[Updated] The Pasadena Unified School District said Wednesday that its removal of trees at several campuses is part of a state-directed effort to eliminate fire-related soil contamination and protect students, arguing the work falls outside the City’s jurisdiction despite stop-work notices issued by City officials.
In a statement attributed to a district spokesperson issued on Wednesday morning, PUSD said the project is intended to remove what it described as an “imminent and substantial threat” posed by soil contaminated in the aftermath of the Eaton Fire.
“The Pasadena Unified School District has been diligently working on its fire-related contaminant impacted soil removal project to remove an imminent and substantial threat to the children, teachers, and community members at district campuses,” according to the statement.
The statement comes after the issued stop-work notices at seven district campuses, alleging PUSD failed to obtain permits required under the City’s Tree Protection Ordinance before removing protected trees.
According to the district, the contaminated soil must be removed and replaced to ensure campuses can safely reopen for the 2026-27 school year. PUSD said it has worked with arborists and environmental consultants to preserve as many mature and native trees as possible, but that some trees, vegetation and infrastructure must be removed to complete the cleanup.
The district said the effort began after the Pasadena Public Health Department issued guidance on April 16, 2025, recommending schools close outdoor areas with exposed soil until testing could be completed. PUSD said it consulted with the Pasadena Public Health Department, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, the California Environmental Protection Agency and the California Department of Toxic Substances Control before conducting soil testing.
According to the district, testing found significant fire-related contamination at 11 campuses, requiring the removal of more than 8,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil by mid-August to allow campuses to fully reopen before the start of the school year.
PUSD said it has remained in communication with the City since the Eaton Fire and has shared testing results, remediation plans and a July 6 letter outlining its position. However, the district contends the remediation project is being overseen by DTSC and is not subject to the City’s permitting authority.
The City claims the PUSD must adhere to its tree protection order.
“Although we have consulted with the City, the District’s ongoing soil remediation project falls outside the City’s jurisdiction,” the spokesperson said. “The City recently indicated that no trees should be cut down when it issued seven stop notices, but has not offered viable solutions for removing all contaminated soil by the start of the school year.”
The district said every day the project is delayed postpones the reopening of outdoor play areas, athletic fields, community gardens and other campus spaces that have remained closed since the fire.
“We understand and share our community’s love for these campuses and their trees, and we do not take any tree removal lightly,” the spokesperson said. “We cannot lose sight of why this work is happening: to remove contaminants that pose a real health risk to the students, staff and community.”
PUSD said it will continue looking for ways to preserve mature and native trees while completing the cleanup and expressed hope that the City will work with the district to allow students to return to fully restored campuses in time for the upcoming school year.
Below is the District’s statement in full.
“The Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) has been diligently working on its fire-related contaminant impacted soil removal project to remove an imminent and substantial threat to the children, teachers, and community members at district campuses and the District’s Education Center (collectively referred to as campuses).
Removal and replacement of the impacted soil is necessary to ensure the continued safe use of our campuses. PUSD is committed to preserving as many native and mature trees as possible, and has been working with arborists and environmental consultants to identify trees that can remain in place throughout this process. Unfortunately, in some locations, affected infrastructure, trees, and vegetation must still be removed and replaced as part of protective actions in order to safely remove the contaminated soil during our limited timeframe.
PUSD received stop notices issued by the City of Pasadena at seven PUSD campuses regarding the contaminated soil and tree removal work. PUSD remains focused on protecting the health and safety of children and staff in our schools throughout the soil cleanup and restoration of our campuses following the Eaton Fire.
On April 16, 2025, the City of Pasadena Public Health Department (PPHD) issued Guidance for Schools and Early Childhood Education Centers to Prevent Lead Exposure. For schools and early childhood education centers within the Pasadena communities, PPHD strongly recommended the closure of all field areas, gardens, and landscaped areas with exposed soil until soil testing by a qualified professional could be conducted.
The District, in consultation with PPHD, Los Angeles County Public Health, the California Environmental Protection Agency, and the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) followed this public health direction and proceeded with soil testing and related remediation planning. The District closed its outdoor areas and engaged an environmental consultant to conduct testing for fire analyte impacted soil.
These tests were conducted pursuant to DTSC, PPHD, and Los Angeles County Public Health recommendations. The results showed that 11 campuses have significant volumes of fire-related contaminant impacted soil, requiring that more than 8,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil be removed from these 11 campuses by mid-August 2026 to allow full re-opening of the campuses in time for the 2026-2027 school year.
The District has been in communication with the City since the Eaton Fire last year. PUSD and the DTSC are aligned in overseeing this work. Although we have consulted with the City, the District’s ongoing soil remediation project falls outside the City’s jurisdiction. We have shared all relevant information about our testing, findings, and removal plans with the City, including the letter the District sent to the City on July 6. The City recently indicated that no trees should be cut down when it issued seven stop notices, but has not offered viable solutions for removing all contaminated soil by the start of the school year.
PUSD is responsible for eliminating health and safety threats posed by contaminated soil on District campuses, in consultation with DTSC and in accordance with other agency regulations, including those of the South Coast Air Quality Management District.
Every day this work is delayed is a day our children and staff remain further from safely returning to fully restored campuses that must reopen for the 2026-2027 school year. We understand and share our community’s love for these campuses and their trees, and we do not take any tree removal lightly.
As the District has attempted to remove the significant and imminent health threat of the contaminated soil surrounding trees in the impacted areas, it continues to look for ways to remove the contamination and save mature and native trees. We cannot lose sight of why this work is happening: to remove contaminants that pose a real health risk to the students, staff, and community so that they will have access to the play areas, a soccer field, two community gardens, and other cherished outdoor spaces that have been closed since last year.
We will continue to act with urgency, transparency, and care, and we remain hopeful that the City will work with us to get our students safely back to school.”
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