09242021_Plumas_FINAL_Alt_Program_Plan.pdf

270 County Hospital Road, Ste. 127, Quincy CA 95971

Phone: (530) 283-7080 ~ email: altprogram@countyofplumas.com

Plumas County Fire Debris Removal

ALTERNATIVE (PRIVATE) DEBRIS REMOVAL PROGRAM

BECKWOURTH COMPLEX AND DIXIE FIRES

September 24, 2021 mailto:altprogram@countyofplumas.com

Table of Contents Introduction

Health and Safety Considerations

Financial Considerations

Hazard Tree Removal

Owners Who Fail to Adequately Remove Debris from Their Property

Debris Removal Process

Step 1: Submit Application for Alternative Program

Step 2A: Asbestos Evaluation (For Properties with No Standing Chimneys Only)

Step 2B: Options for Properties with a Standing Chimney

Step 3: Perform Hazardous Materials Assessment

Step 4: Submit Work Plan

Step 5: Wait for Work Plan Review and Approval

Work Plan Requirements

Section 1: Project Overview

Section 2: Background Site Assessment

Section 3: Hazardous Waste Contingency Plan

Section 4: Erosion Control

Section 5: Debris Removal, Disposal, and Recycling

Section 6: Soil Scraping and Erosion Control

Section 7: Soil Confirmation Sampling

Section 8: Hazard Tree removal

Section 9: Signatures

Final Report Requirements

Certificate of Completion

Appendices

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ALTERNATIVE (PRIVATE) DEBRIS REMOVAL PROGRAM

BECKWOURTH COMPLEX AND DIXIE FIRES

Introduction Fire debris cleanup is a complicated process involving several steps. Whether you are using the Right of Entry (government) program or the Alternative Program, or Alt Program, the cleanup steps are the same. The primary differences are how the programs are funded, and those using the Alt Program will be responsible to manage their own cleanup. This added responsibility is not right for everyone. Be certain that you want to use the Alternative Program because once you begin an Alt Program cleanup, you will be ineligible for the Right of Entry (government) program.

This guide in meant to help homeowners, contractors, environmental consultants and others understand the Alt Program steps and requirements. If you have any questions, please contact the Debris Removal Call Center at 530-283-7080, or email us at altprogram@countyofplumas.com

Health and Safety Considerations To ensure safety of workers, the public and the environment, property owners must follow certain protocols after a wildfire disaster when removing structural ash and debris. The Plumas County Health Officer has declared a Local Health Emergency and issued a Hazard Advisory Warning that describes the public health and environmental dangers associated with the ash and debris from the Beckwourth Complex and Dixie Fires. As a result, the cleanup work must be done safely and in a way that protects the public health and environment. Environmental Health has been charged with ensuring all cleanups meet established standards, are done safely, and adhere to certain worker and community safety protocols.

Financial Considerations Alt Program participants are required to remediate their property and remove burn debris at their own expense, comply with all applicable requirements, and do so in a timely manner.

These property owners will not be reimbursed with public funds for any portion of the cleanup or remediation process including ash or debris removal, debris disposal, soil testing, erosion control or tree removal. The property owners must complete the cleanup using a licensed contractor with proper certifications according to the requirements of the California Contractors State License Board.

Incomplete or inadequate work performed by contractors or consultants will not be acceptable.

Property owners will not be given a Certificate of Completion until all work is completed to the state standard. Without a Certificate of Completion, property owners will not be able to obtain permits to rebuild.

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Hazard Tree Removal

Hazard trees are defined as any tree that has been so severely damaged by the Dixie or Beckwourth fires that it poses a risk of falling onto an improved public property, or public road or right-of-way within 5 years of the fire. Property owners using the Alternative Program for structural debris removal will be required to hire a licensed arborist or registered forester to assess for hazard trees. Any tree classified as a hazard tree must then be removed at the owner’s expense.

The Plumas County Public Works Director in is charge of the Hazard Tree Program. Public Works will coordinate with Plumas County Alternative Debris Removal Program (Alt Program) to incorporate the Hazard Tree Program results into final Alt Program information. Please contact Plumas County Public Works at (530) 283-6268 for the requirements of this program.

Owners Who Fail to Adequately Remove Debris from Their Property Due to the dangers to the public health, welfare and environment, if property owners choose not to participate in the Right of Entry (government) Program and/or do not complete an adequate or timely cleanup through the Alternative Program, they may be subject to enforcement actions. Such actions may include, but not be limited to, hazard removal and/or relocation, cleanup, site evaluation, soil testing, and/or chemical analysis. All expenses incurred for such inspection and mitigation, including but not limited to, abatement costs, expenses, and attorney’s fees, are subject to full cost recovery from the owner with a lien recorded on the property. Deadlines for completing an adequate cleanup through the Alternative Program will be set by the Plumas County Board of Supervisors.

Debris Removal Process

Step 1: Submit Application for Alternative Program

Before submitting a work plan or before any work can begin, the property owner must submit an Alternative Fire Debris Removal Program Application (Alternative Program Application). This application asks for basic job information like a brief description of the debris being removed (number and type of structures, types of waste, etc.). More importantly, on the application you must identify the contract you will be working with to complete this cleanup, and you must provide the contractor’s license information. The application must be signed by both the owner and the contractor performing the work. Submit completed applications to the Debris Removal Center located at 270 County Hospital Road Suite 127, Quincy, CA 95971 or email them to altprogram@countyofplumas.com .

After submitting the application, the contractor will need to submit a detailed work plan for the project. The requirements of the work plan are covered in more detail below.

To ensure all wildfire debris is cleaned up in a timely manner, the Plumas County Board of Supervisors will issue deadlines for property owners to submit the Alternative Program Application. More information about this deadline will be advertised once it is available.

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Step 2A: Asbestos Evaluation (For Properties With No Standing Chimneys Only)

Before major site disturbing activities can begin, a Certified Asbestos Consultant (CAC) evaluation of the property is required. If the property did not have a chimney, or the chimney was toppled during the fire, a safe and thorough asbestos survey can be completed. If the chimney is still standing, skip to Step 2B.

Obtaining an asbestos evaluation early in the process will help ensure the Work Plan is accurate and can fully address conditions found on the property. Although bulk asbestos may have been identified and removed during Phase 1 (Household Hazardous Waste removal), this was only a screening-level assessment. Detailed asbestos sampling and testing was not completed in Phase 1. Depending on the age and construction of the building, various building materials, the foundation, brick and/or chimney mortar may have asbestos-containing materials. Any of these may require asbestos testing as determined by the CAC.

Asbestos can be either friable or non-friable, and each type has special handling and disposal requirements. All asbestos abatement work must be completed by a licensed asbestos contractor under the direction of a CAC. Furthermore, appropriate air monitoring, fugitive dust controls, and other best management practices must be followed for asbestos handling and disposal. It is possible that some properties will require extensive asbestos abatement, and knowing this early in the process will help property owners make important decisions about their cleanup.

Step 2B: Options For Properties With A Standing Chimney

Chimneys pose special challenges for asbestos assessment and structural integrity after a wildfire. A full asbestos survey for free-standing chimneys is required. However, according to California Building Codes, all chimney structures are vertical gravity load carrying structures that in most cases are an integral component to the overall structure of the building they serve.

Standing chimneys, though they may appear to be of sound condition, very rarely are capable of being reused for new construction after a wildfire. In many cases, they are in danger of collapse under their own weight. In brief, here are the primary structural concerns:

Concrete or clay masonry: Structure fire exposure reduces wall compressive strength due to the rapid dehydration of the cement. Depending on the aggregate type, due to the expansion, and changes in the dissimilar densities of the aggregate used in the concrete masonry or clay masonry units, the structural integrity of the chimney is compromised.

Stone masonry: At high temperatures 1100 -1500 degrees Fahrenheit, the strength of most stones is seriously affected and if thermal shock occurs the stone can disintegrate. The dissimilar densities of the stone and mortar will cause separation of the bond between these elements, and the structural integrity of the chimney is compromised.

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It is possible for standing chimneys to be evaluated by a California Licensed Structural Engineer for reuse or incorporating the chimney in new construction. If it is determined by the Licensed Structural Engineer that the structural integrity of the chimney was compromised, it will need to be taken down. However, it may be possible, with Building Department approval and a Licensed Structural Engineer report, that the concrete, clay, or stone masonry components can be reused. The existing chimney could be disassembled, the components individually evaluated, and any components found to be in sound condition could be reused.

Because of these complexities, property owners will need to determine how they want to address a standing chimney and include the details in the Work Plan. They have at least 2 options:

Topple the chimney. Use special care to prevent dust and possible airborne asbestos emissions when toppling a chimney. Use one to two water streams to abate potential dust and exposures. The chimney needs to be pre-wetted along with the fall zone. Once the chimney is safely on the ground, the Certified Asbestos Consultant (CAC) can perform the needed assessment. Chimneys cannot be toppled without an approved Work Plan.

If the Licensed Structural Engineer determines it is safe, have the CAC visually observe the interior of standing chimney flue for suspect asbestos-containing materials. This may require shoring, bracing or other measures to protect the inspector performing the inspection. If the CAC cannot adequately assess the standing chimney in place, it may still need to be toppled.

Whatever option the property owner choses, the details of how a standing chimney will be handled need to be included in the Work Plan (discussed below). Once completed, the CAC must submit the results of the asbestos survey along with any required laboratory results to the Plumas County Environmental Health Department.

Step 3: Perform Hazardous Materials Assessment

Similar to asbestos certification, hazardous waste assessment is needed before site disturbing activities begin. This is required to ensure hazardous wastes were not missed during Phase 1 Household Hazardous Waste removal.

This assessment typically involves records verification and field screening performed by your environmental consultant. The consultant is required to:

Confirm Phase 1 assessment has been completed by California Department of Toxic Substances Control or US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the subject property.

Provide the results of the hazardous waste site assessment/field survey as part of the Work Plan submittal (Work Plan discussed below), and list any hazardous materials found.

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Develop a plan for proper handling and disposal of known hazardous materials, and identify a contingency plan for proper handling and disposal should any hazardous materials be discovered during ash and structural debris removal activities.

Step 4: Submit Work Plan

Work Plans are intended to provide a step-by-step guide to complete ash and structural debris removal. Sufficient detail is required so all parties know what will be done, when, how and by whom. They also help ensure no steps are missed in the cleanup process. Once work starts, work plans help eliminate delays, duplication or uncertainty that cost extra time and money.

Submit completed work plans to the Debris Removal Center located at 270 County Hospital Road Suite 127, Quincy, CA 95971 or email them to altprogram@countyofplumas.com. The Alternative Program Work Plan must be submitted within 60 days of the submission of the Alternative Program Application to comply with Phase II Debris Removal requirements. The Work Plan shall be provided to the contractor performing debris removal and consultant performing soil testing so they can perform the work in a safe, complete and accurate manner.

The approved Work Plan must be on-site and followed by all contractors, sub-contractors and soil consultants.

To help you submit a complete and thorough work plan, two appendices are included in this document. Appendix A is an outline showing all of the required elements of the work plan in outline format. Appendix B is a work plan template that can help with the format of the plan, although site-specific details are required. Use of either Appendix is optional. However, all of the required elements must be included for a Work Plan to be approved.

Step 5: Wait for Work Plan Review and Approval

The work plan will be reviewed for completeness and compliance with applicable standards. It may be returned to the contractor or environmental consultant for more information or clarification. Once it is approved, the owner, contractor and environmental consultant will be notified in writing the work plan is approved. The contractor will also be issued a Certificate of Disposal which will allow ash and structural burn debris to be disposed at the landfill identified in the Work Plan. Without a Certificate of Disposal, ash and structural burn debris will not be accepted at participating landfills. Once the written approval and Certificates of Disposal are received, work may begin.

With the exception of asbestos removal under the direction of a Certified Asbestos Consultant, the work plan must be approved in writing by Plumas County before ash and structural debris removal can begin.

Work Plan Requirements

This section describes the information that must be included in your Alternative Program debris removal work plan. If a Work Plan is missing information, is incomplete, or does not meet the

Alternative Debris Removal Program Plan Page 6 of 16 state cleanup standards, it will be returned to the applicant for revision. Please provide the information in the same order as presented in the Work Plan Outline (Appendix A) or Work Plan Template (Appendix B). This will help reviewers complete a thorough, accurate and timely review of your submittal and avoid unnecessary delays in approving your project.

Section 1: Project Overview Background information on the project is required including property owner(s) names, contact information, site address and Assessor’s Parcel Number (APN). Also, list the contractor’s name, license and contact information, and any environmental consultants working on the project.

Provide a complete description of the property and the work to be performed. Site-specific information should include a sketch of all ash or structural debris locations. Include the location of all destroyed buildings, foundations, walk ways, driveways or other hardscapes.

Photograph these areas from all sides to document all important aspects of the proposed cleanup. For properties with a standing chimney, be sure to identify the proposed fall zone of the chimney. Also identify and photograph other ash or debris hazards which will be remediated including any burned vehicles.

Identify any equipment and material staging areas, whether on or off site. Be sure to discuss traffic control measures to prevent blocking roadways, alerting motorists and other debris removal operations (signs or other safety devices), and whether any state or local permits are required for the work to be performed. If you are unsure about encroachment permit requirements, please contact Plumas County Road Department at 530-283-6033 or Caltrans at 530-604-0387.

This section also needs to identify underground utility locations, including electrical, water or sewer lines, wells or septic systems. Specify Underground Service Alert (USA) notification prior to digging. Below are some special infrastructure considerations:

Water Supply o Contact Plumas County Environmental Health Department at (530) 283-6355 for well water safety questions, well location, and to obtain information on well repairs.

o Contact your water service provider if you are not on a well for the location of water mains or service laterals.

o Repairs to electrical lines to your well require a permit from Plumas County Building

Department Division.

o Mark or flag the locations of wells, water lines and water tanks on the property and take steps to protect them during debris removal.

Sewage Disposal Systems o Contact Plumas County Environmental Health Department at (530) 283-6355 for questions regarding septic system safety questions and system location.

o Contact your sewer service provider if you are not on a septic system to locate mains or service laterals.

Alternative Debris Removal Program Plan Page 7 of 16 o Mark or flag septic tank, sewer lines, and leach field locations and take steps to protect them during debris removal.

o Any immediate hazards such as missing or caved-in septic tank lids must be mitigated prior to debris removal.

Finally, be sure to address personnel safety for all site workers and how to reduce risks. This should include the level of training, certification, personal protective equipment and any other requirements for site workers. A site-specific health and safety plan is required for each project in the Alternative Program.

Section 2 – Background Site Assessment Provide a copy of the Certified Asbestos Consultant (CAC) report described in Step 2A above (properties without a standing chimney). For properties with a standing chimney (Step 2B), discuss whether it will be toppled and the appropriate safety precautions that will be taken, or discuss the process to verify it can be safely inspected and certified for future use.

In this section also discuss plans for the removal or reuse of the foundation. In general, the structural integrity of concrete and masonry will be adversely affected in a wildfire, especially when the structure is completely destroyed. These materials may be irreversibly altered deeming it unsatisfactory for reuse in supporting a rebuilt structure.

Therefore, the foundation will need to be completely removed unless specifically approved for reuse by the Plumas County Building Department. There are a number of tests and standards for evaluating the compressive strength of the concrete or masonry including ASTM C39 and ASTM C140 which involve taking core samples from foundations and doing a compressive test in a certified lab. Homeowners interested in pursuing an exception and retaining their foundation will need to submit a letter from a Licensed Civil or Structural Engineer certifying the foundation is acceptable for rebuild under the current Plumas County Building Code. The letter shall adequately explain the basis for the decision and shall include testing results. Again, written approval from the Plumas County Building Department is required before the Work Plan requesting reuse of a foundation can be approved.

Section 3 – Hazardous Waste Contingency Plan During Phase I of Consolidated Fire Debris Removal, teams of County staff and experts from the Department of Toxic Substances Control and US EPA inspected the property and removed any identifiable and accessible household hazardous waste and bulk asbestos that may pose a threat to human health, animals, and the environment. However, some properties may have been missed during this assessment, or some hazardous materials may still be present on the property and could pose a threat to public health and the environment.

The environmental consultant will need to confirm the Phase 1 assessment has been completed. They will also need to perform a site assessment/field survey to identify any remaining hazardous materials and develop a contingency plan for proper handling and disposal should any other hazardous materials be discovered during ash and structural debris

Alternative Debris Removal Program Plan Page 8 of 16 removal. The plan must specify only properly trained workers wearing proper personal protective equipment or PPE (sturdy footwear, gloves, respiratory protection, etc.) should handle, sort, process and/or transport these materials. The plan must identify the certified waste hauler and the approved receiving facility for this waste. Please note that Plumas County does not have a household hazardous waste collection center, and these wastes are not accepted at local transfer stations.

Section 4 – Erosion Control Throughout the project, best management practices (BMPs) shall be implemented to establish erosion control at the disturbed site. This is necessary to prevent ash, soil, and other pollutants from washing into the street, drainage courses and culverts, or onto neighboring properties.

BMPs include but are not limited to:

Stockpiled materials that are not immediately loaded for transport shall be handled and stored on site in such a manner as to avoid offsite migration. This may include wetting and covering the waste until it is loaded and transported. Locate stockpiles away from drainage courses, drain inlets or concentrated flows of storm water.

Stockpiled material may not be stored or placed in a public roadway.

During the project and in the rainy season, cover non-active soil stockpiles and contain them within temporary perimeter sediment barriers, such as berms, dikes, silt fences, hay bales or sandbag barriers. You may use a soil stabilization measure in lieu of cover.

Implement appropriate erosion control measures during debris removal and provide final site stabilization after debris removal is completed.

In addition to the above, please discuss any additional erosion control methods that will be used.

Section 5 – Debris Removal, Disposal, and Recycling Fire debris, structural ash, and contaminated soil must be disposed at a lined, Class III landfill approved by the Regional Water Control Board. Plumas County does not have any such landfills. Plumas County’s municipal waste stream, including household garbage, does to Lockwood, Nevada. Unfortunately, this landfill cannot accept fire debris, structural ash or contaminated soil. Consequently, fire debris, structural ash and contaminated soil from Alternative Program properties cannot be disposed of at any county landfill or transfer site.

Instead this was must transported to a California approved landfill. Some landfills closest to Plumas County that have been approved to receive this waste are included in Appendix C. Each of these facilities will need to see you Certificate of Disposal for Dixie Fire debris (issues after your work plan is reviewed and approved by Environmental Health). Remember, if you do not have a Certificate of Disposal, your load will not be accepted at these landfills. If you wish to use a facility that is not on this list, please contact the Debris Removal Center for more information.

Special handling and transportation requirements apply to ash, structural debris and contaminated soil. All waste must be wetted and fully encapsulated (“burrito wrapped”) using 6-10 mil plastic sheeting using CalRecycle waste handling protocol. All loads must then be tarped for transport and ultimate disposal. Contractors/haulers failing to adhere to this

Alternative Debris Removal Program Plan Page 9 of 16 standard may have their loads rejected at the disposal facility and/or may be subject to monetary fines.

Recycling Metal and Concrete Property owners and contractors are encouraged to recycle metals and concrete whenever possible. Concrete and metal should be separated. Concrete and metal must be generally free of ash and debris.

o Metal and concrete may be rinsed down on site. If so, rinsing must be done over the debris pile prior to loading or transport. Engineering controls for storm water discharges must be in place.

o Concrete and metal must be covered with a tarp prior to transport.

o Vehicles are acceptable for metal recycling but not until the Vehicle Identification

Number has been verified by law enforcement. Contact the Plumas County Sheriff’s Office at 530-283-7438 for more information.

Transportation and disposal documentation for all debris removal from the property must be retained and included with your Alternative Fire Debris Removal Program Cleanup Completion Certification submittal.

Dust Control is a critical consideration for all debris removal work. The Work Plan must specify dust control measures such as providing water or an approved dust palliative, or both, to prevent dust nuisance at each site. Dust resulting from performance of the work shall be controlled at all times. Dust control measures include:

Control 1- Water or an approved dust palliative, or both, must be used to prevent dust nuisance at each site. Each area where ash and debris are to be removed will be pre-watered with a fine spray nozzle in advance of initiating debris removal and as needed during the removal. The water must be applied in a manner that does not generate runoff. Engineering controls for storm water discharges must be in place prior to dust control operations.

Control 2- All loads shall be covered with a tarp; this includes metal debris. Ash and debris loads shall also be fully encapsulated with 6 to 10 Mil polyethylene plastic (“burrito wrap” method).

Control 3- All waste material that is not unloaded at the end of each workday will be consolidated, sufficiently wetted, and/or covered to prevent the offsite migration of contaminants.

Control 4- All visibly dry soil surfaces within the operating zone should be watered to minimize dust emissions during performance of work.

Control 5- Speeds must be reduced when driving on unpaved roadways.

Control 6- Procedures will be implemented to prevent or minimize dirt, soil or ash contaminating roadways, neighboring parcels or creating an airborne health hazard.

The use of blower devices, dry rotary brushes, or brooms for removal of carryout and track out on public roads is strictly prohibited.

In addition to the above, please identify any other dust control measures that will be used.

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Section 6 –Soil Scraping and Erosion Control There is a risk of potential soil contamination from the fire debris and ash. As a result, after the ash and debris are removed from the property to a level of visually clean soil, the contractor is required to remove an additional 3 to 6 inches of soil from the impacted area. This soil must be disposed of at a properly permitted landfill using the same handling, transportation and disposal protocols discussed above for ash and structural debris. Soil samples will then be taken to assess the effectiveness of the cleanup as discussed below.

Please note that after an initial soil scraping, if soil sample results have not returned to background levels, further soil scraping and resampling will be required.

Section 7 – Soil Confirmation Sampling To ensure the site is free of contaminants, soil sampling and laboratory analysis is required after the site has been visually cleaned of ash and debris, and an additional 3 to 6 inches of soil were removed from the impacted area.

Environmental consultants shall collect and analyze representative soil samples to determine compliance with established cleanup criteria. Sampling shall be per CalRecycle’s Debris Removal Operations Plan sampling frequencies which is summarized below. The total number of samples to be collected is based on estimated square footage of the ash footprint as follows:

Estimated Square Footage of Ash Footprint (Decision Unit)

Number of 5-Point Composite Samples (square feet of each area sampled is total square feet of ash footprint / the number of required samples)

0-100 square feet 1

101-1,000 square feet 2

1,001-1,500 square feet 3

1,501-2,000 square feet 4

2,001-5,000 square feet 5

>5,000 square feet Must consult with local environmental health officials

Proposed soil sample locations shall have the required 5-point composite samples evenly distributed throughout the structural footprint. Collecting composite samples in linear rows may make it easier to localize over-excavation if certain areas do not pass established cleanup criteria. Include dimensions of ash foot print used to calculate the area of each structure’s ash foot print.

Examples of typical 5-Point confirmation sampling patterns

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Soil sampling is required beneath all burned structures on properties that have any qualifying structure 120 square feet or greater, not just the residence and garage. Therefore, a small 10 foot by 10 foot shed would require one composite sample if there are additional qualified structures.

The consultant must collect all confirmation samples from a depth of 0-3 inches into fresh soil using a dedicated 4-ounce plastic scoop. The samples must be mixed (homogenized) in a one-gallon plastic bag before placing them in 8-ounce laboratory sample jars. Samples must be shipped under chain of custody documentation to a California Department of Public Health Certified Laboratory.

Testing of metals must be performed by EPA Lab Method 6020 for antimony, arsenic, barium, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, lead, molybdenum, nickel, selenium, silver, thallium, vanadium, zinc and by EPA Lab Method 7471 for mercury.

In addition to confirmation soil samples, the consultant shall collect three background samples at a depth of 3-9 inches outside the ash footprint (minimum of 20 feet clearance) to determine if naturally occurring levels of any metals tested are above the cleanup criteria. If samples from the ash footprint are below the cleanup criteria, then the lab will not need to test the background samples. If sample results for any metals are above the cleanup criteria, the background samples must be analyzed. If results show the confirmation samples are at or below the background sample concentrations, the consultant must explain this result and make recommendations as appropriate in the final testing report.

Should the confirmation results exceed the cleanup criteria and the site-specific background concentrations, the contractor must re-scrape the soil 3 to 6 inches below the depth of the soil test. Then the consultant will need to resample and retest the soil at this depth. Multiple rounds of soil scraping and resampling may be required to achieve cleanup criteria.

Initial Screening Criteria, or cleanup criteria, have been established by CalRecycle and are shown in the table below. Please note these are initial health screening criteria in the absence of background data. Concentrations of some metals likely will be adjusted by CalRecycle to account for background concentrations. A thorough discussion of sample results in comparison to Initial Health Screening Criteria must be completed by the environmental consultant in the final report.

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Initial Health Screening Criteria for Soil

Analyte Health Screening Level (mg/Kg) Cleanup Level Antimony 30 Health Screen Arsenic 0.07 Health Screen Barium 5,200 Health Screen Beryllium 15 Health Screen Cadmium 1.7 Health Screen Chromium 36,000 Health Screen

Cobalt 23 Health Screen

Copper 3,000 Health Screen

Lead 80 Health Screen

Mercury 5.1 Health Screen

Molybdenum 380 Health Screen

Nickel 490 Health Screen

Selenium 380 Health Screen

Silver 380 Health Screen

Thallium 5 Health Screen

Vanadium 390 Health Screen

Zinc 23,000 Health Screen

If proposing to keep a slab, the perimeter of the slab must be scraped and composite samples collected one to two feet from the edge of the slab. A minimum of four composite samples shall be collected around the slab (one on each side) however, additional composite samples will be required based on the calculated for the square footage of the structure (i.e. a 4,500 square foot structure would require five composite samples). The only exception for perimeter sampling is in area of a non-porous surface (driveway, etc.) adjacent to the slab.

Section 8 – Hazard Tree Removal Hazard trees are defined as any tree that has been so severely damaged by fire that it poses a risk of falling onto an improved public property, or public road or right-of-way within 5 years of the fire. Property owners must hire a licensed arborist or registered forester to assess for hazard trees.

Plumas County Public Works will administer the Hazard Tree Program. In the Work Plan, the property owner must acknowledge that hazard trees must be removed at the property owner’s expense and that final certificate of completion will not be issued until all hazard trees are removed to the satisfaction of Public Works. Please contact Plumas County Public Works at

(530) 283-6268 for the requirements of this program.

Section 9 – Signatures The contractor and owner must sign the Work Plan.

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In summary, here are the Work Plan requirements at a glance:

Cleanup Operations Cleanup Protocols

Whenever necessary to make an inspection to ensure compliance with the approved work plan, any authorized official of the County may, upon presentation of proper credentials, enter such property at all reasonable times to inspect any provision of the approved work plan.

Project Overview • Contractor must measure, record and photograph foundation and cleanup area (square footage of ash footprint).

• Contractor must locate, protect and notify appropriate entities of cleanup, such as local utilities and USA Underground.

Background Assessment • Contractor or Property owner must hire a Certified Asbestos Consultant (CAC) to evaluate each property for suspect asbestos containing material.

• Standing chimneys require a Licensed Structural Engineer safety determination for inspection or reuse.

• A safety and dust control plan is required before toppling a chimney.

• The contractor or property owner must hire a licensed contractor with a certificate for asbestos abatement (Certified Asbestos Contractor) to properly remove and dispose of any asbestos found.

Hazardous Waste Removal and Contingency Planning

• Verify Phase 1 has been completed by DTSC or US EPA.

• Contractor or Property owner must have a contingency plan for any hazardous materials encountered or remaining on property.

• Contractor or Property owner must take all reasonable precautions to remove and properly dispose of any hazardous waste.

Erosion Control

Contractor is required to implement and maintain adequate erosion control measures throughout the project.

Debris and Ash Removal • Contractor is required to remove ash and structural debris, metals, and concrete from site and dispose of it properly.

• Contractor should recycle metals and concrete when possible. Concrete and metal must be generally free of ash and debris.

• Contractor must present a Debris Certificate of Disposal from Plumas County Environmental Health at the receiving landfill before dumping.

• Be sure to keep all disposal receipts and documentation and submit them with the final report.

Debris and Ash Removal (Dust Control and Air Monitoring)

Dust is a significant concern and contractor is required to take adequate dust control measures at all times. Use of multiple control measures is required including water applied to ash, debris and soil. Special loading and transportation requirements must be followed. Additionally, Alternative Debris Removal Program Plan Page 14 of 16

Cleanup Operations Cleanup Protocols

• Contractor is required to visually monitor all site work for fugitive dust.

• If recommended by a Certified Asbestos Consultant (CAC), the contractor shall monitor the air at the site for asbestos during debris removal activities.

• If required, contractor must provide air monitoring results at final certification

Debris and Ash Removal (Foundations)

Contractor is required to completely remove and dispose of foundation; or submit a letter from a Licensed Civil or Structural Engineer certifying the foundation is acceptable for rebuild under the current code. Approval to reuse the foundation is at the sole discretion of the Plumas County Building Official.

Soil Scraping • After the ash and debris are removed from the property to a level of visually clean, the contractor is required to remove an additional 3 to 6 inches of soil from the impacted area.

• Scraped soil must be handled, transported and disposed in the same manner as ash and structural debris.

Confirmation Sampling and Analysis • After removing 3 to 6 inches of soil during soil scraping, soil samples s h a l l b e co l l e ct e d from a depth of 0 to 3 inches for confirmation sampling. Results must be at or below cleanup criteria as established.

• Confirmation sampling shall be conducted by a qualified environmental consultant, professional engineer, or professional geologist with experience in soil investigations.

Hazard Trees Property owner must acknowledge that hazard trees must be removed at the property owner’s expense. A licensed arborist or registered professional forester assessment is required.

Final Report Requirements

After all work has been completed, the contractor and/or consultant must submit a Final

Report. A completed Alterative Fire Debris Removal Program Cleanup Completion

Certification Form (Certification Form) must be a part of that report. A copy of this form is found in Appendix F. Ensure the Certification Form is signed and dated by both the property owner and the contractor. All sections of the Certification Form must be completed or shown as N/A if not applicable. “Provided in Work Plan” is not an acceptable form of documentation.

The contractor may not sign the Certification Form on behalf of the owner.

Alternative Debris Removal Program Plan Page 15 of 16

The final report must also include documentation for ash/soil, concrete and metal debris disposal or recycling. If a property does not have one of these (i.e., some mobile homes do not have any concrete waste) then put N/A in the appropriate place on the Certification Form.

Debris disposal receipts or tags should clearly note the APN or address of the subject property.

Include a statement indicating that all foundations/slab have been removed or include photos documenting this. The final report cannot be approved prior to obtaining an approval from the Plumas County Building Department for any slabs or foundations remaining in place. Contact the Building Department at 530-283-7002 for more information.

The number of soil samples collected should be the same as proposed in the approved work plan. Any discrepancies should be noted and explained in the text of the report. Specify the geologic unit underlying the property. Submitting a map showing the property location in relation to the geologic unit will speed up the review.

Include a brief narrative or statement confirming that soil samples meet the cleanup criteria.

Laboratory reports must include copies of the chain-of-custody documentation. All analytical results (including Mercury) must be in a table with the corresponding cleanup goal for the geologic unit. If soil sample results exceed the cleanup criteria, then background soil samples will need to be analyzed. It is recommended that background samples be collected during the initial sampling. Most labs will allow samples to be “held” and analyzed at a later date. These samples may then be analyzed if there is an exceedance of the cleanup criteria. If there is an exceedance of the cleanup criteria, that specific area must be re-scraped and re-sampled. If so, this needs to be discussed in the final report.

A soil sample map must be included in the final report. The map must reflect where samples were actually collected, which may differ from what was proposed in the work plan. If different than proposed, please explain the reason in the text of the report.

Clearly show where each sample was collected and show the sample identification number.

The five sample locations for each individual composite sample must be included. Sample identifiers must be the consistent throughout the report, including on the location map, table, and lab reports. Soil samples shall be distributed evenly throughout the footprint, with no significant gaps in coverage.

Certificate of Completion

After Environmental Health has reviewed and approved your Final Report, you will be issued a Certificate of Completion. You will be ready to rebuild!

Alternative Debris Removal Program Plan Page 16 of 16

Appendices

Appendix A Alternate Debris Removal Program Application Appendix B Work Plan Outline Appendix C Work Plan Template Appendix D Solid Waste Disposal Site/Recycling Resource Appendix E Asbestos and Hazardous Waste Service Providers Appendix F Cleanup Completion Certification

Appendix A – Alternate Debris Removal Program Application Page 1 of 3

ALTERNATIVE FIRE DEBRIS REMOVAL PROGRAM APPLICATION

Who needs to complete this form? Private property owners who:

(1) decide not to participate in the Government Sponsored Debris Removal Program (Government Cal OES Program) and choose to clean up their property by hiring a qualified contractor and following the Alternative Fire Debris Removal Program (Alternative Program); OR

(2) own properties with qualifying structures that are not eligible for the Government (Cal OES) Program. The owner is required to clean up the property to the standards established in ordinances, regulations and this document, so that health and safety risks are adequately addressed for the community and the environment. The Alternative Program requires owners to provide documentation demonstrating adequate cleanup and proper disposal of debris.

If your property did not include a qualifying structure of 120 square feet or more as outlined in the Government (Cal OES) Plan, you are not required to complete the Alternative Fire Debris Removal Program Application. If this describes your property, contact the Plumas County Environmental Health Department to obtain a certificate to dispose of your ash and debris at a properly permitted landfill.

Please note that State disaster assistance funding will not reimburse property owners for any work completed by a hired contractor under the Alternative Program.

Where do I submit this form? Submit this form to the Plumas County Environmental Health Department at 270 County Hospital Road, Suite 127, Quincy, CA 95971 or email to altprogram@countyofplumas.com

Property Owner Name:

Phone(s):

Property Address:

City/State/Zip:

Assessor’s Parcel Number (APN):

Email:

Mailing Address:

City/State/Zip:

Appendix A – Alternate Debris Removal Program Application Page 2 of 3

Description of Debris Being Removed (number and types of structures, types of waste, etc.)

Program Participation

A Licensed Contractor with proper certifications shall perform the ash and debris removal, hazardous materials and asbestos removal and other cleanup work. Contractors must comply with the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) requirements to perform cleanup work under the Alternative Program.

Name of Contractor:

License Number:

Proposed Start Date:

Required: Owners are required to obtain approval from the Plumas County Environmental Health Department for the work plan prior to starting debris cleanup. Any employee performing debris removal shall have (at a minimum) OSHA 40-hr HAZWOPER Training in accordance with 29 C.F.R. §1910.120.

A. Property Owner Acceptance of Requirements and Indemnification

I have read and will fully comply, as will any contractor working on my property, with the conditions described in the document titled “Alternative (Private) Debris Removal Program Beckwourth Complex and Dixie Fires” and approved Work Plan. I understand ash and structural debris contain hazardous substances and exposure to hazardous substances may lead to acute and chronic health effects, and may cause long-term public health and environmental impacts and proper disposal of the debris is necessary to limit these impacts. I agree to ensure my contractor will wet down ash and debris before removal and will control dust on the property. I agree to ensure my contractor will completely encapsulate the ash and debris ("burrito wrap" method) and cover with a tarp prior to transportation for proper disposal. I agree to ensure my contractor will collect soil samples and submit analytical results with the Debris Removal Cleanup Certification to certify the project has been completed.

I understand that human remains may be encountered during the cleanup and that due to the extreme heat of the fire, any human remains are likely to consist of bones or bone fragments. I agree that if possible human remains are encountered (including any type of bones) during debris removal efforts, all personnel will be careful not to disturb the possible remains, exit the property, immediately report the possible remains to the Plumas County Sheriff’s Office at

(530) 283-6300, and will wait for a search team to arrive and determine whether they are in fact human remains before resuming debris cleanup.

Appendix A – Alternate Debris Removal Program Application Page 3 of 3

I agree that the decision as to whether the Alternative Program requirements have been met is in the sole discretion of the Plumas County Environmental Health Department and that such decision is final.

I certify that I am the owner or authorized agent of the real property located at the above address. I hereby certify that I have full power and authority to execute this application without the need for any further action, including but not limited to notice or approval from any other party.

I acknowledge that the decisions made by the County of Plumas (Local Government) are discretionary functions and Local Government is not liable for any claim based on the exercise or failure to exercise a discretionary function and promise not to make such a claim. I further release and agree to hold and save harmless Local Government from all liability for any damage or loss whatsoever that may occur during or after performance of the Alternative Program activities. I therefore waive any claim or legal action against Local Government.

Property Owner Signature (Required): Date:

Contractor Signature:

Date:

B. Environmental Health Department Approval

The Plumas County Environmental Health Department has reviewed the Work Plan for debris removal for the above-referenced property. The Work Plan is complete and is therefore approved. The debris removal project shall not deviate from the approved work plan without written approval from the Plumas County Environmental Health Department. Whenever necessary to inspect a property to ensure compliance with the approved work plan, any authorized official of the County may, upon presentation of proper credentials, enter such property at all reasonable times to inspect any provision of the approved Work Plan.

Environmental Health Representative Signature:

Print Name and Title:

Appendix B – Alternative Program Work Plan Outline Page 1 of 4

Beckwourth and Dixie Fire Alternate Debris Removal Program Work Plan Outline and Contents

1.0 Project Overview

1.1 Property and Property Owner(s) information

Name and contact information

Site address/APN

1.2 List of Contractors (name, license, contact information)

1.3 Description of Work

1.3.1 Description of property and proposed activities

1.3.1.1 Identify equipment and material staging area

1.3.1.2 Site Health and Safety

1.3.1.3 Traffic Control

1.3.2 Footprint Measurements

1.3.2.1 Sketch footprint and describe type of foundation(s) and other hardscape

1.3.2.2 Photograph each site from all sides to document all aspects of the property

1.3.2.3 Sketch and record ash footprints

1.3.2.4 Identify and photograph other property-specific hazards

(i.e., swimming pools, large vehicles)

1.3.3 Water Lines / Wells (if applicable)

1.3.3.1 Identify water wells on properties

1.3.3.2 Identify water and electrical sources

1.3.4 Septic Systems / Sewer Lines (If applicable)

1.3.4.1 Identify septic tank and leach field locations on each property

1.4 Statement of intent to notify, obtain required permits, and to work within acceptable hours of operation

1.4.1 Underground Service Alert (USA)

1.4.1.1 Check for underground utilities by alerting Underground Service Alert (USA) for public right of way

1.4.1.2 Check for underground utilities by using an independent private utility locator service for private right-of-way, if necessary

1.4.2 Acceptable hours of operation:

The County shall seek to limit the potential noise impacts of construction…