Army Corps begins phase 2 debris removal in Altadena and Pacific Palisades; state, federal partners urge property owners to sign rights‑of‑entry

For the first time since her home burned, resident Margot Stuber said she slept with relief after crews from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began debris removal on her property, officials said at a news conference in Altadena.

The Army Corps, working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and state and local partners, formally began phase 2 of debris removal for the Altadena and Pacific Palisades fire areas. Governor Gavin Newsom said the effort will accelerate recovery while emphasizing safety, environmental monitoring and a March 31 deadline for property owners to submit rights‑of‑entry (ROE) forms so work can be batched for efficiency.

Why it matters: Officials described a large, 24‑hour operation to remove millions of tons of debris that will require coordinated traffic, landfill access and public‑health monitoring. Faster ROE returns allow contractors to cluster properties and reduce logistical bottlenecks, officials said, increasing the pace at which neighborhoods can move from debris removal to rebuilding.

The nut of the plan: Bob Fenton, FEMA regional administrator for Region 9, said the Army Corps will lead phase 2 removal with safety and speed as top priorities. Major General Jason Kelly, deputy commanding general for civil and emergency operations for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, described a multiagency team and said the Corps will…