Army Corps, County give debris‑removal update: tree waiver live, March 31 opt‑in deadline, more crews on the ground

County and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials on Wednesday provided operational updates on wildfire debris removal, hazardous‑tree waivers and storm preparedness as Los Angeles County moves toward a March 31 opt‑in deadline for government‑sponsored phase‑2 removal.

LA County Chief Deputy Director Angela George Moody and Colonel Eric Swinson of the U.S. Army Corps described the debris removal intake process, counts of right‑of‑entry (ROE) submissions, how hazardous trees will be handled, and steps residents should take before a potentially rainy week.

“We have received over 8,000 submissions to opt into, the government sponsored program for phase 2 debris removal,” Angela George Moody, chief deputy director for Los Angeles County Public Works, said, urging property owners to submit right‑of‑entry forms via LA County Recovers or at local recovery centers before the March 31 deadline. The county has increased staffing and technical resources to review submissions and said it has a rigorous verification process to protect property owners from fraud.

Colonel Eric Swinson, representing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, provided Corps‑specific intake figures and operational status: “As of this morning, about 10 minutes ago, we've received a total of 2,212, rights of entry.” He said the Corps had cleared primary fire debris from about 322 properties and that 109 properties had final sign‑offs returned to the county.

Deferred properties and household hazardous materials: Swinson said 4,499 properties were originally deferred by the EPA for household hazardous materials collection; of those, 1,997 had been cleared as of the night before the briefing, and the Corps expected to reach about 50% cleared in the next day or two. He said property owners who opt out or whose properties remain deferred may need EPA clearance for household hazardous materials before privately contracted debris removal or landfill acceptance can occur.

Tree waivers, markings and safety: The Corps and county described a new hazardous tree waiver and an additional marking protocol — a yellow dot at the base of waived trees plus a yellow ribbon — to signal trees that property owners have chosen to retain. Swinson defined a hazardous tree as one within the ash footprint that poses an immediate threat to life, public health and safety, or property within its fall range. He warned that refusing hazardous tree removal may affect a homeowner’s ability to obtain a building permit, and that property owners who retain hazardous trees assume responsibility for future safety risk.

“Again, let's just talk about this waiver. So this waiver provides property owners with choices to retain specific trees that we have deemed to be hazardous. But they must understand there's a potential safety and regulatory implications,” Colonel Eric Swinson said.

Officials urged residents not to self‑mark trees with paint. The Corps cautioned that community members using ordinary paint can harm trees; special tree paint is used by crews and is applied as part of the official waiver and assessment process.

Storm preparedness and field operations: Angela George Moody summarized the storm outlook and field posture: light to moderate rain was forecast with higher totals in foothills and mountains and a 10–20% chance of thunderstorms, creating a risk of isolated mudflows and blocked streets. She said county flood control facilities had been assessed and protective measures remain in place. Moody said that the county expected to have over 75 primary debris removal crews in the field on the briefing day and asked motorists to exercise caution near work zones.

Contractor landfill acceptance issues: Reporters asked whether private contractors could perform work on deferred properties and whether they could find landfills to accept debris that lacked EPA household hazardous materials clearances. Colonel Swinson and County staff said EPA deferrals affect landfill acceptance and that the Corps and county are working to clear household hazardous materials and to help streamline options for property owners and contractors.

Contacts, next steps and resources: Officials directed residents to submit right‑of‑entry forms via LA County Recovers or in person at recovery centers, and to call the county right‑of‑entry hotline at (844) 347‑3332 with questions. For storm‑related damage or mudflow assessments, the county public works 24‑hour dispatch number was provided. County staff said survivors should monitor email for official correspondence about ROE status and to respond promptly to requests for additional information.

The county emphasized the March 31 deadline for the Army Corps phase‑2 debris removal opt‑in; property owners who have not decided were urged to call county lines and make an election so work can proceed where applicable.