Local Health Order Prohibits Debris Removal

Press release from the County of Santa Cruz:

September 15, 2020

Fire debris removal from damaged properties is prohibited by local health order until property
owners 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 hazardous
substances such as lead-acid and household batteries; compressed gas cylinders; bulk
pesticides, fertilizers, and pool chemicals; paints, thinners, and aerosol cans; asbestos
siding, pipe insulation, and tiles; e-waste and more.

Fire-damaged debris will not be accepted at any County waste facility and placement in
residential or commercial trash collection bins will result in bins not being accepted by
GreenWaste. Removal of hazardous waste must be completed by federal, state and local
jurisdictions working under safe handling guidelines. Failure to follow these practices
could jeopardize financial assistance and delay the rebuilding process.

“Fire debris can be toxic and needs special handling and disposal procedures,” Santa
Cruz County Environmental Health Director Dr. Marilyn Underwood said. “It is critical
that 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 Lightning
Complex survivors with the assistance of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(USEPA), the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) and the Santa Cruz
County Environmental Health Division (SCCEHD). All other debris removal must have an
approved plan from the Environmental Health Division prior to removal. USEPA officials
are working with the County, and the County will post information about progress on
the Fire Recovery website at www.santacruzcounty.us/firerec... once available.

Detailed information on debris removal, including an FAQ, is available at
http://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.