SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA — State contractors have removed debris generated by the Woolsey and Hill fires from the first 709 properties in Los Angeles and Ventura counties whose owners are participating in the state’s Consolidated Debris Removal Program, officials with the Debris Removal Operations Center (DROC) in Calabasas said today.
To date, state crews have cleared eligible burned metal, concrete, ash and debris from 637 properties in Los Angeles County and from 72 parcels in Ventura County.
The 709 properties cleared in both counties represent 76.56 percent of the 926properties currently eligible for the state program. The 637 cleared properties in Los Angeles County represent 76.84 percent of the 829 eligible properties in the county, while the 72 cleared properties in Ventura County represent 74.23percent of its 97 eligible properties.
Through May 8, contractors had removed 306,971.31 tons of debris from eligible properties in Los Angeles County and 45,058.25 tons from eligible properties in Ventura County.
Under the state program, administered by Cal Recycle and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), property owners who opt inincur no direct costs for the removal of eligible debris.
So far, DROC officials have submitted final inspections reports for 243properties in Los Angeles County and 33 properties in Ventura County to local officials, clearing the way for owners to start the reconstruction of their homes.
DROC officials submitted the final inspection report for each property following the completion of site assessments; asbestos surveys; asbestos abatements, where needed; debris removal; analysis and testing of soil samples by a state-certified laboratory; the implementation of erosion control measures, unless waived by the property owner; and a final walkthrough by state debris removal officials and operations staff.
According to DROC officials, state contractors also have completed erosion control work on 313 cleared properties in Los Angeles County and 35 in Ventura County, including those for which final inspection reports have been submitted. Erosion control measures include the installation of fiber rolls and the application of a wood-based, environmentally friendly mulch.
Debris removal officials report that soil samples taken following the removal of eligible debris from 505 properties in Los Angeles County and 54 properties in Ventura County, meet state environmental and public health standards, according to laboratory testing and analysis.
Debris removal officials also reported that contractors have completed site assessments on 1,009 properties – 900 in Los Angeles County and 109 in Ventura County. During site assessments of properties whose owners have opted into the state program, contractors document and photograph property lines, the location of septic tanks, the footprints of foundations and ash, as well as objects that pose a hazard or hamper operations such as trees, pools and vehicles.
Contractors also have completed 897 asbestos surveys and have abated 136 of the 139 properties in Los Angeles County where they found bulk quantities of Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs). In Ventura County, they have finished 103 asbestos surveys and abated 19 of the 20 parcels where they identified bulk quantities of ACMs.
Debris removal experts from Los Angeles County Public Works and the Ventura County Environmental Health Division are available at the DROC from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 12 noon on Saturdays to meet with property owners who have submitted Right-of-Entry (ROE) permit applications.
Debris officials will notify property owners who have opted in to the state program 24-48 hours prior to the start of debris removal operations on their property. Property owners can meet with crews before work begins.
For more information in Los Angeles County, visit lacounty.gov/LACountyRecovers or call 1-626-979-5370. For more information in Ventura County, visit www.venturacountyrecovers.org or call 1-805-504-7869.