Congressman Ruiz Demands BIA Provide Plan for Clean Up of Mulch Fire Site

Thermal, Ca. – Today, Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. called on the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) to produce a plan and timeline to clean up the land in Thermal where recurring mulch fires have presented an environmental and public health hazard to area residents. In a letter to the Director of the BIA, signed also by Representative Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-03), Chairman of the Natural Resources Committee, Dr. Ruiz expressed his concern that the BIA neglected to act on repeated violations and trespassing orders sent to the landowner and business owners since 2015, and he called on the BIA to produce a plan within 30 days to close the unpermitted waste operation causing the environmental hazard and clean the land on which it sits.

"Extinguishing the Martinez Fire is the immediate priority and most pressing concern," Dr. Ruiz said. "I am demanding answers from the Bureau of Indian Affairs and a plan to clean up the debris on the property with the objective of preventing future environmental and public health hazards on this land and other lands under BIA jurisdiction. I will continue to fight for environmental justice and to protect the health of our students, teachers, and families."

You can read the full text of the letter here.

Dr. Ruiz has been on the forefront of the issue, touring the burned areas at the Sun Valley Recycling Center in Thermal earlier this year and calling for an investigation into the recurring mulch fires in September.

At Dr. Ruiz's urging of the National Director of the BIA, the BIA appointed a public information officer to handle all inquiries and provide regular updates to the community. You can call the BIA's fire information and media line at 909-766-2838 or email 2019_casca_martinez3@firenet.gov.

Background:

During a fire on the site in May, Dr. Ruiz toured the burned areas at the Sun Valley Recycling Center in Thermal.

In mid-September, local students from Desert Mirage High School called attention to smoke emanating from the mulch fires at the nearby facility.

On September 27, Dr. Ruiz called for an investigation by local, state, and federal agency officials into the situation.

On October 1, Dr. Ruiz met with community groups and students from the nearby schools and listened to repeated testimonials from those affected by the smoke from the fires. Students shared how they had headaches, allergic reactions, "burning in their lungs", and difficulty breathing.

On October 9, Dr. Ruiz convened an inter-agency meeting with Chairman Tortez of the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians, Supervisor V. Manual Perez, officials from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Environmental Protection Agency, the office of Assemblyman Eduardo Garcia, CalFIRE, and other state and local officials. The purpose of the meeting was to establish an immediate plan of action to close the site, clean the land, and prevent the situation from arising again.

On October 15, students wrote to Dr. Ruiz and the Coachella Valley Unified School District Board Members detailing new accounts of coughing, headaches, and burning while breathing as smoke from the most recent mulch fire overwhelmed the surrounding air. The newest fire spread to 52 acres in size and continues to burn. Early photographs indicated that industrial waste and home appliances were among the burning items.

On October 16, fewer than three weeks after the launch of Dr. Ruiz's investigation, the BIA issued a cease and desist order to permanently close the facility.

According to the BIA letter, if the dumping operation was not immediately ended, the BIA would pursue an injunction and compensation for all enforcement costs and damages including the cost of equipment removal, as well as other trespass damages available by law.

If it is determined that the activity has resulted in damages, the BIA will request an appraisal of the damages/penalties, and issue a bill for collection pursuant to 25 CFR § 166.812.

Sun Valley Recycling is located on the same plots of land as "Mt. San Diego" the infamous dump site that was closed in 1994 after years of enforcement efforts by the federal government.