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Subject: Urgent Action Needed: Stop Toxic Wildfire Debris at Sunshine Canyon Landfill

Dear Senator Stern,

I am reaching out as a concerned resident regarding the ongoing environmental and public health crisis at Sunshine Canyon Landfill in Granada Hills. The landfill’s operators, Republic Services and Browning-Ferris Industries, are preparing to accept toxic wildfire ash and debris, a move that poses severe health risks to local communities and threatens critical Los Angeles water supplies.

For weeks, our community has sought answers about who is responsible for regulating this decision, only to be redirected among various agencies:

• LA City Council: Councilmember John Lee’s office
• LA County Supervisor: Lindsay Horvath’s office
• Army Corps of Engineers
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Each has pointed us back to state-level jurisdiction. With no clear accountability, we turn to you for leadership and urgent intervention.

Why This Requires Immediate Action:

• Public Health Threats – The toxic debris from wildfire burn sites contains carcinogens, heavy metals, and hazardous particulates that will be dispersed by the landfill’s strong winds, exposing nearby communities to dangerous air pollution. Sunshine Canyon is located in a wind corridor, and the designated area for accepting this ash and debris sits at one of the highest points in the landfill—an area subject to extreme winds. Additionally, this landfill is in a seismically active region, further increasing the risks of environmental contamination.
• Water Supply Contamination Risk – Sunshine Canyon sits less than a mile from the LA Aqueduct Cascades and the Van Norman Reservoir, which supply one-third of Los Angeles with drinking water. A single failure in containment could jeopardize water safety for millions.
• A History of Environmental Violations – Sunshine Canyon has received over 17,146 complaints filed with the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), leading to 376 violations for persistent odor and air pollution failures. Just this past Tuesday, February 18th, Sunshine Canyon received yet another Notice of Violation from SCAQMD for nuisance odors. The situation has become so severe that the local school frequently has to cancel recess and keep children indoors due to unbearable odors and dust emanating from the landfill. If Republic Services cannot manage basic waste operations, it certainly cannot be trusted with hazardous wildfire debris.

As a champion for environmental justice and wildfire resilience, you understand the long-term consequences of toxic pollution and the failures of corporate self-regulation. You have fought to close Aliso Canyon, authored the Wildfire Resilience through Community and Ecology Act, and led efforts to strengthen environmental protections for vulnerable communities. The people of Granada Hills now need your leadership to ensure the state prevents Sunshine Canyon from accepting this hazardous waste.

The Granada Hills North Community Council is holding a meeting to determine next steps in fighting this disaster, and we would welcome your participation or guidance. The meeting is scheduled for tonight, February 20th, at 6:30 PM, at St. Euphrasia Church, located at 11779 Shoshone Ave., Granada Hills, CA 91344. We need a clear commitment from the state on how to address this crisis before irreversible harm is done.

Please let us know how your office plans to intervene. The health and safety of thousands depend on it.

Sincerely,

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