Phase 1 Wildfire Clean Up to Begin During the Week of September 27; Opt out time period for this service ends September 25

Phase 1 clean-up of properties which suffered wildfire damage in Monterey County is expected to begin on Monday, September 28 and take 4 to 6 weeks. The government sponsored Debris Removal Program clean-up process is coordinated with State and Federal partners and is a free service to help home and property owners remove hazardous debris so that rebuilding can begin. Phase 1 includes the removal of hazardous waste generated and remaining on the property by recent fires and is done by expert teams from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These teams have the equipment and training to remove waste such as car batteries, herbicides, pesticides, propane tanks, asbestos siding, paints and e-waste, and will safely dispose of what is collected. It is important to note that these teams are solely focused on debris removal. No assessment about the permit status or other code related issues of any site or remaining structures on a property is part of this work. All property owners with damaged property will be provided this clean up service and are automatically enrolled in the program; no further action is required. Homeowners may choose to opt out of this free service and hire a private contractor for this work. Those wishing to do so, must make that decision by 5:00 p.m. Friday, September 25. The removal of Household Hazardous Materials is required of property owners either through the government sponsored Debris Removal Program or private clean-up. Before opting out of the free EPA clean up service, property owners should investigate all aspects of debris removal including: · Insurance coverage · Availability of specialized contractors · Ash sampling · Work plan requirements · Cost of removal or storage · Disposal of hazardous waste as Monterey County landfills do not accept this type of waste and it is illegal to dump waste outside of an appropriate disposal site. Those choosing to opt out of the government sponsored debris removal program will have to sign a comprehensive acknowledgment, waiver and release that they assume full responsibility for debris removal and all associated costs, which may be substantial and disposal impractical for individual property owners due to the limited number of approved disposal sites. Additionally, choosing to opt out of Phase 1 automatically disqualifies property owners from Phase 2 Debris Removal and Property Clean-Up. In addition, there are criminal penalties associated with unauthorized disposal and dumping of hazardous materials. Those considering opting out should contact Monterey County’s Resource Management Agency about what is required for removal and how this may impact the rebuilding process. To opt out, property owners must notify RMA of their choice, and be prepared to sign a comprehensive acknowledgment, release and waiver. Please send an email with your request to escobar@co.monterey.ca.us For more information about debris removal and what precautions property owners should take, please visit the Monterey County Recovery website: www.co.monerey.ca.us/recovery.