Friday, October 26, 2007

Angora: County completes tree removal

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 26, 2007


COUNTY CONCLUDES HAZARD TREE REMOVAL PROGRAM
Debris Removal Operations Center Closing


(South Lake Tahoe, CA)—The El Dorado County Department of Environmental Management announced the completion of the Angora Fire hazard tree removal program.

Under the program, 8,511 tons of hazard trees were removed from over 400 non-federal, non-state owned lots in the burn area.

The county authorized the program on August 28 after soliciting informal bids from licensed timber operators. Sierra Pacific Industries won the contract by offering a zero bid for the tree removal work.

The tree program was organized following the structural debris removal program, a joint effort between El Dorado County, the California Integrated Waste Management Board and the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. Nearly 70,000 tons of structural debris were removed in the weeks following the fire.

With the conclusion of the hazard tree program, El Dorado County will begin sending bills to property owners for their debris removal work. Property owners who signed up for the program agreed to reimburse the county for debris removal to the extent covered in the owner’s insurance policy.

The Debris Removal Operation Center set up at the Elks Club in the wake of the fire to oversee debris and tree removal will close this week.

Property owners with questions regarding debris billing are encouraged to contact the El Dorado County Environmental Management Department at (530) 621-5300, or (530) 573-7955 ext. 5300 from South Lake Tahoe.

“Our debris and tree programs were very successful and we are happy to conclude this phase of the recovery process,” said county Environmental Management Director Gerri Silva. “At the same time, our hearts are breaking for the victims in Southern California because we have a small taste of what they will be up against in terms of cleanup.”


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