“This is about keeping the rural Fifth District communities I represent safe and healthy,” said Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who authored the motion. “Many associate illegal dumping of waste with visual blight, but the consequences of the problem we’re addressing are much deeper than that. Unscrupulous construction companies are disposing tons of debris in parcels of land in the Antelope Valley that contain hazardous materials that can seep into the water table and pose serious public health and environmental safety hazards. This is intolerable and just plain wrong. This motion will get law enforcement engaged in proactively combating illegal dumping.”
The motion requests that the District Attorney and the Sheriff, in collaboration with several other county departments, prioritize enforcement and evaluate the feasibility of developing a trained and permanent strike team to proactively prevent, enforce, and prosecute illegal dumpers and operators of illegal dumping sites.
“Since the pandemic, we have not only seen a spike in illegal dumping but a change in the type of items being dumped,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn, who co-authored the motion. “We are seeing large amounts of debris, hazardous materials, tires, and large home appliances. Illegal dumping is a crime, but it is not being enforced as it should be. With this new effort, we are looking to get the authority to go after individuals and large construction sites that are behind this growing problem.”
The motion also calls for recommendations on how to deploy technological enforcement solutions, such as drones and automated license plate readers, to identify illegal dumping activity in hot spots and specifies other actions that mitigate construction waste dumping, increase clean-ups, and create a finding source to support these environmental justice efforts.
[Information via news release from the office of Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger.]
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Whose Job? says
I went out for a ride in my side by side here in Littlerock and was amazed how much trash is in the desert before I got back home I was pulled over by a motorcycle cop who told me I couldn’t ride in the desert in the side by side. I asked him why wasn’t he out getting the people who are dumping instead of chasing me down, I wasn’t even going fast. He said its not his job to get the people dumping he is suppose to stop people from riding offroad vehicles. I guess we are ruining the desert more than the trash and hazardous waste that is getting dumped. So who job is it to stop the dumper’s?
Ledesma 99 says
A construction dumping crack down would be a thought. Because in the regular dumping crack down supervisors have proved powerless.
Barbara Brand says
There is no way to stop the Illegal dumping in the Antelope Valley, Often on my way home via Sierra Highway to E Avenue E/F there are trucks loaded up heading eastward waiting for the dark of night to keep them from being caught; this is true also as I travel from Challenger Way and E Avenue I toward E Avenue G to Sierra Highway and then to E Avenue E/F, This issue was brought up at City of Lancaster City Council Meeting within the last few months and the Resolution presented to the City of Lancaster was to allow more “Free” Dumps per household; this may reduce the illegal dumping to some degree and help to reduce the need for a Task Force of some kind or the use of Sheriff Deputies who have more important dangerous crime to deal with.
Ken Wood says
“This motion will get law enforcement engaged in proactively combating illegal dumping.”
Prioritize enforcement? Note to criminals; Deputies are going to be in rural areas miles from city limits.
Higher fines and stiffer penalties? You’ll have to catch them first. The boards motion will do little or nothing to curtail illegal dumping.
O’Henry Candelaria says
How can I get more info on this dumping matter? My family has property on 60th west between H &G for over 70 years and this problem has been going on for years. I just clean up the property 2 years ago and now there is more junk. Who can I contact
Thank you
ACE says
PLEASE LIST ANY SUCESSES OF THESE FIVE SILLIES…
NONE..?
AND THIS CONSTRUCTION DUMPING IS A NEW PROBLEM ALL OF A SUDDEN..?
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ONE FEEL GOOD DEAL AFTER ANOTHER…
“SEE EVERYONE HOW MUCH WE CARE..”
“WE JUST HAD TO DO SOMETHING, ANYTHING..”
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BARGER HAS IGNORED TH E CONTINUING TRASH DUMP BLIGHT ON THE CUTOFF ROAD FROM LONGVIEW IN PEARBLOSSOM…
I HAVE REPORTED IT MANY TIMES…
VOTE THEM OUT SOON FOLKS…
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