`

Contract No. PS-4350-2000

WESTSIDE SUBWAY EXTENSION PROJECT

Response to Leighton Consulting Report

Prepared for:

Prepared by:

777 South Figueroa Street Suite 1100 Los Angeles, California 90017

May 14, 2012

Response to Leighton Consulting Report 1.0Introduction

1.0

INTRODUCTION

LeightonConsulting,Inc.,wasretainedbytheBeverlyHillsUnifiedSchoolDistricttocompletean assessmentofpossiblefaultpresenceandactivityatBeverlyHillsHighSchool(BHHS)campuslocatedin westernBeverlyHills,California.AsauthorizedbytheBeverlyHillsSchoolDistrict(BHUSD),Leighton statestheyundertookaseveralphaseinvestigationtocriticallyassessthepossiblepresenceofactive faultsassociatedwiththeWestBeverlyHillsLineament(WBHL).Inparticular,Leightonstatestheir investigationwasdesignedtoconfirmorrejecttheParsons(2011b)[WestsideSubwayExtensionFault Report]faultinterpretation.LeightonsresultswerepresentedinareporttitledFaultHazard AssessmentoftheWestBeverlyHillsLineament,BeverlyHillsHighSchool,241SouthMorenoDrive, BeverlyHills,California,hereafterreferredtoastheLeightonreport. MetrohasreceivedandreviewedtheLeightonreport.TheLeightoninvestigationprovideswelcome newdatatohelpconstrainthelocationsofidentifiedfaultswithintheWBHL,beneathandadjacentto BHHS.However,thereisnothingintheLeightonreportdatathatcontradictMetrosconclusionthat thereisnosafelocationtositeastationonSantaMonicaBoulevardinCenturyCity. Leightonsinvestigationincludedtheexcavationof4trenches,21continuouscoreborings,and12cone penetrometertests(CPT).ThelocationsareshownonFigure1alongwithMetrosborings,CPTs,and geophysicaltransectlocations.InadditiontoreviewingLeightonsreport,Metrosteamandthe Leightonteamhadtheopportunitytostudyeachothersrecoveredcoresfromtheirrespectiveborings andsharesomeoftherawdata.TheLeightonteamreviewedMetroscoresonJanuary25andFebruary 22,2012.TheMetroteamreviewedLeightonscoresonApril30,May1,andMay10,2012.However, althoughMetroreceivedcopiesoftrenchwallphotographsandLeightonsinterpretationofthetrench sidewallgeology,Metrosteamwasdeniedaccesstothetrenchesforanindependentevaluation. MetrocompiledandcorrelatedthenewLeightondatawithitspriordata.Itisnotedthat:(1)Metros LakewoodformationandSanPedroformationwerecombinedintooneunit,calledtheSanPedro formationinthisreport,forthepurposeoffacilitatingconsistentcorrelationbetweenthetwogroups, and(2)linesdepictingfaultsonMetrosmapsrepresentedapproximatelocations.Thedatapoints constrainingthefaultlocationsarefarenoughapartthatactualfaultlocationsmaybetensoffeet different,laterally,thanthelinesshownonthemaps.Asadditionaldataareacquired(e.g.,those providedbyLeighton),thesefaultlocationshavebeenmoreaccuratelyconstrained,asshownon Figure1. ThefollowingsummarizesMetrosresponsetotheLeightonReportinwhichMetrotakesissuewitha numberofLeightonscommentsandconclusions.Amoredetailedresponsefollowsthissection:

MetroscompilationoftheLeightondata,Metrodata,andoldergeotechnicalboreholedataconfirm thattheWBHLisaNNWtrendingzoneofrightlateralstrikeslipfaults.Thisisconsistentwiththe strikeofsmallfaultsexposedintheLeightontrenches(e.g.,trenchT3),whichalsoexhibited evidenceforstrikeslip. Leightonappearstoconfusethegenerallyeastfacingtopographicescarpmentthatdefinesthe easternedgeoftheWBHLwiththeactualstrikeslipfaultstrandsoftheNorthernNewport InglewoodFaultZone(NIFZ)intheCenturyCityarea.Aswithmostofthetopographicupliftsalong theNIFZ,thestrikeslipfaultstrandsintheCenturyCityarealiewithintheupliftedregiontothe westofthetopographicscarp. WESTSIDE SUBWAY EXTENSION PROJECT

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Response to Leighton Consulting Report 2.0Leighton Comments and Metro Responses

MetroscompilationofallavailableboreholeandCPTdatafromtheCenturyCityarearevealsstrong evidenceforamajorNNWtrendingstrikeslipfaultalongorjustwestoftheBeverlyHillscitylimit withapproximately350to400feetofrightlateraloffsetacrossthetopoftheunderlyingSanPedro formation.ThefaultislocatedalongoneofthemainstrandsidentifiedintheoriginalMetrofault report(2011). LeightonsstatementontheabsenceofactivefaultswithinBHHScannotbesubstantiatedbecause theydidnotexcavatetrenchescontinuouslyacrosstheentirezoneoffaultingassociatedwiththe WBHLandacrossseveralofthestrandsidentifiedbyMetrowithinBHHS. MetrospreviousreportshavemadenorecommendationsregardingtheStatesAlquistPrioloAct. ThisissueisunderthepurviewoftheCaliforniaGeologicalSurveyandtheCaliforniaAlfredE.Alquist SeismicSafetyCommission.However,theWBHLisshownonStateofCaliforniafaultmapsasa Holoceneactivefault. Leightonconducted12CPTsoundingstodepthsof91feet.However,nodiscussionontheimplica tionsoftheCPTdataorMetroCPTdataisprovided.TheadditionoftheLeightonCPTdatatothose collectedearlierbyMetrostrengthensevidenceforseveralfaultsextendingthroughtheBHHS campus. Asstatedintheintroduction,thereisnonewinformationintheLeightonreportthatcontradictsthe conclusionthatthereisnosafelocationtositeastationonSantaMonicaBoulevardinCenturyCity.

Moredetailedcommentaryisprovidedbelow.

2.0

LEIGHTON COMMENTS AND METRO RESPONSES

Leighton:AlthoughtheWBHLhasbeenrecognizedsinceearly1990,itwasnotclearifitsorigin relatedtofaultsortoothergeologicprocesses. MetroResponse:Hereandelsewhereintheirreport(e.g.,Section3.1.2),Leightonconfusesthe generallyeastfacingtopographicescarpmentthatdefinestheeasternedgeoftheWBHLwiththeactual strikeslipfaultstrandsoftheNorthernNIFZintheCenturyCityarea.Thisisincorrectandrepresentsa misunderstandingofthesignificanceofthistopographicfeature.TheWestBeverlyHillsLineament separatesthehigher,moredissectedtopographytothewestfromthelowerlying,gentlysouthsloping alluvialplaintotheeast.AswithmostofthetopographicupliftsalongtheNIFZbetweenLongBeachand theBaldwinHills(e.g.,BaldwinHills,RosecransHills,DominguezHills),thestrikeslipfaultstrandsthat comprisetheNorthernNIFZintheCenturyCityarealietothewestofthetopographicscarp(Barrows 1974).Thefactthatthebroadertopographicuplifthasbeenerodedbyfluvialprocessesalongits easternmargininnowayobviatesMetrosidentificationofactivefaultingwithintheregionwestofthe currenttopographicscarp. AsshowninFigure2A,acompilationofallavailableboreholeandCPTdatafromtheCenturyCityarea revealsstrongevidenceforamajorNNWtrendingstrikeslipfaultwithapproximately350feetofright lateraloffsetacrossthetopoftheSanPedroformationattheapproximatelocationofoneofthemain strandsidentifiedinMetrosoriginalreportapproximatelyalongorjusteastofthewesternBeverly HillsCityofLosAngelesboundary..NotethisfaultpassesthroughtheproposedSantaMonicaBoulevard Station.Figure2Bprojectsthecontourstotheirprefaultingposition,toindicateover300feetofoffset. Moreover,asshowninFigure3,therearenumerousclearcutfeaturesinthetopography(linear,slope WESTSIDE SUBWAY EXTENSION PROJECT
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Response to Leighton Consulting Report 2.0Leighton Comments and Metro Responses

paralleldrainages,triangularfacets,andalignedtopographicsaddles)thatindicatethepresenceofa majorstrikeslipfaultextendingsouthwardformorethan1.5milesalongtheWBHL.Inaddition,as discussedbelow,thereisabundantevidencefromthesubsurfacedataforseveralNNWtrendingfaults intheseveralhundredfeettotheeastofthismainstrandalongandsouthofSantaMonicaBoulevard. ThefactthatthemajorsouthflowingBenedictCanyondrainageandthestrikeslipfaultsoftheNIFZin theCenturyCityareaisnotacoincidencedrainageislocalizedalongthefaultzone,especiallynearthe southernendoftheCheviotHills,asiterodedintothebroaderupliftedregionthroughwhichtheNIFZ extends(Figure3). Leighton:TheStateMiningandGeologyBoard(inaccordancewiththeAlquistPrioloEarthquake FaultZoningAct)definesanactivefaultasonethathashadsurfacedisplacementwithinHolocene time(BryantandHart,2007).However,nositespecificagedeterminationofthesoilsencountered duringtheirstudyandnoevidenceofsurfacedisplacementfromWBHLfaultswasdocumentedby Parsons.Basedontheabsenceofthis[sic]dataitisouropinionthatParsonssignificantlyoverstates thehazardfromfaultingassociatedwiththeWBHL. MetroResponse:MetrospreviousreportshavemadenorecommendationsregardingtheStates AlquistPrioloAct.ThisissueisunderthepurviewoftheCaliforniaGeologicalSurveyandtheAlfredE. AlquistSeismicSafetyCommission.Itisnoted,however,thattheWBHLisshownonStatefaultmaps (Bryant2005)asaHoloceneactivefaultasdefinedbytheCaliforniaGeologicalSurvey(faultmovement withinthepast11,700years).Asnotedabove,thenewLeightondata,combinedwithpreviously collecteddata,provideamorecomprehensivedatasetthatconfirmsthepresenceofazoneofright lateralstrikeslipfaultingalongtheWBHLthroughtheCenturyCityarea.Giventheurbaninfrastructure andlogisticalconstraints,especiallythepresenceofsubsurfaceinfrastructure(e.g.,stormdrains,water mains,gas,sewer,andelectriclines),itwillbeimpossibletoconfirmthatallofthefaultsthatMetrohas identifiedalongtheWBHLareinactive,particularlyintheareaofSantaMonicaBoulevard. Metroagainnotesthattrenchingisnotthesinglemostdefinitivetooltodeterminetheactivityor inactivityoffaults.Onemustintegratealllinesofevidence(geomorphic,seismicity,geophysical, borings,CPTandtrenching)tojudgefaultactivity.Theeffectivenessoftrenchingtoinvestigatefaultson SantaMonicaBoulevardwasalsodiscussedinMetrosApril2012ResponsetoShannonandWilson. Leighton:3.0OBSERVATIONSANDDISCUSSION MetroResponse:CrosssectionBB(Plate4)notes12CPTsoundingstodepthsof91feetwerecon ducted.However,nodiscussionoftheimplicationsoftheCPTdataisprovided.CrosssectionBBis essentiallythesameasTransect4oftheMetroOctober19CenturyCityAreaFaultInvestigationReport. TheapproximatelocationoffaulttracesonTransect4,definedintheMetroReport,isalsonotedon Figure1.Thesetracelocationswereestablishedandconstrainedbyanevaluationofbothboringand CPTdata. WithrespecttoLeightonsPlate4,wefinditsurprisingthatnocommentismaderegardingthe significanceofeithertheLeightonorMetroCPTdatainrelationtotheappropriatefaulttraces. DifferencesinCPTendtipandsidefrictionsignatures(includingsoilbehaviorcharacteristics)between adjacentCPTstogetherwithverticaloffsetsinsignaturesclearlydefineseveralfaults.LeightonsPlate4, however,impliestheabsenceoffaults,giventhenearhorizontalorslightlyslopingstratigraphythey suggest.ThisinterpretationiscontradictedbytheCPTdata.Forexample,significantdifferencesin signaturesbetweenLeightonsCPT6andCPT11slightlywestofMorenoDriveclearlydefinethefault WESTSIDE SUBWAY EXTENSION PROJECT
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Response to Leighton Consulting Report 3.0Leighton Conclusions

mappedonthebasisofMetroCPTdataatthislocation.Similarly,differencesinthesignaturesbetween LeightonsCPT10andCPT8eastofMorenoDrive,clearlydefinethefaultlocationdefinedbyMetro databetweentheaboveCPTdata.WhenalloftheCPTdataarecombined,theyprovideasufficiently densesetofdatatomorepreciselylocatethesefaults.

3.0

LEIGHTON CONCLUSIONS

Leighton:WefinddirectgeologicevidencethattherehasbeennofaultingassociatedwiththeWBHL atBHHSforatleast70,000to100,000yearsagoandperhapsmorethan500,000years.Wefinddirect geologicevidencetorefutethenorthsouthfaultsmappedbyParsonsthroughBHHS.Faulttrenches specificallyexcavatedacrossthesurfacetracesofthesefaultsdidnotencounterevidenceofactive faulting. MetroResponse:Leightonoverstatestheirabilitytoconfirmthatthesefaultsareinactiveordonot exist.ThereisclearevidencefromCPT,geophysical,andboreholedataforseveralfaultsthatextend intotheBHHSproperty.ThebasicproblemwithLeightonsstatementsisthattheydidnotexcavate trenchescontinuouslyacrosstheentirezoneoffaultingassociatedwiththeWBHL.Specifically,theyhad a210footwidegapbetweentheirFT1andFT2trenchesalongtheapproximatetrendofoneofthe faultzonesMetroidentifiedinthesubsurfacedata(i.e.,extendingsouthwardfromneartheintersection ofMorenoDriveandSantaMonicaBoulevardapproximatelytotheintersectionofMorenoDriveand HeathRoad(Figure1)).Moreover,theyhada15footwidegapintheirtrenchFT2adjacenttowhere theyfoundclayfilledfracturesintheirtrench.Farthersouth,Leightonhada70footwidegap betweentheirFT3andFT4trenches.Thisgapislocatedalongtheapproximatetrendofthefaultthat extendssouthwardfromneartheintersectionofMorenoDriveandSantaMonicaBoulevardand throughthegapbetweentheirFT1andFT2trenches.Similarly,LeightonstrenchFT4didnotextend farenoughtotheeasttointersectthesurfaceprojectionoftheeasternfaultstrandthatprojectstothe surfacenearthegapwithintheirFT2trenchadjacenttothesoilfractures.Thus,Leightondidnothave continuoustrenchexposureacrossseveralofthestrandsMetroidentifiedatthenorthernendofthe BHHSproperty.Intheabsenceofcontinuoustrenchexposureshowingunbrokendepositsorsoilsof knownage,itisnotpossibletoprovethatanyparticularfaultstrandthatMetroidentifiedwithinthe WBHLisactiveorinactive.Suchdatacanonlybegleanedfromtrenchesthatprovidecontinuous exposureoftheentirewidthofthepotentialfaultzone.Gapsofevenafewfeetbetweenadjacent trenchescanresultinsurfacefaultsbeingmissed,especiallywhenstrikeslipistheprimarymotion. LeightondidencounterminorfaultswithintheirtrenchFT3.Theysuggestthatthesefeaturesare inactivebecausetheyareoverlainbyagravelunitthatappearsnottobefaulted,althoughtheyconcede thatthebaseofthegravelunitaboveoneoftheirfaultsmaybeoffsetwithminorslip.Theyalsosuggest thatanalternativeinterpretationoftheirdataisthatthefaults[Leightonsquotationmarks]are thenearsurfacemanifestationofaseismicallyinducedliquefactioneventAlthoughMetrowas notallowedtoviewthetrenchexposures,thisinterpretationcannotexplaintheobservedmismatchin thethicknessofthesamesedimentaryunitacrossthefaultstrandencounteredattrenchStation0+74. Suchdifferencesinthethicknessofasinglestratigraphicunitacrossasubverticalfaultstrandrequire strikeslipmotion.Thus,thesefaultsareactuallyrealstrikeslipfaults,albeitlikelywithsmall cumulativedisplacements,andthefaultsexposedinLeightontrenchT3mayinfactbeinactive.This doesnot,however,precludethepossiblepresenceandrecentactivityoffaultsintheareasthatarenot coveredbythetrenches.

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Response to Leighton Consulting Report 4.0CONCLUSION

Inconclusion,theLeightondatadonotrefutethenorthsouthWBHLfaultsmappedbyMetro.Their CPT,trench,andboringdatasupport,andhelprefine,thelocationsofthemappedfaults,asdiscussed above.TheLeightontrenchesmaynothaveencounteredevidenceofactivefaulting.Howeverthe trenchesarenotcontinuousanddonotextendoutsideoftheBHHScampus. Leighton:WefinddirectgeologicevidencethattheescarpmentbelowWBHLwascreatedbylateral erosionfromBenedictCanyonWashmorethan100,000yearsagoandnoevidencetosuggestan activefaultoriginforthisescarpment. MetroResponse:Asnotedabove,theWBHLhasclearlybeenerodedbysouthflowingdrainages emanatingfromBenedictCanyon.Thisobservation(madebyMetrointheMetroCenturyCityFault InvestigationReport)innowayobviatesMetrosconclusionsconcerningthepresenceofazoneof NNWtrendingrightlateralstrikeslipfaultsthatextendthroughtheCenturyCityareaalongtheWBHL. LeightonseemstobemistakingtheerodededgeofthebroadupliftassociatedwiththeWBHLwiththe faultsoftheNorthernNIFZinthisarea.Thisisnotcorrect.ThestrikeslipfaultsoftheNIFZextend throughthezoneofbroaderuplift.

4.0

CONCLUSION

Inconclusion,thenewLeightondata,combinedwithpreviouslycollecteddata,provideamore comprehensivedatasetthatconfirmsthepresenceofazoneofrightlateralstrikeslipfaultingalongthe WBHLthroughtheCenturyCityareaandthroughtheSantaMonicaBoulevardstationlocation.Given theurbaninfrastructureandlogisticalconstraints,especiallythepresenceofsubsurfaceinfrastructure (e.g.,stormdrains,watermains,gas,sewer,andelectriclines),itwillbeimpossibletoconfirmthatallof thefaultsthatMetrohasidentifiedalongtheWBHLareinactive,particularlyintheareaofSantaMonica Boulevard.ThereisnothingintheLeightonreportdatathatcontradictMetrosconclusionthatthereis nosafelocationtositeastationonSantaMonicaBoulevardinCenturyCity.

5.0

REFERENCES

Barrows,A.G.,1974,AReviewoftheGeologyandEarthquakeHistoryoftheNewportInglewood StructuralZone,SouthernCalifornia,CaliforniaDivisionofMinesandGeologySpecialReport114. Bryant,W.A.(compiler),2005,DigitalDatabaseofQuaternaryandYoungerFaultsfromtheFault ActivityMapofCalifornia,Version2.0,CaliforniaGeologicalSurvey. Bryant,W.A.,andE.W.Hart,2007,FaultRuptureHazardZonesinCalifornia:AlquistPrioloEarthquake FaultZoningActwithIndextoEarthquakeFaultZonesMaps. LosAngelesCountyMetropolitanTransportationAuthority,2011,WestsideSubwayExtensionCentury CityAreaFaultInvestigationReport. LosAngelesCountyMetropolitanTransportationAuthority,April17,2012,ResponsetoPreliminary ReviewCommentsofCenturyCityAreaFaultInvestigationReportbyShannonandWilson.

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ResponsetoLeightonConsultingReport Figures

FIGURES

WESTSIDE SUBWAY EXTENSION PROJECT

May 14, 2012

EXPLANATION
Fault Investigation: Transect Profile Line
T7-101 T8-C15 T8-B5 (80')

P-Wave Seismic Reflection Line with Shot Point Number (Shown every 50 feet) CPT Sounding Location Continuous Core Boring Location and Total Depth Drilled Approximate Zone of Faulting Fault Location, Queried Where Uncertain, Oct. 14, 2011 Metro Report Fault Location, Queried Where Uncertain, Refined based on New Leighton Data, current Report

? ?

Geotechnical Soil Gas Investigation:

G-206 C-127 S-115 71-A711174 1

Trotary-Wash Boring Location CPT Sounding Location Sonic Core Location Boring Location (LeRoy Crandall, 1964; 1967; 1969; 1971; 1984) Continuous Core Boring Location CPT Sounding Location Trench Location Cross-Section Location Gap between Leighton Trenches

Leighton Fault Investigation:

CB-21 CPT-19

Fault Investigation: Centerline of Tracks Cross Passages (Approximate) Alternative Station and Cross-Over Outline Note: Missing CPT's and Borings on all Transects were not drilled. Base Map: PB Topo Base Delivered 3/10/2011

Path: G:\4953_Geotech\2011\111421_MetroWestside\CAD\Fault-Profiles\4953-11-1421_Figure-1(2012-05.11).dwg [Scale-200] Date: May 14, 2012 - 12:35pm By: vo.nguyen

Revised removed proposed borings 11/16/2011 Revised : Added Leighton Data, Revised Fault Location 5/11/12

MTA Westside Extension

JOB: LT,LNG: SCALE:

4953-11-1421 34.069,-118.403 1" = 200' V. Nguyen R. Munro R. Munro 5/11/2012

100'

200'

400'
GEP Imagery Date: Oct. 8, 2007 2009 Tele Atlas
Lic. No. JCPMPCLERXC1J8Y

DRAWN:

SCALE: 1" = 200'

5628 E. Slauson Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90040 Phone (323) 889-5300 Fax (323) 889-5398

Environment & Infrastructure

AMEC

CHKD: PM: DATE:

Beverly Hills / Century City Area

Updated Fault Exploration Plan

FIGURE NO.

PROJECT NO.

4953-11-1421