Administrator Lee Zeldin Travels to Los Angeles to Survey Wildfire Rebuilding Efforts, View Seizure of Illegal Pesticides, and Highlight Agency Effort to Reduce Food Waste

LOS ANGELES – On Wednesday, June 24, 2026, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin visited Los Angeles, California, to spotlight agency commitments on reducing food waste, wildfire rebuilding efforts, stopping illegal pesticides, and wastewater reclamation. 

Administrator Zeldin began his day touring the Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant, the largest wastewater treatment facility in Los Angeles. Under the Pure Water Los Angeles initiative, the facility will purify wastewater toward a long-term goal of 200 million gallons of recycled water daily, in a partnership between LA Sanitation and the LA Department of Water and Power.  

Next, Administrator Zeldin traveled to Long Beach to tour Grow2Zero Farms. Grow2Zero Farms is advancing food recovery, community food security, composting, workforce development, and regenerative agriculture through a neighborhood-based model that converts potential waste into community resources. This farm’s mission is closely aligned with EPA’s Feed it Onward program, which aims to reduce food waste across America. The Administrator toured the urban farm, met with their leadership, and spoke with local media about the importance of reducing food waste.  

Administrator Zeldin concluded his day in Altadena with Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger to view the incredible progress the community is making in rebuilding homes destroyed by the Eaton fire. Zeldin and Barger toured homes being rebuilt and met with local community members to hear their rebuilding stories and challenges.  

On Thursday, June 25, 2026, Administrator Zeldin and EPA Assistant Administrator for the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Jeff Hall joined EPA Region 9 inspectors and their counterparts at Customs and Border Protection at the Port of Los Angeles and Long Beach. They viewed a recent seizure of “Sniper” a dangerous unregistered and unregulated pesticide, which contains a chemical called dichlorvos, also known as DDVP. EPA is making tremendous progress at US ports to identify and stop illegal foreign chemicals, HFCs, uncertified knock off aftermarket vehicle parts, and much more.  

Following his port tour, Administrator Zeldin visited the Marathon Oil Refinery, one of the largest refineries on the West Coast, which supplies gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and other petroleum products throughout Southern California.  

Zeldin then headed to the Pacific Palisades to visit with a family who has just completed construction on their home and have finally moved back in. He also spoke with media alongside local community leaders who have been strong advocates for helping residents navigate the rebuilding process.  

This was the Administrator’s third trip to the Palisades and Altadena this year as the agency continues to ensure those communities have the full support and resources of the federal government to rebuild their community and cut through any unnecessary red tape.