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2025-128 Los Angeles County Department of Public Health — Chiquita Canyon Landfill

Audit Scope and Objectives

The audit by the California State Auditor will provide independently developed and verified information related to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health’s (department) oversight and response to the conditions at the Chiquita Canyon Landfill.  The audit’s scope will include, but not be limited to, the following activities:

  1. Review and evaluate the laws, rules, and regulations significant to the audit objectives.
  2. Identify actions that the department has taken to do the following:
    • Notify residents about the potential negative health effects of exposure to hazardous chemicals.
    • Engage directly with residents experiencing negative health effects resulting from exposure to hazardous chemicals.
    • Protect residents from further exposure to hazardous chemicals.
  3. Evaluate the department’s policies and procedures for identifying the specific actions that are necessary to protect public health and safety in response to a release of hazardous chemicals into the community.
  4. Evaluate the steps the department has taken to document symptoms and to act to protect public health in instances when the science and research on exposure to hazardous chemicals does not adequately reflect the symptoms, impact, and experiences of the community.
  5. Evaluate the sufficiency of the department’s actions in response to the Chiquita Canyon Landfill conditions and compare them to the actions it has taken to protect public health and safety when other events have resulted in the release of hazardous chemicals into the surrounding community, including but not limited to the events at Aliso Canyon and Los Angeles County’s January 2025 wildfires.If significant differences exist between previous responses to the release of hazardous chemicals in the county and the department’s response to the Chiquita Canyon Landfill, evaluate what actions or processes the department should develop to standardize its responsiveness to the health and safety threats posed to the community by potential future releases of hazardous chemicals.
  6. Review and assess any other issues that are significant to the audit.

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