Debris cleared on 1,651 state properties

State contractors cleared 1,651 properties whose owners had opted into the state’s Consolidated Debris Removal Program of burned metal, concrete, ash and debris, state officials recently announced.

Under the state program administered by the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) property owners incur no direct costs for participating.

In addition to clearing debris, crews also have completed the installation of fiber rolls and the application of a biodegradable, wood-based mulch to prevent erosion on 181 of the cleared properties following confirmation by a state-certified laboratory that soil samples taken from each property meet state public health and environmental standards. So far, crews have collected soil samples from 502 cleared properties.

To date, debris officials have completed final inspection reports and returned 143 properties to local officials. The submission of final inspection follows a final walkthrough by debris officials to ensure that all work meets state standards. The reports pave the way for participating property owners to move forward toward reconstruction.

In addition, state contractors have removed hazardous trees from 112 properties; conducted 3,336 site assessments; finished asbestos assessments on 3,268 properties; and abated 1,180 properties of asbestos containing materials.