THE ALQUIST PRIOLO EARTHQUAKE FAULT ACT AS A MODEL FOR OTHER HAZARD LOSS REDUCTION ACTIONS

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THE ALQUIST PRIOLO EARTHQUAKE FAULT ACT AS A
MODEL FOR OTHER HAZARD LOSS REDUCTION ACTIONS

• James F. Davis, former CA State Geologist,
• Earl W. Hart, former Manager of AP Zoning
  Program,
• Richard J. McCarthy, Director CA Seismic Safety
  Commission,
• John G. Parrish, CA State Geologist

GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA ANNUAL MEETING
Denver, CO October 30, 2007
Session T80
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PURPOSE OF PAPER

• To Generically Outline Components Of An Effective
  Land-Use Zoning Program To Reduce Losses From
  Geologic Hazards As A Model For Other Programs

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OUTLINE OF PRESENTATION

1. COMPONENTS OF SUCCESSFUL LAND-USE ZONING PROGRAM

• Clearly Defined Objective Of Zoning Program
• Unambiguous Criteria For Defining Zones
• Geologic Investigations To Define Zones
• Responsible Party To Establish Zones
• Define Responsibilities Of All Other Parties In
  Administering Program
• Define System Of Accountabilities And Sanctions
  Necessary To Assure Compliance With Regulations

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LESSONS LEARNED DURING 35-YEAR SUCCESSFUL
ADMINISTRATION OF THE AP ZONING ACT

1. IDENTIFICATION OF OPPORTUNITIES THAT FAVOR
   ENACTMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF GEOLOGIC HAZARDS
   LAND-USE ZONING PROGRAMS

1. BENEFITS OF LAND-USE REGULATION OF GEOLOGIC
   HAZARDS AP ACT AS A MODEL

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SUCCESSFUL ZONING COMPONENT 1CLEARLY DEFINED
OBJECTIVE OF GEOLOGIC HAZARD ZONING PROGRAM

• The Alquist Priolo Earthquake Fault Zone Program
  Is Established To Avoid Placing Structures For
  Human Occupancy On Traces Of Active Surface
  Faults Where Ground Rupture Can Cause Property
  Losses And Casualties
• The Placement Of Structures Off Of Active Faults
  Is The Only Practical Mitigation Measure

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SUCCESSFUL ZONING COMPONENT 2 UNAMBIGUOUS
CRITERIA FOR DEFINING GEOLOGIC HAZARD ZONES

• AP Active Fault Zones Boundaries Are
• Delineated to Have Outer Boundaries 500 Feet
  from Identified Trace of Active Fault with
  Evidence of Displacement During Last ll,000 Years
• Issued on 124,000 Scale USGS Topographic Maps
  with Turning Points in Zone Boundaries at
  Locatable Features on Map

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SUCCESSFUL ZONING COMPONENT 3GEOLOGIC
INVESTIGATIONS TO DEFINE ZONES

• Use Of Data From Previous Investigations
  Including Surface And Subsurface Examinations
• Use Of Signature Characteristics Of Active Faults
  From Aerial Photography And Other Remote Methods
• Detailed On Ground Geologic Mapping

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SUCCESSFUL ZONING COMPONENT 4RESPONSIBLE PARTY
TO ESTABLISH ZONES

• AP Zoning Act Designates The California State
  Geologist And The California State Geological
  Survey To Prepare AP Zone Maps
• The Zones Are Approved Officially For Land-Use
  Regulation By The Gubernatorially Appointed
  California Mining And Geology Board Which Advises
  The State Geologist

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INDEX TO AP EARTHQUAKE FAULT ZONE MAPS (1974
2007)
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OFFICIAL EARTHQUAKE FAULT ZONE MAP
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SUCCESSFUL ZONING COMPONENT 5DEFINE
RESPONSIBLITIES OF ALL OTHER PARTIES IN
ADMINSTERING ZONING PROGRAM

• CA State Geologist CGS Staff Issue Maps
• CA Mining And Geology Board Hold Public Hearings
  On Maps And Adopt Them Officially For Regulation

Under The AP Zoning Act All Geological
Evaluations Must Be Done By CA Licensed Or
Certified Geologists
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COMPONENT 5 Continued

• Before Local Governments Can Consider
  Developments (gt4 Units) In AP Zones They Must
  Require Developers To Do Onsite Evaluation Of The
  Hazards Present
• Developers Submit Investigations To Local
  Governments Showing Proposed Structures Away From
  Hazard
• Local Governments Review The Development
  Proposals And Elected Governing Body Makes
  Decisions on Land Use
• An Appeals Process Exists
• Realtors Owners Must Disclose To Prospective
  Buyers That Their Structures Are Within AP Zones
• Local Governments Must File All On Site Geologic
  Reports With CA State Geologist

Under The AP Zoning Act All Geological
Evaluations Must Be Done By CA Licensed Or
Certified Geologists
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ALQUIST-PRIOLO ACT - RESPONSIBILITIES -

• Adopts Mandated Policies
• Receives Review Comments
• Provides Technical Advice

State Mining Geology Board

• Evaluates Faults
• Designates Earthquake Fault Zones
• Provides Advisory Services

State Geologist

• Requires Site Investigations
• Updates General Plans
• Reviews and Approves Projects
• Applies For Waivers

Cities Counties

• Determines Hazard at Site
• Avoids Hazard
• Discloses

Property Owners Developers
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ALQUIST-PRIOLO ACT
- RESPONSIBILITIES -
STATE GEOLOGIST - Zones -
MINING GEOLOGY BOARD - Policies Criteria -
CITIES and COUNTIES - Implementation -
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SUCCESSFUL ZONING COMPONENT 6ROBUST SYSTEM OF
PERFORMANCE ACCOUNTABILITIES AND SANCTIONS
All Geologists Involved in AP Are Subject to
License Loss and Financial Liability for
Misfeasance or Malpractice

• CA State Geologist CGS Staff
• CA Mining Geology Board Staff Licensing And
  Political Consequences

Geologist Involvement
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COMPONENT 6 Continued

• Geologic Consultants /Or Geologic Staff Of
  Developers And Local Governments
• Developers Loss Of License, Voiding Of Approvals,
  Financial Liability
• Elected Local Governing Boards, Political
  Consequences And Financial Liabilities
• Realtors Loss Of License And Financial
  Liabilities
• Owners, Voiding Of Sale And Financial Liabilities

Geologist Involvement
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LESSONS LEARNED DURING 35-YEAR SUCCESSFUL
ADMINISTRATION OF THE AP ZONING ACT

• Importance Of Internal Consistency In
  Establishing AP Zones No Successful Suits
  Brought Against CGS And CA Mining Geology Board
• Professional Licensing Of Geologists Assures
  Capable Objective Assessments in Private and
  Public Sectors

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LESSONS LEARNED Continued

• Required Communication Between CGS CA Mining
  Geology Board And Local Governments Has Many
  Collateral Benefits -- State Is Trusted Source
  Of Other Geologic Information, Local Awareness Of
  Geologic Hazards Within Their Jurisdictions
• State Agency Awareness Of The Necessary
  Components Of Successful Land-Use Regulation Of
  Geologic Hazards
• Geologic Community Aware Of How To Use Future
  Opportunities To Enable Passage Of Additional
  Future Land-Use Regulation Of Geologic Hazards

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IDENTIFICATION OF OPPORTUNITIES THAT FAVOR
ENACTMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF GEOLOGIC HAZARDS
LAND-USE ZONING PROGRAMS

• Capability Of Identifying Circumstances That
  Create Key Opportunities For Successful
  Legislation

These Are Usually Based On Briefly Heightened
Public Awareness Of Hazard That Justifies The
Establishment Of Land-Use Regulation Program
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OPPORTUNITIES for ENACTMENT Continued

• Pre-opportunity Development Of Consensus Within
  The Geologic Community Regarding Approach,
  Content And Value Of Contemplated Land-Use
  Regulation
• Pre-opportunity Identification Of Key Legislative
  Sponsor(s) Through Dialog With The Geologic
  Community In Advance Of Opportunities
• Plan To Mobilize Geologic Community To Action
  When Opportunities Arise
• Frequent High Quality Communications By The
  Geologic Community to the Public and Decision
  Makers Before Public-Awareness Based
  Opportunities Develop

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BENEFITS OF LAND-USE REGULATION OF GEOLOGIC
HAZARDS AP ACT AS A MODEL

• Long Term Investment In Avoiding Losses Due To
  Surface Rupture
• Systematic Identification Of Recency Of Surface
  Faulting Throughout State Expands Overall
  Knowledge Of Earthquake Vulnerability (Earthquake
  Probabilities Estimates, Size Of Potential
  Events, Placement Design of Lifelines, and
  Input to Applied Academic Investigations)

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4. BENEFITS Continued

• Successful Administration Of AP Act Enable
  Passage Of Other Legislation CA Seismic Hazards
  Zoning Act
• Greater Public And Local Government Awareness Of
  Geologic Hazards And Their Consequences
• Greater Awareness Of Geologic Hazards Within The
  Realtor And Developers Communities

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CONCLUSIONS

• The Outlined Components Of The AP Act Are
  Essential To Successful Administration Of Any
  Effective Program Of Land-Use Regulation Of
  Geologic Hazards
• State-wide Programs Are Desirable
• Establishment Of Hazard Zone Maps By State
  Geological Survey Is Desirable
• Coordination Of Activities With A Central
  Land-Use State Planning Agency (If One Exists) Is
  Desirable
• Inclusion Of Local Government Land-Use Decision
  Makers And Regulators Participation In The Zoning
  Process Is Essential
• Successful Enactment Of Hazard Land-Use
  Regulation Requires Consensus Among All Of The
  Stake Holders In The Geologic Professional
  Community Prior To Passage

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DAMAGE TO RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURE 1992 Mw 7.3
LANDERS EARTHQUAKE
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