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HomeMy WebLinkAboutD-2 - Staff Report - City of Azusa Wildfire Mitigation PlanSCHEDULED ITEM D-2 TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL VIA: SERGIO GONZALEZ, CITY MANAGER FROM: MANNY ROBLEDO, DIRECTOR OF UTILITIES DATE: DECEMBER 16, 2019 SUBJECT: APPROVAL OF THE CITY OF AZUSA WILDFIRE MITIGATION PLAN BACKGROUND: Recent wildfires in California have been attributed to ignition caused by high voltage electrical lines coming in contact with vegetation. As such, recent legislation passed in later 2018 (SB 901) requires all electric utilities operating in California to adopt wildfire mitigation plans to ensure that potential causes of wildfire ignition are fully mitigated within very high fire hazard severity zones. The proposed action will adopt a wildfire mitigation plan that is applicable to certain electrical facilities operated by the Azusa Light & Water Department in the high fire risk zone in the north part of the City. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends the City Council take the following action: 1) Approve the City of Azusa Wildfire Mitigation Plan dated December 16, 2019. ANALYSIS: The recommended City of Azusa Wildfire Mitigation Plan (“WMP”) provides a roadmap for Azusa to safely operate and maintain its electric distribution facilities within the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (“VHFHSZ”), as established by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (“CalFire”). Approximately 4.5% of Azusa’s electric distribution service area is within the VHFHSZ. Azusa has identified this area of its service territory as having the highest risk with regard to starting catastrophic wildfires and has assigned the highest priority for the implementation of wildfire prevention measures within its service area. The residential areas of Mountain Cove and Rosedale are served exclusively through underground electric distribution facilities, which inherently have a minimum risk of wildfire ignition. However, a relatively small number of single family residences in the Nob Hill area are served through overhead facilities, which include only 33 wood poles, 32 spans of overhead wire, 16 fused overhead oil-filled transformers, and one lateral isolation fuse set. Most of the overhead lines run along the rear property line of the homes, which do not have heavy fuel loads, and only two spans of the overhead APPROVED CITY COUNCIL 12/16/2019 Approve the City of Azusa Wildfire Mitigation Plan December 16, 2019 Page 2 lines are adjacent to the open chaparral area. Pursuant to the objective of constructing, operating, and maintaining Azusa’s electrical distribution facilities in a manner that will minimize the risk of Azusa’s facilities being the cause of a catastrophic wildfire in Southern California, this WMP identifies wildfire risks and prescribes the following preventative programs and activities to be implemented for electrical equipment operated within the VHFHMZ by March 31, 2020 to minimize the risk of Azusa’s equipment causing a catastrophic wildfire: Annual Tree Trimming Program: Azusa conducts system-wide annual power line (1) clearance tree trimming program in place under contract, which clears all vegetation around high voltage power lines by a 10 foot radius. This program has significantly improved system reliability during wind storms, and it also has prevented tree contact fire ignitions because the 10 foot clearance prevents tree branches from contacting uninsulated high voltage power lines. Azusa will continue the annual tree trimming program in the VHFHSZ area as part of this WMP. Annual Inspection Program: Azusa staff performs annual visual inspections of overhead (2) electric distribution equipment, including power poles, cross arms, overhead lines, and overhead transformers. Such inspections have revealed broken or deteriorated cross-arms, broken insulators or tie wires, leaking transformers, all of which could lead to an ignition if disturbed by weather or equipment failure. Azusa will continue this annual inspection program of overhead equipment in the VHFHSZ area as part of this WMP. Infrared Testing: Azusa conducts annual infrared testing of overhead transformers and (3) connectors to reveal hot overloaded or failing transformers and/or connector hot spots, which could lead to equipment failure and fire ignition. Azusa will continue this annual infrared inspection program of overhead equipment in the VHFHSZ area as part of this WMP. Non-expulsion Fusing: Azusa currently uses standard expulsion overhead fusing to (4) protect overhead transformers and branch-line lateral lines; however this type of fusing may drop hot metal from the pole, which may be a source of fire ignition. Prior to March 31, 2020 Azusa will replace the expulsion fusing in the VHFHSZ with non-expulsion fusing as part of this WMP. Isolation without Automatic Re-energization: All of the overhead facilities in the (5) VHFHSZ are fed through branch-line isolation fuses. Prior to March 31, 2020 Azusa will replace these isolation fuses with fast-acting non-expulsion fuses coordinated with the substation breaker protection to isolate the area after a fault without interrupting the feeder circuit. This will prevent a fault in originating in the VHFHSZ from being automatically re-energized due to the reclosing of the station circuit breaker, which would cause additional fire ignition at the same fault location. This isolation fusing will ensure that the power stays off into the VHFHSZ until a visual inspection has been performed prior to manual re-energization. Approve the City of Azusa Wildfire Mitigation Plan December 16, 2019 Page 3 Insulated Overhead Conductor Replacement: There are two spans of 12 kV overhead (6) wire adjacent to the chaparral located north of the Nob Hill area in the VHFHSZ. Prior to March 31, 2020, Azusa will replace the uninsulated overhead conductor with insulated wire, which is suitable for running through trees. Likewise, Azusa has modified the electrical feed to a tank in the chaparral area to utilize low voltage (240 V) insulated wire, and all uninsulated 12 kV wire and the associated transformer has been removed from the chaparral area to mitigate the contact ignition risks described above. Annual Non-intrusive Pole Testing Program: Pursuant to California Public Utilities (7) Commission General Order (GO) 165, Azusa performs intrusive pole testing and repair/replacement on all power poles within Azusa’s electric distribution system at least every 20 years. In addition to this intrusive testing program, starting in 2020 Azusa will implement an annual non-intrusive pole testing program for the 33 poles within the VHFHSZ. Any poles identified as unstable by the non-intrusive testing will be repaired or replaced as required. Given that underground distribution facilities are not subject to increased risk during wind events and have a very low probability of ignition and Azusa’s overhead facilities in the VHFHSZ are in fully developed residential neighborhoods with minimal fuel risk, Azusa does not plan on interrupting service to any electrical customers during high wind conditions. On December 4, 2019, staff met with Mr. Jeff Emerick, Forestry Assistant for the Brush Clearance Unit of Los Angeles County Fire Department Forestry Division, and Mr. Emerick agreed with the fuel and ignition risk assessment presented in the WMP. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW: This action is exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15307/15308 of the CEQA Guidelines (Actions for the Protection of Natural Resources/Environment since the Wildfire Mitigation Plan takes action to prevent the ignition of wildfires which are detrimental to the environment. Staff is directed to file a Notice of Exemption with 5 days of approval of the Wildfire Mitigation Plan. FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact associated with the adoption of the City of Azusa Wildfire Mitigation Plan. All recommended actions for implementation were included in the 2019-20 Electric Fund operations budget. Prepared by: Reviewed and Approved: Hien Vuong Manny Robledo Assistant Director of Utilities – Electric Operations Director of Utilities Approve the City of Azusa Wildfire Mitigation Plan December 16, 2019 Page 4 Reviewed and Approved: Sergio Gonzalez City Manager Attachment: 1) City of Azusa Wildfire Mitigation Plan CITY OF AZUSA WILDFIRE MITIGATION PLAN December 16, 2019 ATTACHMENT 1 CITY OF AZUSA WILDFIRE MITIGATION PLAN 1. Purpose and Objectives ............................................................................................. 1 2. Statutory Compliance ................................................................................................. 1 3. Distribution Facilities in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones ................................. 2 4. Wildfire Risks and Prevention Measures ................................................................... 2 5. Public Safety Power Shutoffs and Restoration .......................................................... 5 6. Plan Monitoring and Audit Responsibilities ................................................................ 6 7. Public Comment, Approval and Independent Evaluation ........................................... 7 Exhibit A: City of Azusa Description Exhibit B: Statutory Compliance Matrix Exhibit A: Azusa Local Responsibility Area Exhibit C: Azusa Local Responsibility Area Exhibit D: Azusa Electric Distribution Area in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones Exhibit E: Azusa Electric Distribution Facilities in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones Exhibit F: Azusa Overhead Facilities in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones 1 CITY OF AZUSA WILDFIRE MITIGATION PLAN 1. PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES A. Purpose The City of Azusa (“Azusa”) owns and operates an electric distribution utility in the City of Azusa and provides safe, reliable, sustainable, and affordable electricity to its residents and businesses through its Light and Water Department (as more fully described in Exhibit A). This Wildfire Mitigation Plan (“WMP”) provides a roadmap for Azusa to safely operate and maintain its electric distribution facilities within the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (“VHFHSZ”), as recommended by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (“CalFire”) and as required by state law. B. Objectives The objectives of this WMP are as follows: Identify Azusa’s electric distribution facilities located within the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones. Establish a plan to construct, operate, and maintain such electrical facilities in a manner that will minimize the risk of Azusa’s facilities being the cause of a catastrophic wildfire in Southern California. Establish accountability within the Light and Water Department organization to ensure that the elements of this WMP are fully implemented. Establish a plan to measure the effectiveness of this WMP and adjust the plan annually, as required. 2. STATUTORY COMPLIANCE The table provided as Exhibit B provides a guide as to how the specific sections of this WMP comply with the requirements of California Public Utilities Code (PUC) Section 8387, as amended in 2018 by Senate Bill 901 (Dodd). 2 3. DISTRIBUTION FACILITIES IN VERY HIGH FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES Government Code 51175-89 directs the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire) to identify areas of very high fire hazard severity zones within Local Responsibility Areas (LRA). Mapping of the areas, referred to as Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (VHFHSZ), is based on data and models of, potential fuels over a 30-50 year time horizon and their associated expected fire behavior, and expected burn probabilities, to quantify the likelihood and nature of vegetation fire exposure to buildings. A. Azusa Local Responsibility Area: The northern portion of Azusa is adjacent to the San Gabriel Mountains and Angeles National Forest and is within the VHFHSZ, as shown in red on the map provided as Exhibit C. B. Distribution Service Area: Approximately 4.5% of Azusa’s electric distribution service area is within the VHFHSZ, as shown in red on the map provided as Exhibit D. Azusa has identified this area of its service territory as having the highest risk with regard to starting catastrophic wildfires and has assigned the highest priority for the implementation of wildfire prevention measures within its service area. Azusa has not identified any other high fire hazard severity area within its service area in addition to the VHFHSZ identified by CalFire. C. Distribution Facilities: Portions of the Hilltop, Owl, and Sierra Madre 12 kilovolt (kV) feeder circuits serve residential customers in the VHFHSZ in the Mountain Cove, Nob Hill, and Rosedale areas of Azusa, as shown in red on the map provided as Exhibit E. D. Overhead Distribution Facilities: The residential areas of Mountain Cove and Rosedale are served exclusively through underground electric distribution facilities, which inherently have a minimum risk of wildfire ignition. However, a relatively small number of single family residences in the Nob Hill area are served through overhead facilities from a portion of the Sierra Madre circuit. These overhead facilities include only 33 poles, 32 spans of overhead wire, 16 fused overhead oil-filled transformers, and one lateral isolation fuse set, which is coordinated with the station circuit relay to prevent automatic reclosing into the area. Most of the overhead lines run along the rear property line of the homes, which do not have heavy fuel loads, and only two spans of the overhead lines are adjacent to the open chaparral area. 4. WILDFIRE RISKS AND PREVENTION MEASURES Pursuant to the objective of constructing, operating, and maintaining Azusa’s electrical distribution facilities in a manner that will minimize the risk of Azusa’s facilities being the cause of a catastrophic wildfire in Southern California, this WMP identifies the following wildfire risks and prescribes the following preventative programs and activities to be applied to Azusa’s electric facilities located in the VHFHSZ, as described in Section 3 above. 3 A. Wildfire Risk Assessment The following are risks associated with high voltage electric distribution facilities, which may cause or exacerbate wildfires and may be mitigated with technology and certain operational practices. General Wildfire Risk: Fires caused by electrical facilities are generally caused by an electrical short circuit, which creates heat and ignites a source of fuel. Localized electrical fires transform into catastrophic wildfires when there is dry and abundant fuel available and wind conditions spread the fire quickly before it can be controlled. Preventative programs and activities primarily mitigate ignition sources and fuel with a heightened awareness and defensive operating practices employed seasonally depending on weather conditions. Ignition Risk: The uninsulated high voltage overhead lines described in Section 3.D. pose the greatest risk of ignition upon equipment failure or external contact. The underground facilities serving the electrical customers in the balance of the VHFHSZ area pose a much lower risk of ignition because the cables are insulated and not exposed to contact. Fuel Risk: The service area served by the overhead lines described in Section 3.D. are in a fully developed residential neighborhood with minimal brush or wooded areas that would serve as a fuel source to spread a catastrophic wildfire. Also, all premises served in the VHFHSZ area are subject to the Los Angeles County Fire Department Brush Clearance Program,1 which requires the property owners to clear fuel within a 30 foot radius of the structure; therefore, there is a reduced risk of a catastrophic wildfire developing from this area due to an electrical fire ignition. Finally, there are two spans of overhead lines adjacent to a chaparral area, which has a higher level of fuel risk than the residential area. Electrical Facility Ignition Risks: The following risks are associated with high voltage electric distribution facilities: Phase to Ground Contact: A short circuit and associated sparks/heat/fire occur when uninsulated wires come in contact with the ground or something grounded. An example of this would be a wire breaking and coming in contact with the ground or a wire breaking loose of an insulator and contacting the pole that is wet and connected to ground. Finally, trees or other vegetation may come in contact with wires causing a phase to ground fault. Phase to Phase Contact: A short circuit and associated sparks/heat/fire occur when uninsulated wires come into contact with each other, or a conductive object connects them. An example of this is when a Mylar balloon or palm 1 https://www.fire.lacounty.gov/forestry-division/forestry-brush-clearance/ 4 frond settles on two conductors, which causes a flash-over. Also, loose spans of wire in high winds may come in contact with each other or an animal may span across two conductors and explode. Transformer or Other Equipment Failure: Transformers contain insulating oil and other equipment rely on insulation to keep them from shorting out. Leaking oil from transformers or a deterioration of other internal insulation may cause a short circuit in transformers, switches, capacitors, etc. Fuse Expulsion: A fuse is a protective device that purposely fails to interrupt a circuit to prevent extensive damage to equipment and property. Molten metal from fuses may carry sufficient heat to ignite a fire if the metal falls on dry fuel below it. B. Preventative Programs and Activities The following programs and activities shall be implemented for electrical equipment operated within the VHFHMZ by the end of 2020 to minimize the risk of Azusa’s equipment causing a catastrophic wildfire: Annual Tree Trimming Program: Azusa conducts system-wide annual power line clearance tree trimming program in place under contract, which clears all vegetation around high voltage power lines by a 10 foot radius. This program has significantly improved system reliability during wind storms, and it also has prevented tree contact fire ignitions because the 10 foot clearance prevents tree branches from contacting uninsulated high voltage power lines. Azusa will continue the annual tree trimming program in the VHFHSZ area as part of this WMP. Annual Inspection Program: Azusa staff performs annual visual inspections of overhead electric distribution equipment, including power poles, cross arms, overhead lines, and overhead transformers. Such inspections have revealed broken or deteriorated cross-arms, broken insulators or tie wires, leaking transformers, all of which could lead to an ignition if disturbed by weather or equipment failure. Azusa will continue this annual inspection program of overhead equipment in the VHFHSZ area as part of this WMP. Infrared Testing: Azusa conducts annual infrared testing of overhead transformers and connectors to reveal hot overloaded or failing transformers and/or connector hot spots, which could lead to equipment failure and fire ignition. Azusa will continue this annual infrared inspection program of overhead equipment in the VHFHSZ area as part of this WMP. Non-expulsion Fusing: Azusa currently uses standard expulsion overhead fusing to protect overhead transformers and branch-line lateral lines; however this type of fusing may drop hot metal from the pole, which may be a source of fire ignition. Prior to March 31, 2020 Azusa will replace the expulsion fusing 5 in the VHFHSZ with non-expulsion fusing as part of this WMP. Isolation without Automatic Re-energization: All of the overhead facilities in the VHFHSZ are fed through branch-line isolation fuses. Prior to March 31, 2020 Azusa will replace these isolation fuses with fast-acting non-expulsion fuses coordinated with the substation breaker protection to isolate the area after a fault without interrupting the feeder circuit. This will prevent a fault originating in the VHFHSZ from being automatically re-energized due to the reclosing of the station circuit breaker, which would cause additional fire ignition at the same fault location. This isolation fusing will ensure that the power stays off into the VHFHSZ until a visual inspection has been performed prior to manual re-energization. Insulated Overhead Conductor Replacement: There are two spans of 12 kV overhead wire adjacent to the chaparral located north of the Nob Hill area in the VHFHSZ. Prior to March 31, 2020, Azusa will replace the uninsulated overhead conductor with insulated wire, which is suitable for running through trees. Likewise, Azusa has modified the electrical feed to a tank in the chaparral area to utilize low voltage (240 V) insulated wire, and all uninsulated 12 kV wire and the associated transformer has been removed from the chaparral area to mitigate the contact ignition risks described above. Annual Non-intrusive Pole Testing Program: Pursuant to California Public Utilities Commission General Order (GO) 165, Azusa performs intrusive pole testing and repair/replacement on all power poles within Azusa’s electric distribution system at least every 20 years. In addition to this intrusive testing program, starting in 2020 Azusa will implement an annual non-intrusive pole testing program for the 33 poles within the VHFHSZ. Any poles identified as unstable by the non-intrusive testing will be repaired or replaced as required. 5. PUBLIC SAFETY POWER SHUTOFFS AND RESTORATION Azusa Initiated Public Safety Power Shutoffs (“PSPS”): Given that underground distribution facilities are not subject to increased risk during wind events and have a very low probability of ignition Azusa’s overhead facilities in the VHFHSZ are in fully developed residential neighborhoods with minimal fuel risk, with the ignition risk mitigated to a very low level as described in Section 4.B., Azusa does not plan on initiating PSPS for its feeder circuits pursuant to high wind conditions. Southern California Edison Initiated PSPS: The Azusa Substation is one of two substations through which Azusa imports 100% of its power supply from the California Independent System Operator (“CAISO”) electric grid. The Southern California Edison Company (“SCE”) is the Transmission Operator who operates both substations. SCE has advised Azusa that one of the SCE lines serving Azusa Substation runs partially through the VHFHSZ and is subject to PSPS. The probability of PSPS interruption for this line is very low 6 because it runs through a commercial/industrial area and it is not adjacent to an open space fuel source. However, Azusa receives notices from SCE during times of potential PSPS interruption and is in good communications with their electric operations personnel. PSPS Notification of Customers: In the event that SCE were to interrupt Azusa Substation pursuant to a PSPS then Azusa would employ the following customer communication protocols to notify customers of the extent and duration of the interruption: - Post updates on the Azusa website and social media. - Email critical first responders and first responders such as Azusa Police Department, Los Angeles County Fire Department, and Verizon. There are no hospitals operating in Azusa. - Call large key account customers, including the critical first responders to ensure clear communication. 6. PLAN MONITORING AND AUDIT RESPONSIBILITIES The following Azusa personnel are responsible for the implementation, monitoring, and auditing the effectiveness of this WMP. A. Director of Utilities: Accountable for the overall production and implementation of a WMP that is in compliance with statutory requirements, including the following: Verify that the wildfire mitigation plan complies with all applicable rules, regulations, and standards, as appropriate. Accept comments from the public, other local and state agencies, and interested parties regarding the WMP. Present the WMP and the associated independent evaluation report, annually as revised, to the Azusa City Council annually at appropriately noticed public meetings. Submit the initial and subsequent revised versions of the WMP to the California Wildfire Safety Advisory Board on or before July 1 of each calendar year. B. Assistant Director of Electric Operations: Responsible for implementing, monitoring, auditing, and updating the WPM, including the following: Implementation: Manage the engineering, procurement, and administration required to fully implement the preventative programs and activities of the WMP. 7 Monitor Effectiveness: Monitor the WMP effectiveness by tracking the following metrics in the VHFHSZ: - Number of wildfires ignited by Azusa equipment - Number of local fires ignited by Azusa equipment - Number of fuse or relay operations, including causes - Number of wire down events Audit Compliance: Prepare an annual WMP compliance report, including completion reports for all prevention programs and activities required by the WMP. Update Plan: Identify WMP deficiencies based on metrics, change in conditions, new prevention technology, and/or change in law, and update the WMP as applicable to correct such deficiencies. The WMP shall be updated comprehensively every three years. Independent Evaluation: Contract with a qualified independent evaluator with experience in assessing the safe operation of electrical infrastructure to review and assess the comprehensiveness of its wildfire mitigation plan. Post on Internet: Post the latest version of the WMP and the independent evaluation report on Azusa’s website for public accessibility. 7. PUBLIC COMMENT, APPROVAL AND INDEPENDENT EVALUATION A. Public Comment: On December 4, 2019, Azusa staff received comments on the WMP from the Forestry Division of the Los Angeles County Fire Department. All comments received were incorporated into the W MP. The draft WMP was posted on Azusa’s website on December 12, 2019, and the Azusa City Council accepted comments from the public and interested parties prior to approving the WMP. B. Presentation and Approval On December 16, 2019 Azusa staff presented the WMP at a properly noticed public meeting of the City Council, which was also televised on a local channel, and the WPM was unanimously approved by the Azusa City Council after receiving the presentation and public comment. The W MP will be updated by staff re-approved by City Council annually. C. Independent Evaluation This WMP will be reviewed by a qualified independent evaluator with experience in assessing the safe operation of electrical infrastructure to review and assess 8 the comprehensiveness of its wildfire mitigation plan. A report from the independent evaluator will be made available on Azusa’s internet website, and the report will be presented at a subsequent City Council meeting. 9 EXHIBIT A CITY OF AZUSA DESCRIPTION City of Azusa The City of Azusa (“Azusa”) was founded in 1887 and incorporated as a general law city on December 29, 1898. The City is located in the County of Los Angeles, situated 27 miles northeast of the City of Los Angeles, and nestled against the San Gabriel Mountain foothills. The City of Azusa encompasses 9.13 square miles and has a population of approximately 45,000. Educational facilities include 9 public elementary / middle schools, 2 public high schools, 1 private school, and 1 private university. Light & Water Department The Light & Water Department operates and maintains the electric and water utilities for the City and serves approximately 16,500 electric and 23,000 water customers. The Azusa electric utility was the successor to Azusa Electric Light & Power Company purchased in 1904 for $2,300 and formally established its municipal electric utility. Electricity was purchased wholesale from the Sierra Electric Company and then distributed retail to our citizens and businesses. After Southern California Edison acquired Sierra Electric Company in 1917, Azusa began to buy electricity wholesale from SCE. In the early 1980s, Azusa joined several other California municipal utilities allowing the Department to purchase energy in the open market. Azusa is a Distribution Provider, Load Serving Entity, and Scheduling Coordinator operating within the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) Balancing Authority. Azusa has no wholesale generation facilities, and all power is imported through two 69 kV substations interconnected with Southern California Edison Company, the adjacent Transmission Operator. Azusa’s electric distribution feeders operate at 12 kV, and they are both overhead and underground. All newly constructed distribution facilities are required to be underground. Approximately 4.5% of Azusa’s distribution area is located in the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (“VHFHSZ”) in a fully developed single-family residential neighborhood. These overhead facilities include 33 poles, 32 spans of overhead wire, 16 fused overhead oil-filled transformers, and one lateral isolation fuse set, which is coordinated with the station circuit relay to prevent automatic reclosing into the area. Only two spans of the overhead lines are adjacent to the open chaparral area. 10 EXHIBIT B STATUTORY COMPLIANCE MATRIX 11 PUC 8387 STATUTORY REQUIREMENT Azusa WMP Section (a) Each local publicly owned electric utility and electrical cooperative shall construct, maintain, and operate its electrical lines and equipment in a manner that will minimize the risk of wildfire posed by those electrical lines and equipment. 4. (b) (1) The local publicly owned electric utility or electrical cooperative shall, before January 1, 2020, prepare a wildfire mitigation plan. After January 1, 2020, a local publicly owned electric utility or electrical cooperative shall prepare a wildfire mitigation plan annually and shall submit the plan to the California Wildfire Safety Advisory Board on or before July 1 of that calendar year. Each local publicly owned electric utility and electrical cooperative shall update its plan annually and submit the update to the California Wildfire Safety Advisory Board by July 1 of each year. At least once every three years, the submission shall be a comprehensive revision of the plan. 7.B. (b) (2) The wildfire mitigation plan shall consider as necessary, at minimum, all of the following: (A) An accounting of the responsibilities of persons responsible for executing the plan. (B) The objectives of the wildfire mitigation plan. (C) A description of the preventive strategies and programs to be adopted by the local publicly owned electric utility or electrical cooperative to minimize the risk of its electrical lines and equipment causing catastrophic wildfires, including consideration of dynamic climate change risks. (D) A description of the metrics the local publicly owned electric utility or electrical cooperative plans to use to evaluate the wildfire mitigation plan’s performance and the assumptions that underlie the use of those metrics. 5. 1.B. 4. 6. 12 (E) A discussion of how the application of previously identified metrics to previous wildfire mitigation plan performances has informed the wildfire mitigation plan. (F) Protocols for disabling reclosers and deenergizing portions of the electrical distribution system that consider the associated impacts on public safety, as well as protocols related to mitigating the public safety impacts of those protocols, including impacts on critical first responders and on health and communication infrastructure. (G) Appropriate and feasible procedures for notifying a customer who may be impacted by the deenergizing of electrical lines. The procedures shall consider the need to notify, as a priority, critical first responders, health care facilities, and operators of telecommunications infrastructure. (H) Plans for vegetation management. (I) Plans for inspections of the local publicly owned electric utility’s or electrical cooperative’s electrical infrastructure. (J) A list that identifies, describes, and prioritizes all wildfire risks, and drivers for those risks, throughout the local publicly owned electric utility’s or electrical cooperative’s service territory. The list shall include, but not be limited to, both of the following: (i) Risks and risk drivers associated with design, construction, operation, and maintenance of the local publicly owned electric utility’s or electrical cooperative’s equipment and facilities. (ii) Particular risks and risk drivers associated with topographic and climatological risk factors throughout the different parts of the local publicly owned electric utility’s or electrical cooperative’s service territory. 6. 4. & 5. 5. 4. 4. 3. & 4. 3. 3. & 4. 13 (K) Identification of any geographic area in the local publicly owned electric utility’s or electrical cooperative’s service territory that is a higher wildfire threat than is identified in a commission fire threat map, and identification of where the commission should expand a high fire-threat district based on new information or changes to the environment. (L) A methodology for identifying and presenting enterprise wide safety risk and wildfire-related risk. (M) A statement of how the local publicly owned electric utility or electrical cooperative will restore service after a wildfire. (N) A description of the processes and procedures the local publicly owned electric utility or electrical cooperative shall use to do all of the following: (i) Monitor and audit the implementation of the wildfire mitigation plan. (ii) Identify any deficiencies in the wildfire mitigation plan or its implementation, and correct those deficiencies. (iii) Monitor and audit the effectiveness of electrical line and equipment inspections, including inspections performed by contractors, that are carried out under the plan, other applicable statutes, or commission rules. 3. 4. 5. 6. 6. 6. 6. (b) (3) The local publicly owned electric utility or electrical cooperative shall, on or before January 1, 2020, and not less than annually thereafter, present its wildfire mitigation plan in an appropriately noticed public meeting. The local publicly owned electric utility or electrical cooperative shall accept comments on its wildfire mitigation plan from the public, other local and state agencies, and interested parties, and shall verify that the wildfire mitigation plan complies with all applicable rules, regulations, and standards, as appropriate. 2. & 7.A. 14 (c) The local publicly owned electric utility or electrical cooperative shall contract with a qualified independent evaluator with experience in assessing the safe operation of electrical infrastructure to review and assess the comprehensiveness of its wildfire mitigation plan. The independent evaluator shall issue a report that shall be made available on the internet website of the local publicly owned electric utility or electrical cooperative, and shall present the report at a public meeting of the local publicly owned electric utility’s or electrical cooperative’s governing board. 7.B. Azusa The State of California and the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection make no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy of data or maps. Neither the State nor the Department shall be liable under any circumstances for any direct, special, incidental, or consequential damages with respect to any claim by any user or third party on account of, or arising from, the use of data or maps. Obtain FRAP maps, data, metadata and publications on the Internet at http://frap.cdf.ca.gov For more information, contact CAL FIRE-FRAP, PO Box 944246, Sacramento, CA 94244-2460, (916) 327-3939. Jerry Brown, Governor, State of California John Laird, Secretary for Resources, The Natural Resources Agency Ken Pimlott, Director, Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Government Code 51175-89 directs the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) to identifyareas of very high fire hazard severity zones within Local Responsibility Areas (LRA). Mapping of the areas, referredto as Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (VHFHSZ), is based on data and models of, potential fuels over a 30-50year time horizon and their associated expected fire behavior, and expected burn probabilities to quantify the likelihoodand nature of vegetation fire exposure (including firebrands) to buildings. Details on the project and specific modelingmethodology can be found at http://frap.cdf.ca.gov/projects/hazard/methods.htm. Local Responsibility Area VHFHSZmaps were initially developed in the mid-1990s and are now being updated based on improved science,mapping techniques, and data. In late 2005 to be effective in 2008, the California Building Commission adopted California Building Code Chapter 7Arequiring new buildings in VH FHSZs to use ignition resistant construction methods and materials. These new codesinclude provisions to improve the ignition resistance of buildings, especially from firebrands. The updated very high firehazard severity zones will be used by building officials for new building permits in LRA. The updated zones will also beused to identify property whose owners must comply with natural hazards disclosure requirements at time of propertysale and 100 foot defensible space clearance. It is likely that the fire hazard severity zones will be used for updates to the safety element of general plans. This specific map is based on a geographic information system dataset that depicts final CAL FIRE recommendations for Very High FHSZs within the local jurisdiction. The process of finalizing these boundaries involved an extensive localreview process, the details of which are available at http://frap.cdf.ca.gov/projects/hazard/btnet/ (click on "Continueas guest without logging in"). Local government has 120 days to designate, by ordinance, very high fire hazard severityzones within its jurisdiction after receiving the recommendation. Local government can add additional VHFHSZs.There is no requirement for local government to report their final action to CAL FIRE when the recommended zones areadopted. Consequently, users are directed to the appropriate local entity (county, city, fire department, or FireProtection District) to determine the status of the local fire hazard severity zone ordinance. California Teale Albers, NAD 1983 Scale 1: 12,000 at 36" x 36" September 2011 © 0 2 Miles 0 3 Kilometers This map was developed using data products such as parcel and city boundaries provided by local government agencies. In certain cases, this includes copyrighted geographic information. The maps are for display purposes only - questions and requests related to parcel or city boundary data should be directed to the appropriate local government entity. DATA SOURCES CAL FIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZL06_1) CAL FIRE Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones in LRA - Los Angeles (c19fhszl06_5) MAP ID: Azusa Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones in LRA As Recommended by CAL FIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zones County Boundary Parcels City Boundary Local Responsibility Area State or Federal Responsibility Areas VHFHSZ Non-VHFHSZ VHFHSZ Non-VHFHSZ 101.808 Ac4,434,756 Sq Ft1.6%74.925 Ac3,263,733 Sq Ft1.2%62.394 Ac2,717,883 Sq Ft1.0%18.104 Ac788,610.2 Sq Ft0.3%22.959 Ac1,000,094 Sq Ft0.4%San Gabriel Cyn. Rd.Sierra Madre Ave.AZUSA CALFIRE VERY HIGH FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES´ ARROW HWY. AØ CØ BØBØ BØ 2 SPANS OF INSULATED TREE WIRESADJACENT TO SO CAL CHAPARRAL BRANCH LINE ISOLATION FUSES (NON-EXPULSIVE) CIRCUIT LEGEND CITY OF AZUSA 12 KV ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTION FACILITIES IN VERY HIGH FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES CIRCUITS IN VERY HIGH FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES 2 SPANS OF INSULATED TREE WIRES ADJACENT TO SO CAL CHAPARRAL BRANCH LINE ISOLATION FUSES (NON-EXPULSIVE) LEGEND CITY OF AZUSA 12 KV OVERHEAD ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTION FACILITIES IN VERY HIGH FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES