AGENDA STAFF REPORT

Agenda Item AGENDA STAFF REPORT ASR Control 20-001190
MEETING DATE:	03/09/21
legal entity taking action:	Board of Supervisors
board of supervisors district(s):	All Districts
SUBMITTING Agency/Department:	OC Public Works (Approved)
Department contact person(s):	Kevin Onuma (714) 647-3939
	Trevor Richardson (714) 955-0234

Subject: Approve County of Orange Unincorporated Areas Disaster Debris Management Plan

ceo CONCUR

County Counsel Review

Clerk of the Board

Concur

Approved Resolution to Form

Discussion

3 Votes Board Majority

Budgeted: N/A

Current Year Cost: N/A

Annual Cost: N/A

Staffing Impact:

# of Positions:

Sole Source: N/A

Current Fiscal Year Revenue: N/A

Funding Source: N/A	County Audit in last 3 years: No

Prior Board Action: N/A

RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):

Find that the subject project is statutorily exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 15269 of the CEQA Guidelines.

Adopt a Resolution adopting the County of Orange Unincorporated Areas Disaster Debris Management Plan dated August 2019, authorizing distribution of the County of Orange Unincorporated Areas Disaster Debris Management Plan for immediate implementation.

SUMMARY:

Adoption of the County of Orange Unincorporated Areas Disaster Debris Management Plan provides policy, process and procedures to assist responders and protect residents, critical facilities infrastructure, private property and the environment from debris in the unincorporated areas of the County of Orange, County of Orange-owned facilities and the Orange County Flood Control District flood control facilities following a major event, supporting the process required in order to ensure the County of Orange’s continued eligibility for disaster relief funds from the federal and state government.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

A systematic approach to debris management is critical to efficient response and recovery efforts during a disastrous event, which was learned when Hurricane Katrina generated over 100 million cubic yards of debris. Debris management averages 45 percent of the total cost of any given disaster. Since 2003, disaster debris costs in California have totaled approximately $228.6 million. Following the catastrophic Camp Fire in 2018, this number is now in the billions. Debris management plans enable communities to be better prepared to address disaster-related debris in a time-efficient manner, expediting the recovery process.

The County of Orange (County) began the debris planning process by establishing a diverse debris planning team. The planning team included representatives from OC Public Works, OC Sheriff's Department/Emergency Management Division, OC Health Care Agency, OC Fire Authority, OC Community Resources and the County Executive Office Real Estate Division and Office of Risk Management.

This County Unincorporated Areas Disaster Debris Management Plan (Plan) creates a debris management program focusing on the required core components of a debris management plan based on Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) guidelines, including:

· Creation of a debris management strategy

· Establishes prioritization for County debris collection and removal operations

· Outlines the private property debris removal policies and procedures

· Outlines coordination efforts between federal, state, local and private agencies

· Optimizes limited resources

· Establishes an environmentally friendly approach

· Provides technical assistance regarding regulations, guidelines and policies

· Serve as a foundation document for training

On December 26, 2019, the California Office of Emergency Services approved the Plan. FEMA has ceased approving local debris management plans; however, this may change in the future.

OC Public Works in partnership with the County Sheriff-Coroner Department Emergency Management Division on behalf of the County Emergency Management Council recommends the Board of Supervisors adopt the Plan.

Compliance with CEQA: The subject activity is statutorily exempt from review under CEQA pursuant to Section 15269 a) through e) of the CEQA Guidelines as an emergency project because the plan focuses on emergency response planning by prioritizing access to critical infrastructure that may be inundated with debris following a catastrophic event.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

N/A

STAFFING IMPACT:

N/A

REVIEWING AGENCIES:

Sheriff-Coroner Department

ATTACHMENT(S):

Attachment A - County of Orange Unincorporated Areas Disaster Debris Management Plan
Attachment B - California Office of Emergency Services Approval Letter
Attachment C - Resolution