Politics & Government
Army Corps Clears Fire Debris From 880 North Bay Properties
The Army Corps has cleared more than 288,055 tons of fire debris thus far in Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino and Lake counties.
NORTH BAY, CA — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Wednesday gave an update on the progress it has made in removing wildfire-related debris in four Northern California counties. The two-phase process involves the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency removing hazardous household waste in Sonoma and Napa counties and the California Department of Toxic Substance Control removing it in Lake and Mendocino counties.
The second phase involves the Army Corps of Engineers removing other fire-related debris from structures in all four counties that were destroyed by the October wildfires. Phase two is conducted under the direction of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Owners of destroyed structures have the option of granting a right of entry to the Army Corps of Engineers to remove the debris at no cost, or submitting a debris removal plan and pay a private contractor to do the job
at the homeowner's expense. The deadlines to choose one of those options expired earlier this month.
Find out what's happening in Sonoma Valleyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The Army Corps of Engineers said Wednesday it has processed 4,813 rights of entry and cleared more than 288,055 tons of debris from 880 properties in the four counties.
The Army Corps of Engineers will award two new contracts by mid-December that the agency said will help sustain the debris removal process through its scheduled completion in early 2018.
Find out what's happening in Sonoma Valleyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Santa Rosa officials said as of Wednesday, owners of 85 parcels in the city had not selected either debris removal option.
The City Council was scheduled to hold a special meeting Thursday afternoon to discuss three ordinances that offer alternative procedures to clean up those properties.
The ordinances declare the presence of ash and debris a public nuisance. One ordinance allows the Chief Building Official to have the Army Corps of Engineers clean the properties after two weeks' notice.
Another ordinance allows the Chief Building Official to apply for an inspection and abatement warrant from Sonoma County Superior Court that allows the Army Corps of Engineers or private contractors to clean the
parcels.
The third ordinance directs the City Attorney to file a civil action against the property owner in Sonoma County Superior Court and compels private action to clear the property.
The special City Council meeting was scheduled for 5 p.m. at the Utilities Field Operations Building, Room M, 35 Stony Point Road in Santa Rosa.
By Bay City News Service
Photo via U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District Facebook page
