Environmental Health FAQ

We perform a wide variety of public health services. Our major program areas involve regulating and permitting retail food facilities, hazardous materials facilities, water well construction, substandard rental housing (in unincorporated county areas), public swimming pools, and solid waste sites. We respond to complaints from the public about unsanitary or unhealthful public health conditions, or complaints about such conditions at any facility regulated by us, such as restaurants, markets, swimming pools, etc. For a complete listing of our programs and further information, please visit our homepage: Environmental Health Division.

We respond to a variety of complaints from the public about unsanitary or unhealthful public health conditions, foodborne illnesses, animal bites, illegal solid waste dumping, and hazardous wastes or hazardous materials spills. We also respond to complaints about unsanitary or unhealthful conditions at any facility regulated by us, such as restaurants, markets, public swimming pools, hazardous materials facilities, solid waste sites, etc.

Please note that we may refer you to another agency if your complaint is outside of our jurisdiction. In some cases, for example housing, labor camps, and water wells, the incorporated cities in the county (City of Fresno, City of Selma, etc.) have jurisdiction and the responsibility to enforce applicable laws and regulations.

All complaints received by us are kept strictly confidential. When you file a complaint, we will ask you for personal information such as your name, address, and telephone number. This information is for our use only and is not provided to the party you are complaining about. (We must, of course, supply our records if they are subpoenaed by a court.) We use this information to contact you for additional information or to answer questions we might have, and to keep you informed of our investigation and results.

You can telephone us, write us, fax us, email us, or come to our office in person. Please refer to the top of this page for specific contact information. If you send us a complaint, please include your name, address, telephone number, and the location and nature of the complaint.

The time that it takes to resolve a complaint depends on the nature of the complaint. Most complaints are resolved within a relatively short period of time, but due to the many different factors that may be involved in any particular complaint, there is no set time period. Our policy is to investigate complaints within two business days. We investigate foodborne illness complaints on the next business day.

You need to contact our office at (559) 600-3357. We have staff available during the day, from 8:00 am to 12:00 noon, and 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm, to help answer your questions.

You can view our current fees here: Fee Schedule(PDF, 183KB).

Any animal bite that breaks the skin should be reported to us. Please go to our Rabies and Animal Control page for more information.

Yes.

You should first discuss anything about the results that you do not understand with the laboratory that analyzed the water sample(s) and provided the results to you. (If you have been working with us on your well and our Public Health Laboratory analyzed your water samples, you should contact us directly.) If you still have questions, you can call us at (559) 600-3357 and ask to speak with the Water Specialist of the Day.

We issue well construction permits to licensed well drillers for the construction of new water wells, including private domestic wells, agricultural wells, and public wells, and for the reconstruction (e.g. deepening) of existing water wells. We do not routinely inspect existing water wells, nor is any permit to operate a private water well required. There are requirements for public water wells, but these are regulated as part of a public water system.

Please note that we only issue water well construction permits for wells located in the unincorporated areas of the county. Most incorporated cities (City of Fresno, City of Selma, etc.) do not allow private water wells within their jurisdiction. If you live in one of the cities and want to construct a water well, you will need to contact the city regarding their requirements.

We have a handout available on our website: Well Disinfection Procedures(PDF, 23KB)

We do not issue permits to drain swimming pools, however, some of the incorporated cities (City of Fresno, City of Selma, etc.) may have requirements. If you live in one of the cities and want to drain a swimming pool, you should contact the city regarding their requirements.

We inspect and permit Public Swimming Pools, which include apartments, hotels, schools, organized camps, etc. We do not inspect or permit "private pools maintained by an individual for the use of family and friends..." However, we do respond to complaints regarding unmaintained, "green" pools, because of the public health and safety hazard which may exist.

Reduce by purchasing only the amount you need.

Reuse the products by donating unused portions to friends or community organizations.

Recycle leftover household hazardous products that are recyclable and dispose of the others safely by participating in the Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off Event.

Call the County of Fresno, Department of Public Works and Planning, Resources Division at (559) 600-4249 for the date of the next HHW Drop-off Event.

Contact Environmental Health at (559) 600-3271 for additional information or the County of Fresno, Department of Public Works and Planning, Resources Division at (559) 600-4249 or go to their Household Hazardous Waste collection programs.

Many products found in your home are potentially hazardous substances. Because of their chemical nature, they can poison, corrode, explode, or ignite easily when handled improperly. When discarded, they are considered household hazardous waste. Since they may threaten human health or the environment when inappropriately disposed of, household hazardous wastes are not exempt from California hazardous waste laws. It is illegal to dispose of household hazardous waste in the trash, down storm drains, or onto the ground.

Household hazardous wastes are considered hazardous because they fit into one or more of the following categories:

• Toxic: Poisonous or lethal when ingested, touched, or inhaled-even in small quantities.
• Flammable: Ignites easily.
• Corrosive: Eats away materials and living tissue by chemical action.
• Reactive: Creates an explosion or produces deadly vapors (e.g., bleach mixed with ammonia-based cleaners).

Before buying a product, read the label. Signal words can serve as a guide to the purchases you make. With pesticides, Danger means highly toxic, Warning means moderately toxic, and Caution means slightly toxic. With household products, Poison means highly toxic, Danger means extremely flammable or corrosive or highly toxic, Warning or Caution means less toxic.

Never leave household hazardous products or wastes within reach of children or pets. When possible, buy products with less harmful ingredients (read the labels). When using a product, read and follow the label directions, never mix it with other products, and use it up entirely. Do not dispose of household hazardous wastes in the trash, on the ground, or in storm or sewer drains. Do not remove product labels, and do not remove products from their original containers.

In the event of a hazardous material release, or a threatened release, immediately notify the appropriate authorities. This is to be done as soon as possible without delaying the immediate control of the release or threatened release, or delaying emergency medical procedures.

Make the following notifications:

• First call 9-1-1 Local Emergency Response (e.g., Police, fire, and medical).
• Then call Environmental Health at (559) 600-3271 during business hours, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. After business hours or on weekends use the Sheriff's Department Dispatch number (559) 600-3111 to contact Environmental Health.
• Then call the Governor's Office of Emergency Services (OES) Warning Center at (800) 852-7550.

Notification shall include the following information:

• Identity of the caller (including a phone number for more information),
• Location, date, time and duration of the spill or release,
• Substance and quantity involved,
• Chemical name (if known, it should be reported if the chemical is extremely hazardous),
• Proper precautions to take,
• Known or anticipated health risks,
• Medium or media (soil, water or air) impacted by the release, and
• Description of what happened.

Immediate reporting IS NOT required if there is a reasonable belief that the release poses no significant present or potential hazard to human health and safety, property, or the environment. Be extremely cautious about reaching this conclusion in the absence of consultation with the proper authorities. If you need assistance in evaluating the significance of a release, you may contact a member of the Fresno County Emergency Response Team at (559) 600-3271 during regular office hours or (559) 600-3111 after office hours.

Small Spills

In the event of a small spill, call Environmental Health at (559) 600-3271 during business hours, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. After working hours or on weekends use the Sheriff's Department Dispatch number (559) 600-3111 to contact Environmental Health.

All records related to regulated facilities, except for confidential documents or complaint investigations, may now be found on the Environmental Health Document Portal: http://www.fresnohealthinspections.org/

Individuals intending to view Environmental Health records may follow these steps:

Step 1

Attempt using the Facility Name field and type the name or any portion of the name in the field. Tab out of the field and hit the “Submit” button to bring up a list of possible sites.

Or…

Attempt using the Address field and type the specific address (for example: 1221 Fulton Street should be 1221 Fulton; those with a directional address like 755 East Shaw Avenue should be 755 E Shaw). Tab out of the field and hit the “Submit” button to bring up that address.

Step 2

If you were unsuccessful using the method in Step 1, determine if a facility record exists by reviewing the Hazardous Materials (CUPA) and Solid Waste (LEA) Programs Resource List.

• CUPA Solid Waste Programs Resource List (PDF)(PDF, 24MB)
• CUPA Solid Waste Programs Resource List (Excel)(XLSX, 2MB)

The resource list includes facilities that:

• Handle or store hazardous materials; those subject to submitting a Hazardous Materials Business Plan (HMBP)
• Handle or store extremely hazardous materials; those subject to submitting a California Accidental Release Prevention plan (CalARP) and/or a Federal Risk Management Plan (RMP)
• Have Underground Storage Tanks
• Have Aboveground Storage Tanks
• Handle or generate hazardous waste
• Treat hazardous waste and are subject to Tiered Permitting
• Solid waste facilities (landfills, composting sites, transfer facilities, and materials recovery facilities)
• Waste tire generator facilities
• Miscellaneous Site Files [Sites within the County of Fresno where other agencies have supplied Environmental Health with information (e.g., U.S. EPA, Cal-EPA, and Fresno County Agencies)]

Those facilities that are not included in the Resource List include all other program areas of Environmental Health and may be found using the name of the facility or the facility address using step 1 above.  The Environmental Health Document Portal allows the user to search by the name, city and/or Zip Code.

Step 3

If you do not find the information that you are looking for by either the method in Step 1 or 2, please contact our office by e-mail at EnvironmentalHealth@fresnocountyca.gov or by telephone at (559) 600-3357.

The easiest way to dispose of waste tires is to have the store where you purchase new tires dispose of the old tires. The small amount of expense that you pay to the dealership for disposal is well worth the inconvenience and expense of having a registered waste tire hauler, waste tire facility or landfill accept the tires for disposal.

Contact Environmental Health at (559) 600-3271 for additional information. You may also contact the County of Fresno, Department of Public Works and Planning, Resources Division at (559) 600-4259 for a copy of Turning It Around, A Directory of Recyclers in Fresno County(PDF, 4MB). This directory has a listing of waste tire facilities.

Several types of batteries are used in our society, with disposal requirements varying for each kind. Because many of them contain harmful chemicals, they must be disposed of properly.

• Alkaline and heavy-duty (carbon-zinc) batteries are "dry-cells", and unfortunately cannot currently be recycled in this country.
• Rechargeable (nickel-cadmium, or Ni-Cad) batteries can be recycled. Cadmium is a toxic metal and recycling is a must.
• Computer batteries, generally for laptops, and cell phone batteries are usually nickel-metal hydride or lithium-ion types. Again, these batteries contain toxic metals, and it is important to recycle them.
• Button Cell batteries, the small round type, contain a large percentage of heavy metals as well, and are also important to recycle. Many shops that replace these batteries in watches, hearing aids, etc. will accept button cells for recycling. Be sure to ask them if they do so.
• Lead-acid batteries, primarily automotive batteries (but also those used in industrial equipment and alarms), must be recycled because of their toxic nature and the value of the contained lead. Over 95% of all auto batteries are recycled, generally by returning them to a battery retailer who is connected to the collection/recycling system.

Additionally, many local businesses accept batteries for recycling. Contact the County of Fresno, Department of Public Works and Planning, Resources Division at (559) 600-4259. This Battery Drop-Off Network Site directory(PDF, 342KB) has a listing of businesses that have battery-recycling services.

You may also dispose of batteries from a household by taking them to the next Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off Event. Call the County of Fresno, Department of Public Works and Planning, Resources Division at (559) 600-4259 for the date of the next HHW Drop-off Event.

Keep all people and pets away from the spill area. To minimize the amount of mercury that turns into vapor, turn off any heaters and ventilate the area by opening windows and doors. Do not handle the mercury.

Even the smallest amount of mercury needs to be treated as a serious issue, especially if the area where the spill occurred is open to the public and children. For information regarding mercury spills or cleanup, call Environmental Health at (559) 600-3271 or after hours contact the Sheriff's Department Dispatch number at (559) 600-3111.

Changes in the California Health and Safety Code mean that as of September 1, 2008, home-generated sharps waste can no longer be thrown in the trash or recycling containers and requires that all sharps be transported to a collection center in an approved sharps container. Home-generated sharps waste is defined as disposable hypodermic needles, pen needles, intravenous needles, syringes, lancets, and other devices that are used to penetrate the skin for the delivery of medications or a blood test and are derived from a household, including a multifamily residence.

The law requires home-generated sharps waste to be transported only in a sharps or other approved containers and forbids the disposal of sharps into containers used for the collection of solid waste (i.e. household trash), construction and demolition debris, green waste, or other recyclable materials.

The County of Fresno in cooperation with the fifteen incorporated cities in Fresno County has established a Household Hazardous Waste program. Home-generated sharps waste may be taken for proper disposal to a Household Hazardous Waste collection facility. For information on how to participate in the next Household Hazardous Waste drop-off event, call the County of Fresno, Department of Public Works and Planning, Resources Division at (559) 600-4259. This Sharps Drop-Off Network directory(PDF, 264KB) has a listing of businesses that have battery-recycling services.

This procedure is approved for individual household generated medical waste only.

Medical waste generated by any other source is covered by the Medical Waste Management Act. Please contact the State of California, Department of Health Services, Medical Waste Management Program at (916) 449-5671 for further information.

For Additional Information on this Subject:

Household Hazardous Waste, Sharps Waste - CalRecycle

"Sharps containers" may be purchased at pharmacies and drug stores. In addition, you may drop them at the Sharps Drop-Off Network Sites mentioned above in a non-pierceable plastic container such as laundry soap or hair shampoo bottles.