Seismic Monitoring Station
Summary
SCH Number
2020120029
Public Agency
California Governor's Office of Emergency Services
(OES)
Document Title
Seismic Monitoring Station
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
12/1/2020
Document Description
This new station will contribute to the CA Earthquake Early Warning System (CEEWS) designed to potentially save thousands of lives during a large earthquake, prevent critical infrastructure damage and expedite recovery following a large earthquake. The network to which this sensor is connected will contribute real-time data to accurately record and warn people of strong shaking due to earthquakes in the region, and help provide records of ground motion that would be of immense scientific, engineering and public safety value.
Under a ten-year lease with property owner, UC BSL plans to install and operate an outdoor seismic monitoring station at the Lat/Long location noted above. Three-day installation will take place in a roughly 36-sq.-ft. area, to install two small structures: 1. 4’x3’x10” sensor vault set on a 6” concrete base, with two attached PVC-pipe postholes (10” diameter) running from center of vault, to a maximum of 10’ into the ground, leading to two seismometers (1 strong motion accelerometer and 1 broadband seismometer); 2. 4’x3’x6” concrete base on which a battery box, solar panel equipment, antenna mounts, and communications equipment are housed; and 3. 10’x15’x5’ fence around site, with fence posts placed 1’ deep in 4" diameter holes. A flexible conduit 1’ deep and 5” wide will connect the two structures. Grounding rods will be inset next to the equipment to protect the site from lightning strikes. Holes for the vault, solar panel mount, and antenna and fence poles will be dug by a small backhoe or hand-operated auger. Access to site is entirely by existing roads and trails. There are no hazardous substances involved. If needed, a small generator (~8 KW) will be used to power a hand-loaded concrete mixer and any other tools needed for the work.
Contact Information
Name
Rachel Sierer-Wooden
Agency Name
Cal OES
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Name
Agency Name
UC Berkeley Seismological Lab
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Location
Counties
Siskiyou
Other Location Info
Ukanom Mountain, a USFS property (BK.UKAN), near Happy Camp, CA Lat/Long: at 41.58381, -123.47614, Dot Map ID: NS0123
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 3, CEQA Guidelines Section15303 (New Construction), Class 4 Section15304 (Minor Alterations to Land) and Class 6 S
Reasons for Exemption
This project is exempt in accordance with Class 3 as described above; construction of new small weatherproof enclosures to operate seismic sensor equipment for the purpose of data collection (Class 6). In accordance with Class 4, the project described above consists of minor public or private alterations in the condition of land and/or vegetation which do not involve removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees. None of the exceptions to a notice of exemption apply.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
Disclaimer: The Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) accepts no responsibility for the content or accessibility of these documents. To obtain an attachment in a different format, please contact the lead agency at the contact information listed above. For more information, please visit OPR’s Accessibility Site.