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Buncombe County says right-of-way debris removal complete; private-property cleanups, waterways ongoing
Summary
County staff reported the county'wide right-of-way debris mission ended in April after about 1.5 million cubic yards were removed; private-property cleanup and waterway removal continue with deadlines and vendor coordination still active.
Jerry Edwards, addressing the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners, provided the county's latest Helene recovery debris update, saying the federal direct assistance mission for right-of-way debris removal is complete and private-property and waterway efforts remain active.
Edwards said the county removed approximately 1,500,000 cubic yards of debris from county rights of way and an estimated 150,000 tons of soil and silt (about 6,500 truckloads). He told commissioners that the private-property debris removal program received 5,292 applications and that, as of the update, around 3,985 private parcels had been cleaned.
The private-property debris program was extended to Aug. 1, giving FEMA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers additional time to scope work and release final packets to contractors. Edwards said 5,282 application packages had been delivered and that 10 packages required additional follow-up with property owners.
Edwards also said the waterway debris removal mission was extended through the end of the month and that Ashburit projects were roughly 95% complete for identified threats to public infrastructure and safety.
The county reminded residents that right-of-way collections have ended and asked residents not to place debris at the roadside because collection vehicles are no longer operating. Edwards said the Buncombe County Landfill remains available, and that standard tipping fees are $45 per ton for mixed construction and demolition (C&D) or municipal solid waste; separated streams (vegetative, concrete, inert materials) are half that amount, $22.50 per ton.
On residential and commercial demolition tied to the private-property program, Edwards said 190 demolition applications had been submitted; 107 packets have gone to FEMA and the Corps for review (74 from Buncombe County, 23 from the City of Asheville, and 10 from the Town of Black Mountain). Ten packets have completed FEMA and SHPO review and are awaiting federal coordinating officer sign-off for funding and Corps tasking.
Edwards urged residents with complaints or questions about private-property debris work to report them to the county debris management inbox (debris.management@buncombecounty.org) and to the Buncombe call center at (828) 250-6100. He noted county operations hours are Monday'Friday, 8 a.m.'5 p.m., and reminded the public the offices will be closed for Juneteenth.
Ending paragraph: County staff said they will continue coordination with FEMA, the Corps of Engineers and contractors to complete private-property removals before the Aug. 1 deadline and to close remaining waterway removal tasks.
