NEVADA CITY, Calif. October 17, 2017 – During a special meeting today, Nevada County Supervisors ratified a Local Health Emergency proclamation by the Nevada County Public Health Officer and the Nevada County Director of Environmental Health due to hazardous waste and debris from the wind complex – Lobo and McCourtney Fires. The vote was 4-0. Supervisor Hall arrived just in time to cast her vote, Supervisor Miller was absent.
The proclamation, which has to be reaffirmed every two weeks, allows for assistance from state agencies in the disposal of hazardous waste created by the fires burning down homes and buildings.
According to the staff report, “Nevada County Environmental Health Department will work with the State’s Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) and DTSC’s contractor, NRC Environmental Services to assess and identify asbestos and all household hazardous waste upon each affected residential parcel. Propane tanks, residential well water supply and residential septic systems will all be assessed as well. DTSC will remove all hazardous waste for proper disposal at a permitted treatment, storage and disposal facility. The estimated time for DTSC evaluation is 1-3 days for all of the affected properties. Removal of debris and timeline for cleanup is estimated at 4-6 weeks.”