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A Brief History of WSSPC

Two federal actions provided incentive for the establishment of the Western States Seismic Policy Council: passage of Public Law 95-124, in 1977, the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act, and establishment of the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) the following year.

In 1979, the Western States Conference on Earthquake Safety was held in Sparks, Nevada. The meeting was co-chaired by the California Seismic Safety Commission, Nevada Ad Hoc Panel on Seismic Hazard Mitigation and the Utah Seismic Safety Advisory Council. The U.S. Office of Science and Technology Policy and the National Science Foundation provided assistance. In addition to California, Nevada, and Utah, the other invited states included Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, and Washington, a total of 8 states. The agenda was organized into work group sessions for the 50 participants.

The Summary Report of the meeting included: the formation of the Western States Seismic Policy Council, a commitment to meet in 1980, and the identification of four policy issues for the 1980 agenda. With the support of the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency and more recently, the U.S. Geological Survey, the Council has continued to meet every year.

- Roy Breckenridge, Idaho Geological Survey

- David Love, New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources

- Updated September 2, 1994 by Doug Bausch, WSSPC-95

- Updated August 30, 1996 by Steven Ganz, WSSPC

- Updated June, 2004 by Patti Sutch, WSSPC

 

 

History of Meetings


WSSPC Annual Conference 2007        

    

    


September 30 - October 3, 2007              
Grand Sierra Resort
Reno, Nevada




 

100th Anniversary Earthquake Conference

April 18-22, 2006

Moscone Convention Center

San Francisco, California

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WSSPC Annual Conference 2005
September 11-14, 2005

The Grove Hotel and Boise Centre

Boise, Idaho

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joint Seismic Safety Commissions/Boards Workshop

St. Louis, Missouri

Meeting Report - September 27, 2004
 

 

2004 National Earthquake Conference
St. Louis, Missouri

Sept. 26-30, 2004

Strengthening America: Preparing for Earthquakes and More

 

 

2004 Basin & Range Province Seismic Hazards Summit II

Reno, Nevada -- May 16-19 2005

In May of 2004, WSSPC, USGS, and FEMA, along with western states geological surveys, sponsored the second Basin and Range Province Seismic Hazards Summit to bring together geoscientists, engineers, emergency managers and policy makers to present and discuss the latest earthquake hazards research and to evaluate its implications for hazard reduction and public policy.

 




 

 



2003 WSSPC Annual Conference
Portland, Oregon

Toward Earthquake Loss Reduction: Developing Effective Communication, Realistic Strategies and Successful Mitigation Actions for Your Community

 

2002 WSSPC Annual Conference
Denver, Colorado

Earthquake Risk: From Awareness to Action - A Mile High Challenge

 

 


2001 WSSPC Annual Conference
Sacramento, California

Seismic Risk Communication: Creating Greater Public Awareness and Action

 

2001 WSSPC-CUSEC-CREW-NESEC Joint Consortia Meeting

Fairmont Hot Springs, Montana

Meeting Report - June 22, 2001

 




March 26-27, 2001 -- Salt Lake City, Utah

Basin & Range Province Committee Post- Earthquake Technical Clearinghouse Workshop

In 2001, a workshop was held to discuss a joint post-earthquake technical clearinghouse plan for the western states besides California. Proceedings Volume available here.

 

 

 

2000 Seattle, Washington -- National Earthquake Risk Management Conference

 

Policy Sessions

1. Lessons Learned; 2. New Technologies, New Opportunities; 3. Strategies to Reduce Impacts of Disasters; 4. Identifying Effective Loss Reduction Strategies; 5. Earthquake Building Codes in the 21st Century; 6. Policy Development

 


2000 Seattle, Washington -- HAZUS Forum at the National Earthquake Risk Management Conference 

 

Led by Dr. Kenneth Taylor, North Carolina Division of Emergency Management


2000 Seattle, Washington
-- Meeting of the States Seismic Safety Advisory Boards


Minutes and Attendees
 


1999 Santa Fe, New Mexico

 

Agenda

-Economic Impacts of Disasters, -Post-Earthquake Technical Clearinghouses, Successful Mitigation Efforts:  A Focus on Local Community Action, -Annualized Earthquake Loss Estimates

 

Field Trip

-Los Alamos area and Valle Caldera

 

1998 Sacramento, California

Western United States Earthquake Insurance Summit



1998 Pasadena, California

Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Symposium

1998 Pasadena, California

Agenda

-Hazard Insurance, -National Risk Assessment,

-Earthquake Engineering and Construction Standards,

-Disaster Resistant Communities,

-Preparing for Catastrophe:  Utilities and Lifelines

 

Field Trip

-Foothills of San Gabriel Mountains and CalTech University

 

1997 Victoria, British Columbia

Agenda

-Building Codes and Seismic Zonation,

-Hazard Loss Estimation and Scenario Development,

-Earthquake and Hazard Insurance

 

Field Trip

-Vancouver Island



1997 Victoria, British Columbia

Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Symposium

 

 



May 13-15, 1997 -- Reno, Nevada

Basin and Range Province Seismic Hazards Summit

In 1997, WSSPC and the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology (NBMG) hosted a summit to accurately and effectively characterize seismic hazards in the province and identify policies and means of communication that will effectively reduce the loss of life and property. Proceedings Volume available here.

bnrlogo.jpg (8849 bytes)

 


1996 Polson, Montana

Agenda

-Implementong HAZUS as a National Earthquake Loss Estimation Tool,

-Synopsis of Seismic Threats to the US:  Impacts to the National Transportation Infrastructure,

-Community Education,

-Seismic Zonation Mapping Projects, The Earthquake Community and the World Wide Web, -Earthquakes and Hazard Insurance,

-Comprehensive Post-Earthquake Information Management,

-Earthquake Efforts at Public Utilities,

-Strategic Planning

 

Field Trip

-Mission Fault Area of Montana

 





ac96logo.jpg (8590 bytes)

 
 

1995 Los Angeles, California

POST NORTHRIDGE EARTHQUAKE RECOVERY WORKSHOP

"Earthquake Preparedness, Response and Recovery in an Urban Environment"

 

1995 Flagstaff, Arizona

Agenda

-Northern Arizona Seismic Belt, -WSSPC Five Year Plan, -Coordination/contact across state and regional boundaries, -Regionalism issues and opportunities, -Clearinghouse activities, WSSPC library and membership database, -State and Regional Group Reports

 

Field Trip

-Shoshone Point, Grand Canyon; northern Arizona fault systems

 

1994 Salt Lake City, Utah

Agenda

-Federal Agency Updates, -Northridge, California Earthquake Overview, -Transmitting Global Positioning Systems and GIS, -Portable Microwave Transmitters and Field Data Collection, -U.S. Retrofitting Guidelines and Salt Lake Loss Estimation Studies, -State Reports, -Consideration of WSSPC Subregional Groups

 

Field Trip

Salt Lake City urban renewal projects, and Wasatch fault trench visit and fault tour.

 

Business

Optional Activity-Subregional Groups, Round Table Document, By-Laws, and Permanent Office

 

1993 Jackson, Wyoming

Agenda

-NEHRP Federal Agencies, -NEHRP National Seismic Hazard Maps, -The Great Guam Earthquake of August 1993, -State Reports, -State Director Organizations, -1993 Scott Mills Earthquake, -Rapid Visual Screening

 

Field Trip

Rapid visual screening in historic Jackson, Wyoming

 

Business

Reorganization

 

1992 Reno, Nevada

WSSPC WORKSHOPS, RENO, WSSPC-ICBO BUILDING CODES WORKSHOP, WSSPC FUTURE DIRECTIONS

 

Lake Tahoe, Nevada

Agenda

-1992 Ferndale and Landers Earthquakes, California, -OASIS Project, California and Nevada, -Mt. Pinatubo Seismicity, -Economics of Seismic Zonation Changes, -Seismic Retrofit of Buildings, -NEHRP provisions vs UBC

 

Field Trip

Genoa fault trench, Carson City and base isolation project Mackay School of Mines

 

Business

Reorganization

 

1991 Santa Fe, New Mexico

Agenda

-NEHRP Update: Strategy for Low-Moderate Risk States, -Executive Order 12699, Federal Building Seismic Requirements, -Executive Order Impact on Federal Facilities in New Mexico, -Revising Municipal and State Codes in Moderate Risk States

 

Field Trip

Rio Grande rift, Jemez Caldera, Earthquake setting of Los Alamos Laboratory

 

Attendance

-13 states (Texas withdrew) and Canada

 

Business

Additional funding for workshops

 

1990 Anchorage, Alaska

Agenda

-Alaska Earthquake Studies, -Pacific Tsunami Studies, -Loma Prieta Update, -Earthquake Policy of the West Coast

 

Field Trip

Alaska Tsunami Warning Center, Effects of 1964 Alaska Earthquake

 

Attendance

-14 states and Canada, -46 participants

 

Business

-amended bylaws regarding policy

 

1989 Boise, Idaho

Agenda

-Risk Reduction Policies in the Puget Sound and Portland Areas, -Earthquake Tectonics in Cascadia, -Liquefaction of Soils, -Loma Prieta Earthquake, -Loss Estimation for Earthquakes, -Uniform Building Code Zoning Process, -Earthquake Disaster Preparedness Planning Exercises

 

Field Trip

Rapid Visual Inspection of selected Boise buildings

 

Attendance

-14 states and Canada, -90 participants

 

1988 Honolulu, Hawaii

Agenda

-Organizations for Earthquake Predictions in Japan, -Earthquake Hazard in the Pacific Northwest, -Southern California Earthquake Preparedness Project, -Los Angeles Earthquake Prediction Response Strategy, -Earthquake Hazard Mitigation Responsibilities and Future Challenges, -Tsunamis

 

Field Trip

-Pacific Tsunami Warning Center and Hawaii Volcano Observatory

 

Attendance

-14 member states and Canada, -45 participants

 

1987 Lakewood, Colorado

Agenda

-National Earthquake Information Center, -National Earthquake Engineering Center, -Colorado Landslide Mitigation Program, -Fundamentals of Seismology, Earthquake Prediction and Risk Assessment: Essentials for Geologists and Emergency Managers, -The Whittier Earthquake: Some Reactions from California

 

Field Trip

National Earthquake Information Center

 

Attendance

-14 member states and Canada, -68 participants

 

Business

-Bylaws wording and language regarding policy

 

1986 Jackson, Wyoming

Agenda

-Media and Emergency Public Information, -Liquefaction Potential for Emergency Planning, -Earthquakes and Dam Safety, -Mexico City Earthquake Search and Rescue, -Parkfield Prediction Experiment, -Implementation of Earthquake Safety Programs in Schools, -BSSC/NEHRP Seismic Design Program, -Wasatch Fault and Puget Sound Earthquake Assessment, -National Park Service Geologic Hazards Program, -Mutual Aid Compact Among Washington, Idaho and Montana

 

Field Trip

Teton Fault and Jackson Lake Dam

 

Attendance

-14 member states, including Texas, -69 participants

 

1985 Portland, Oregon

Agenda

-Earthquake Hazards Reduction

-National Science Foundation Research Program, -National Disaster Medical System, -Predicting Volcanic Eruptions, -Effects of Earthquakes on Wooden Buildings, -Seismic Resistance of Historic Buildings, -Earthquake Awareness Week in California, -Mexico City Earthquake, -Mount St. Helens, 1980-1985

 

Field Trip

Mount St. Helens (weather cancelled)

 

Attendance

-13 member states

 

1984 Sacramento, California

Agenda

-National Earthquake Hazard Reduction Program Five-Year Plan, -Post-Earthquake Investigations: Borah Peak and Coalinga, -California Seismic Safety Commission and Policy, -Utah Multi-Hazards Project, -Strong Motion Instrumentation and Its Safety Role, -Earthquake Hazards Awareness: Current Programs, -Local Governments and Seismic Safety

 

Attendance

-14 member states

 

Business

-Funding for states travel only, -State reports added to agenda

 

1983 Seattle, Washington

-National Seismic Policy Council, -sponsored by WSSPC, -130 participants from 40-42 states

 

1983 West Yellowstone, Montana

Agenda

-Earthquake Education and Information, -Shaping National Policy, -Preparing a Five-Year Response Program, -Interstate Mutual Aid Agreements, -Central US Earthquake Preparedness Project, -Hazard Mitigation in California

 

Field Trip

Quake Lake, Site of 1959 Hebgen Earthquake

 

Attendance

-13 member states including Oregon and Wyoming, -Alberta, Canada, Wisconsin, Tennessee, South Dakota and South Carolina, -44 participants

 

Business

Changed membership to open and 1 state vote, Executive Committee expanded to 5, including past and future chairperson.

 

1982 Phoenix, Arizona

Agenda

-Predicting Large Earthquakes, -Inter-state and Inter-regional Mutual Aid Compacts, -National Earthquake Hazard Reduction Program, -Earthquake Preparedness in Mexico and Japan

 

Field Trip

Flood Warning Center

 

Attendance

-12 states, Hawaii, new; Oregon, -Mexico represented, -35 participants

 

1981 Salt Lake City, Utah

Agenda

Group issues: -Emergency Services, -Engineering\Geotechnical - interstate cooperation, -Public Policy - financing earthquake safety, -Public Policy - role of government

 

Attendance

-Tennessee and Missouri attended

 

1980 Sacramento, California

Agenda

-interstate lifelines, -state review of federal projects (critical facilities), -earthquake insurance regulation in the western states

 

Field Trip

-California State Capitol earthquake retrofit

 

Attendance

-10 states: California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Washington, new: Alaska and New Mexico, -39 participants

 

1979 Sparks, Nevada

Agenda

-earthquake discussion groups

 

Attendance

-California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Washington

 

Business

-drafted "Western States Seismic Policy Council"

 
 
 
   
 
 
Contact Us   801 K Street, Suite 1436, Sacramento, CA  95814  |  tel 916-444-6816  |  fax 916-444-8077   |   email wsspc@wsspc.org
© 2004 - 2008 Western States Seismic Policy Council. All Rights Reserved.   Last updated February 29, 2008

 


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