County official warns farms and businesses face rising CUPA fees and inspection pressure

Clark Packell, director of environmental health, briefed the board on the Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA) responsibilities and compliance burdens on March 26, detailing program elements that include hazardous materials business plans, the CalARP program for acutely hazardous chemicals, hazardous waste generator rules, above-ground storage tank regulations and underground storage tank oversight.

Packell said the state requires tri‑annual recertification and extensive data reporting to CalEPA, and that local fees are set to cover program costs. He told the board the county had expanded from roughly 350 regulated businesses to nearly 600 and that inspection frequency had fallen to about 72% — below the state’s 90% target — driven by growing facility counts and constrained staffing. "If I hire one more person, you're talking about an instant 40% increase in our budget," Packell said, explaining the state-mandated full fee support model.

Supervisors pressed whether regionalizing with neighboring counties or shifting to a state-run program would lower costs; Packell said state takeover typically increases fees and decertification is difficult. Board members urged continued outreach and assistance to help farmers comply, including one-on-one sessions, online filing help and targeted education to reduce roadside dumping of 55-gallon drums.

The presentation underscored the tension between state-mandated inspection and certification standards and the county’s limited staffing and fee-base. The board requested the department continue outreach to agricultural constituents and present additional options for reducing administrative burdens.