Modoc County has established a Disaster Livestock Ag Pass Program to facilitate livestock and human safety before, during, and after wildfire and other emergencies. This program is in conjunction with the Modoc County Sheriff’s Office and OES, UC Cooperative Extension Modoc County (UCCE) and the Modoc County Agricultural Department. This program is also in collaboration with CAL FIRE Lassen-Modoc Unit, California Highway Patrol – Alturas Unit, United States Forest Service - Modoc National Forest and Bureau of Land Management -Applegate Field Office.
Due to the scale of operations and the fact that many ranches operate on a variety of leased and owned land that may or may not be contiguous, evacuating livestock from commercial ranching operations may not be possible in the event of a major incident. Sheltering-in-place may be the best and safest alternative. Safe access by trained and qualified ranch personnel is critical to livestock welfare, firefighter safety, and public safety. This project adapts elements from programs developed in other California Counties.
This program, through the issuance of a Modoc County Ag Pass, may permit commercial livestock operators to gain entrance into evacuation zones, or other restricted areas, to provide feed, water, medical treatment, and other care to commercial livestock.
On pages 2 – 4, you will find an overview of the program, including specific qualifications for the Modoc County Ag Pass, registration information, and training requirements.
You must complete a pass application form and registration before attending a training session.
Register today at: http://ucanr.edu/modocagpass
At this time, the Modoc County Ag Pass will be required for livestock located in Modoc County. If you have obtained an Ag Pass in another county, please fill out the registration form for your livestock located in Modoc County and provide proof of training for the Modoc Ag Pass.
The registration and training for the pass is being managed by UCCE. The passes will be administered and approved through the Modoc County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office. If you have any questions, please contact:
Laura Snell (lksnell@ucanr.edu) Jolene Moxon jolenemoxon@co.modoc.ca.us
UC Cooperative Extension Modoc County Ag Dept
(530) 233-6400 (530) 233-6401
Modoc Ag Pass
Program Overview
Updated: May 2022
Qualified Commercial Livestock Operator: For the purposes of this program, a commercial livestock operator is defined as an owner of livestock consisting of 50 head of livestock (including in utero, e.g., 25 bred cows), or 5 beehives or more that reside in Modoc County for at least a portion of the year, or a person who, through an agreement with that owner of livestock, has authority and is responsible to oversee the care and well-being of the owner’s livestock. “Commercial Livestock” means the livestock are raised as part of a business.
Application for Registration: To become enrolled in the program, a Commercial Livestock Operator must provide contact information, APNs and/or physical addresses of grazing sites, general season of use, livestock description and count, and other information by completing the online form at http://ucanr.edu/modocagpass. If you need assistance completing the online registration, contact Laura Snell at 530-233-6400 or lksnell@ucanr.edu.
Mandatory Training: To become enrolled in the program, a Commercial Livestock Operator must complete an initial minimum 4-hour training. To maintain a valid pass, a Commercial Livestock Operator must complete a 1-hour refresher training annually.
Applicable trainings may include:
Incident Safety Awareness for Hire Vendors (Operator’s Training)
Basic 32 or FFT1 Training
ICS-100 + S-190
RT-130
Volunteer Fire Fighter Certification
UC Cooperative Extension Ag Pass Training
Other (provide documentation)
2022 Ag Pass Training: Initial required trainings are scheduled for Spring/Summer 2022. At least one training event will be held in Alturas and Tulelake, in person. You will receive additional information closer to the event, following registration review. If you have received training in another county, presentation of your Livestock Ag Pass from that county will satisfy your training requirement.
Annual Renewal, Reporting, and Training: Each year, a Commercial Livestock Operator will be required to update/confirm registration information and complete a questionnaire on utilization of the pass. Each year, a Commercial Livestock Operator will also be required to participate in a minimum 1-hour continuing education class prior to pass renewal.
Livestock Ag Pass: Upon submission to UCCE of a completed application and verification of training, the Modoc County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office will issue a Modoc Ag Pass valid for the current calendar year. This Pass must be presented to law enforcement, fire personnel, or other emergency personnel at a point of entry in order to gain entrance to an evacuation zone, or other restricted area, caused by a natural disaster or other emergency for the purpose of providing feed, water, medical treatment, and other care to commercial livestock, subject to the discretion of the emergency personnel.
Conditional Access: Decisions for access can rapidly change during a fire or other natural disaster and will be dependent on safety conditions at the time and upon approval of emergency personnel. Livestock care shall only be provided during daylight hours, and all persons must immediately depart the restricted area by the same route as entry. An escort may be required in any instance and all restricted entry will be dependent on approval of onsite emergency personnel. During initial evacuation phases, do not expect to gain access to restricted areas by presenting/using the Modoc Ag Pass, as during such time all efforts involve the safe removal of people. Once the situation has stabilized, which may take over 24 hours or even days, the Modoc Ag Pass will be considered an option by law enforcement, fire personnel, or other emergency personnel. Modoc County Agricultural Department will coordinate with the incident command system to make sure emergencies agencies have the Modoc Ag Pass list.
Prior Notification: If your livestock are located in an evacuation zone, you will need to notify your interest in using the Modoc Ag Pass to gain entrance by contacting the Sheriff’s Office. There will be a coordinated effort to consolidate communication between the Sheriff’s Office, incident command, CalFire and/or other emergency personnel; once access has been approved by law enforcement or other emergency personnel, the Modoc Ag Pass holder will be notified. If you have Modoc Ag Pass specific questions please contact the Modoc Agricultural Department or UCCE-Modoc. DO NOT GO TO A ROAD BLOCK AND ATTEMPT TO USE THE COMMERICAL MODOC AG PASS WITHOUT PRIOR NOTIFICATION.
Removal of Livestock: If you intend to remove livestock from the evacuation zone (e.g. for veterinary care or to an alternate location), please provide prior notification to UCCE, County Brand Inspector or the County Agriculture Department. The intent of this term is to prevent theft of livestock during an emergency. Removing livestock will generally be avoided and will be permitted only if it does not interfere with fire suppression efforts or personnel.
Signage: Modoc Ag Pass holders may be required to place a sign at the entrance to the property where commercial livestock are located in an effort to provide notification to emergency personnel and animal control. The sign will state the animals are under the care of “Ag Pass Holder.” If this is necessary, Modoc Ag Pass holders will be asked to meet a representative from Modoc OES to obtain the sign. Vehicles driven by Modoc Ag Pass holders may be marked with their Modoc Ag Pass number for identification.
Modoc Ag Pass Database: The Modoc Ag Pass registration database will be maintained and updated by the Modoc County Agricultural Department. Data will be available to key agencies, including, but not limited to, Cal-Fire, California Highway Patrol, County Offices of Emergency Services and County Sheriff’s Offices, United States Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management. The Modoc Ag Pass database may also be used for other emergency issues, e.g. livestock out on the road, etc.
During an emergency, law enforcement or other emergency personnel at the point of entry to an evacuation zone will be provided a current list of valid Modoc Ag Pass Holders, permit numbers, and contact information along with a sample valid pass, by the County Agricultural Department.
Violations of Pass: The utilization of the Modoc Ag Pass is for the purpose of providing feed, water, medical treatment, and other care to commercial livestock within the evacuation zone or other restricted area. If a pass holder is found acting outside of the scope of this purpose, then the Modoc Ag Pass may be permanently revoked.
Insurance and Risk: Access in an area closed to the public during a disaster may affect the coverage of your property liability insurance, vehicle or equipment insurance, and worker’s compensation coverage. As you re-enter your property be aware that hazardous conditions may still exist. Program administrators, collaborators, and trainers shall not be liable for injury or death of someone participating in activities resulting from the inherent risk of re-entering damage areas to feed, water, and medically treat livestock.
The Commercial Livestock Operator submitting an application for registration, hereinafter referred to as the “Applicant/Permittee” or “A/P,” understands that he or she is requesting access to restricted areas subject to official road closure and not otherwise accessible to the public. In so requesting access, A/P acknowledges the inherent risks and hazards caused by recent catastrophic fires, including the existence of declared local health emergency, which extend to the restricted areas. A/P shall be solely responsible for the safety of those individuals covered by any Modoc Ag Pass/permit issued by the County of Modoc, and shall be solely responsible for any damage to any equipment used by A/P during such requested access. A/P shall hold harmless the County of Modoc and its officers, agents, employees, volunteers, or representatives from and against any and all liability, claims, actions, proceedings, losses, injuries, damages, or expenses of every name, kind, and description, including litigation costs and reasonable attorney's fees incurred in connection therewith, brought for or on account of personal injury (including death) or damage to equipment or property arising from A/Ps access under any issued Modoc Ag Pass/ permit. Further, A/P shall be solely responsible and shall hold harmless the County of Modoc from any and all acts or omissions of A/P or its officers, agents, employees, volunteers, contractors, and subcontractors in accessing the location listed in the issued Modoc Ag Pass. A/P further understands that any pass/permit issued covers access only to the location identified in the issued Modoc Ag Pass and the direct access route to/from said location; stopping along access routes is strictly prohibited. A/P and its officers, agents, employees, volunteers or representatives shall not wander, loiter, or otherwise meander from the location listed in the issued Modoc Ag Pass, and shall be subject to immediate arrest for trespass into restricted areas and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Annual Report: An annual report on the program will be completed at the end of each calendar year to inform need of program modifications and utilization. The report will be provided to partners, stakeholders, and the Modoc County Board of Supervisors.
Modifications: This is a new program and will be reviewed annually. To improve the program, modifications may be made annually and during the course of the year – in which case, any changes will be provided to the annual Modoc Ag Pass holder via email.
Modoc Ag Pass Program
Liability Disclosure
The Owner/Commercial Livestock Operator, hereinafter referred to as the “Applicant/Permittee” or “A/P” understands that he or she is requesting access to restricted areas subject to official road closure and not otherwise accessible to the public. In so requesting access, A/P acknowledges the inherent risks and hazards caused by recent catastrophic fires, including the existence of a declared local health emergency, which extend to the restricted areas. A/P shall be solely responsible for the safety of those individuals covered by any pass/permit issued by the County of [Modoc], and shall be solely responsible for any damage to any equipment used by A/P during such requested access. A/P shall hold harmless the County of [Modoc] and its officers, agents, employees, volunteers, or representatives from and against any and all liability, claims, actions, proceedings, losses, injuries, damages, or expenses of every name, kind, and description, including litigation costs and reasonable attorney's fees incurred in connection therewith, brought for or on account of personal injury (including death) or damage to equipment or property arising from A/Ps access under this pass/permit. Further, A/P shall be solely responsible and shall hold harmless the County of [Modoc] from any and all acts or omissions of A/P or its officers, agents, employees, volunteers, contractors, and subcontractors in accessing the above listed location. A/P further understands that any pass/permit issued covers access only to the location identified above and the direct access route to/from said location; stopping along access routes are strictly prohibited. A/P and its officers, agents, employees, volunteers, or representatives shall not wander, loiter, or otherwise meander from the above listed location, and shall be subject to immediate arrest for trespass into restricted areas and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Acknowledged by:
________________________________________________________
(signature)
___________________________________ ________________
(printed name) (date)
Updated May 2022
Adapted from Butte and PNY County UCCE