Site Characterization. Based on past studies of burned residential homes and structures from large-scale wildland fires, the resulting ash and debris from residential structures burned by fires can contain toxic concentrated amounts of heavy metals such as antimony, arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc. Additionally, the ash and debris may contain higher concentrations of lead if the home was built prior to 1978, when lead was banned from household paint in the United States. The presence of these heavy metals can have significant health impacts on individuals, individual properties, local communities, and watersheds if the ash and debris are not removed promptly. The residual materials, including, but are not limited to, stucco, roofing, floor tile, linoleum, fireplaces, furnaces, vinyl tiles and mastic, sheetrock and joint compound, cement pipe, exterior home siding, thermal system insulation, concrete and mortar, and other building materials commonly used in homes built before 1984. These residual materials may also contain other chemicals of concern such as asbestos. Additionally, wildland fires can kill or seriously damage a great number of trees, resulting in a significant risk to the public as the impacted trees are more likely to fall onto public thoroughfares and other infrastructure.
Appears in 2 contracts
Sources: Hazard Tree Removal Services Agreement, Debris Removal Services Agreement