7-14-26 Soil Remediation Statement
July 14, 2026
Statement and Timeline Documenting PUSD’s
Soil Remediation Process and
Coordination with Public Agencies
July 14, 2026
The Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) understands the deep concern many members of our community feel about the removal of trees from District campuses. We share the community’s love for these trees, and we do not take the removal of any tree lightly.
But the public discussion has increasingly suggested that PUSD moved forward without notice, without coordination, and without regard for the City of Pasadena, regulatory agencies, or the broader community. That is simply not accurate.
Following the Eaton Fire, environmental testing identified fire-related contaminants in soil at multiple PUSD campuses. The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) reviewed the District’s findings and concurred that “...impacted soil present an imminent and substantial threat to school property users; removal and replacement of the impacted soil is necessary to ensure continued safe use of the properties; affected infrastructure, trees, and vegetation must also be removed and replaced as part of protective actions.”
DTSC further affirmed that “timely action to remove all impacted soil is the most protective and effective approach on school properties”.
Today, the District is releasing a timeline and supporting documents to provide a fuller public record of how this work developed. That record reflects months of coordination with the City and other public agencies, including meetings, project reviews, submission of plans and applications, and repeated requests for guidance regarding permits, tree replacement, grading, trucking, and other issues.
It also shows that, after reviewing the District's project materials and DTSC correspondence, the City informed PUSD that its Tree Protection Ordinance did not apply to this hazardous material and soil removal project before later reversing that position.
PUSD recognizes that the City now disagrees with the District’s position on jurisdiction and process. That legal issue remains under discussion between the parties. But disagreement today does not erase the months of outreach, documentation, and coordination that occurred before the work began. The District did not proceed in secret. It did not ignore the City. It did not decide on its own that these campuses needed cleanup.
PUSD remains willing to work constructively with the City and other partners. But the District cannot allow an inaccurate narrative to obscure the facts or delay the work necessary to return students, staff, families, and school communities to safe, healthy, fully usable campuses.
“We understand why tree removal is painful and why people are asking hard questions,” said PUSD Superintendent Elizabeth Blanco, Ed.D. “We welcome those questions. Where trees can safely remain, PUSD is working to preserve them. But where contaminated soil must be removed to protect students and staff, and where no feasible alternative allows that work to be completed safely and on time, the District has an obligation to complete the cleanup.”
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TIMELINE
January 2025 – The Eaton Fire ignites, tearing through Altadena, Pasadena, and Sierra Madre, becoming the second most destructive fire in California history. The Eaton Fire destroys five PUSD schools. More than 10,000 PUSD students were evacuated and nearly 1,000 lost their homes, as did more than 120 employees.
Testing Begins
February/March 2025 – Environmental testing begins in consultation with the Pasadena Public Health Department (PPHD), the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), LA County Public Health, and the City of Pasadena.
April 16, 2025 – PPHD recommends exposed soil testing for schools and childcare centers. PPHD also strongly recommends closing affected outdoor areas pending results.
Spring/Summer 2025 – PUSD completes first-phase soil testing across all 34 campuses/locations. Fire-related contaminants, lead, arsenic, and other substances are found at multiple sites.
July 16, 2025 – PUSD and DTSC enter a Master Voluntary Cleanup Agreement covering Edison Elementary School, Eliot Arts Magnet Middle School, Franklin Elementary School, Loma Alta Elementary School, Noyes Elementary School, and San Rafael Elementary School.
January 7, 2026 – Master Voluntary Cleanup Agreement amended to include Blair High School, PUSD Education Center, John Muir High School, Cleveland Elementary School, Field Elementary School, Jefferson Elementary School, Washington Elementary School, Octavia E. Butler Magnet Middle School, and Longfellow Elementary School.
Before 2025-26 school year – Eight campuses cleaned up and fully reopened; soil-contaminated spaces on 11 campuses remain closed for further testing and cleanup.
City of Pasadena and PUSD Coordination
January 22, 2026 – The PUSD Board of Education approves Resolution 2797, authorizing emergency remediation work at District school sites, and Resolution 2798 proclaiming the existence of a local emergency related to wildfire damage. The resolutions authorize the PUSD Superintendent to execute contracts and request technical expertise, resources, and financial assistance from the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
February 13, 2026 – Representatives from PUSD and the City meet regarding the anticipated tree removals and follow up to arrange further coordination.
February 17, 2026 – PUSD submits Fire-Related Investigations Findings Summary Letter to DTSC for concurrence.
February 24, 2026 – PUSD meets with the City’s Zoning Administrator regarding the anticipated tree removals.
February 25, 2026 – DTSC issues its response to PUSD’s February 17 letter, concurring with PUSD’s findings and saying in part, “...impacted soil present an imminent and substantial threat to school property users; removal and replacement of the impacted soil is necessary to ensure continued safe use of the properties; affected infrastructure, trees, and vegetation must also be removed and replaced as part of protective actions.”
February 26, 2026 – PUSD sends the DTSC letter to the City, advising them of the District’s plan to proceed with tree removals over the summer, and inquiring about replacement protocols. The District submits the Longfellow Elementary School soil removal and tree replacement plan as an example, to determine whether the format and level of detail are sufficient.
April 1, 2026 – After more than 30 days, the City advises PUSD of its opinion that Private Tree Removal permits are required for protected trees. The City also advises that, because the remediation is not classified as a “project”, replacement trees are not required under the Tree Protection Ordinance, although PUSD may voluntarily replace the trees (which is currently planned).
April 23, 2026 – PUSD issues a Request for Proposals (RFP) for bids on soil removal work.
April 27, 2026 – While reiterating that the removal work will be proceeding over the summer, in good faith, PUSD shares its tree removal chart, scope maps, and overall remediation scope with the City and asks whether trucking, traffic, grading, or other City permits or coordination are required. The City advises that the local building department does not have jurisdiction over on-site grading work at school properties, and that no Public Works permit is required if trucks only enter and exit through existing campus access points.
May 14, 2026 – PUSD leadership meets with City of Pasadena leaders to discuss contaminated soil and tree removal plans.
May 20, 2026 – PUSD leadership meets again with City leadership, now including DTSC leadership, to discuss contaminated soil and tree removal plans. The City also asks PUSD to submit application materials and site-specific tree removal maps for the upcoming work.
May 28, 2026 – PUSD Board of Education approves construction contract for soil and tree removal work.
June 9, 2026 – At the City's request, and although the District believed (and continues to believe) the applications were not legally required, PUSD submitted comprehensive tree removal application materials, including a Master Application, Private Tree Removal Application, and site-specific tree removal maps.
June 12, 2026 – After reviewing the District's applications, supporting materials, and DTSC correspondence, the City informs PUSD that “it has been determined that the City’s Tree Protection Ordinance does not apply to this project.” Their communication goes on to say, “Based on the information contained in the [February 25 letter from DTSC], the removal of the trees identified…is part of a hazardous material and soil removal plan for school sites. As such, the removal of the impacted trees is not subject to the City’s Tree Protection Ordinance, and a Private Tree Removal application is not required.”
June 13, 2026 – PUSD acknowledges the City’s determination, and informs the City that it will proceed accordingly.
June 15, 2026 – PUSD and DTSC issue a joint statement on safe soil cleanup.
June 17, 2026 – The City informs PUSD that it is revisiting its June 12 determination, and asks for work that has already begun to be halted.
June 19, 2026 – The PUSD Board authorizes continuation of the remediation project, concluding that the District could not delay DTSC-overseen soil removal work necessary to protect student safety and reopen closed areas at campuses including play areas, grass playfields, courtyards, community gardens, student gardens and landscape planters in time for the start of the school year.
This was particularly important since remediation work had already begun, and the City had already determined that its Tree Protection Ordinance did not apply. In doing so, the Board agreed to preserve all protected trees through alternative means, at an increased cost to the District of at least $2 million.
June 25, 2026 – The City officially reverses its June 12 determination and advises PUSD of its opinion that the project is subject to City zoning and building regulations, including the Tree Protection Ordinance.
July 1, 2026 – The City issues stop-work notices at seven campuses. PUSD asserts that soil work falls outside City permitting jurisdiction, and that complying with the notices could delay reopening of affected outdoor spaces.
July 6, 2026 – PUSD responds to the City’s stop work notices, reaffirming that the District’s state-overseen soil remediation project is not subject to the City’s Tree Protection Ordinance.
After months of coordination, and following the City’s reversal of its earlier position after work had begun, the District advised that it had an obligation to continue the remediation necessary to protect student health and reopen campuses safely.
Ongoing, Summer 2026 – Replacement of clean soil continues, with one-to-one replanting of trees soon to be underway at the 11 campuses, under DTSC oversight, with the goal of fully restoring outdoor spaces for use by our children for the 2026-2027 school year.
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