Emergency Permit for the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office Bomb Squad (SMCSOBS) to Burn Seized Illegal Fireworks
Summary
SCH Number
2008078213
Public Agency
California Department of Toxic Substances Control
(DTSC)
Document Title
Emergency Permit for the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office Bomb Squad (SMCSOBS) to Burn Seized Illegal Fireworks
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
7/16/2008
Document Description
On July 11, 2008, DTSC received a request from the SMCSOBS for an emergency permit for the destruction of seized fireworks. The treatment and destruction of the seized fireworks will take place on San Mateo County property in rural, western San Mateo County.
The fireworks will be disposed of by placing the fireworks into a designated steel burn container. The container is made of reinforced, quarter-inch steel, and was recently redone to assure that the reinforcements are sufficient for the stresses it will incur during the treatment events. The container measures 20 feet by 7 feet by 7 feet, with a solid top. The ends of the unit are covered with heavy mesh grating to allow air flow, but minimize the chance of any pieces of fireworks escaping from the container during treatment. The fireworks will be remotely ignited with an electric match. The fireworks will be burned until all of the material is reduced to ashes. Once the ashes are cooled, they will be inspected by the Bomb Squad. When deemed safe (no potential for an explosive reaction) they will be placed into 50-gallon plastic drums. The ashes will be transported by a private, registered hazardous waste transporter to an authorized hazardous waste treatment, storage or disposal facility. The transportation of the ash is being coordinated by San Mateo County's Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program; waste from the permanent household hazardous waste facility will be picked up by the same registered transporter.
Contact Information
Name
Jan Smith
Agency Name
Department of Toxic Substances Control
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Counties
San Mateo
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Emergency Project
Type, Section or Code
PRCSec.21080(b)(4);CCRSec.15269
Reasons for Exemption
The project includes control measures to ensure that project impacts will be insignificant. These control measures include, in part, the following:
-The treatment activities will be conducted in a contained unit designed specifically for the treatment of seized fireworks. These units have previously been used to destroy seized fireworks under permit-exempt emergency conditions. The units prevent the ash and residuals from the treatment from being deposited in the soil. The units also minimize the dispersal of ash and debris into the air.
-The units are located on a large parcel of land that serves as a corporation yard for San Mateo County agencies. The entire facility is a secure site, preventing public access.
-The treatment activities will be conducted according to formal policies and procedures established by the San Mateo County Sheriff's Department Bomb squad.
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