Mono County weighs county‑run cleanup, hybrid approach as Pack Fire phase 2 funding remains uncertain

Assistant County Administrative Officer Christine Bouchard presented the Board of Supervisors on Feb. 3 with options and risks for Phase 2 debris removal following the Nov. 13 Pack Fire, saying the work to make properties safe for rebuilding includes soils testing, licensed hazardous‑material removal and regulated disposal.

"Phase 2 debris removal is a process of removing all remaining fire‑related debris from the burn area after hazardous materials have been removed," Bouchard said. She told the board that the state ran Phase 1 hazardous‑materials work but crews could not finish higher‑elevation parcels because of snow and access, and that the county faces the most expensive tasks — hauling and disposing of contaminated soil — if state funding does not cover Phase 2.

Bouchard gave a working cost range of $1.3 million to $2.6 million for the cleanup and said the county’s unrestricted reserves are approximately $2.7 million, with $1.3 million in a restricted disaster assistance fund. She said the county had asked Cal OES about CDAA (California Disaster Assistance Act) reimbursement but had not received a…