TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Supervisor Brown
MEETING DATE: May 14, 2019
DEPARTMENT CONTACT:
Barbara Moed
PHONE:
463-4354
DEPARTMENT CONTACT:
PHONE:
ITEM TYPE: Regular Agenda
TIME ALLOCATED FOR ITEM: 15 min
AGENDA TITLE:
title
Discussion and Possible Action to Direct Air Quality Management District (AQMD) Staff to Identify Barriers to Fire Fuel (Vegetation) Management through Controlled Burning, and Develop a Plan to Streamline AQMD Processes that Support Vegetation Management Efforts
(Sponsor: Supervisor Brown)
End
RECOMMENDED ACTION/MOTION:
recommendation
Direct the Air Pollution Control Officer to work with fire agency and community partners to identify barriers to fire fuel (vegetation) management and develop a plan to streamline AQMD processes that support vegetation management efforts.
End
PREVIOUS BOARD/BOARD COMMITTEE ACTIONS:
None directly related to this request.
SUMMARY OF REQUEST:
On April 30, 2019, the Air Quality Management District (AQMD) sent a letter to the Board of Supervisors and fire agencies alerting them that effective May 1, AQMD would be expanding its permitting processes. On May 8, the AQMD sent a second letter rescinding the new permitting process pending further consultation with the Board.
The effects of devastating and historic wildfires in recent years have had significant impact on Mendocino County. In addition to the loss of hundreds of homes, thousands of acres have been burned and air quality has been extremely poor for weeks at a time. New state legislation has been passed which established a clear expectation and new funding for CAL FIRE to significantly increase efforts to manage vegetation, including prescribed burning as a way to reduce the impact of uncontrolled burning. Additionally, property owners are being encouraged to more actively manage vegetation which in many instances will result in the burning of brush piles. The Air Quality Management District (AQMD) is directly i...
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