Local Enforcement Agency Correspondence

Pile Fire Discussion Paper Request for Comments

Date: December 15, 2004

To: All Local Enforcement Agencies

This all LEA e-mail was sent on behalf of the LEA Support Services Branch of the California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB), and Howard Levenson, Deputy Director Permitting and Enforcement Division.

Board staff has prepared a discussion paper on the subject of fires in piles of waste at solid waste facilities (MS Word, 195 KB or Adobe PDF, 271 KB). The draft discussion paper was presented to the November meetings of the CCDEH, Solid Waste Policy Committee and the EAC. A copy of the current draft paper is attached for your review and comment.

Comments or suggested edits can be sent to Dennis Corcoran by January 15, 2005. CIWMB staff will revise the discussion paper based upon the comments received.

Background: Fires at solid waste facilities can adversely impact the continued operation and expansion of composting facilities, CDI sites, transfer stations, and landfills. The fire at the unpermitted Crippen site burned for 4 weeks and cost $6 million to extinguish and cleanup. Smaller fires can also generate negative publicity and community reaction which hinders siting of new facilities as well as constraining the continued operations or expansion of existing facilities.

Upcoming events: In the spring of 2005, CIWMB will host a public workshop to discuss this report and receive comments from LEAs, operators, fire departments, air districts, water boards, other local agencies as well as members of the public. We hope the input will help us develop our options to minimize the occurrence of fires at solid waste facilities.

Thank you,
Melissa Hoover-Hartwick
LEA Support Services
(916) 341-6813

Attachment

• Pile Fires: A Discussion Paper (MS Word, 195 KB | Adobe PDF, 271 KB)