Health & Environmental Control Department

One of only four cities in the state of California with its own health department, Vernon is focused on protecting the environment and ensuring the health and safety of its residents, workers, visitors and neighboring communities. The Vernon Health & Environmental Control Department provides comprehensive and efficient services to accomplish this goal, tailoring its operations to regulate and meet the needs of the city’s large industrial sector.

• Applications/Guides/Forms and Fees

Programs

The Vernon Health & Environmental Control Department serves a number of roles within the city, including:

• enforcing local, state and federal laws and regulations related to public health, the environment and public safety;
• informing the Vernon public about good practices for promoting health and protecting the environment;
• providing support and environmental expertise to City departments and the Vernon City Council;
• building and sustaining partnerships with other public agencies and neighboring communities;
• partnering with Vernon businesses, environmental consultants and other City departments to formulate effective solutions for overcoming environmental challenges;
• preparing for emergency and disaster operations;
• evaluating the effectiveness of health services and creating new programs.

Business Services

The Health and Environmental Control Department provides a number of services to assist Vernon’s business community, including:

Animal Control
The Department contracts with the Southeast Area Animal Control Agency, an outside agency, to provide animal control services. Businesses can call the Department to remove stray or dead animals from any location within the city. The Department also provides small animal traps for businesses to contain stray animals.

Free Sale Letters
The Department provides free sale letters to Vernon companies that sell food products outside of the country.

Plan Check
As part of the building permitting process, the Department provides plan check services at no additional cost for companies undertaking new construction and upgrading regulated facilities. These services ensure that companies are in compliance with the latest health codes before beginning construction.

Recycling Information
The Health and Environmental Control Department serves as an information resource for businesses looking to recycle waste materials and reduce their generation of solid waste. Business can receive on-site waste analysis, recycling guidance and educational pamphlets by contacting the department.

Storm Water Information
The Department provides educational materials and consultation for companies seeking information about storm water.

Water Sampling
The Department collects routine water samples throughout Vernon to ensure compliance with potability standards, including at USDA facilities and food processors. The Department provides annual water certification letters.

Referrals and Community Environmental Health Concerns
If there are environmental health concerns in Vernon that you would like the Environmental Health Department to address, please contact us at (323) 583-8811.

Programs

Certified Unified Program Agency
The Vernon Health and Environmental Control Department is authorized by the California Environmental Protection Agency to enforce the following programs within the city:

Accidental Release Prevention	The Department ensures that businesses using regulated substances in excess of threshold planning quantities comply with the California Accidental Release Program (CALARP). CALARP replaced the State-mandated Risk Management and Prevention Program in 1997. Following their registration in CALARP, businesses may be required to prepare risk management plans that reduce the likelihood and consequences of regulated substances being released.
Hazardous Materials	In compliance with state mandates, the Department began the Hazardous Materials Monitoring Program in 1986 to collect information about how businesses store, use and dispose of hazardous materials. Up-to-date hazardous materials inventories are provided to the Vernon Fire Department to use when responding to fires, industrial accidents and natural disasters.
Hazardous Waste	The Department works to ensure that hazardous wastes generated by Vernon businesses are handled and disposed of according to federal, state and local regulations, actively promoting waste reduction options for hazardous waste generators. It also assists businesses prepare for site assessments and implement mitigation mesures.
Underground Tanks	The underground storage tank program regulates the permitting, inspection, installation and removal of underground tanks that store motor fuels and chemicals. The Department operates this program in conjunction with the Community Service department’s Fire Prevention Inspector Program. In partnership with Vernon’s business community, the Department has replaced all single-wall tanks with environmentally friendly double-wall tank systems. Operating permits are issued after tank systems have been installed and tested with appropriate leak detection equipment.
Aboveground Storage Tanks	In 2008 the Vernon Health Department was given authority to implement, enforce and administer the Aboveground Petroleum Storage Act (APSA) within the city. This act requires owners and operators of facilities that store petroleum products aboveground in volumes greater than 1,320 gallons to complete a Spill Prevention Countermeasure Control (SPCC) plan and maintain the document onsite. The Vernon Health Department must approve the SPCC plan, which lays out how a facility plans to address a petroleum product release. The Department confirms compliance with the APSA during Certified Unified Program hazardous material inspections.
Animal Control	The Southeast Area Animal Control Authority (SEAACA) is the primary agency responsible for animal control in the City of Vernon. SEAACA responds to reports of stray or injured animals through its contract with the City, which is administered by the Vernon Health Department. The Department supplements SEAACA animal control activities by licensing dogs, investigating reports of animal bites and imposing quarantines when appropriate. The Department also administers a free live trap loan program to assist businesses contain stray animals.
Cross Connection Control	The Cross Connection Control Program prevents the contamination of the water supply by industrial fluids. The Department inspects water piping systems and permits. It also requires the installation and annual testing of backflow prevention devices at locations where there is potential for industrial fluids to contaminate potable water supply lines.
Food Safety Program	Food safety inspections are conducted by Department staff to ensure that foods are prepared, stored and transported in a safe manner; free of adulteration; and labeled properly. The food operations that receive priority surveillance include food processors; retail establishments, such as restaurants; catering trucks; markets; warehouses; and wholesale food delivery vehicles. Health Department staff review a variety of documents, including plan-checks for new and existing facilities, Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point plans, food-export Free Sale letters and water potability letters.
Garment Manufacturing	The garment manufacturing program was initiated in 1991 to monitor the operation and maintenance of establishments that cut, sew or process apparel-related items and accessories. The program enforces general occupational health and sanitation standards in these establishments.
Solid Waste Management	The Vernon Health Department is the local enforcement agency for solid waste management in the city with the responsibility of permitting and inspecting solid waste facilities and vehicles. Department staff monitor solid waste generation, diversion and disposal to help the City comply with State-mandated waste reduction goals. The Department also provides assistance to businesses interested in recycling or reducing waste.
Storm Water Control	The Vernon Environmental Health Department works with the Community Services Department to prevent pollution of the storm drain system, which leads directly to the Los Angeles River and eventually to local beaches. Storm water control is often addressed as part of hazardous materials inspections and can include providing educational materials for businesses.
Vector Control	The Department conducts frequent inspections and issues notices of violation to control the city’s population of vectors, which are organisms involved in the spread of diseases. The Department performs rodent surveys to identify vector activity, and applies pesticides to control vector populations.
Water Quality	The Department helps to maintain the quality of Vernon's drinking water by inspecting water well installations and monitoring general water quality. The city takes routine water samples at various locations within its limits and submits them to a water quality laboratory for analysis. Water supplies for the city come from different sources including municipal wells, private wells and surface water provided by the Metropolitan Water District.

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