Brownley, Sherman, Schiff, and Padilla Urge FEMA to Release Millions in Federal Funding for Wildfire Emergency Preparedness in Los Angeles County

Washington, DC - Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (CA-26) joined Congressman Brad Sherman (CA-32) and U.S. Senators Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla (both D-CA) in urging the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to quickly release more than $4 million in federal funding for the Encinal Canyon Road Emergency Interconnection Project. This project is essential for protecting the flow of fire hydrants and building connections during firefighting operations in the western Malibu community. Malibu was among the cities impacted by the Palisades fire in January 2025.

Los Angeles County was selected for $4,893,885 in FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) award in December 2024 to support construction. However, the project has been significantly delayed due to FEMA's prolonged processing of the award. The project would provide an urgently needed alternative water source during emergencies, system disruptions, or supply shortages. Any failure to complete this project could jeopardize potable water and fire protection for up to 23,000 residents.

"The issuance of this grant is essential to strengthen critical infrastructure and ensure the community remains resilient in the face of increasing risk of natural disasters" the lawmakers wrote.

The full letter can be found here and below:

Dear Administrator Hamilton,

We are writing to request your assistance regarding a critical infrastructure project for Los Angeles County Waterworks District 29, the Encinal Canyon Road Emergency Interconnection Project. This project is essential to protecting the reliability of drinking water and needed fire flow for fire hydrants and building connections during firefighting operations in the western Malibu community and was selected for a Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) award in December 2024. However, the project has been significantly delayed due to FEMA's prolonged processing of the award.

The Encinal Interconnection will construct approximately 7,000 feet of new water main and appurtenances to connect District 29 with the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District. This new interconnection will provide an urgently needed alternative water source during emergencies, system disruptions, or supply shortages. The Malibu area currently relies on a single 35-mile transmission main that traverses steep, landslide-prone coastal terrain. Any failure along this alignment would jeopardize potable water and fire protection for up to 23,000 residents, and this interconnection will provide vital resiliency for the community.

The County completed the design and Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved the project on November 18, 2025. The total project cost is approximately $9 million, and the County had applied for $4,893,885 in HMGP funding to support construction.

The project application (AP1140) was submitted under HMGP DR-4683 in August 2023 and was selected for award in December 2024. However, more than a year and a half later, FEMA has not issued a Notice of Award. FEMA has cited an ongoing environmental review, despite the project being limited to buried pipeline installation within an existing roadway, and no notable impacts anticipated. The project has already completed environmental reviews consistent with local and state laws.

We have been informed that the County cannot advertise the construction contract until FEMA issues the grant award, or they risk forfeiting the funding. As a result, the project remains on hold, and the delay poses a threat to public safety and emergency preparedness.

Considering the critical importance of this project, we respectfully request answers to the following questions:

1. What is the status of FEMA's review for AP1140?
2. What is the specific reason for the extended environmental review?
3. What is the estimated timeline for issuance of the Notice of Award?

The issuance of this grant is essential to strengthen critical infrastructure and ensure the community remains resilient in the face of increasing risk of natural disasters. We appreciate your expeditious attention to this critical matter.

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Issues: 119th Congress, Local Issues, Transportation and Infrastructure