Local Health Order Prohibits Debris Removal

Santa Cruz CA

15 September, 2020

7:46 PM

Description

Press release from the County of Santa Cruz: September 15, 2020 Fire debris removal from damaged properties is prohibited by local health order until propertyowners receive a hazard assessment and approval from environmental health authorities. Property owners, tenants and members of the public should not attempt to remove, dig,sift or evaluate property debris. Fire sites are often toxic and include hazardoussubstances such as lead-acid and household batteries; compressed gas cylinders; bulkpesticides, fertilizers, and pool chemicals; paints, thinners, and aerosol cans; asbestossiding, pipe insulation, and tiles; e-waste and more. Fire-damaged debris will not be accepted at any County waste facility and placement inresidential or commercial trash collection bins will result in bins not being accepted byGreenWaste. Removal of hazardous waste must be completed by federal, state and localjurisdictions working under safe handling guidelines. Failure to follow these practicescould jeopardize financial assistance and delay the rebuilding process. "Fire debris can be toxic and needs special handling and disposal procedures," SantaCruz County Environmental Health Director Dr. Marilyn Underwood said. "It is criticalthat the public refrain from removing any fire-damaged debris from their property." Phase I hazardous debris removal will be completed at no cost to CZU LightningComplex survivors with the assistance of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency(USEPA), the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) and the Santa CruzCounty Environmental Health Division (SCCEHD). All other debris removal must have anapproved plan from the Environmental Health Division prior to removal. USEPA officialsare working with the County, and the County will post information about progress onthe Fire Recovery website at www.santacruzcounty.us/firerec... once available. Detailed information on debris removal, including an FAQ, is available athttp://scceh.com/Home/CZULightningComplexFire/DebrisRemoval.aspx. This press release was produced by the County of Santa Cruz. The views expressed here are the author's own.