After years of staring at burned piles and a locked fence along South Avenue, Corning neighbors are finally seeing the last big push to clean up the former Specialized Fibers recycling yard.
Crews moved onto the long-problem property Monday, kicking off what officials describe as the final phase of a years-long cleanup that followed a 2018 blaze and subsequent enforcement actions. Residents near Interstate 5 who have watched the mess sit in place for years are now being told this round of work is meant to clear out the remaining scrap and fire-damaged waste.
The state Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, better known as CalRecycle, is serving as lead agency for the removal after filing a CEQA Notice of Exemption that authorizes the department to hire an environmental contractor to remove, transport and dispose of fire-related debris. According to CalRecycle, the cleanup covers parcels at 22985 South Avenue and received project approval on April 6, 2026.
Tehama County Environmental Health says remediation crews started work Monday and expect to wrap up in roughly 30 to 45 days, as reported by Action News Now. Officials told the outlet that more than 682 tons of metal debris have already been removed over the past year and that roughly 7,340 tons of remaining waste and fire-damaged material are slated to be cleared in this final phase. The work is being paid for through CalRecycle's Solid Waste Cleanup Program, and county reporting indicates the agency intends to pursue cost-recovery that could result in a lien on the property.
Records from the Department of Toxic Substances Control detail unlawful handling of hazardous waste at 22985 South Avenue and show that the state previously ordered compliance and cleanup steps at the site. Department of Toxic Substances Control documentation outlines those violations and required actions. Local coverage also describes criminal and civil prosecutions tied to the 2018 blaze and a reported $1.7 million judgment related to illegal storage of hazardous materials, as summarized by HazmatNation.
A court-appointed receiver, Gerard F. Kenna II, has been tapped to oversee the remediation, county officials told Action News Now. County meeting records show the Board of Supervisors and staff have publicly discussed the site's status and the multi-agency response over time, according to Tehama County Board of Supervisors minutes.
What neighbors should expect
For nearby residents, the cleanup means a short burst of disruption in exchange for finally getting the charred debris out of sight. People along South Avenue can expect increased truck traffic and heavy equipment moving in and out during the 30 to 45 day push while crews load and haul waste off-site.
Officials say standard safeguards will be in place, including wetting debris to keep dust down, monitoring air quality and using controlled loading practices. Anyone with questions or concerns can contact Tehama County Environmental Health at (530) 527-8020 or through the county's Environmental Health webpage at Tehama County Environmental Health.
Legal implications
CalRecycle's cleanup programs are designed to step in with state funding for emergency and fire-related removals, but they are not a free pass for property owners. CalRecycle guidance notes that cost-recovery tools, including filing liens on remediated properties or taking other legal action to recoup expenses, are part of the process.
Those post-cleanup legal steps can complicate ownership and redevelopment of sites even after the ash piles and scrap are gone, a reminder that the financial fallout from hazardous-waste violations can linger long after the last truck leaves.
