Disaster Debris Management Presented by: Jerrell Cooper TCEQ DFW Region Emergency Response Coordinator

Disaster Debris Management

Presented by: Jerrell Cooper

TCEQ DFW RegionEmergency Response

Coordinator

Large volumes of debris and other wastes are generated by natural and man-made disasters such as hurricanes, fires, floods, tornados, earthquakes, and facility explosions. Types of wastes generated by a disaster are diverse:

• Vegetative debris

• Clean lumber (not including painted, stained or chemically treated wood)

• Construction and Demolition (C&D)

• Electronic Waste (E-Waste)

• White Goods

• Garbage

Generated Debris Waste

• Sediments (soil, mud, sand)

• Putrescent Debris

• Infectious Waste

• Household Hazardous Waste

• Hazardous Waste, including asbestos, orphan drums and containers, etc.

• Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Contaminated Debris

• Vehicles and vessels

Generated Debris Waste

Hurricanes

Wildfires

Tornados

Winter Storms

Facility Explosions

Different methods for management and disposal of disaster-generated waste are available. The appropriateness of waste disposal method is determined by the type of waste. Options for debris management include:

• Temporary Staging and Separating

• Recycling

• Landfill

• Incineration

• Open-burning

• Burial on-site

Options for Debris Management and

Disposal

Options for Debris Management and

DisposalDebris Type Examples of Debris Type Management/Disposal Options

Vegetation Trees, Brush Preferred: Recycle Option: Outdoor burn using an ACI, if possible Option: Type IV MSW Landfill Option: Type I MSW Landfill

Clean Lumber Lumber, siding, plywood and similar wood materials that have not been painted, stained or chemically treated

Preferred: Recycle Option: Outdoor burn using an ACI, if possible Option: Type IV MSW Landfill Option: Type I MSW Landfill

Animal Carcasses Non-diseased poultry, cattle, domestic animals

Preferred: On-site burial/ mounding Preferred: MSW Type I Landfill Option: Outdoor burn, using an ACI if possible Option: Off-site disposal using a renderer or a commercial waste incinerator

Diseased poultry, cattle Preferred: Outdoor burn using an ACI, if possible

Household/ Commercial Waste Putrescible waste MSW Type I Landfill Garbage, refuse, rubbish MSW Type I Landfill

Construction or Demolition Waste Asbestos containing debris -shingles, siding, insulation, tiles

MSW Type I Landfill with special waste authorization

Painted/stained/treated wood Preferred: MSW Type IV Landfill Option: MSW Type I Landfill

Non-asbestos roof shingles Preferred: Fuel source for cement kilns with appropriate air authorization Option: MSW Type IV Landfill Preferred: MSW Type I Landfill

White Goods Damaged household appliances Preferred: Recycle

TCEQ’s Role & Responsibility

• To provide clear guidance on options for managing and disposing debris waste.

• Establish pre-site conditions for a temporary debris site and to make sure the site is returned back to pre-site conditions.

According to FEMA criteria, in order for the impacted municipality to receive reimbursement under the Public Assistance Program, the entity must meet requirements relating to:

• Type of entity [state government, local government, private non-profit (PNP), federally-recognized Indian Tribe]

• Type of facility (building, system, equipment, etc.)

• Type of work

• Be in the public interest

• Must be at reasonable cost

Why is it important that TCEQ assist

impacted local municipalities?

• Meet “special considerations”, including complying with environmental and historic preservation laws:o National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)o Clean Water Act (CWA)o Clean Air Act (CAA)o Coastal Barrier Resources Act (CBRA)o Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)o Endangered Species Act (ESA)o National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA)o Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA)o Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act o Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (WSRA)o Executive Orders

• Debris management sites must have a temporary authorization from TCEQ.





• TCEQ will provide guidance on options for managing and disposing of debris from a disaster, such as a flood or hurricane, and information about FEMA requirements that local governmental entities need to follow in order for their debris management projects to be eligible for reimbursement grants under the Public Assistance Program.



• To prevent the municipality from operating in noncompliance with the 30 Texas Administrative Code Chapter 330 Municipal Solid Waste rules and regulations.

• To prevent and identify Cash for Trash operations

• To assist the municipality with identifying authorized disposal facilities and authorized end-use facilities.

Can the impacted municipality request for

approval of Temporary Debris Management

Site even if a State or Federal Disaster has not

been declared?

• Yes; however, this decision should be handled case-by-case by the TCEQ Regional Office where the impacted municipality is located.

Does the TCEQ Pre-Approve

Temporary Debris Sites?

• No. Why? Community landscapes change.

• TCEQ recommends that local municipalities pre-identify potential sites that could be utilized as a Temporary Debris Management site in case of an emergency.

• A request to operate a Temporary Debris Management site has to be submitted to TCEQ for each disaster.

What are the benefits for requesting a

Temporary Debris Management Site?

• The TCEQ will allow the impacted municipality to operate a Temporary Debris Management site for up to 90 days without an MSW permit.

• Without requesting to operate a Temporary Debris Management Site, the local municipality may be subject to the MSW permits requirements, including providing financial assurance for the site.

Where do I find the Temporary Debris

Management Request Form?





Temporary Debris Management

Request Form


Request Form


Site Requirements• The owner of the property should submit this request to temporarily store

debris to the appropriate TCEQ Regional Office, with a copy to the TCEQ Central Office.

• Requests may be submitted prior to a disaster; however, the owner or operator of the property may not store or process debris on the site until a state or federal declared natural disaster occurs. Once the owner or operator of the property decides to use the site, notice must immediately be made to the local TCEQ Regional Office.

• IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE OWNER/OPERATOR TO MEET ALL GENERAL CONDITIONS AT THE TIME OF USE. This notice does not allow any activity that creates or contributes to a nuisance condition and only applies to the management of debris generated by a declared natural disaster.


Site General ConditionsAll Sites:

• Approval is for 90 days from the date of the declared state or federal disaster.

• Notification MUST be made to the local TCEQ Regional Office for your area prior to site use: http://www.tceq.texas.gov/about/directory/region/reglist.html

• Contact the TCEQ Regional Office for your area for additional approvals or extensions to the approved period.

• You must have local government approval. Provide written documentation of local government approval.

• Ensure that site is located above the 100-year floodplain, or has an authorization from the local floodplain administrator.


Site General ConditionsAll Sites:

• Ensure that site is located outside any known wetlands.

• Ensure that site is located at least ¼ mile from a public or private water supply (surface or ground).

• Ensure that site is a minimum of ¼ mile from any known caves, springs, and streams.

• Debris shall be separated into piles no larger than 4,000 cubic yards.

• If the site will receive any putrescible waste that may attract birds, it must be located at least 5,000 feet from any airport runway used only by piston-engine aircraft, or within 10,000 feet of any airport runway used by turbojet aircraft, except as may be approved by the United States Federal Aviation Administration.


Site General Conditions

Staging/Stockpiling Sites ONLY:

• Provisions must be in place to separate waste for proper disposal, to ensure that prohibited wastes such as batteries, used oil or oil filters, tires, appliances containing CFCs, bulk liquids, PCBs, or industrial hazardous wastes are not shipped to a MSW landfill.

• Items such as electronics, white goods, paints/solvents, plastics, insulated wire, asbestos materials, aerosol or pressurized containers, and other household hazardous wastes should be segregated to ensure proper disposal.


Site General ConditionsEmergency Burning Sites ONLY:

• Provide written notification to the TCEQ office for your area prior to burning (e-mail notification is acceptable).

• The County Judge MUST have received authorization from TCEQ for the burning of debris.

• Only vegetative debris and clean wood are authorized to be burned (wood that has not been painted, stained, laminated or treated with a preservative such as creosote, metals, pesticides, fungicides or other compounds).

• Provisions must be in place to exclude the burning of putrescible waste, treated wood, tires, electronics, white goods, paints/solvents, plastics, insulated wire, batteries, appliances, asbestos materials, aerosol or pressurized containers, and other household and non-household hazardous waste.


Site General ConditionsEmergency Burning Sites ONLY:

• Burning site should be located at least 300 feet from the nearest property line and other structures.

• Burning is authorized only during daylight hours.

• Materials to be burned should be reasonably dry to prevent excessive smoke.

• If the burning activity causes nuisance conditions or a traffic hazard, the burning activity must be immediately halted.

• No burning activity can occur on a closed landfill.

• Any burn or debris residue will either be disposed of in an authorized landfill.


Site General ConditionsEmergency Burning Sites ONLY: • Divide the debris piles into sizes not to exceed 50' L x 20" W x 15" H.

Fire breaks must be reasonably placed in vegetative piles to prevent piles from burning in any unplanned, uncontrolled fire.

• Burn one 50-foot pile at a time. Before the next pile is burned, the previous pile must not be actively burning. If any unplanned, uncontrolled fires occur, every effort will be made to put out the fires. These fires shall be reported to TCEQ immediately.

• Methods of disposal for any burn or debris residue: disposal in a Type I landfill which has a current TCEQ permit; buried on-site and deed-recorded; or for land application of ash, an agronomic rate of ash is one to two tons per acre.


Site General Conditions

Vegetative Debris Chipping and Mulching Sites ONLY: • Chipping and mulching of all vegetative debris will be located at least

50 feet from the nearest property line and other structures. Any beneficial use of mulch or wood chips must be approved by the local TCEQ Regional Office for agricultural amendments.

• Fire suppression measures have been implemented and coordinated with the local fire marshal.

Field Investigations of Temporary

Debris Management Sites

TCEQ should conduct an on-site investigation, prior to the site being authorized, during the site operation, and to close the site.

• Walk the entire site and establish pre-site conditions.• Identify any nearby receptors. (May want to use binoculars)• Identify any potential water pathways.• Identify site security.• Identify ingress/egress of the site.

Explain any concerns to the person that’s overseeing the site.

TxDPS – Texas Department of

Emergency Management

Questions/ Discussions

Jerrell CooperEmergency Response Coordinator

Dallas/Fort Worth Region [email protected]

817-588-5805

mailto:[email protected]

Documents

Disaster Debris Management Presented by: Jerrell Cooper TCEQ DFW Region Emergency Response Coordinator