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OES - Debris Removal

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1. What are the debris clean up phases?

There are 2 Phases: 

• Phase I: Removal of household hazardous waste.
• Phase II: Removal of other fire-related debris including hazard trees.

2. What is Phase I?

Phase I (household hazardous waste): You do not need to do anything to have household hazardous waste removed from your property. Operations are automatic and already underway. Your County OES and Environmental Health Departments are working with State OES agencies who have organized experts from the California State Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) to inspect your property and remove any household hazardous waste (HHW) that may pose a threat to human health, animals, and the environment such as batteries, herbicide, pesticide, propane tanks, asbestos siding, and paints. 

3. What is Phase II?

Phase II (fire-related debris removal and hazardous tree removal): Your County OES and EH Departments are working with Cal OES to coordinate with the State’s Debris Task Force to conduct fire-related debris removal from your property. At this stage, (or during Phase I), the County EH Department will have worked with you to complete your Right-of-Entry (ROE) Form. The ROE is required if you choose to participate in the State’s Private Property Debris Removal (PPDR) Program. 

4. How long does it take to get through Phase I and Phase II?

The Phases take between 2-9 months to complete, depending upon the complexity of each site. 

5. Can I be on site when Phase I and Phase II debris removal operations are being conducted?

The EH Department will call you, email you or use the contact method you requested to inform you when Phase I and Phase II will occur at your residence. You can be on site, however there will be exclusion zones established surrounding the work area upon your property to ensure safety. You may not enter these zones during debris removal. 

6. I have valuables or items of personal sentiment that I want to search for, as my home was completely damaged. Can I go onto my property and search for these items prior to Phase I?

Yes, you may return to your property to look or sift through the ash and try to locate the items. Please be aware that any cleanup or debris removal activities, including having vehicles removed from your property may disqualify you from the Private Property Debris Removal Program (PPDR). Always protect yourself, wear protective masks, gloves, safety glasses, and be cautious when walking around your property. There may be hidden objects that can cause injury. 

7. My house was completely damaged/total loss, what are my next steps?

The next step at this time is to contact your County Environmental Health Department at (530) 265-1222, option #3. EH Staff will need a phone number, Email address or other contact methods to get in touch with you. Your information is then entered on a master spreadsheet that is shared with Cal OES and becomes part of the Phased Cleanup tracking record. 

8. Why does the County need my insurance information in order to be part of the Private Property Debris Removal program (PPDR)?

The State’s Private Property Debris Removal Program requires that if a participant has homeowner’s insurance, as long as there is a provision within the insurance coverage specific to “debris removal” that portion of the coverage is paid back to the State. This assists with recouping some costs related to the debris clean up program. 

9. We have several acres of trees that burned in the fire, will the Private Property Debris Removal (PPDR) Program remove the damaged trees?

The only trees that may be removed via the PPDR program are those that are deemed hazardous and if the tree were to fall it would impact the public right of way. Each site will have the trees scheduled for removal by a certified arborist working with the State. 

For Trees that are not near any public right of way and would not fall causing a hazard to a public right of way, those trees will not be removed by the State’s program and would be up to the homeowner to remove. 

10. The insurance wants to pick up the cars after the DTSC sweep. How do we arrange for the pick-up to occur after DTSC comes in. Does the VIN have to first be reported to the Sheriff’s office, will it ma

At this time, the recommendation is that any vehicle that is located upon the property in the midst of the total ash/burn footprint, not be disturbed or moved. Once DTSC comes through, the EH Department will discuss with CalRecycle to determine if you can have the insurance company remove the vehicle. 

11. My property does not have any electricity, and I want to run a generator, can I do this prior to cleanup by the State?

At this time, the recommendation is that any type of activity upon the property is prohibited due to the current Public Health Officer Order and the fact that wildfire ash and debris is a health hazard. Once the property has been completely cleared of any hazardous waste to include fire ash and debris and the site has soil test results that show no contamination; the property owner can return to the property to begin the rebuilding process. 

You will need to obtain information from the County Building Department on any structural reconstruction; and should you have well or septic damage, please contact the County Environmental Health Department. 

12. . Can I put a travel trailer on the property and have a maintenance agreement with a septic pumper?

At this time, NO. The reason for this is that our County Public Health officer has declared a public health emergency and Order. Since there is an Order that deems all wildfire properties a hazard to human health and welfare, the County cannot allow or permit the property owners to reside, camp, use RVs or travel trailers upon their property due to the hazardous conditions. Once the property has been completely cleared of any hazardous waste to include fire ash and debris and the site has soil test results that show no contamination; the property owner can live on the property in an RV or Travel Trailer as long as they have: 1. An active building permit for the reconstruction of the residence 2. Active and permitted residential well for potable water supply 3. Active and permitted septic system to hook up to their RV or Travel Trailer. 

13. What if there is a burned-out bridge on another parcel or my own parcel and I cannot access my property?

At this time, the County Public Works Department is working collaboratively with Cal OES on repairs of any access points including bridges that provide access to residential properties. Updates to the process of repair will be sent out to affected property owners via the property owner(s) methods of contact (phone, email, or other method). 

14. What are items that are not covered under State funded cleanup and that will be the responsibility of the owner to remove?

Property owner(s) will have the responsibility to remove any trees upon their property that are not removed during the PPDR process. Removal of any remaining hazardous trees must follow the guidance outlined in the private property debris opt-out program and requirements. There may be other items that are not removed during the PPDR process, and these items will be brought to the owner(s) attention during the PPDR process by the Environmental Health Department. 

15. If a main home is standing, but outbuildings are destroyed, can work be done to disconnect the electrical panels of the outbuildings without making the owner ineligible for State funded cleanup?

Any installation or repair should not impact the eligibility for PPDR, provided the repair work does not impact the ash footprint (spread it around, expand it, or otherwise complicate cleanup). 

However, please remember that any impacted area of your property that was burned by the wildfire with residual ash and debris, will be considered hazardous. Per the County Public Health officer declared public health emergency and Order, deems all wildfire properties a hazard to human health and welfare. If the repair activities do not disrupt the footprint of the wildfire damage – meaning the activity further pushes, spreads, expands, or otherwise complicates the clean-up for the remaining part of your property, this may make your property ineligible for the PPDR. 

16. Can I live in my house, while still opting into the State program?

At this time, it is strongly discouraged for you to reside in your home if the remaining portions of your property has significant wildfire damage. The reason for this is that our County Public Health officer has declared a public health emergency and Order. Since there is an Order that deems all wildfire properties a hazard to human health and welfare, the County in looking out for your health and welfare cannot recommend returning to your home until the external hazards are mitigated. This means that the wildfire ash and debris that is existing upon your property will need to be removed and properly disposed. 

Depending upon the extend of the damage to your property, you can certainly contact the Environmental Health Department to discuss your property. Any activity that impacts the burn footprint could make your property ineligible for the PPDR program. 

17. My home is a total loss; however, our well pump is operational, and septic is running/no damage. Is it ok to live in a travel trailer on the property?

At this time, NO. The reason for this is that our County Public Health officer has declared a public health emergency and Order. Since there is an Order that deems all wildfire properties a hazard to human health and welfare, the County cannot allow or permit the property owners to reside, camp, use RVs or travel trailers upon their property due to the hazardous conditions. 

Once the property has been completely cleared of any hazardous waste to include fire ash and debris and the site has soil test results that show no contamination; the property owner can live on the property in an RV or Travel Trailer as long as they have: 

1. An active building permit for the reconstruction of the residence 
2. Active and permitted residential well for potable water supply 
3. Active and permitted septic system to hook up to their RV or Travel Trailer. 

18. My house was not affected by the fire, but my well pump and electrical connections were damaged. Can I live in my home and have my well repaired?

The installation or repair of a well should not impact the eligibility of the destroyed structure for PPDR, provided the well repair work does not impact the ash footprint (spread it around, expand it, or otherwise complicate cleanup). 

However, please remember that any impacted area of your property that was burned by the wildfire with residual ash and debris, will be considered hazardous. Per the County Public Health officer declared public health emergency and Order deem all wildfire properties a hazard to human health and welfare. If the repair activities do not disrupt the footprint of the wildfire damage – meaning the activity further pushes, spreads, expands, or otherwise complicates the clean up for the remaining part of your property, this may make your property ineligible for the PPDR. 

19. If I choose to clean up my property, who will be checking that it was done correctly?

The County Environmental Health Department will approve the workplan submitted by the licensed contractor that you hire for the cleanup of your property.

Your contractor will need to submit disposal receipts and analytical testing for review by the Environmental Health Department prior to your property being released for final sign off in order for you to begin rebuilding. 

The Environmental Health Department is working closely with the Building Department to ensure that private cleanup activities follow the State’s guidelines. The requirements for cleanup, soil testing and erosion control measures are to ensure protection of public health and safety both for you and the surrounding property owners. 

20. Who will confirm that all of the requirements for the private property opt-out process have been completed?

The Environmental Health Department will be monitoring all private property cleanup activities. The private property opt out debris removal requirements document, found here, provides the necessary steps to completing your debris removal processes correctly and within the State’s requirements. The Environmental Health Department is working closely with the Building Department to ensure that private cleanup activities follow the State’s guidelines. Any discrepancies in the cleanup processes will impede any building applications or final sign offs by the Environmental Health Department. The requirements for cleanup, soil testing and erosion control measures are to ensure protection of public health and safety both for you and the surrounding property owners. 

21. Can a person who has been residing at the property fill out the opt in form if we cannot locate the legal owner?

There is not a provision in the current Right of Entry that allows for a tenant to legally sign or approve the PPDR for a property. The current legal process is intended for the legal homeowner of record to fill out, sign and submit any documentation for the PPDR program. 

22. Is 120 sq ft still the size of a qualifying structure for State funded cleanup? And is it still true that if you have a qualifying structure that smaller structures will also be removed?

Yes, 120 square feet is still the size of a qualifying structure. It will be the determination of CalRecycle as to whether any smaller, additional structures will be removed during Phase II upon your property. 

If you have specific information on the smaller structures, location, size, and contents, please be sure to provide to the Environmental Health Department so that we can ensure updated information is given to CalRecycle for Phase II operations. 

23. If I have a fuel tank upon my property, for my personal use, like a diesel fuel tank, will DTSC remove this tank during Phase I?

Yes, the diesel fuel would qualify for removal. Any information regarding fuel tanks upon your property should be provided to the Environmental Health Department so that we can provide to DTSC prior to Phase 1 Operations. 

If you have a tank that has fuel remaining, DTSC would like to know how much fuel (approximately) so they can plan accordingly and bring an adequate supply of 55-gallon drums to offload the fuel. The more information that is provided to DTSC, the process will be much faster for Phase I as they can plan and bring the necessary equipment. 

24. When can I schedule an Onsite Soils Evaluation?

Once the property has been completely cleared of any hazardous waste to include fire ash and debris and the site has soil test results that show no contamination (following the State’s guidelines), the property owner will receive a Final Sign Off (FSO) Sheet from the County Environmental Health Department. Upon receipt of the FSO, the property owner can proceed with scheduling an Onsite Soils Evaluation.