DS 104 task force meeting Oct. 30, 2012

7/29/2019 DS 104 task force meeting Oct. 30, 2012

1/4

Los Angeles Department of Water and Power

DS 104 Task Force Meeting

Meeting Summary

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Palisades Lutheran Church

15905 Sunset Boulevard

Los Angeles, CA 90272

Task Force Members:

Present:

Christine Abraham

Jeff Beall

Joyce Brunelle

Kelly Comras

Gil Dembo

Christy Dennis

Peter Duke

Paul GlasgallAmy Kalp

Joyce Wong Kup

Jim Rea

Danielle Samulon

Haldis Toppel

Hank Wright

Marc Zussman

Absent:

None

Project Team:

Mike Mercado (Environmental Project Manager, LADWP)

Chuck Holloway (Manger of Environmental Assessment, LADWP)

Eric Hartman (Power System Engineering Division, Manager of Major Projects, LADWP)

James Chestnut (Engineering Geologist Associate, Geology and Soils Group, Power System

Engineering Division, LADWP)

Victoria Cross (Government and Neighborhood Relations Liaison, LADWP)

Norman Kulla (Northern District Director and Senior Counsel, Office of Councilman Bill

Rosendahl)

Bill Piazza (Environmental Assessment Coordinator, LAUSD)

Jeannie Kamm (Deputy of School & Community Affairs, LAUSD)

Nancy Graham (Task Force Facilitator, AECOM)Ana Nolan (Community Outreach Specialist, AECOM)

Other attendees:

Andrew DeBlock (Senior Field Representative, Assemblymember Betsy Butler, 53rd

District)


2/4

Proceedings:

1. Opening discussion

The suggestion of a new site (at the foot of Bienveneda canyon) was considered for inclusion, but was

discarded after the site was discussed in further detail, siting that it is dangerous and replete with

liability issues. Norman Kulla, with Councilman Bill Rosendahls office, informed the group that the

location was a former haul site with many geological issues. The City of Los Angeles, Bureau of

Sanitation, completed a sewer project on the site and it has been the subject of disputes between the

owner and the surrounding property owners ever since. The location of many slope failures, the area is

also home to a riparian habitat that flows continuously down the center of the site. It has been for sale

for many years.

Due to the recent public consternation about the task force and site selection, it was suggested that

LADWP become more responsive to the community, however, it was mentioned that LADWP has been

consistently posting Task Force meeting summaries and presentations to the dedicated DS 104 website.

It was suggested that the LADWP work with the local press because it appears that people are not

reading the information posted to the website. This was followed by a discussion about the Task Forceand the process. The Task Force was reminded that each member was selected to incorporate a variety

of backgrounds representing a true cross-section of Pacific Palisades community. LADWP is giving the

group as much information as they have on each site so that the Task Force has the ability to make the

most informed decision. Sites that are ultimately placed in the top tier (no tiering has taken place to

date) will require further research and investigation into potential geological and environmental issues,

which will take months. If LADWP finds serious issues with a site, it will need to be removed as an

option.

It was agreed that, once sites are placed into tiers, all three tiers will be presented at the community

meeting so that the public may see all of the sites that have been examined by the Task Force. The goal

is to focus on the 3-4 sites which will ultimately fall into Tier 1 as it is harder to have a focused meeting

around 15-16 sites. The purpose of the workshop is to hear from the community about what the Task

Force has been working on and create a venue to better understand how people feel about the choices

that are on the table. LADWP is looking for a site agreed upon by their staff and the community. Some

Task Force members added that if, in the end, the community does not agree on any of the 3-4 sites that

the Task Force has chosen then their work has been for naught. The Department of Water and Power

Board of Commissioners will make the final site decision and will take into consideration the dedicated

effort by the Task Force and LADWP staff.

It is the intention of LADWP staff to begin the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) process with

3-4 possible sites so that they can begin analyzing the engineering of those sites. The CEQA process also

has a public outreach component which will provide the community with more opportunities to give

input.

Given recent weather events on the East Coast, questions were raised about safety, specifically

explosions and fires, within distributing stations. Eric Hartman stated that, to his knowledge, LADWP

has never experienced an explosion in a sub-station. There have been small fires on occasion. A cable in

DS 29 once over-heated and smoke was emitted, however, there was not a resulting fire.


3/4

2. Geologic Overview of the Pacific Palisades Area by Jim Chestnut

The presentation given was in order to provide basic concepts that would be helpful for Task Force

members to apply to the site selection process. Jim reviewed geologic conditions which should be

considered. These include existing conditions (such as landslides, faulting, weak bedding, and steep

slopes) and potential conditions (such as landslides from seismic shaking, liquefaction, and faulting). Jim

also talked about geologic materials and reviewed a seismic hazard map of the area. He focused on the

Alquist-Priolo active fault map and reviewed construction mitigation techniques for various conditions.

Questions were raised about the construction standards for distributing stations and the effect of

earthquakes on these facilities. Distributing stations are built to meet LADWP standards, as well as state

building and construction standards. LADWP considers distributing stations essential facilities (in the

same category as schools and hospitals), and therefore require the highest safety standards. Vendors for

the internal equipment are required to conduct shake-table tests to confirm that the equipment can

tolerate a maximum amount of shaking. Distributing stations are built to sustain an approximate 7.8

magnitude earthquake and LADWP has certain engineering mitigation measures that they can build in

order to mitigate geological issues. For reference, no fire occurred at Rinaldi Switching Station resulting

from the Northridge earthquake. This station was at the epicenter of the 1994 earthquake.

Within the information distributed at the last Task Force meeting (October 17, 2012), the Alquist-Priolofault line was mentioned about only one site, Site 4. This is due to the fact that there has been much

more investigation completed on Site 4 by potential developers, and the information that is presented in

these meetings is based upon what is available by records searches. Therefore, more information exists

about this site than about the other sites (3, 9, and 10) that were discussed in detail at the prior

meeting. That said, the current reports for Site 4 are vague, stating only a potential for a fault line, and

further geologic analysis would have to be completed by LADWP to make a conclusive determination.

There were questions raised regarding the future tiering system and concern that proper geology

reports could not be performed on every site. LADWP is giving the Task Force all of the information it

can on each site and will do everything possible, within the timeframe of the Task Force, to determine

issues related to sites. If LADWP says that there are potential challenges to a site, then the group shouldfactor that into the tiering process. This includes issues such as the past denials from California State

Parks when LADWP has attempted to purchase Site 9B.

Marc Zussman gave the group information about Site 4, obtained after he called the broker for more

information. A discussion ensued about Task Force members reaching out to brokers or property

owners. Several Task Force members believe that it is their responsibility to do their homework and

obtain as much information about the sites as possible. Gil Denbo asked LADWP staff how they felt

about Task Force members reaching out to property owners on behalf of the Department and whether

or not this could contaminate future negotiations. Eric Hartman stated that it was fine for Task Force

members to walk sites and get information for themselves, but not on behalf of LADWP. The

Department has real estate specialists that LADWP staff must coordinate with when they want more

information on a particular property. Eric is happy to have the Departments Real Estate Specialists

make any inquiries on behalf of the Task Force or a Task Force member. The group concluded that

inquiries should be made by task force members, only when acting as an individual. No reference or

connection to LADWP activities should be made.

3. Electromagnetic Field (EMF) presentation by Chuck Holloway

Chuck Holloway presented basic information about EMF including sources, terms and how EMF relates

to distributing stations. Chuck also talked about studies that have been conducted over the years

analyzing potential correlations between long-term EMF exposure and disease, explaining that there are


4/4

no conclusive determinations. Since the early 1990s, policies have been put in place and measures have

been take and to reduce EMF exposure. These measures include no- and low-cost measures, continued

research, education programs, stakeholder involvements, and field management policy guidelines.

Bill Piazza added that LAUSD has its own policies on EMF and radio fields and stated that LADWP has

been very good when it comes to wire-placement around schools. Although there are many activists

that talk about acceptable levels of EMF and have specific numbers, LAUSD does not. The District has

conducted their own studies and benchmark their acceptable levels of exposure on typical background

and ambient EMF levels found within a wired classroom or other rooms with typical electrical usages.

It was asked whether or not LAUSD has a policy on locating schools next to facilities such as distributing

stations. Bill explained that it depends on the voltage rating and size of the lines. Setback policies are

triggered when a nearby facility measures 50 kV or more. DS 104 is a facility with a maximum of 34.5

kV, a voltage too low to trigger the enforcement of setbacks. However, LAUSD will be looking at

potential EMFs associated with the station, as well as the lines coming and going from the station, and

will solicit field strengths from LADWP.

Inquiries were made regarding the distance between DS 66 and the Brentwood School. Bill said that the

school is approximately 200-300 feet away from the station. The playground is estimated to be about

200 feet away. Others thought it was closer than that and it was suggested that the distance bemeasured. Bill confirmed that the substation was built prior to the construction of the school and that

there have never been any inquiries or studies conducted as a result of a cancer cluster concern. Chuck

identified that EMF levels just outside of the station have been measured at 3 mG, which is considered

ambient. Great concerns were expressed by some Task Force members over EMF exposure and it is

suggested that each member use their own discretion on how EMF should influence their decision-

making.

4. Closing

Information on the next four sites investigated (5, 13, 14, and 15), which was not presented at this

meeting, will be reviewed at the following Task Force meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, November 14,2012.

Documents

DS 104 task force meeting Oct. 30, 2012