CEMEX Eliot Quarry

Geotechnical Characterization Report

Alameda County, California
Page 17
was concentrated along the weak unoxidized clay layer:

Initial deflection along the sheared clay bed eventually led to partial mobilization of the strength of the
overlying gravel that prevented slope instability from fully developing. As a result of this mobilized gravel
strength, the rate of slope inclinometer deflection has diminished over time and before implementation of
remedial measures. However, once the extent and properties of the sheared clay unit were determined, the
static factor of safety of the northern quarry slope was calculated to be below 1.5, and under seismic loads,
significant displacements were anticipated. Consequently, it was deemed necessary to design and
implement mitigation measures to address the stability of the Lakeside block.

CSA used UTEXAS3 with Spencer’s method to determine safety factors against failure. The shear
strength parameters given in Table 1 were used in modeling. Spencer’s method is a type of
limiting equilibrium analysis. Limiting equilibrium analysis is based on a comparison of the forces
acting to move a soil mass (gravitational pull on the material) versus the forces resisting that
movement (shear strength of the soil). The ratio of these two forces is the safety factor. If the
safety factor is greater than 1, the sum of the resisting forces is greater than the driving forces and
the slope is stable as long as conditions do not change. If the safety factor is 1, then driving forces
are equal to resisting forces and the slope is on the verge of failure, in a state of limiting
equilibrium. If the safety factor is less than 1, it is assumed that failure will occur.

Cotton, Shires & Associates, Inc. (2011). “Monitoring Report No. 14.” E0284MW. June 22,
2011.
In this report, data from slope inclinometers, piezometers, surface survey monuments, and crack
extensometers were collected and recorded near Lake A and the Lakeside Circle area. Initially,
the slope inclinometers showed incremental displacement of less than 0.04-in/yr. During
November 2010, slope inclinometers CSA/SD-1, BGC-2, and BGC-9 indicated the incremental
displacement rate had increased to between 0.12-in/yr to 0.22-in/yr. The incremental rate from the
previous readings range from -0.01-in/yr to 0.01-in/yr.

Vibrating wire piezometers (VWPs) indicated the elevation of the piezometric surface of the
confined aquifer unit below the sheared clay had risen above the pre-pumping piezometric surface
elevation. Near depressurization wells, the elevation had risen above the well discharge lines. This
was observed by visual inspection. They were submerged due to a rise in Lake A. As a result,
discharge from depressurization wells was counteracted by the lake level being higher than the
well outlets.

Most survey monuments showed little or no change over six months. However, some monuments
showed an apparent subsidence of up to 1.1-in and apparent rebound of up to 0.4-in in others.
Piezometric data showed that the surface of the confined aquifer below the sheared clay had risen
since the previous data collection. Flow from the depressurization wells appeared to have been
impacted by inundation of the discharge lines. CSA believed that there was a positive buttressing
impact of a higher lake level on the stability of the “incipient landslide.” This was counteracted by
the negative impact of higher pore pressure at depth. CSA recommended that the stability of the
“incipient landslide” be re-analyzed to assess whether the positive buttressing effect of the higher
lake level was enough to offset the negative pore pressure influence on slope stability. The
outcome could have required the level of Lake A to be lowered to between 400-ft and 404-ft to re-
establish the gravity flow from the depressurization wells.

KANE GeoTech, Inc.