BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SB 1463
Page 1
Date of Hearing: August 3, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Lorena Gonzalez, Chair
SB 1463
(Moorlach) - As Amended June 30, 2016
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| |Natural Resources | |9 - 0 |
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill requires the California Public Utilities Commission
(PUC), in consultation with CALFIRE, to prioritize areas in
which communities are subject to conditions that increase fire
hazards associated with overhead utility facilities, as
specified, when determining areas in which to require enhanced
mitigation measures. Additionally, this bill requires the PUC
to develop a definition of "enhanced mitigation measures" in a
specified existing proceeding or other appropriate proceeding.
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Lastly, this bill requires the PUC to describe how it
incorporated the concerns of local governments and fire
departments in determining the boundaries of areas in which to
require enhanced mitigation.
FISCAL EFFECT:
1)Increased costs of $582,000 (State Responsibility Area fund or
General Fund) over two years for CALFIRE to assist in the
design and development of the revised Fire Threat Map and the
development of enhanced mitigation measures.
2)Minor costs to the PUC (Public Utilities Commission Utilities
Reimbursement Account).
COMMENTS:
1)Purpose. On May 26, 2016, the PUC approved a final version of
Fire Map 1, a statewide fire-threat map to show the risk of
power-line fires occurring and spreading throughout the state.
According to the author, the City of Long Beach (LBC) was
placed within the low-risk margins of the Utility Fire Threat
Index even though 90% of the LBC falls within a Very High Fire
Hazard Zone on the CALFIRE Fire Resources And Assessment
Program (FRAP) map. The author concludes that the difference
between Fire Map 1 and FRAP are the variables considered,
including a measure that evaluates the historical cost and
consequence of previous fires, housing and population density.
This bill requires the PUC to prioritize areas in similar
circumstances as the LBC to determine where to require
enhanced mitigation measures.
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2)Background. In October of 2007, a series of large wildfires
ignited and burned hundreds of thousands of acres in several
counties in Southern California. The fires displaced nearly
one million residents, destroyed thousands of homes, and took
the lives of seventeen people. Several of the worst fires in
the state were caused by power lines.
In response to the wildfires, in 2008, the PUC initiated a
rulemaking (R. 08-11-005) to consider and adopt regulations to
reduce the fire hazards associated with overhead power lines
and aerial communication facilities in close proximity to
power lines. Many of the fire-safety regulations adopted in
the rulemaking applied to high fire-threat areas, which are
areas that had an elevated risk of power-line fires initiating
and spreading rapidly. As part of the rulemaking, CALFIRE was
tasked with developing a statewide fire-threat map that would
show in great detail the risk of power-line fires occurring
and spreading rapidly throughout the state.
In May 2015, the PUC closed Rulemaking 08-11-005 and opened a
successor rulemaking (R. 15-05-006). The focus of R.15-05-006
is to develop and adopt a Fire Map to depict the physical and
environmental conditions associated with an elevated potential
for utility associated wildfires, and to delineate the
boundaries of a new High Fire-Threat District where stronger
fire safety regulations are adopted. CALFIRE was tasked to
develop Fire Map 1 which is to be used as the foundation for
the development of Fire Map 2 to delineate High-Fire Threat
District boundaries.
In April 2016, CALFIRE completed its development of Fire Map
1. Fire Map 1 was specifically designed to identify areas
where environmental conditions posted an elevated hazard for
the ignition and rapid spread of power-line fires. With the
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exception of the LBC, all parties supported the adoption of
Fire Map 1. CALFIRE and relevant parties agreed to address
several issues as they develop Fire Map 2, including examining
vegetation issues in low wind areas, include utility knowledge
of local conditions, and investigate whether wind should be a
factor in the definition of High Fire Threat Districts.
Analysis Prepared by:Jennifer Galehouse / APPR. / (916)
319-2081