morning and once in the afternoon
  • Install well boots seals on all wells in the Reaction Area
  • Install temperature monitoring devices in and around the Reaction Area
  • Measure and record landfill gas and leachate temperatures
  • Measure and record quantities of leachate sent offsite for disposal/treatment
  • Measure, sample, and analyze leachate monthly
  • Conduct daily inspections of the landfill cover and geosynthetic cover, and repair identified issues
  • Conduct odor surveillance twice each operating day, once in the morning and once at night
  • Sample and analyze the sulfur compounds in the landfill gas daily
  • Conduct surface sampling across the Reaction Area every two weeks
  • Submit monthly reports to the South Coast AQMD containing information and data collected under the Stipulated Order as well as updates on the implementation of the longer-term improvement projects to the landfill gas and liquids collection and control systems, landfill cover, and more
  • Expand the landfill gas and liquids collection and control systems
  • Procure and install a geosynthetic cover over western and northern portions and the top deck of the Reaction Area
  • Maintain a variety of odor control systems around the Landfill

Odor and Maintenance Logs

Monthly reports submitted to the South Coast AQMD on the 20th of every month as required by Condition 8 of the Stipulated Order for Abatement:

 

Chiquita’s weekly well drilling updates required by Condition 15(c) to South Coast AQMD:

 

Chiquita’s weekly leachate inspection reports prepared pursuant to Condition 27(c) to South Coast AQMD:

 

Chiquita’s reports to South Coast AQMD under Condition 27(e) summarizing leachate leak and spill information:

 

Chiquita’s reports to South Coast AQMD summarizing laboratory results collected under Condition 42(x):

 

Chiquita’s weekly report to South Coast AQMD under Condition 65 summarizing leachate pump installation activities:

 

Chiquita’s weekly report to South Coast AQMD under Condition 53 on leachate tank numbers and quantities of leachate collected:

 

Chiquita’s follow-up written reports to South Coast AQMD under Condition 82 regarding planned and unplanned downtime of LFG collection and control equipment:

View Chiquita’s weekly reports to South Coast AQMD detailing west slope toe drain installation and north slope toe termination activities as required by Condition 85(c):

South Coast AQMD

Summaries of the monthly Reaction Committee meetings prepared pursuant to Condition 12(f)(iv) of the Stipulated Order:

Reaction Area review reports created by the Reaction Committee pursuant to the Stipulated Order:

Reports created by the Reaction Committee pursuant to the Stipulated Order:

 

Monthly leachate sampling results submitted pursuant to Condition 38 of the Stipulated Order:

Other submittals:

Local Enforcement Agency

Weekly updates on cover issues in accordance with Milestone2B:

Weekly submittals of all temperature monitoring probe data in accordance with Mitigation 1B:

 

Updates on the installation of the temperature monitoring probes in accordance with Mitigation Measure #1B. Note that Chiquita stopped submitting these updates once the probes were fully installed. Chiquita now submits weekly submittals of probe data, as shown above:

 

Weekly updates on the installation of the geosynthetic cover in accordance with Milestone 2A. Note that Chiquita stopped submitting these updates once the geosynthetic cover fully installed.

 

Weekly monitoring probe and well installation update in accordance with Milestone 4-2:

Monthly reports pursuant to Milestones 1A-3 and 5 of the LEA’s June 6, 2024 Compliance Order and the LEA letter dated July 30, 2024:


Additional LEA Correspondence

Los Angeles County Public Works

Odor Mitigation Reports Required by the Landfill’s Conditional Use Permit:

Los Angeles County Department of Public Health

Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board

Department of Toxic Substances Control

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Other Regulators

Air Quality

Access Chiquita's Air Monitoring Program data here.

Air quality monitoring required under Condition 68 of the CUP is ongoing. Air monitoring equipment is operational at all five on-site locations at the landfill and all seven off-site locations in the surrounding community. Further information and the consultant’s presentations to the Community Advisory Committee on the air monitoring program are available on the Community Advisory Committee webpage.

 

Consultant Reports Submitted to the CAC, TAC, or Any Government Agency as required under Condition 68 of Chiquita’s CUP:

 

Quarterly or Annual Reports Submitted to the Los Angeles Department of Public Health or South Coast AQMD as required under Condition 68 of Chiquita’s CUP:

 

Monthly Data and Quarterly Summary Reports Submitted to the Los Angeles Department of Public Health

Upcoming Public Meetings

Chiquita will host the following Community Information Meetings to discuss current updates and odor mitigation efforts at the Landfill.

Next Community Information Meeting - February 6, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Virtual - Join Zoom meeting
Mobile - +1 669 900 6833 US
Public comments will be received at these meetings.
Webinar ID: 921 8583 8562


Previous Community Information Meeting Materials

Community Advisory Committee Meeting

Community Advisory Committee Meetings are held on the 2nd Tuesday of every month. Meetings start at 6:00 pm.

The Chiquita Canyon Landfill Community Advisory Committee (CAC) was established in accordance with Conditional Use Permit No. 2004-00042, which was approved by the County of Los Angeles (County) Board of Supervisors (Board) on July 25, 2017. The CAC serves as an advisory body to the Board, Regional Planning Commission (Commission), and County Staff on issues relating to the Landfill, and as a conduit for the community to communicate with the Commission and other regulatory agencies on an ongoing basis regarding issues involving the development and operation of the Landfill. Chiquita representatives attend the meetings of the CAC to provide regular, and timely updates and reports regarding landfill operations as a means to maintain an open line of communications with local leaders and residents.

Next CAC meeting - Tuesday, February 11, 2025 at 6:00 PM.
In person - Castaic Library (27971 Sloan Canyon Rd, Castaic, CA 91384).

A registration link to attend the meeting will be provided once it becomes available.
Public comments will be received at these meetings.
More information can be found on the CAC website.

Technical Advisory Committee Meeting

The Chiquita Canyon Landfill Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) consists of County Planning, Department of Public Health, Department of Public Works, and the Forester.  The TAC was established for the purpose of reviewing, coordinating, and certifying the satisfactory implementation and/or completion of the plans, permits, and/or agreements required and/or authorized by the Landfill’s Conditional Use Permit, including the implementation and/or completion of the Conditions of Approval, the Implementation and Monitoring Program, and the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program.

Next TAC meeting – TBD
Meeting information will be posted here when it is made available.
More information can be found on the TAC website.

Castaic Area Town Council Meeting

Town hall meetings are held on the 3rd Wednesday of every month. Meetings start at 6:30 pm, commencing by 6:45 pm, and are usually completed by 9 pm.

Next CATC meeting – February 19, 2025

You can join the Zoom Meeting using the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89674085265...
Meeting ID: 896 7408 5265
Passcode: 211269.
Alternatively, you can dial in at +1 669 900 9128.

Public comments will be received at these meetings.

South Coast AQMD Hearing

A status update and modification hearing on the Stipulated Order for Abatement will be held before the South Coast AQMD Hearing Board on February 5 and 6, 2025, at the SCAQMD Headquarters in Diamond Bar. Virtual public comments will be received at the hearing.

Virtual - Join via Zoom - Meeting ID: 914 2934 2608o
Call - 669 900 6833
One tap mobile

FAQ + Useful links

Use the below accordions to view answers to FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) from the community. Please also see the useful links below that will take you to articles off of this site.

Chiquita Canyon: An Update on State’s Response
The Signal, by Pilar Schiavo - April 2, 2024

All Hands Needed on Chiquita
The Signal, Becki Robb - April 9, 2024

Castaic school district, landfill working on air quality mitigation
The Signal, Tyler Wainfeld - April 12, 2024

Why is Chiquita Canyon, LLC (Chiquita) not taking the reaction and its impacts on the community, or the community’s complaints, seriously?

Chiquita takes very seriously its role in the safe operation of the Chiquita Canyon Landfill (Landfill) and in open, real-time communication with the local community and Chiquita’s regulators. Chiquita and its many consultants and experts have been working around the clock over the past several months to implement a multitude of mitigation measures to address and stop the landfill reaction and any related impacts. Chiquita has implemented an incident command system to better restructure its response to the reaction and ensure continued cooperation with Chiquita’s regulators. Chiquita provides regular updates on the implementation of its mitigation measures and other updates concerning the landfill to both its regulators and to the public. Chiquita continues to work cooperatively with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and all of its regulators to resolve the situation as quickly as possible.

Chiquita cares about the community and takes seriously the community’s complaints. Chiquita has established a new Community Relief Program to assist with offsetting costs associated with odor mitigation. Through this program, residents of Val Verde, Live Oak, Hasley Hills, Hillcrest Parkway, Hasley Canyon, and Stevenson Ranch are able to request funding that can be used for expenses associated with odor mitigation, including temporary relocation, home hardening, and increased utility bills. Applicants may also request an air filtration device or replacement air filters. Funding will be available on a monthly basis. If you are interested in applying for this program, visit https://www.chiquitalandfillcommunityrelief.com/ to apply. Please note that submission of the application form and receipt of compensation does not constitute a release of any legal claims you may have against the Landfill or any related entities and does not constitute a waiver of any additional damages to which you may be entitled.

There have been many complaints from the community of eye irritation, respiratory symptoms, and skin issues. Why has Chiquita continued to say there are no health impacts facing the local community?

Chiquita fully recognizes that neighboring communities are suffering odor-related impacts as a result of the reaction. Recognizing these impacts, Chiquita has committed and is currently working to provide assistance to those affected by odors from the Landfill. The current data and evaluation by experts, including an independent health risk evaluation conducted at the direction of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, show that there are no anticipated long-term health impacts from these odors. However, the study by the Department of Public Health states, and Chiquita recognizes, that odors may cause short-term health impacts or may otherwise affect quality of life.

Pursuant to a Stipulated Order for Abatement with South Coast AQMD, Chiquita was required to have prepared by a third party an analysis of potential health impacts and an assessment of potential odor impacts. In compliance with this requirement, toxicologists with CTEH prepared a Health Impacts Report and toxicologists with Intertox prepared an Odor Impacts Assessment Report. An easy-to-read summary of the reports is attached immediately below, along with copies of the reports and supporting information:

Why does the landfill continue to ignore the local community’s pleas for assistance regarding the odor?

Chiquita has and continues to address the community’s requests for assistance. Chiquita previously released $3.5 million in funding to Los Angeles County to be used to fund environmental, educational, and quality of life programs, or to fund regional public facilities that serve the Val Verde, Castaic, and other unincorporated areas of the County surrounding the Landfill. Los Angeles County used $2.5 million of those funds to establish the County’s Utility Relief Grant Program. This new program is run by Chiquita and has a wider scope than the County’s program, offering payments for more neighborhoods and for additional expenses.

Chiquita has also distributed over one thousand air filtration devices to the community and continues to make the devices as well as replacement air filters available to the community. For more information on each of these programs, please visit the following webpage: https://chiquitacanyon.com/odor-mitigation/.

Evidence of the landfill reaction dates back to May 2022, resulting in thousands of odor complaints in 2023 and 2024 thus far, as well as multiple regulatory actions in 2023 and 2024. Why has Chiquita done nothing about this?

In cooperation with its many regulators, Chiquita has implemented a multitude of mitigation measures to better understand and address and stop the landfill reaction. Chiquita started implementing many of these mitigation measures voluntarily when the reaction first began and is now implementing these measures, as well as many more, as required by and in coordination with its regulators. More information on these mitigation measures and status updates on the implementation of these measures is available at the following webpage: https://chiquitacanyon.com/odor-mitigation/. Chiquita continues to work cooperatively with the EPA and all of its regulators to resolve the situation as quickly as possible.

Why isn’t Chiquita being transparent about current issues at the Landfill?

Chiquita takes very seriously its role in the safe operation of the Landfill and in open, real-time communication with the local community and Chiquita’s regulators. Chiquita consistently participates in and answers questions during multiple public community meetings that occur each month. Chiquita also updates its website on at least a weekly basis with information about current issues at the Landfill and the multitude of mitigation measures and activities that Chiquita is conducting and data that Chiquita is collecting. Please see the following webpage for more information: https://chiquitacanyon.com/odor-mitigation/.

Is there a fire at the Landfill?

No, there is no fire at the Landfill. The Landfill is experiencing an elevated temperature landfill (ETLF) event, or a “reaction” – a chemical reaction occurring deep within an old portion of the Landfill, which has resulted in elevated temperatures and increased generation of landfill gas and leachate (liquids produced by a landfill). Things such as increased leachate production would not occur with a fire—the amount of leachate produced by the Landfill has increased tenfold since the ETLF event.

Is Chiquita discharging hazardous waste into the environment? Is the landfill leachate presenting a serious and dangerous situation at the Landfill?

Chiquita has significantly increased the frequency of its leachate sampling in order to determine when leachate exceeds regulatory levels and has retained a third-party consultant to assist in the proper characterization, management, treatment, and disposal of potentially hazardous leachate. Only leachate tanks that have been confirmed non-hazardous and approved by the off-site non-hazardous treatment and disposal facilities are shipped offsite to those facilities.

All other leachate is handled as if it were hazardous waste and shipped to permitted hazardous waste treatment and disposal facilities. Chiquita has also begun treating its leachate. If post-treatment confirmatory sampling shows that the leachate is below regulatory levels, Chiquita sends the non-hazardous leachate to its non-hazardous treatment and disposal facilities once approval by those facilities has been received. If post-treatment confirmatory sampling shows that the leachate is still above regulatory levels, Chiquita handles the leachate as if it were hazardous and only ships it to permitted treatment and disposal facilities.

Chiquita is also testing its onsite sedimentation basin on a regular basis, at least semiannually and prior to discharge, to determine whether stormwater mixed with leachate made it to the basin during or after a rain event. Any discharges to waterways outside of the Landfill are through the sedimentation basin. Chiquita is waiting test results from a recent rain event, but has not yet received any indication that leachate seepage that reached the stormwater channel made it to the sedimentation basin.

Chiquita is also working cooperatively with its County, state, and federal regulators, many of which are regularly coming onsite to assess the management of this leachate, and is making sure that any risks related to the management and handling of potentially hazardous leachate do not come to fruition.

There are reports that the odor is going to continue for as long as the ETLF event is happening, and ETLF events can last for years. Is this true?

As Chiquita has discussed at several of the community meetings it hosts and attends, the ETLF conditions may continue for years, but once Chiquita is able to fully implement some of the mitigation measures that are currently in progress, it believes that it will be able to mitigate or eliminate odor impacts in the shorter term. This has been the experience at several other of the 10 to 15 landfills across the country that have experienced ETLF events in the majority of their waste mass.

Are these ETLF events or landfill reactions common?

No. There are hundreds of municipal solid waste landfills in North America, but there are only approximately 10 to 15 landfills with the majority of their waste mass that can be characterized as experiencing an ETLF event or landfill reaction. There are also only another 40 or so other landfills that have had a relatively limited portion of their waste mass exhibit ETLF conditions.