Geologic hazards: earthquake fault zoning.

Under the Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zoning Act, prior to approving a project within an earthquake fault zone, a city or county is directed to require the preparation of a geologic report, subject to certain exceptions. Existing law exempts from this requirement certain projects for alterations that include seismic retrofitting if a city or county, among other things, requires certain seismic retrofitting and prohibits an increase in human occupancy load. Existing law specifically exempts projects relating to structures owned and operated by state entities and agencies listed on the California Register of Historical Resources or the National Register of Historic Places, including the California Memorial Stadium located on the University of California, Berkeley campus, if the state agency or entity submits a plan of proposed alterations to the State Geologist. This bill would delete that exemption. The bill, instead, would exempt the California Memorial Stadium located on the University of California, Berkeley campus from the application of the act. The bill would declare that the Legislature recognizes that the exemption process under the act is not available to buildings owned by the state. The bill would state that the Legislature finds and declares that the California Memorial Stadium located on the University of California, Berkeley campus requires seismic retrofitting, as defined, which is necessary to strengthen structures and provide increased resistance to ground shaking from an earthquake.