At a heated public meeting in Duarte on Wednesday night, residents expressed outrage with the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to process toxic debris from the Eaton Fire at Lario Park.
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The more than 750 people in attendance booed and shouted down EPA officials when they tried to explain that the site was chosen because it was already under the control of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Margaret Oban, who lives less than a mile from the site, told KNX News’ Pete Demetriou couldn't see the logic in the decision.
“I still want to know why they're dragging it all the way from where it’s at all the way over here,” she said. “What’s the point of dragging it all around?”
Duarte Councilmember Margaret Finley said she has concerns about the toxic materials being shipped down the freeway on stake bed trucks, where slow speed could impede traffic or cause accidents.
“To me, just nothing has been well thought out,” she said. “It was, let's go ahead, get this done as quickly as possible, not the best possible way.”
Resident Brian Tabatataii said he’s resigned to the operation going forward, but he wants assurances it will be done safely
“When something's already been decided, the role now is to make sure, one, you have proper oversight,” he said. “Let's make sure it's done in the way they said it's gonna be done. Let's hold them accountable.”
EPA officials said they plan to finish using the Lario Park site within 30 days, but residents expressed skepticism about whether that end date is realistic. The EPA didn’t rule out an extension based on the amount of debris that needs to be processed.
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