1. Debris Management Operations
ASTSWMO Mid Year Meeting
Montgomery, AL
April 25-26, 2012

2. FEMA PA Eligible Applicants
State government agencies
Local governments
Local Public Authorities
Other essential governmental services
Federally recognized Indian Tribes
Private Non-Profit (PNP) organizations (Limited to Educational, Emergency Medical, Utility, Custodial care, Irrigation)
Essential government services or facilities include such things as community centers, rehabilitation facilities, homeless shelters, libraries, museums, senior citizen centers, shelter workshops, zoos, performing arts facilities, community arts centers, and health and safety services of a governmental nature.

3. Basic FEMA PA Eligibility
Located within designated disaster area
Generated by the major disaster event
Improved property or right-of-way
Legal responsibility of the applicant
Eligible applicant

4. Debris on Private Property
Eligibility generally limited to debris in living, recreational, and working areas or ingress/egress to those areas
Excludes debris from unimproved property, agricultural lands, and unused areas
Excludes construction debris
All these have numerous qualifiers, limitations and restrictions.

5. Debris Clearance vs. Debris Removal
Initial debris clearance activities necessary to eliminate life and safety threats (primarily vegetative debris – “cut and push”)
Debris removal activities as a means to recovery
Typically, the debris removal recovery phase begins after the emergency access routes are cleared and police, firefighters, and other first responders have the necessary access. 

6. Responsibilities Debris Removal Public information
Debris Project Manager
Vegetative debris removal
Hazardous material removal
Solid waste removal
Demolition debris
Contract services
Public information
Development of debris management plan
Coordinate State and Federal assistance for debris management activities
Compliance with Federal and State environmental regulations
Coordinating efforts with FEMA and the State DURING a Presidentially declared disaster
Specific entities need to be designated for these responsibilities. Some of these areas require specific training.

7. Considerations Amount and type of debris Specialized debris issues
Debris disposal
Available labor/equipment resources
Contract resources
Urgency of the debris operations
Damage to priority infrastructure

8. Disaster Debris

9. Different Disasters Different Debris

10. Categories of Debris (Eligibility varies)
Vegetative Debris
Construction and Demolition Debris
Hazardous Waste
White Goods
Soil, Mud, and Sand
Vehicles and Vessels
Putrescent Debris
Infectious Waste
Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear-Contaminated Debris
Garbage
Eligibility of these vary and some require specially trained personnel.

11. On-Site Chipping
Labor intensive, slow, can only handle small stuff

12. Debris Removal
Massive amounts of debris require massive amounts of equipment. A distant disposal site means a long turn-around on trucks. Solutions: more trucks or a shorter trip.

13. Debris Management Site
Advantages:
Flexibility of operations
Facilitation of recycling and reduction of debris 
Expedition of debris collection 
Disadvantages:
Additional cost to handle the debris twice
If applicant-owned land is not available, leasing land is expensive
Additional costs for proper planning, engineering, and permitting
Environmental and historic preservation compliance
Environmental review and potentially extensive site cleanup may be necessary to properly close the site
Requires dedicated site management and staff for efficient operations, safety, and documentation considerations
Having a pre-designated and pre-approved site virtually eliminates disadvantages at the time of need

14. Debris Management Site

15. DEBRIS SEPARATION
White goods and metals can separated and sold by the local jurisdiction as scrap.

16. VEGETATIVE DEBRIS
Vegetative debris can burned, chipped and used as mulch or sold by the local jurisdiction as mulch.

17. Can handle trees/stumps up to 4’ diameter.
Grinder

18. Air Curtain Burner
Trench-type: 10’x12’ trench 40’ long; burns 3.5 gal fuel/hr; 8-12 ton/hr flow-thru. Low emission levels - meet EPA standards “right out of the box”. Trench type has about 4 times capacity of box-type.

19. SAFETY & TRAFFIC CONTROL
PPE should include: (as a minimum) safety vests hearing, head and eye protection. Steel-toed boots, chaps and heavy-duty clothing also help. Must always use traffic control.

20. Debris Task Force Logistics
Fuel is at the top of the list for logistics, but you can’t forget such things as communications; spare chains, blades, oil cans, gas cans, tools and files for chainsaws; port-a-potties, spare tires - lots of them - and you have to feed the troops.

21. Summary Develop a Debris Management Plan
Pre-designate and train personnel for all functions assigned in the plan
Make sure of eligibility – claimant, property and debris
Work with PIOs to publicize pick-up schedules, drop-off locations, etc.
Meticulously track ALL labor, equipment use and other expenditures
Stress SAFETY from beginning to end

22. Questions? Derial W. Bivens Tennessee Department of Transportation
Maintenance Division
Office of Emergency Management
3041 Sidco Dr.
Nashville, TN 37204
Office:
Cell:
ARS: WT4X