Emergency Preparedness Committee

Recommendations 5

• R1

  Page 7
  The Grand Jury finds that the Mono County Jail continues to be a well-run facility. The Grand Jury has no recommendations at this time. 7
• R2
  The Grand Jury recommends that Mono County continue to move forward with planning for the Benton Crossing Landfill closure. We also recommend they continue to collaborate with other regional entities as they develop the infrastructure and expertise needed for Mono County to successfully move to a future transition without Benton Crossing Landfill. Continuity Committee MCOE Report
• R3
  The Grand Jury recommends that while MCOE has stated the Charter School brings in additional State funding to the benefit of Mono County students, they should also provide a comparison of the Charter School expenses which offset revenues from the State generated by the Charter School. And, provide a method for that information to be available to Mono County residents. Continuity Committee Mono County Jail Report
• R5
  The Grand Jury finds that, given current circumstances, a visit to the Jail would not be appropriate at this time. Hilton Creek Continuity Report
• R19-20
  Grand Jury Continuity Committee Final Report BACKGROUND While the Grand Jury will not continue investigations of past Grand Juries, we do feel it is important to follow up on their work and provide an update on what progress being made by the investigated agencies. First, to indicate if there was a response to the Grand Jury report and second, to report on what progress is being made to comply with their stated proposals in response to the recommendations of the Grand Jury SUMMARY All reports were responded to within the required time. The Grand Jury checked the status of the agencies’ efforts to comply with the recommendations of the previous Grand Jury either through public records or by questioning individuals with knowledge of those efforts. The current Grand Jury did not find any items which we felt required further investigation at this time. Previous Grand Jury reports and responses to them can be found at https://www.mono.courts.ca.gov/generalinfo/jury- grandjury.htm Continuity Committee Solid Waste Report FINDINGS TOML and Mono County are progressing with the recommendations made by the 18-19 Grand Jury. The 19-20 Grand Jury submitted questions and looked at public documents to provide an update on TOML and Mono Counties’ progress to date. F1: The 18-19 Solid Waste Committee recommended that TOML view the Mammoth Disposal transfer station as phase one of the solid waste plan with phase two being a larger site which could accommodate the processing of industrial waste, green waste and other programs which can be used to reduce landfill usage and reduce costs. In their response to the 18-19 Grand Jury report, TOML agreed with the recommendation and stated that the new agreement would include construction of a new transfer facility and clean Material Recovery Facility (MRF) sized to accommodate the projected solid waste needs of TOML as well as Mono County. Participation in the use of the facility by Mono County would be an option as the County works to finalize their overall system changes in response to the landfill closure. The new 8 agreement will also require Mammoth Disposal to procure long-hauling agreements outside of the County to dispose of solid waste once Benton Crossing Landfill has closed. TOML also stated that a public outreach plan to ensure the public has sufficient time and information to plan for the closure and changes in services and cost. Development of other sites and facilities can be determined once the agreement with Mammoth Disposal is in place. As of this writing TOML and Mammoth Disposal have extended the current agreement three times. The latest extension of the contract will expire December 30, 2020. TOML has stated that they are waiting to have a proper rate analysis study completed before terms of a new contract can be discussed. F2: The 18-19 Grand Jury recommended that TOML and Mono County partner to make necessary improvements to the Pumice Valley site so it could be a viable location for a biomass reactor, associated waste programs, and recycling operations. Timeline: Completed no later than January 1, 2023. TOML responded to the 18-19 Report that a biomass facility will not be a condition of the Agreement, but the Agreement will allow for diversion of certain types of waste to such a facility should it be developed in the future. Impacts to the residents of Mammoth Lakes and Mono County will be better known once the Agreement is in place. Mono County had some questions about the economic, political, and environmental ramifications of a biomass reactor. Mono County’s response to the 18-19 Grand Jury also cited the need for further analysis and a better understanding of what the upcoming solid waste program will look like in Mammoth Lakes and Mono County overall. TOML and Mono County agreed that while Pumice Valley was under consideration for such a site, it was not the only site under consideration. F3: The 18-19 Grand Jury recommended that TOML and Mono County develop a plan for complying with the amounts of recycling and organic waste going to landfills in the likely event that State of California rural exemptions are changed by July l , 2020. Mono County informed the 19-20 Grand Jury that they have applied for an extension of the low population waiver of mandates concerning organic waste and methane emissions in SB1383. No changes to rural exemptions were being considered during the comment period. The waiver would expire in 2025, or later if the State were to meet organic waste reduction targets. Mono County will also be applying for an Elevation Waiver under section 18984.13(d) which is applicable indefinitely. In addition, Mono County has taken significant steps in improving capacity and efficiency of processing green material, more specifically, wood material. Wood material can be processed into several beneficial products including biomass feedstock, alternative cover, mulch and erosion control media. Specialized equipment has been acquired and implemented. Additionally, Benton Crossing Landfill has implemented a composting pilot program. Testing is under way to identify an appropriate recipe of ingredients based on incoming waste streams. Mono County further stated that they are actively involved in regional efforts to address green waste diversion. Collaboration and planning on upcoming forest health improvement and water quality projects include entities such as the Town of Mammoth Lakes, Sierra Institute, Inyo-Mono Integrated Regional Water Management Program, Eastern California Water Association, Plumas Corporation, Inyo National Forest and CalTrout. Mono County has agreed to allow siting of TOML’s proposed biomass infrastructure at Pumice Valley Landfill and assisted with production of the Town’s RFP (request for proposal) for equipment and technology which would remove organic material from the waste stream and out of landfills which may be used in the production of valuable products such as biochar, energy, compost, or similar type products. Recommendations: R1: The Grand Jury recommends TOML continue to make progress in planning and researching innovative solid waste solutions which will benefit residents and the environment after the Benton Crossing Landfill closure and beyond. The delay in coming to a beneficial agreement with Mammoth Disposal is concerning but understandable considering what is at stake and recent difficult circumstances. R2: The Grand Jury recommends that Mono County continue to move forward with planning for the Benton Crossing Landfill closure. We also recommend they continue to collaborate with other regional entities as they develop the infrastructure and expertise needed for Mono County to successfully move to a future transition without Benton Crossing Landfill. Continuity Committee MCOE Report