FEMA Grant: On
behalf of volunteer Fire Departments, Hose Companies and the more than 550 firefighters
who serve around the county, the Gazelle Fire
Department has been approved for a FEMA grant for 568 pagers, 156 mobile radios, 389 hand
held radios, 17 radio base stations, the upgrade of four repeater sites and the addition
of two new repeater sites. The federal grant, at $924,402, is the largest to be awarded in
California history. The County will be contributing $27,540,
with additional contributions sought from other sources. Fire Chiefs Tom Bagwell and Mary
Cameron, and former Fire Warden Doug Blangsted, did yeoman’s work in putting the
successful grant together.
In 1995, in response to the
overcrowding of radio bands, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) passed
regulations that split existing 25 kHz bandwidth radio channels into four channels of 6.25
kHz – called narrowband channels. A deadline for conversion was set at 2013 for non-public
safety radios and 2018 for public safety radios. The U.S. Forest Services has already
converted, making it difficult to communicate with old radios during firefighting and fire
retardant drops. The new radio equipment will accelerate the conversion process, leaving
law enforcement and public works remaining to make the expensive transition.
CERT: We are getting a
wonderful response from individuals interested in being trained for our Citizen Emergency
Response Teams (CERT.) This is a 20 hour
hands-on course in disaster response and preparedness, fire safety, team organization,
light urban search and rescue, medical principles and treatment, as well as disaster
psychology. Please call the Red Cross if you are interested (530) 921-2561.
AB 885 Septic Tanks: In
2000, the State Legislature passed AB 885. It required the State Water Resources Control
Board (SWRCB) http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/ to adopt regulations and standards for permitting
and operating of septic tanks. The proposed rules apply to new systems and systems at
point of transfer in ownership. The proposed regulations are now in the process of being
reviewed through an Environmental Impact Report.
As proposed, new systems will require addition of a filter and other
modifications to the tank construction. This is estimated to cost an additional $300 to
the current cost of a system. At change of ownership, tanks will need to be inspected and
water quality samples collected from neighbors’ or monitoring wells. The water sample
results will be collected in a statewide data base. These inspection activities are to be
placed on the backs of the county and will likely result in additional fees.
Residences having septic systems within 600 feet of surface water
deemed impaired due to pathogens or nitrates will be required to upgrade with a
supplemental treatment system by 2009 unless owners can prove that they will connect with
a sewer by 2015. (There are currently no rivers listed as impaired for pathogens and
nitrates in Siskiyou Co.)
The regulations require that all systems have at least five feet of
continuous soil beneath the trench, unless it can be demonstrated that water quality in
the immediate vicinity will not be affected. (Current guidelines require three feet.) This
could pose a problem for areas in the county, including KRCE, Irongate Lake Estates and
Copco, where supplemental treatment systems could be required. Currently, the county does
not have the technical expertise and resources to evaluate such new treatment
technologies.
Metering of Wells: California S.B. 820 (Kuehl,) which will require groundwater users
of more than 25 acre-feet to meter and report their use to the State Water Resources
Control Board, has passed the legislature and is on the Governor’s desk for
signature.
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