DATE: July 11, 2017 Urgency Item
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Jean M. Rousseau, County Administrative Officer / Emergency Services Director
SUBJECT: Termination of the Accumulating Livestock Carcasses Local Emergency in Fresno County
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Adopt Resolution proclaiming termination of the accumulating livestock carcasses local emergency in Fresno County.
REPORT
Approval of the recommended action will terminate the local emergency, termination will not adversely impact State disaster assistance programs eligible for damages. The Department of Public Health - Environmental Health Division received confirmation late morning July 10, 2017 that the Baker Commodities, Inc. rendering facility has returned to normal operation. The termination of the local emergency is necessary to end the livestock carcass emergency disposal to avoid an adverse environmental impact.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
The Board could continue the local emergency; however, the emergency conditions have subsided and Government Code, section 8630 requires that the local emergency be terminated at the earliest possible date.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with the recommended action.
DISCUSSION:
Commencing on June 28, 2017, seasonal high temperatures in the County lead to an unusually high number of livestock deaths. In addition, the rendering facility in Kerman, California, encountered mechanical and operational issues, which slowed the rendering process resulting in a large quantity of livestock carcasses accumulating at the rendering facility and at other locations throughout the County.
On June 30, 2017, due to the accumulation of such livestock carcasses and the Department of Public Health’s determination that the accumulation will result in a public health hazard that, at times, may require emergency disposal measures necessary to protect the public health and safety, as authorized by Government Code (GC), Section (§) 8630 and Fresno County Ordinance Code, Chapter 2.44, the Emergency Services Director Designee proclaimed the existence of a local emergency. The proclamation was forwarded to the State Office of Emergency Services.
During the local emergency, staff from the Departments of Agriculture and Public Health, coordinated acceptable livestock carcass disposal methods with the rendering facility and, in compliance with applicable State statutes and regulations, processed the accumulated livestock carcasses.
On July 6, 2017, as authorized by GC, §8630 and Fresno County Ordinance Code, Chapter 2.44, your Board proclaimed and ratified the existence of a local emergency. On July 11, 2017, your Board continued the local emergency status.
On the morning of Monday, July 10, 2017, the Department of Public Health - Environmental Health Division received confirmation that the mechanical and operational issues at the Baker Commodities, Inc. rendering facility have been addressed and the facility is back to normal operation. The Department of Public Health - Environmental Health Division will monitor to ensure processing continues without issues. It is now recommended that the accumulating livestock carcasses local emergency be terminated. Approval of the recommended action will terminate the local emergency, consistent with GC, §8630 and Fresno County Ordinance Code, Chapter 2.44, which requires termination at the earliest possible date.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #1, July 6, 2017
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Resolution
CAO ANALYST:
Sonia De La Rosa