The County is coordinating the Consolidated Debris Removal Program with CalOES, FEMA and the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) to provide direct assistance to property owners with the cleanup of fire debris. Over the last few weeks the County has been collecting Right of Entry Forms from property owners participating in the program. The USACE is in Mendocino County mobilizing in the Redwood Valley area to start the debris removal. Below is important information on what the community can expect during the cleanup process.

Property owners will be notified before cleanup begins.

Mendocino County residents will receive a call from a representative of the US Corps of Engineers 24- 48 hours in advance of the debris removal on their property.

Safety is the number one priority.

Safety is the number one priority for property owners and residents. During the clean-up Mendocino County residents will see increased truck traffic not only in impacted areas but also on the roads leading to and from the neighborhoods but also on the road to the landfill. Please be aware that additional traffic may be experienced and that travel times may be increased at certain times during the day.

Workers will be in the area.

During the clean-up, homeowners in the Redwood Valley and Potter Valley should expect to see contractors and staff from the US Army Corps of Engineers in the area. Both the contractors and Army Corps of Engineers employees will be carrying identification and will also be wearing visibility clothing with logos. The name of the Contractor is Environmental Chemical Cleanup or ECC which is located out of Burlingame, California. For those wishing to pursue subcontracting opportunities, individuals should contact ECC at (650) 347-1555 or www.ecc.ent.

USACE will be on site for the cleanup.

During the clean-up, a Corps of Engineers Quality Assurance Representative (QA) will also be on site. Corps of Engineers QA’s will be wearing red shirts with "Emergency Operations" printed on the back of their shirts. In addition, Corps of Engineers employees will have a name badge and will also be attired in safety clothing such as hardhats, safety shoes and a visibility vest.

Properties with signed Right of Entry (ROE) forms are being cleared for cleanup.

Once the Corps has received clearance from the Department of Toxic Substance Control (DTSC) and the vetted ROE from the county, we will provide the ROEs to the contractor. The contractor will determine the most efficient plan of action in regard to which properties they will clean on a given day. Areas surrounding critical structures and water bodies are being prioritized. In addition, the more ROEs on neighboring properties, the better. It allows the contactor to address the cleanup more efficiently than properties that are separated.

Work is starting in Mendocino County.

The debris removal started on November 6th and while we are in the initial phases of debris removal; the US Army Corps of Engineers is anticipating that properties cleared under the Consolidated Debris Removal Program will be completed in early 2018.

Property owners will be notified when cleanup is complete.

Once the property has been cleared, the property owner will be notified by the county and will receive a summary report which provides a summary of the work completed; along with pre and post photos along with any laboratory sampling data that may have been performed on the property for insurance purposes.

The State of California has requested property owners interested in the Consolidated Debris Removal Program submit a Right of Entry form by November 13, 2017. If property owners choose not to participate in the Consolidated Debris Removal Program, property owners must submit a Private Cleanup Form to the Mendocino County Environmental Health Division no later than November 16, 2017. Private debris removal must meet debris cleanup requirements with a qualified contractor. It is strongly advised that property owners review all requirements thoroughly before pursuing their own debris removal. Disaster funding will not reimburse for this work, and a Building Permit to rebuild will not be issued unless the property has been remediated to the standards established in the Debris Cleanup and Removal Program.

For more information on the Consolidated Debris Removal Program please contact Planning and Building Services at (707) 234-6650. For more information on the private debris removal requirements, please contact Environmental Health at (707) 234-6625.

Attached: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Phase II Debris Removal Process