- LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
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Officials: Deadline to submit right-of-entry forms for Sulphur fire cleanup approaches
This program will ensure that properties are cleaned of any hazardous waste and debris in a timely manner.
However, the state of California’s Office of Emergency Services has set the deadline to sign up for the program by 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 13.
Property owners can sign up for the program by submitting a right-of-entry, or ROE, form to the Lake County Environmental Health Department or at Clearlake City Hall.
By submitting the ROE, residential property owners are granting permission for contractors hired by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to clean their property of fire-related debris. Property owners who participate in the program are only liable for the cost of clean up to the debris cleanup limits allowed by their insurance policy.
Property owners without insurance will not have to pay at all.
Property owners have the option of having the debris removed by their own contractors and paying for debris removal themselves, but not removing the debris is not a legal option. Opting to hire a private contractor requires the completion and submission of the private cleanup application.
The debris must be removed in a timely manner before hazardous materials begin to run off into the lake with the winter storms.
The work must be done to standards established in ordinances and regulations so that health and safety risks are adequately addressed for the community and the environment.
Property owners who fail to clean up their properties will be subject to nuisance abatement proceedings.
Right-of-entry forms are available online at the California Wildfires Statewide Recovers Resources Web site at http://wildfirerecovery.org/debris-removal/right-of-entry/ or at the Lake County Public Health Sulphur Fire webpage located at http://health.co.lake.ca.us/Sulphur_Fire.htm .
With the CalOES mandated deadline of Nov. 13, there is a limited amount of time left to submit a right-of-entry in order to allow this program to clear your fire damaged property.
Local officials urge impacted property owners to discuss this option with their insurance company and decide quickly so they can submit the ROE form before the deadline.
Contractors are currently in the Sulphur fire area applying a product called Posi-Shell to help reduce erosion of fire-impacted properties that could lead to possible contamination of the lake.
The product is spray-on slurry that hardens to a consistency like an egg carton. It is made of finely ground clay, reinforcing fiber, water and Portland cement. Posi-Shell is nontoxic and will be removed with the debris.
The Clearlake City Council will be discussing ROEs, fire debris management and cleanup deadlines during its next meeting on Thursday, Nov. 9, during a Sulphur fire update agenda item.