October 21, 2017
Sacramento, Calif. (KCRA) —Gov. Jerry Brown (click here) issued an executive order Saturday allowing the federal government to help with the initial removal of hazardous waste from California’s wildfires, the governor’s press office said.
The executive order allows U.S. Environmental Protection Agency officials to assist state and local officials “in immediately removing visible hazardous debris such as batteries, flammable liquids, asbestos siding, paint and pipe insulation from burned homes,” the governor’s office said.
“Initial removal of these hazards helps protect public health and the environment and allows residents and cleanup crews to more safely enter properties and continue the long-term recovery efforts,” the governor’s office said.
Brown declared a state of emergency for Solano, Napa, Sonoma, Yuba, Butte, Lake, Mendocino, Nevada and Orange counties last week due to the impacts of the numerous wildfires.
Brown and U.S. Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris visited the areas impacted by the Wine Country wildfires.
