Local Enforcement Agency Correspondence

El Niño—Planning and Assistance

Date: November 24, 1997

To: All Local Enforcement Agencies

As you are well aware, the current El Niño event may produce significant increases in precipitation in the coming months. Depending upon the intensity, volume, and timing of any increased precipitation, adverse conditions may result at solid waste facilities.

California Integrated Waste Management Board (Board) staff are available to assist in developing contingency plans for potential adverse conditions. Furthermore, the Board’s Permitting and Enforcement staff can provide assistance in assessing landfill damage and providing recommendations for the repair of damage.

Particular areas of Board expertise include, but are not limited to, slope stability and failure, severe erosion due to drainage and flooding problems, alternative daily cover options, and emergency construction contracts and oversight of construction.

For more detailed descriptions of assistance Board staff can provide and potential response actions, including the implementation of daily cover and/or emergency waiver of standards, please refer to recently issued LEA Advisories:

No. 40 Daily Cover Waiver (June 30, 1997)
No. 41 Emergency Waiver of Standards (July 14, 1997)
No. 43 Disaster Assistance (August 29, 1997)

Should you have any questions concerning the above matter, please contact Michael B. Wochnick of my staff at (916) 341-6318.

Sincerely,

Original signed by:

Dorothy Rice
Deputy Director
Permitting and Enforcement Division

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