California’s beautiful Napa Valley wine country has allegedly been keeping a dirty secret for years, and both Governor Gavin Newsom and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi have apparently ignored the warnings.
After the Glass wildfire tore through the area in 2020, a group of waste collection and landfill workers were sent in to clean up the mess—but they became exposed to toxic chemicals.
In response, 15 workers have filed a complaint with California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health as they seek $300 million in restitution from Clover Flat Landfill and Upper Valley Disposal Services.
Former St. Helena Mayor Geoff Ellsworth has reportedly been trying to warn Pelosi about Clover Flat’s potential to pollute the valley below for years, as well as its ability to create health issues after wildfires sweep through it.
According to Ellsworth, he’s sought help from members of Congress, including Pelosi, Governor Newsom’s office and state and local regulators—but no one will listen or take action.
Jose Garibay Jr., a former supervisor at Clover Flat who is also part of the complaint against the landfill, stated that he was not prepared for post-fire cleanup when he was sent in with his team—and none had received training on how to handle hazardous materials either.
Garibay said that they were exposed to gas methane escaping from the landfill as well as leachate water during their 11-12 hour workdays without proper safety gear like N95 masks.
When officials finally showed up later on, evidence had already been cleaned up—which contradicts October 2020 claims made by previous owners that nothing had happened at all.
Drivers Gary Hernandez (unrelated) and Ricky Hernandez are also part of this legal battle against Waste Connections Inc., which purchased Clover Flat after these events took place last year.
They claim that they were forced to work while an evacuation order was still in effect due to raging fires—and during COVID-19 pandemic too despite positive tests results.
Both men are employed by the landfill as garbage truck drivers but receive little regard for their service or safety concerns brought forth here because they are often overlooked due to political interests.
