Air Quality Issues Attainment of state and federal air quality standards. Balancing economic growth with clean air. The aesthetic value of open space areas and the impact of development on public viewsheds should be considered. The eastern part of the planning area contains an active fault, the White Wolf fault, which has been designated by the state as an Alquist-Priolo Special Studies Zone. An area of high ground water in the southern part of the planning area may be subject to liquefaction in an earthquake.
More information is needed on the geographic extent of high groundwater.
In the event of an earthquake, unacceptable risks to public health and safety can occur where sufficient standards are not incorporated into the design of critical facilities. Many buildings in the planning area, especially those constructed prior to the city's first seismic codes, could suffer severe damage or collapse in the event of any earthquake that produces moderate to strong ground motion in the planning area. Damage to Isabella Dam could require the evacuation of a substantial portion of the planning area. If communications are intact, the city may have from two to six hours to complete the evacuation. Effective response to a disaster or a warning of disaster is essential to life-saving and the reduction of subsequent property damage.