LEA Equipment Loan Program

The local enforcement agency (LEA) equipment loan program provides technical and scientific equipment, calibration/repair services, and training to LEAs with limited resources for instrumentation needed to monitor the staff at solid waste facilities.

Equipment is loaned for a three-month period to ensure proper maintenance and calibration.
If an LEA needs the equipment beyond three months, it can be exchanged for another one.
To order equipment, review the procedures, and submit the request, CalRecycle Form 640 (12/2022).

CalRecycle developed the LEA Equipment Loan Program to support LEA equipment needs and to fulfill the requirements of the Public Resources Code (PRC), section 43217, which states:
“The board shall provide ongoing training, technical assistance, and guidance to enforcement agencies to assist in their decision-making processes.”
This assistance includes “a program for loaning technical and scientific equipment, to the extent that funds are available to CalRecycle to purchase that equipment.”

The program was developed to support LEAs whose financial or technical resources limit their ability to obtain and operate instrumentation and other technical and scientific equipment. The specific goals of this loan program are to:

Provide a reliable supply of calibrated instrumentation and other technical and scientific equipment for loan to LEAs.
Provide training and technical support to LEAs.
Encourage LEAs to adopt and use similar equipment.
Ensure all loaned equipment meets acceptable levels of quality control and quality assurance.
Reduce cost by centralizing maintenance and repair for field equipment.
Increase support and cooperation between CalRecycle and LEAs for field activities.

CalRecycle is committed to providing service and provides a maintenance, repair, and calibration services program.

To request an equipment loan, submit, CalRecycle Form 640 (12/2022).
To request an equipment repair, submit, CalRecycle Form 720 (12/2022).

The LEA Equipment Loan Program is available for technical questions at HealthAndSafety@calrecycle.ca.gov.
Questions we cannot answer immediately will be researched, and an answer will be provided.

Whether training is provided individually or as a group, informally or formally, it will be at no cost to the LEA.

Frequently asked questions about the program are answered on the Equipment Loan FAQ.

Responsibilities

The loan program is available to all LEAs certified or partially certified by CalRecycle.

CalRecycle Responsibilities

Control, maintain, and issue loaned equipment designated in this program.
Ensure that all loaned equipment meets acceptable levels of quality control and quality assurance.
Ship loaned equipment to LEAs.
Perform limited maintenance on LEA-owned instruments.
Provide training in the use of loaned equipment.

LEA Responsibilities

Use loaned equipment only for CalRecycle-related field activities.
Care for all loaned equipment.
Return loaned equipment in a timely manner for maintenance and calibration.
Not loan CalRecycle-owned equipment to a third party.
Pay for all damages, loss, and lost parts of any loaned equipment while in their possession.
Pay return shipping costs of the loaned equipment and to retain responsibility for the safe return shipment of the loaned equipment.
Participate in training as needed to support the use of such equipment.
Notify CalRecycle’s Equipment Loan Program of any loss/damage/malfunction as soon as possible.

Maintenance, Repair, and Calibration Services

Instrumentation must be properly maintained and calibrated to meet acceptable quality control and quality assurance standards and provide accurate measurements.

To ensure this, maintenance, repair, and calibration of LEA-owned instruments are provided free of cost through a factory-service-certified provider covered under the program’s repair contract.

Under the service contract, maintenance, repair, and calibration service can include:

Sensor replacement
Calibration
Minor repairs
Equipment loan during instrument servicing
Consultation for troubleshooting and interpretation of instrument readings

Instrument repair on LEA-owned instruments may be limited to $400 per instrument with an $800 per LEA maximum. More extensive repairs can be provided at the discretion of the LEA Equipment Loan Program. LEAs will be provided with an assessment of the required repair or maintenance and the estimated return date prior to any servicing, repair, or maintenance.

Shipping and Receiving Instruments

Equipment will either be shipped directly or the LEA can arrange to pick it up.

Receiving:

Inspect the package for external damage, and then open it carefully so that shipping materials can be reused.
Inspect the contents against the content list to ensure everything is there. Check identification numbers carefully to ensure that numbers match (case & instrument). If the carrying case/shipping case is damaged or missing components, immediately notify both the carrier and the program coordinator to begin the claim procedure.
Notify the program when the shipment has been received and inspected.
Save the original shipping container for use when returning the equipment.
Check each instrument’s functionality before use.

Shipping to CalRecycle:

Inspect items to be shipped and ensure the correct shipping materials are used.
Select a Carrier.
Provide insurance. The LEA is responsible for each item it ships to CalRecycle.

For insurance purposes, check with the program to estimate the cost of replacing the instrument/equipment. Maintenance of a shipping log with all receipts is recommended in case of loss or theft while in transit. Pack carefully in the original shipping materials and ship to:

CalRecycle
Attn: LEA Equipment Loan
1001 I Street, MS 10A-15
Sacramento, CA 95814

Technical Support and Training

CalRecycle staff is available to assist and provide technical support. E-mail us at HealthAndSafety@calrecycle.ca.gov.
Training can be scheduled one-on-one or as a group at no cost to the LEA. Topics include:

Theory
Operation
Repair
Calibration of sampling devices
Hands on instrument training
Collecting monitoring results and how to report
Interpret the sampling data

Instructional videos are available for specific equipment.