Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 236, Sec. 3. (SB 831) Effective January 1, 2026.
The department is the primary state agency responsible for review and investigation of geologic hazards, as defined in Section 2009, including, but not limited to, the strong motion aspects of earthquake and any geologic hazards that may occur in relation to natural disasters and climate change. In this capacity, the survey shall carry out activities and programs to reduce the loss of life and property and protect the environment by mitigating geologic hazards. Specific activities to be carried out by the survey include, but are not limited to, all of the
following:
(a)Hazard assessment, including identification and mapping of geologic hazards and estimates of their potential consequences to life, property, and the environment, and the likelihood of occurrence.
(b)Information and advisory services, including the maintenance of a geologic library, a public education program, maintenance of a statewide surface and subsurface geologic database, review functions, and expert
consulting.
(c)Emergency response to geologic hazards, including, but not limited to, those related to natural disasters, including the monitoring and assessment of anomalous geologic activity, and the operation of a clearinghouse for postevent earth science investigations.
(d)Development and application of mitigation methods, including identifying state research needs, facilitating needed research, and expediting the application of new research results to public policy and all survey activities related to geologic hazards and the effects of climate change on geologic hazards.
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