Metro Response To Hazard Assessment Study by Exponent
Metro Response To Hazard Assessment Study by Exponent
Metro Response To Hazard Assessment Study by Exponent
Prepared by:
777 South Figueroa Street Suite 1100 Los Angeles, California 90017
April 4, 2012
Table of Contents
EXECUTIVESUMMARY......................................................................................................................E1 1.0 2.0 INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................11 ACTIVEFAULTING.................................................................................................................21 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 3.0 FaultLocations.................................................................................................................21 PossibilityofFolding........................................................................................................23 OffsetofHoloceneSediments.........................................................................................23 InterpretationofLateralDiscontinuities.........................................................................24 ExplorationofaCentral(station)AlternativeonSantaMonicaBoulevard....................24 LocationoftheWesternmosttraceoftheWBHL ...........................................................26 . SummaryActiveFaulting..............................................................................................26
4.0
SAFETYOFTUNNELING.........................................................................................................41 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 4.10 4.11 ControlofGroundMovementsDuringTunneling...........................................................41 MetroGoldLineEastsideExtensionDataanditsApplicabilitytoCenturyCity..............42 SoilConditionsinCenturyCity,BeverlyHillsandEastLosAngeles(GoldLine)..............43 SurfaceSettlements.........................................................................................................43 DifferentialSettlementsAlongtheTunnelAxis...............................................................44 ConsolidationSettlements...............................................................................................45 ProtectionofUtilities.......................................................................................................45 ConditionSurveysandMonitoringofStructures............................................................46 ProceduresforAssessingandControllingGroundMovements......................................46 TunnelingThroughFaults................................................................................................47 TunnelSchedule...............................................................................................................47
5.0
6.0
April 4, 2012
Page i
April 4, 2012
Executive Summary
ThisreportrespondstotheHazardAssessmentStudy,WestsideSubwayExtensionProjectCenturyCityArea (February7,2012),whichwaspreparedbyExponentFailureAnalysisAssociates(Exponent).Exponents opinionsarebasedonitsreviewoftworeportspreparedbyMetro:TheCenturyCityTunnelingSafetyReport andtheCenturyCityAreaFaultInvestigationReport(TunnelingSafetyandFaultInvestigationReports, respectively),whichwereissuedonOctober19,2011,inresponsetoarequestbyMayorBruckeroftheCityof BeverlyHills. MetroreconfirmsthefollowingconclusionsprovidedinthetworeportsandinitsTunnelAdvisoryPanel (TAP)ReportissuedonOctober19,2011:
MetrodisagreeswithExponentsopinionsandfindsseriousflawsintheconclusionsdrawnfromits investigativeapproach.Inanumberofcases,Exponentdoesnotacknowledgeorisunawareofinformation andanalysesthatMetroconducted.Moreover,Exponentsopinionsfrequentlyreflectalackoffamiliaritywith andexpertiseinundergroundconstructionandfaultinvestigation,andareunsupportedbyfacts. MetrorespondsindetailtoExponentsopinionsinthisreport.ThesalientfeaturesofMetrosresponseare summarizedundertheheadingsthatfollow.Atableattheendofthissectionprovidesabriefsummaryof ExponentscommentsandMetrosresponses. RiskManagement TheExponentreportstatesthatitsoverarchingopinionisthatneither[FaultInvestigationorTunneling Safety]reportdemonstratesthepresentedfindingsasbasedonrigorousriskassessment(s)onthese subjects.Specifically,noattemptismadetoquantifyorevenqualitativelyassessthepotentialrisksfrom thesescenarios.Noquantitativeorqualitativeriskassessmentshavebeenpresentedtoeithera) estimatethelikelihoodofsucheventsorb)characterizethepotentialseverityofsucheventstothe public. MetrodisagreeswithExponentsopinion.TheprobabilitybasedriskanalysisthatExponentsuggestsisnot standardpracticeformajorcivilengineeringprojectsexceptforhighhazardnuclearpowerplants.Instead, RisksareaccountedforexplicitlyinMetrosdesignapproach.Itisnotpossibletoensurelifesafetyfora subwaystationinanactivefaultzone.Accordingly,anystationonSantaMonicaBoulevardhasunmanageable risks.However,theConstellationstationisnotsitedonanactivefault,andotherriskssuchasgasrisks,canbe mitigatedeffectively.Metrosriskmanagementapproachusesengineeringsolutionstomitigatetherisks relatedtotunnelsafety,ratherthanestimatingprobabilitiesassociatedwithidentifiedrisks. Inallwork,Metrodevelopssolutionstomitigateriskstolevelsthatareaslowasreasonablypracticable throughtheuseofscientificandengineeringjudgmentsbasedonwidespreadexperience.Moreover, extensiveexperienceinLosAngelesandothercitiesshowthatthisriskmanagementprocessresultsinsafe andeffectiveconstruction.Fundamentaltothisapproachisthatengineeringtomitigaterisksisconductedby multidisciplinaryteamsofexpertswhosedesignsandrecommendationsarereviewedbyindependent,expert WESTSIDE SUBWAY EXTENSION PROJECT
April 4, 2012 Page E-1
panels.Suchanapproachconformstoacceptedbestpracticesoftheundergroundconstructionindustryand embodiesthesuccessfulriskmanagementproceduresusedonmajorcivilworks,includingtransitprojects, throughouttheU.S.andmanypartsoftheworld. ActiveFaultingattheSantaMonicaBoulevardStationSite ExponentstatesthatadditionalsubsurfaceexplorationparalleltoSantaMonicaBoulevard[should]be performedtoevaluateapotentialcentralalternativeforthestationlocationbetweenthetwoSantaMonica stationsites. Withrespecttoapotentialcentralalternative,Exponentappearsnottohaveconsideredthe likelihoodofsignificanttectonicdisturbancewithinthestructurallycomplexzoneoftheintersectionof thenorthernNewportInglewoodandtheSantaMonicafaultzoneswithinthisarea.Thesefaultzones arenotsinglefaultstrands(faultlinesonamap)butratherarebroad,complexzonesoffaultingwith manypotentiallyactivestrands.Whensuchlargefaultsconvergewithoneanother,theydonot convergeatasinglepoint.Rather,theyblendintooneanotheroverastructurallycomplexzoneof distributeddeformationthatmaybehundredsoffeetwide.Thus,itisnotbepossibletoidentifyall potentialseismicthreatswithinthecomplicatedzoneofintersectionbetweentheSantaMonicaand northernNewportInglewoodfaultzones. Thegeomorphicexpressionofascarp(shortforescarpmentorbluff)associatedwithactivefaulting alongtheSantaMonicafaultzonedoesnotextendeastoftheWestBeverlyHillsLineament(WBHL),a northwesttrendingtopographicrise(bluff)presentalongthewesternboundaryofBeverlyHills.Rather, theeasternmostpartofthescarpdivergesfromSantaMonicaBoulevard,assumesamorenortheasterly trendthroughtheLosAngelesCountryClub,andmergeswiththenorthernpartoftheWBHLabout milenorthofSantaMonicaBoulevard.However,thissectionofthescarpwithinthecountryclub appearstohavebeenerodedbyasouthwestwardflowingdrainageemanatingfromtheBenedict Canyondrainagetotheeast,whichmayalsobeinfluencedbytheWBHL.Thus,althoughthescarp providesanorthernmostpossiblelocationforthemaintraceofthenorthdippingSantaMonicafault zoneinthecountryclubarea,thesurfacetracesofthemain,activestrandsofthefaultzoneresponsible forinitiallygeneratingthescarpmayliesomewhattothesoutheastofthesurfacescarp,andcloserto, orevencoincidentwith,SantaMonicaBoulevard. ExponentsuggestedthattrenchingalongSantaMonicaBoulevardcouldresolvethisissue.Trenching, however,isnotafeasibleapproachbecauseconstructionandtheinstallationofsubsurfaceinfrastructure alongSantaMonicaBoulevardhavedestroyedthestratigraphyduetoconstructionexcavationsneededto identifythelocationanddegreeofactivityoffaulting.Whiletrenchingisoftenusedasameanstoexamine faulting,itisoftenextremelydifficulttoexcavatecontinuoustrenchesandobtainmeaningfuldatato characterizeactivefaultsinurbanenvironments.Althoughaccessforcontinuoustrenchingmaybepossibleat individualpropertiesandbuildingsites,Metrostructuresarelongandlinearandcompleteaccessforsucha longtrenchprecludestrenchingintheseareasparticularlywhenlocatedinthestreet(andcrossstreets) containingutilitiessuchastheBenedictCanyonstormdraininMorenoDrive.Accordingly,itisnotpossibleto continuouslytrenchtoobtainpositiveevidencethatactivefaultstrandsarenotpresent.Anoncontinuous trenchwillnotresolvetheuncertaintiesbutwilllikelyadduncertainties. ConstellationStationSite Areviewofalltopographic,stratigraphic,andgeophysicaldataconfirmsthereisnoactivefaultingatthe Constellationsite.InmarkedcontrasttothetopographicallyobviousSantaMonicaandnorthern WESTSIDE SUBWAY EXTENSION PROJECT
Page E-2
April 4, 2012
NewportInglewood(WBHL)faultscarps,theabsenceoftopographicindicationofactivefaultingatthe ConstellationStationprovidesverystrongevidencethatthissiteisclearofactivefaults. Withrespecttosubsurfacegashazards,Exponentstatedthefollowing:thealternativeConstellation Boulevardstation,whilegenerallyinamorefavorablelocationwithregardstofaultingissues,isinstead facedwithpotentialmethanegashazardsthatcouldrepresentatleastasgreatahazardtothepublicas thefaultinghazardsassociatedwiththeSantaMonicaBoulevardstation. Comparisonofgashazardswithsitingastationonanactivefaultisinappropriate.Theriskofan earthquakeandfaultruptureatastationlocationcannotbepracticallymitigatedwhilegashazardscan andaresuccessfullymitigatedforMetrostationsanddeepbasementsthroughoutLosAngeles, includingareaswithmuchhighergasconcentrationsthanattheConstellationsite.Metrosengineering consultantshavedevelopedsystemsformitigatingandpreventinggasinflowsintheproposedstations alongtheWestsideSubwayExtensionProject(WestsideExtension)corridorusingprovendesignsand constructionprocedures. TunnelingSafetyandFutureDevelopment Exponentraisesseveralquestionsrelatedtogeneraltunnelinghazardswithrespecttopotentialfor buildingdamage,tunnelinginfaultzones,tunnelingunderBeverlyHillsHighSchool(BHHS)damageto utilities,andapplicabilityofdatafrompreviousprojectstotheWestsideExtension. Exponentstatesthataccordingtoreports(e.g.,BellConsulting,2004)describingsurfaceeffects duringtunnelingoftheMetroRedlinesubway,settlementsweremuchhigher(2to10inches)than originallypredicted(0.5inches).Exponentthenconcludedthathigherdifferentialsettlementsand cosmeticandevenstructuraldamageshouldbeexpectedfortheCenturyCityConstellationalignment. ExponentsreferencetotunnelingandsettlementontheRedLineisnotrelevanttocurrentMetro tunnelingtechnologyanditsconclusionsregardingsettlementsanddamageatCenturyCityareinvalid. Thetunnelingprojectsitreferencesareoutdatedinthatthetunnelsweredrivenwithopenfacetunnel shieldsthatcouldnoteffectivelycontrolgroundlossandsettlementwhentunnelinginsoilssusceptible torunningorflowing.TheshieldswerelastusedbyMetrointhemid1990sandhavebeenreplacedon Metroprojects(aswellastunnelprojectsworldwide)withtunnelboringmachines(TBM)thatprovide positivesupportofthetunnelface,therebypreventinggroundsettlements. MetrospecifiedthepressurefacemethodfortheEastsideGoldLineproject(MGLEE),andin2006,the tunnelingwassuccessfullyaccomplishedwithsurfacesettlementsof0to0.3inchesandnodamageto structures.Thismethodisbeingappliedsuccessfullyworldwideandisbeingappliedspecificallyfor currentMetrotunnelprojects.ThecapabilitiesdemonstratedontheMGLEEprojectareapplicable directlytotheCenturyCityArea.Oneofthemainadvancesintunnelingtechnologyhasbeenthe developmentofcomprehensiveproceduresforcontrollingTBMoperationsandmonitoring.These methodswillbeconductedduringalltunnelingtoconfirmthatgroundmovementshavebeencontrolled tospecifiedlevels. Thegasketedlininginstalledasthetunnelisadvancedpreventsinflowofwaterandgasintothetunnel, andgroutingaroundthetunnelliningisusedtopreventflowofgasandwateralongthetunnel perimeter.Thepresenceofthetunnelwillnotimpactgasconditionsortheeffectsoffaultingand earthquakeshakingatthesurface. WESTSIDE SUBWAY EXTENSION PROJECT
April 4, 2012 Page E-3
ExponentclaimsthatfrequentreferenceismadetopreviousfavorableexperienceintheLosAngelesBasin withpressurefacetunnelingmethodsandthatthesereferenceshavelittlemeaningintheabsenceof detaileddatafromtheearlierprojects.MetrodoesnotunderstandhowExponentcancometosucha conclusion.Asisclearlydemonstrated,referencetotheearlierRedLineprojectisnotrelevantbecause technologyhasundergoneprofoundchangessincethattime.Thepressurefacetunnelingmachines,which willbeusedontheWestsideExtension,provedtheirsafetyandeffectivenessontheMGLEEprojectandare beingcontinuouslyimproved. ExponentalsostatedthatfuturedevelopmentatBHHSandatotherpropertiesandresidenceswouldbe impacted.ThetunnelshavebeenestablishedatasufficientdepththatdevelopmentforBHHSorother propertiescanbeaccomplishedabovethetunnels.Foundationscanbebuiltonslabsabovethetunnelsor withfoundationsbetweenthetunnelssothatmajorbridgestructureswithwidespansarenotrequired. Exponentraisesconcernsaboutfragilewatermainsandhasindicatedthatspecialprecautionsareneededto safeguardthelines.SoilmovementsonMGLEEwerecontrolledtosuchlowlevelsthatnodamageinfragile castironwatermainswasreportedthroughouttheentiredistanceoftunneling.Metroisapplyingthesame pressurefacetunnelingtechnologyusedonMGLEE,wheregroundconditionsweresimilartothoseonthe WestsideExtensionandcastironwatermainsofsimilarageandsizewereprotectedfromdamage.Clearly, theuseofproventunnelingmethods,consistentwiththebestcurrenttechnology,ishighlyrelevantforthe proposedconstructionintheCenturyCityarea,andinfact,isoneofthemosteffectivewaystoreducerisk. InresponsetoExponentsconcernsaboutlifecycleanalyses,lifecyclecostswereaddressedintheevaluation ofalternativeswithrespecttobothcapitalandoperationsandmaintenancecosts.Lifecyclecostswithinthe broaderspectrumofenvironmentalandeconomicaspectsoftheselectionprocessaresystematically addressedthroughoutallphasesoftheprojecttocomplywithFederalTransitAdministration(FTA) requirementsandareincludedinMetrosanalyses. Summary of Exponent Comments and Metro Response
Exponent Page No. ii,2,17 Metro Disagrees
ii,17
ThegashazardsatConstellationarelowerthanthoseontheexisting RedLineandthereforeMetrohasdemonstratedtheycanbemitigated
April 4, 2012
Metro Disagrees
Metro Response ExponentsreferencetotunnelingandsettlementontheRedLineisnot relevanttocurrentMetrotunnelingtechnologyanditsconclusions regardingsettlementsanddamageatCenturyCityareinvalid.TheRed Linewastunneledwithopenfaceshieldssusceptibletolargesettlement whichhavebeenreplacedonallMetroprojectswithtunnelboring machinesthatprovidepositivesupportofthetunnelface,thereby preventinggroundsettlements. Noevidenceoffaultingisdemonstratedthroughthereviewofthree datasets:Soilborings,geophysicaldataandthetopography.Exponent onlyconsideredthesoilboringdataset.
6,7,8,12 WithrespecttoMetrosevaluationofno evidenceoffaultingonConstellationsite: Thepreciselocationsoftheinferred faultsareinsomeplacesnottightly constrained. ..thefaultsmaynotoffsetHolocene sediments,(paraphrased)...Lateral discontinuitiesinQuaternarystratamay beunrelatedtofaulting," (paraphrased) .ThewesternmosttraceoftheWBHL mayunderlietheConstellationstation location."(paraphrased) 10 earlierprojects(GoldLinetunnel)wereusedas examplesoftunnelingsuccess,butnodatawas providedfortheirreview ...thegeologicalconditionsthatwouldbe encounteredattunnelingdepthbeneathBHHS woulddiffer,perhapssignificantly ...Itisalsoimportanttonotethatsettlement calculationsdescribedintheSafetyReportdo notappeartoconsiderconsolidation settlementsduetogroundwaterloss. ...older,fragilewaterlinescouldbedamagedby tunnels"(paraphrase)
DatawasnotonlycitedintheTunnelingSafetyReport,butalsowas readilyavailableinpublishedliteratureabouttheGoldLine,aswellasin publicationswellknowninthetunnelingindustry. SoilconditionsatBHHSaresimilartothoseencounteredontheGoldline tunnelandwellsuitedforpressurizedfacetunnelingmethodsthat controlgroundmovementstosmallvalues. AsdescribedintheTunnelingSafetyandTAPreports,pressureface TunnelBoringMachinesoperatewithoutloweringthegroundwaterand consolidationisnotanissue.Itthereforeshouldnotbe,andwasnot includedinthesettlementcalculations. Utilitiesandstructuresabovethetunnelareevaluatedduringthedesign process.Pressurefacetunnelingminimizessettlementtothelevelsthat utilitydamagedoesnotoccur.SimilarageutilitiesexistovertheMetro GoldLinetunnelsandwerenotdamaged. TheTAPreport,didaddresstheevaluationandmonitoringofstructures andutilities,whichisaMetro(andindustry)standard,andemphasized thatmonitoringwillbeconductedpriortoreachingstructurestoconfirm thatmovementsarewithinspecifiedlevels. Thepressurefacetunnelingmethodwillcontrolgroundmovements insoilsofvariablestrength,includingthefractureplanesandshear zonesinafaultedsoilmasswithoutcausingdifferentialsettlements.
11
10
11,12
15
11
Exponent Comment ...lackedalifecycleanalysistoallowa considerationofthesafetyriskmanagement issuesoftheprojectwithinthebroader spectrumofenvironmentalandeconomic aspectsoftheselectionprocess... ...ExponentquestionedplacementoftheSanta MonicaConstellationStationwithintheSan Pedroformation[thathadhighgaslevelsin midCity]
8,9
MetrohasconstructedtunnelsandstationsinontheRedLinein areaswithhighergasmeasurementsthanthoseintheCenturyCity area,andhasdevelopeddesignsfortheWestsidestationsto controlgasandpreventinflowintothestation.Inaddition,deep excavationsforundergroundparkingintheCenturyCity ConstellationStationareahavebeenoperatingsafelyformorethan 40years. Overthepast25+years,theCitiesofLosAngelesandBeverlyHills havedevelopedmethodstomeasuregases,designfortheir presence,andmonitorforcontrol.Metrohasalsodemonstrated designsandoperatingsystemsfortheseconditions.
13
MetroagreesandmadethisrecommendationinitsTunnelingSafety Report.
April 4, 2012
1.0
INTRODUCTION
ThisreportprovidesMetrosresponsetotheissuesraisedintheHazardAssessmentStudy,Westside SubwayExtensionProjectCenturyCityAreareport,whichwaspreparedbyExponentFailureAnalysis AssociatesonFebruary7,2012(hereafterreferredtoastheExponentReport). TheprojectisfollowingthecomprehensiveNationalEnvironmentalPolicyAct/CaliforniaEnvironmental QualityAct(NEPA/CEQA)processaswellastheFederalTransitAdministrations(FTA)requirementsfor projectsenteringitsNewStartsprogram.Thisrequiresevaluationofcost,risks,andbenefitsofall alternativeswithtechnicalreportsbyexpertsintheirfieldstosupportthestudies. Inadditiontotheseindepthstudies,theMetrosWestsideSubwayExtensionProjectteamresponded tospecificquestionsraisedbytheMetroBoardofDirectorsinOctober2010onthesafetyoftunneling inCenturyCity.ReponsestotheMetroBoardwereaddressedinthetworeportsreviewedbyExponent: TheCenturyCityTunnelingSafetyReportandTheCenturyCityAreaFaultInvestigationReport (TunnelingSafetyReportandFaultInvestigationReport,respectively).Inaddition,theindependent TunnelAdvisoryPanel(TAP)preparedasummaryreportaddressingbothfaultandtunnelsafetyissues. Allthereportswerepreparedandreviewedbyinternationallyrecognizedexperts. MetroreconfirmsthefollowingconclusionspresentedintheTunnelingSafety,TAPandFault InvestigationReports:
THISPAGEINTENTIONALLYLEFTBLANK
2.0
ACTIVE FAULTING
ThedeterminationofactivefaultingalongtheSantaMonicaBoulevardalignmentoptionisforemostin MetrosrecommendationtopursuetheCenturyCityConstellationStation(ConstellationStation). Subwaystationsnoranyotherpublicfacilityforhumanoccupancycannotbelocatedonanactivefault. Metrosseismicdesigncriteria(describedinSection3.1)requirelifesafetyperformanceofstructures, whichcannotbemetforanundergroundstationdesignandMaximumDesignEarthquake(MDE)fault offset.WithrespecttofaultingintheCenturyCityarea,ExponentsevaluationoftheFaultInvestigation Reportcontainsanumberoflimitations,whichmaybedueinlargepartbecauseExponentdidnotfully reviewthepaleoseismicinvestigations,includingMetrosuseofmultidisciplinarydatasetstoidentify andcharacterizeactivefaults.Specifically,Exponentfocusedalmostentirelyontheboreholeandcone penetrationtest(CPT)results,withoutconsideringthegeomorphic(landscape)featuresandtheseismic reflectionprofiles.Moreover,thestatementbyExponentthatthechoicebetweenthetwostations [oneonSantaMonicaBoulevardandtheotheronConstellation]ismorelikelytobemadeonthebasis ofriskperceptionratherthanriskquantificationiswithoutmerit. AquantitativeriskassessmentforastationonSantaMonicaBoulevard(includingExponents proposedcentralalternative)isunwarranted,becauseanyofthealternativestationlocationson SantaMonicaBoulevardwouldbewithineitheroftheactiveSantaMonicaorNewportInglewood (NI)/WestBeverlyHillsLineament(WBHL)faultzonesorbothzones[becausestationscannotbebuilt withinactivefaultzones,thereisnoneedforadetailedriskanalysiscomparingthetwostation alternatives].Incontrast,thereisnoevidenceforactivefaultingneartheConstellationStationoption. Therefore,thesubjectofriskbaseddecisionsonthealignmentselectionisdiscussedinSection3.0. Exponentraisedspecificissues,andseveralareintimatelylinked;however,forclarity,eachisaddressed below.
2.1
Fault Locations
TheExponentReportstatedinSection3.2that,Thepreciselocationsofthefaultsareinsomeplaces nottightlyconstrained,suggestingthatMetrosdataarelimitedbecauseoftheboringandCPTspacing andthusisnotsufficient. Thepreciselocationsofmanyofthefaultsidentifiedarenotwellconstrainedsinceitwasnotthe purposeofthefaultinvestigationtodoso.Thepurposeofthefaultinvestigationwastodetermine whetherthestationalternativelocationswouldbeinzonesofsurfacerupturehazardnottodetermine preciselocationsoffaults.ThefaultinvestigationconcludedthatevidenceofactivefaultingattheSanta MonicaStationlocationsexists,andHolocenefaultactivitycannotbeprecludedfromanyofthose locations.ThisconclusionwasdemonstratedthroughthecombinedevaluationofboreholeandCPT data,analysisofthetopography,interpretationoftheseismicreflectionprofilesandrelationshipto demonstratedHolocenefaulting. Thereisnoevidenceforthepresenceofrecentactivityofawesternmosthypothesizedstrandofthe WBHLneartheConstellationStationlocation,although,inthiscase,itisnotrelevantbecauseother observationsincludingtopographyandstratigraphicmarkersinbedrockunitsshownoindicationoflate PleistoceneorHoloceneactivity.Analysisofhistoricphotographyinthisareashowsnoindicationthat
faultinghascauseddisruptionofthesurfacetopography.TheageofthestrataatConstellationStationis notwellconstrained,butitislikelygreaterthan100,000to200,000yearsold. ItisthegeomorphicexpressionofsurfacetopographyuponwhichtheactiveNewportInglewoodfault zonewasextendednorthwesttoincludetheWBHL(asoriginallydocumentedbyDolanandSieh,1992), anditisalsothesurfacetopographythatdelineatesthelocationanddegreeofactivityofactivetraces oftheSantaMonicafaultzoneinCenturyCityandtothewest.Inasimilarfashion,theabsenceof tectonicgeomorphicindicatorsofactivefaultinginancientlandscapesalongtheConstellationStation alignmentandcontinuityofstratigraphicmarkerbedsinSanPedroformationMeistocenebedrock precludesthepresenceofactivefaulting.Accordingly,amoredetailedboringandCPTarraywasnot warrantedforthepurposeofselectinganalignment.Thispointisexplainedinmoredetailbelow. ItappearsthatExponentsevaluationofthedatafocusedentirelyontheboreholeandCPTresults. Thesedata,whilevaluableintermsoflocatingthenearsurfacetracesandgeometriesofthesefaults, representonlypartofthemultidisciplinarydatasetthatwasbroughttobearonthefaultactivity evaluation.Forexample,MetrosFaultInvestigationReportwascarefultopointoutthatintheCentury City/WestBeverlyHillsarea,aprimarymeansbywhichtodeterminethelocationsofactivefaultingis throughanalysisofthelandscape.Asnoted,whenfaultsrupturetothesurfaceresultinginlarge earthquakes,theyleavecharacteristicsignaturesinthelandscape.Thesesignaturescanincludescarps (shortforescarpments),deflectedorcaptureddrainages,andoffsetlandforms.Afirstorderindication ofthelocationofactivefaultingisprovidedbythelandscape. Activefaultsdonotoccurrandomly.Rather,theytypicallyoccurinwelldefinedzones.Thetopographic signaturesoftheSantaMonicaandnorthernNewportInglewoodfaultzonesintheCenturyCity/West BeverlyHillsareaareparticularlywelldefined.TheprominentscarpsassociatedwiththeSantaMonica andnorthernNewportInglewoodfaultzoneswerefirstidentifiedonthebasisofdetailedanalysisofthe topography.Thesescarpsclearlydelineatethegeneraltrendsandlocationsofthesemajoractivefaults. ThenorthsideupscarpassociatedwiththeSantaMonicafaultextendscontinuouslyforapproximately 7milesfromtheLosAngelesCountryClubintheeastacrossCenturyCity,WestLA,andSanta MonicabeforeheadingoffshoreatPacificPalisades,whereitcontinueswestwardalongtheMalibu coastasasubmarinefeature.IntheCenturyCityarea,thisprominentscarpformsthehillalongthe northernedgeofSantaMonicaBoulevardandisparticularlyprominentastheslopinglawnofthe nearbyMormonTemple. Likewise,thetopographicexpressionofthenorthernpartoftheNewportInglewoodfaultsystem (referredtoastheWBHL)isaprominentfeatureofthelandscape.Oneofthemostobvioussurficial expressionsofthisfaultzoneisthelineartopographicupliftedfeaturesthatseparatethelowlying alluvialplainonwhichmostofBeverlyHillsisbuiltfromthehighertopographytothewestofthefault zone. Landscapeanalysisusesgeomorphicanalysestoidentifysignsofactivefaultingandworksintwoways itnotonlyprovidesthemostbasicandcompellingevidenceofthelocationsofactivefaults,butalso shows,bytheabsenceofsuchactivefaultrelatedlandforms,whereactivefaultsarenotpresent.This pointprovidesbasicevidencethatthesiteoftheproposedConstellationStationalternativeisfreeof activefaulting.Nofaultrelatedlandformswereobservedatthesite,eitherinthelandscapeasrevealed bydetailed,1920svintagetopographicmapsortheearliestavailableaerialphotographsfromthelate
2.2
Possibility of Folding
TheExponentReportstatesinSection2.2,point2that,ItispossibletheoffsetsonPlate5(Transect 2/2E)aremonoclinalfolds,offeringthatdatashownontheMetroprofiles(Plate5)couldalsobe interpretedasfoldsratherthanverticalfaultoffsets.AlongthenorthernNewportInglewoodfaultzone, theseismicreflectionprofilesshowthatthereisindeedamonoclinalfoldalongtheeasternedgeofthe WBHL.Thismonoclinelikelyoverliesawestdippingthrustfaultthatwouldprojecttothesurfacein westernBeverlyHillstotheeast.ThisthrustfaultatthebaseoftheWBHLescarpmentisprobably responsibleformostofthetopographicupliftalongtheWBHL.Tothewestofthetopographicscarps, however,thereisevidenceofnofolding,andthestrandsofthenorthernNewportInglewoodfaultzone identifiedintheseismicreflection,borehole,andCPTdataarealmostcertainlysteeplydippingactive strikeslipfaults. Thisdistributionofdifferenttypesoffaultingsteeplydippingstrikeslipfaultsinthemiddleandthrust faults/monoclinalfoldingontheflanksistypicalofthetranspressionalupliftsthatcharacterizethe northernpartoftheNewportInglewoodfaultzonefromLongBeachtoBeverlyHills(e.g.,BaldwinHills, RosecransHills,DominguezHills,SignalHill,andCherryHill).TheWBHLisconsideredintheliteratureto bethenorthernmostoftheseupliftedzones. ThecomplexzoneofnearsurfacedeformationthatcharacterizestheSantaMonicafaulthasbeen studiedindetailattheVAHospitaljustwestofI405,whichislessthan2mileswestofCenturyCity, alongthesamelaterallycontinuousfaultscarp.There,Dolanetal.(2000)documentedthatthescarp formedinresponsetothrustfaultingandmonoclinalfoldingwithinandalongthesouthernedgeofthe topographicscarp.Butwithinandtothenorthofthetopographicscarp,thefaultconsistsofabroad zoneofdistributed,steeplydippingstrikeslipfaults.Thetotalwidthofthefaultzoneisseveralhundred feet.ThecontinuityandsimilarityofthefaultscarpbetweentheVAHospitalandtheCenturyCityarea demonstratesthatdeformationpatternsintheCenturyCityregionshouldbesimilar.
2.3
TheExponentReportimpliesthat(Section3.2,point3)thatthefaultsmaynotoffsetHolocene sediments,thatis,theagesofsedimentaryunitshavenotbeenwelldefined,andsuggeststhatstatutory restrictionstoconstructionwouldnotnecessarilyapply.TherearelittleornoHolocenesedimentsthat overliethesefaultsintheareasofanyoftheproposedstations.TheHolocenesedimentsaregenerally isolatedintheinciseddrainagesandcanyonsandlowlyingalluvialplain,mostofwhichhavenowbeen disturbed(and/orremoved)bydevelopmentand/oroverlainwithartificialfill.Otherthanlocalized Holocenedeposits,theonlysedimentofHoloceneageintheupliftedareaswouldbetheoriginal surfaceAhorizon,ortopsoil,thatcapsthePleistocenefansurfacesintheregion.Inmanyormostareas WESTSIDE SUBWAY EXTENSION PROJECT
April 4, 2012 Page 2-3
inthebuiltenvironment,thislayerisdisturbedorhasbeenremoved.IftheAhorizonisfaulted,late Holoceneactivityisdemonstrated.However,Ahorizonsreformveryrapidlyandtheabsenceofa faultedAhorizonisnotevidenceagainstHolocenefaulting(seeRockwell,2000,foramorecomplete discussionontheuseofsoilsinfaultstudies).ThiscannotberesolvedwithboreholeandCPTdata alone,andcontinuoustrenchingalongtheentirealignmentofallSantaMonicaBoulevardstation alternativesinanortheastsouthwestdirection(toevaluatetheWBHL)andnorthwestsoutheast direction(toevaluatetheSantaMonicafaultzone)islikelyimpossiblebecauseoftheextensive disruptionofthenativesoilmaterialsalongtheutilityalignmentsoftheutilitylines. BoththeSantaMonicaandHollywoodfaultzoneshavebeenwelldocumentedandproventobe Holoceneactive,withthenorthernpartoftheWBHLformingatearbetweentheeasternendofthe SantaMonicafaultzoneandthewesternendoftheHollywoodfault,therebyaccommodatingmotion oneachfaultindependently.Thus,theWBHLalsomustbeHoloceneactive.Moreover,theWBHLis HoloceneactivebyvirtueofbeingthenorthernextensionoftheHoloceneactiveNewportInglewood faultzone.
2.4
TheExponentReport(Section3.2,point4)states,TheWBHLismanifestedatthegroundsurfaceasa boundarybetweentwodisparategeomorphicandsedimentaryenvironments.Asaresult,nontectonic lateraldiscontinuitiesintheQuaternarystratigraphyshouldbeanticipatedtooccuracrossthisfeature. TheExponentimplicationisthatthediscontinuitiesareunrelatedtofaulting,andthusquestions Metrosinterpretationofthesediscontinuities.Althoughtheremaybeotherfeaturessuchasfilled channelsorlateralvariationinstratigraphythatmakecorrelationschallenging,whentherearelaterally continuousanddistinctmarkersoverreasonablylargedistancesthatarethentruncatedabruptly, faultingismostcommonlythereason.Thisisespeciallytruewhereseveralhorizonsatvaryingdepths aretruncatedordisruptedatthesamelocation.Suchpatternsareunlikelytobecausedbyanything otherthanfaultoffsets.Moreover,inmanycases,thelaterallycontinuousfeatureissimplysteppedup ordownacrossthefaultandcontinues.Inthesecases,faultingisalmostalwaysthereasonforthe abruptlateraldiscontinuity.
2.5
TheExponentReport(Section3.4)statesthat,Additionalsubsurfaceexploration[paralleltoSanta MonicaBoulevard]couldbeperformedtovetapotentialCentralAlternative.Thissuggeststhatthere maybesufficientroomforsuchastationlocationalongSantaMonicaBoulevard.Itsuggeststhatthe observedoffsetofamarkerbedthattransectsthecentralalternativestationlocationasnotcaused byfaulting.However,faultswithintheNewportInglewoodfaultzonearepredominantlystrikeslipand potentiallysignificantfaultoffsetsarenotreadilyapparentalongnearlyhorizontalbeds,particularlyin lateQuaternaryandHolocenesedimentswheretotalaccumulatedhorizontaloffsetscouldbetensto hundredsoffeet.Thereinterpretationisthereforenotnecessarilyvalidanddoesnotprecludefault offset. ExponentsuggestedthattrenchingalongSantaMonicaBoulevardcouldresolvethisissue.SantaMonica Boulevardgivestheappearancethatitisawideopenstreetwithalarge,apparentlyundisturbed medianstrip.Thesuggestedcontinuoustrenching,however,isnotlogisticallyfeasiblebecauseofthe presenceofsubsurfaceinfrastructureandconsequentdestructionofthestratigraphyneededtoidentify faultingaswellasthefactthatthereisnotacontinuousmedianstrip. WESTSIDE SUBWAY EXTENSION PROJECT
Page 2-4 April 4, 2012
Whiletrenchingacrosstheentirewidthofafaultzoneisoftenusedasameanstoexaminefaulting,itis oftenextremelydifficulttoexcavatecontinuoustrenchesandconstructmeaningfuldatainurban environments.Accessforcontinuoustrenchingmaybepossibleatindividualpropertiesandbuilding sites.However,Metrostructuresarelongandlinear,andcompleteaccessforsuchalongtrench, particularlywhenitneedstobelocatedinthestreetandcrossstreetswithutilities,includingthelarge stormdrainunderMorenoDrive,precludessuchtrenchinginthisarea.Accordingly,itisnotpossibleto continuouslytrenchtoobtainpositiveevidenceoftheabsenceofallactivefaultstrands.Oncethe subsurfacegeologyhasbeendisturbedbyutilityorstormdrainexcavations,itbecomesunsuitablefor thekindofanalysisnecessarytoevaluatethelocationsofactivefaults. Therearewellover15separateutilitylinesrunningwithinSantaMonicaBoulevard.Infact,theoriginal boringandCPTlayoutontheeastboundsidehadtobemovedtothewestboundsidebecauseofthe densepresenceofutilities,althoughthenumerousutilitylineswerealsopresentonthewestbound side.Althoughtheboulevardiswideenoughtohavezonesthatmaybefreeofmajorutilities, particularlyinsomeofthemedianstrips(whereonlyirrigationlinesmaybepresentwhichcoulddisrupt Holocenesediments),thereareutilitylinesandstormdrainscrossingperpendicularinSantaMonica Boulevard,notonlyattheintersectionswithSouthMorenoDrive,CenturyParkEast,andAvenueofthe Stars,butatadditionallocationsbetweentheseintersectionsaswell.Atalloftheselocationsthe stratigraphynecessarytoevaluatepotentialfaultinghasbeendestroyed.Thisisimportantbecause unlesstrenchexposuresarecompletelycontinuousacrossthezoneofinterest,theresultswillbe inconclusive.Evengapsasshortasafewfeetcanmissfaults.Metrohascarefullyevaluatedpossible locationsfortrenchingonoracrossSantaMonicaBoulevardandhasnotidentifiedlocationsthatcould provideconclusiveevidenceofthepresenceorabsenceofactivefaultingovertheentirelengthofthe potentialstationsites. Withrespecttoapossiblecentralalternative,Exponentappearsnottohaveconsideredthelikelihood ofsignificantdistributeddeformationwithinthestructurallycomplexzoneofintersectionofthe northernNewportInglewoodandSantaMonicafaultzoneswithinthisarea.Faultzonessuchasthe SantaMonicaandnorthernNewportInglewoodarenotsinglefaultstrands(faultlinesonamap),but ratherarebroad,complexzonesoffaultingwithmanypotentiallyactivestrands.Whensuchlargefaults convergewithoneanother,theydonotconvergeatasinglepoint.Rather,theybleedintoone anotheroverastructurallycomplexzoneofdistributeddeformationthatmaybehundredsoffeetwide. Thus,itwouldnotbepossibletoidentifyallpotentialseismicthreatswithinthecomplicatedzoneof intersectionbetweentheSantaMonicaandnorthernNewportInglewoodfaultzonesforreasons describedinabove. ThescarpassociatedwithactivefaultingalongtheSantaMonicafaultzonedoesnotextendeastofthe WBHL,anorthwesttrendingtopographicrisepresentalongthewesternboundaryofBeverlyHills. Rather,theeasternmostpartofthescarpdivergesfromSantaMonicaBoulevard,assumingamore northeasterlytrendthroughtheLosAngelesCountryClub,andmergeswiththenorthernpartofthe WBHLaboutmilenorthofSantaMonicaBoulevard.However,thissectionofthescarpwithinthe CountryClubappearstohavebeenerodedbackbyasouthwestwardflowingdrainageemanatingfrom theBenedictCanyondrainagetotheeast,whichmayalsobeinfluencedbytheWBHLorSantaMonica faultzone.Thus,althoughthescarpprovidesarobustnorthernmostpossiblelocationforthemaintrace ofthenorthdippingSantaMonicafaultzoneintheCountryClubarea,thesurfacetraceofthemain, activestrandsofthefaultzoneresponsibleforinitiallygeneratingthescarpmayliesomewhattothe southeastofthesurfacescarp,andcloserto,orevencoincidentwith,SantaMonicaBoulevardeastof WESTSIDE SUBWAY EXTENSION PROJECT
April 4, 2012 Page 2-5
2.6
2.7
Insummary,ExponentsreviewofMetrosFaultInvestigationReportwastechnicallyincompleteasit didnotconsiderallthemultidisciplinarydataandtheimplicationsofthosedataoftheMetroreports. Metroperformedandassembledaverylarge,multidisciplinarydatasetpresentedintheFault InvestigationReport,andalongwiththecollectivewisdomandexperienceofthemanyexpert earthquakegeologistswhocompiledandwhoreviewedthisreport,providestrongconfirmationofthe reportsconclusions. Inaddition,theriskanalysissuggestedbyExponentforanyoftheSantaMonicaBoulevardsites (includingtheirproposedcentralalternative)isunwarranted,asanyofthesestationalternatives wouldbewithineither(orboth)theSantaMonicaornorthernNewportInglewoodactivefaultzones.As documentedintheMetroFEIR,MetroDesignCriteriawillnotpermitsitingastationonanactivefault. Hence,sinceitisnotpossibletoprecludeHoloceneactivityoffaultstrandsnolocationalongSanta MonicaBoulevardforaCenturyCity/WestBeverlyHillsStationisviable. IncontrasttotheSantaMonicaStationalternatives,theConstellationStationalternativehasno evidenceofactivefaulting.Infact,thereissignificantevidencethattheConstellationStationoptionis clearofactivefaulting.InmarkedcontrasttothetopographicallyobviousSantaMonicaandnorthern NI\WBHL)geomorphology,theabsenceofanytopographicindicationofactivefaultingatConstellation Stationandstratigraphiccontinuityofmarkerbedswithinbedrockmorethan700,000yearsold providescompellingevidencethatthissiteisclearofactivefaults.
3.0
RISK ASSESSMENT
ExponentsoverarchingopinionisthatMetrodidnotconductarigorousprobabilisticriskassessment for1)selectingstationsitesand2)quantifyingthelevelofriskfortunneling.Metrostronglydisagrees withExponentsopinionanddoesnotrecommendtheuseoftheirapproachforassessingriskforthe purposeofselectinganalignment. Metrohasusedpowerful,practical,andacceptedstateofthepracticeengineeringproceduresfor evaluatingandmitigatingrisk.Metrousedariskmanagementapproachinwhichriskswereidentified andengineeringsolutionsweredevelopedtomitigatetheriskstolevelsthatarenotonlyaslowas reasonablypracticable(ALARP)but,fromextensiveexperienceinLosAngelesandonothertransit projects,havebeenproventobesafeandreliable.Fundamentaltothisapproachisthattherisk evaluationandtheengineeringtomitigateriskstoALARPareconductedbyteamsofexpertsinthe relevantdisciplines,andtheeffortandresultsarereviewedbyexpertpanels.Suchanapproachisthe wellaccepted,preferred,andsuccessfulriskmanagementprocedureformajorcivilworksprojects, includingtransitprojects,throughouttheU.S.andinmanypartsoftheworld. Metroanditsengineeringconsultantshaveabundantexperiencedesigningandbuildingtunnelsand stationexcavationsinLosAngeles,dealingwithactivefaultcrossings,probingforoilwells,controlling groundmovements,andevaluatingandcontrollinggasinflowsbothduringconstructionandoperation. Metroconductedextensivereviewsbyteamsofexpertscoveringtherelevantdisciplines Oneteamspecializedingasmonitoringandmitigationandinprobingforandreabandoningoilwell casings.Anotherteamthatinvestigatedandreviewedfaultingincludedtheprojectgeotechnical consultant,andthreeinternationallyrecognizedindividualconsultantsinfaultgeologywith extraordinarypersonalexperienceandexpertiseregardingtheSantaMonicaandtheNewport Inglewoodfaults.Theworkwasthenreviewedbytwoindependentpanelsofinternationallyrecognized experts,allofwhomhavealsohadextensiveexperienceapplyingtheirexpertisetoissuesintheLos Angelesregion:MetrosTunnelAdvisoryPanel(TAP)evaluatedtheworkthroughouttheinvestigation andreviewedthereports;furtherreviewofthereportsandassessmentoftheleveloftheMetros effortwasprovidedbytheIndependentReviewPanelconvenedspecificallyforthisproject.This extensiveeffortisequivalenttoLevels1and2ofthe4LevelriskusedbySeniorSeismicHazardAnalysis Committee(SSHAC)developedbytheUSNRC(2012)intheirRiskManagementmethodology.Levels1 and2exceedthestandardforselectinganalignmentorsitefortraditionalcivilworksprojects. Accordingly,Metrohasaccomplishedtheworkneededtoconductariskanalysis.Itisshownelsewhere inthisreportthatMetrosengineeringisgreaterindepthandinscopethantypicallyusedtoestablish analignment,andthatthedata,analysis,andconclusionsaresufficienttoselectanalignmentthrough CenturyCity.Withsuchabundantengineeringdata,thereareveryfewunknownsoruncertaintiesthata probabilisticriskanalysisisunwarrantedforselectingthealignment.
3.1
ExponentcriticizesMetrosevaluationofthestationsitesbystatingthat.thechoicebetweenthe stations[oneonSantaMonicaBoulevardandtheotheronConstellationAvenue]ismorelikelytobe madeonthebasisofriskperceptionratherthanriskquantification. AquantitativeriskassessmentforastationonSantaMonicaBoulevard(includingExponents proposedcentralalternative)isunwarranted.AnyofthealternativestationlocationsonSantaMonica BoulevardwouldbewithineithertheactiveSantaMonicaorNewportInglewood(NI)/WestBeverlyHills Lineament(WBHL)faultzoneorbothzones.Thefactthatstationscannotbebuiltwithinactivefault zonesobviatestheneedforadetailedcomparativeriskanalysisbetweenthetwostationsites. MetrosFaultInvestigationreportstatesforthefaultdisplacementsthatcouldoccur,designofMetros undergroundstations(complextwostorystructuresupto1,000feetlong,includingsystemsand ventilationequipment)towithstandsuchdisplacementswithoutsignificantdamageandpotentialloss oflife,wouldbeimpracticalandwithoutprecedent.Damagelevelswouldrequireacompleterebuildof thestationsandassociatedtunnelsections,withaconstructiontimeframeofseveralyears.In addition,theStateofCaliforniadoesnotpermitconstructionofstructuresforhumanoccupancyin activefaultzones.Thus,foundingastationwithinanactivefaultzoneisnotconsistentwithMetro DesignCriteriaandtheStateofCalifornialaws.Moreover,MetroDesignCriteriadoesrecognizeand provideguidelinesfortunnelstocrossactivefaults.NeithertheDesignCriterianorgoodengineering judgmentallowlocatingatunnelwithinanactivefaultzoneforasignificantdistancebutratheritmust crossatanangletothefault. Therefore,fromMetrosengineeringperspective,theoperablestandardisnolossoflifeandrepairable damage.Giventhisstandardandtheconfirmedpresenceofanactivefault,furtherprobabilisticanalysis appliedtovettingtheSantaMonicaBoulevardalignmentisnotappropriate.Suchanalysisputs probabilitiesagainstcertaineventsand,typically,estimatesarangeforpossibleimpactstoproject objectives(e.g.,cost,duration,safety,andquality).ThisinformationisthencombinedandaMonte Carloanalysisisdonetodeterminetherangeofpossibleoutcomesagainsttheprobabilityofthose outcomes. Thestrengthofsuchaprocessthatthousandsofpossiblefuturesaresimulatedtoseehoweventsare likelytoplayoutisalsoaweaknessincasessuchasthiswhereeventswithextremelysmall probabilities,butcatastrophicimpacts,arebeingconsidered.Whentheprobabilityismultipliedbythe potentialimpacttodetermineanexpectedvalue,thetinyprobabilitiestendtosubsumethepotential impactsthesmallnessoftheprobabilityoverwhelmsthelargenessoftheimpact.Thetoolsalso tendtoobscuretherealitythatsuchaneventeitherhappensoritdoesnt.Intheeventthatastation wasbuiltonSantaMonicaBoulevardandanearthquakeresultedindeathsand/orirreparable damage,itwillprovidenorelieftoknowhowimprobablesuchaneventwasorthatinathousandother futuresinaMonteCarlosimulation,thestationwasneverimpactedbyanearthquake. Expertscanandwilldisagreeastotheprobabilityorreturnperiodofaseismiceventinthearea,and expertscanandwilldisagreeastothelikelystrengthofthateventshouldithappen.Giventhatthisis anactivefault,itcanbesaidthattheriskofacatastrophicseismiceventisnotzero,andthatwhensuch aneventoccurs,lossoflifewilloccurandthestationsandtheconnectingserviceswouldberendered irreparable.Anyfurtheranalysis,beyondtheidentificationofthelocationofanactivefaultuponwhich WESTSIDE SUBWAY EXTENSION PROJECT
Page 3-2 April 4, 2012
theSantaMonicastationsandtunnelswouldbelocated,wouldimplythatbuildingastationina locationunprecedentedintheU.S.alocationthatwouldexposethepeopleusingthestationtoa continuingandarguablygrowingriskofacatastrophiceventandariskthatwouldexistforthelifetime ofthefacilityisstillalocationreasonableenoughtocontinueinvestigating.Inshort,itimpliesthatthe unprecedentedsitingofanundergroundstationinanactivefaultzone,contrarytotheintentofthe AlquistPrioloEarthquakeFaultZoningAct,isacceptable. ExponentsExecutiveSummaryalsostatesthatItisExponentsviewthatthealternativeConstellation Boulevardstation,whilegenerallyinamorefavorablelocationwithregardstofaultingissues,isinstead facedwithpotentialmethanegashazardsthatcouldrepresentatleastasgreatahazardtothepublicas thefaultinghazardsassociatedwiththeSantaMonicaBoulevardstation. Exponentsstatementisincorrectandmisleading.Comparisonofgashazardswithsitingastationonan activefaultisinappropriate.AnactivefaultattheSantaMonicaboulevardstationsitecannotbe mitigated.Ontheotherhand,gashazardscanbemitigatedashasbeendemonstratedonMetro stationsanddeepbasementsthroughoutLosAngeles,includingareasofmuchhighergas concentrationsthanatConstellation,andwillbemitigatednotonlyatConstellationbutatother locationsalongtheWestsidecorridorusingupdated,provendesignsandconstructionprocedures.
3.2
Exponentstatesthattheiroverarchingopinionisthatneitherreport(FaultorSafety)demonstratesthe presentedfindingsasbasedonrigorousriskassessment(s)onthesesubjects.Specifically,noattemptis madetoquantifyorevenqualitativelyassessthepotentialrisksfromthesescenarios.Noquantitativeor qualitativeriskassessmentshavebeenpresentedtoeithera)estimatethelikelihoodofsucheventsorb) characterizethepotentialseverityofsucheventstothepublic. ExponentsopinionisverysurprisingbecausethethreeMetroreportsconsistalmostentirelyof identificationofrisks,detailedqualitativeaswellasquantitativedescriptionsoftherisksandthe engineeringproceduresusedtomitigatetherisks.However,theMetrostudieswerefocusednoton estimatingthelikelihood(probability)ofaneventbutratheronutilizingexpertsintherelevantgeologic andengineeringdisciplinestoprovidesolutionstomitigatetheriskofaneventoccurringandthento establishcontrolsandmonitoringtoconfirmthattheriskhasbeenmitigated. MetrorespondedtothemotionmadebytheMetroBoardofDirectorsinOctober2010onthesafetyof tunnelinginCenturyCity,includingexploring,risksassociatedwithtunnelingunderthe[BeverlyHills] HighSchool,includingbutnotlimitedtothefollowing:riskofsettlement,noise,vibration,risksfromoil wellsontheproperty,impacttouseoftheschoolasanemergencyevacuationcenter,andoverallriskto studentfacultyandcommunity Metrosapproachwastoconcentrateonconductingthenecessaryengineeringtoconfirmasafe alignmentandthentofullydoengineeringonthatalignment,notonlytoprovethatthealignmentis safe[riskmitigatedtoacceptablelevels],butalsotoincreasesafetyandconveniencesusingtriedand provenmethods.Adetailedengineeringstudywasconductedoneachrisktoquantifyeachcontributing factorassociatedwiththatriskandtoprovideengineeringsolutionstoreducetherisktoALARP.Rather thanconcentratingononlyrisks,Metroadoptedanaggressivesafetyverificationandimprovement approach.
Sitingthetunnelwithadequatecovertoreduceoreliminateimpactsfromtunnelingbelowa structure.Thetunneldepthprovidesmorethantwodiametersofcoverabovethetunnelcrown. ThealignmentwasselectedtoavoidpassingclosetotheBHHSswimmingpoolbuilding. Designandspecificationsrequiringprovenandupdatedtunnelingtechnologyforcontrollingground conditionsandpreventinginflows.PressurizedclosedfaceTBMrequiredwithsurfacesettlements tobeheldtolessthan0.5inches. Prequalificationrequirementsforbiddingcontractorsandtheirseniorengineers,supervisorsand operatorsthatincludeexperienceinoperatingandcontrollingpressurizedfacetunnelboring machines. Monitoringofmachinefunctionsandgroundmovementstoverifythatgroundconditionsare controlledandtomaketimelyadjustmentsinproceduresbeforereachingstructures.
3.3
Summary
THISPAGEINTENTIONALLYLEFTBLANK
4.0
SAFETY OF TUNNELING
4.1
TheExponentReportdoesnotdifferentiatebetweenopenshieldtunnelingmethodsusedin constructingtheMetroRedlinetunnelsinthe1990sandthemajoradvancesincurrenttunneling technologythathaveproducedprovensystemsforcontrollinggroundmovementsandinflowofwater andgasinawiderangeofsoilandgroundwaterconditions.Thus,thissubsection,reviewsthe pressurized,closedfacetunnelingsystemsnowusedonMetroprojects(alsodescribedintheTunneling SafetyReport). Pressurizedfacetunnelboringmachine(TBM)technologyhasbeendemonstratedonmanyprojectsin theU.S.andthroughouttheworldtominimizegroundsurfacemovement.Inthepast20years, improvementsindesignandoperationofthesemachineshavecontinued,andsuccesseshavebeenwell documentedonprojectsandinpublishedliterature.InLosAngeles,thesuccessofthemethodhasbeen demonstrated,ontheMetroGoldLineEastsideExtension(MGLEE).AsdescribedintheTunnelingSafety Report,minimalgroundmovementisachievedthroughcontinuoussupportofthetunnelfaceby pressurizingthefaceofconditionedexcavatedsoil,continuouspressurizationandfillingoftheannular gapsaroundtheshield,andimmediatepressuregroutingaroundthesegmentaltunnellininginstalledas thetunnelshieldisadvanced.ThispressurizedfaceTBMtechnologyalongwiththeimmediate installationofgasketedtunnellinersallowstunnelingbelowthegroundwatertablesuchthatwaterand gasdonotenterthetunnelandcausedrawdownandassociatedsurfacesettlement.Thetunneling methodhasalsobeendescribedinSection4.15oftheDraftEnvironmentalImpactReport/Draft EnvironmentalImpactStatement(DEIS/DEIR)anditsAppendixE,readilyavailableonMetroswebsite. ThepressurizedfacetechnologyisbeingspecifiedforMetroTBMtunnelsinsoil. ProfessorEisenstein,formermemberofMetrosTAP,andformerpresidentoftheInternational TunnellingAssociation(ITA),presentedtheresultsofthemonitoringatMGLEEinhiskeynoteaddressto the2007ITAWorldTunnelCongress,notingthatmostofthegroundmovementswerewithintherange ofsurveyaccuracyandessentiallyzero.Dr.EisensteinalsodescribedsimilarexperienceontheCanada LinelightrailprojectinVancouver,whereverysmallgroundmovementsweremeasuredduringEarth PressureBalance(EPB)tunnelingincludingdirectlyunderhighrisebuildings.Inhisconclusionshestates: With[earthpressurebalance]EPBTBMlossofground0.3percentshouldbeachievablefor mostcohesivesoilswithoutotherprotectivemeasures. AsdemonstratedontheexampleofLosAngelesMetrotunnels,azerolossofgroundtunneling isnowareality.Thisoutstandingachievementwasaccomplishedduetoacombinationof innovativefeaturesoftheTBMusedandtheskillofitsoperators. Manyothertunnelprojectsarebeingdrivenwithlittleornosettlement.CurrentlyonSeattlesSound TransitstwoUniversityLinktunnelcontracts,bothcontractorsareusingpressurizedface(earth pressurebalance)tunnelboringmachinesinsoilsconsistingofglacialtill,lacustrineclayandsilt,and WESTSIDE SUBWAY EXTENSION PROJECT
April 4, 2012 Page 4-1
outwashsandsandgravel.Onbothcontracts,thefirsttunneldrivesofthetwintunnelshavebeen completedandtheseconddrivesarenearingcompletion.Mostofthetunnellengthwasbeneath structures,includinghomes,apartmentbuildings,aschool,commercialstructuresandaninterstate highway.Therehavebeennosignificantsettlementsorbuildingdamage.Onecontractorconducteda concentratedmonitoringprograminthefirst500feetofthetunneldrivetoconfirmthatthetunneling methodsandgroundcontrolprocedureswereeffectiveinpreventinggroundmovements(DiPonio,etal, 2012).Pressuresensorsontheshieldfaceandperimetercontinuouslyrecordedthepositivepressures supportingthegroundatboththetunnelfaceandaroundtheperimeterofthetunnelshield,and provideddirectevidenceofwhythetunnelingsystemwasabletopreventgroundmovements.Deep extensometerslocatedimmediatelyabovethetunnelshowedthattherewasnosettlementasthe tunnelboringmachinepassedtheinstrumentlocation.
4.2
Metro Gold Line Eastside Extension Data and its Applicability to Century City
TheExponentReportstatesthatearlierprojects(e.g.,MGLEE)wereusedasexamplesoftunneling success,butnodatawasprovidedfortheirreview. ItisincorrecttostatethatnoMGLEEdatawasprovidedintheTunnelingSafetyReport.TheTunneling SafetyReportsummarizedthemagnitudeofthesettlementsmeasuredatthesurfaceandonbuildings. Itprovidedatypicalsettlementcrosssectionandsummarizedthedeepextensometersettlement measurements,notingthatallofthemeasurementswerefarbelowtheestablishedactionlevels.The volumescontainingtheoriginaldataplotswerenotprovidedinthereport,butthatdatareceived extensivereviewbyexpertsintunnelingandgroundcontrolduringandafterconstruction,andin preparingtheTunnelingSafetyReport.Furthermore,theMGLEEtunnelingworkwasdocumentedin publishedpapersbyRobinson&Bragard(2007),Chouiery,et.al(2007),andEisenstein(2007). ThroughouttheMGLEEconstruction,therealsettlementdatawasusedtoverifythatground movementswerebeingcontrolledastheTBMwasadvanced,andtheresultswereevaluated throughouttheprojectbyprojectparticipantsandtheTAP. Morerecently,duringtheplanningandpreliminaryengineering(PE)phasesforplannedMetro tunnelingprojects,includingtheWestsideSubwayExtension,MetrosTAPreviewedallthesurfaceand buildingsettlementdataandthedeepextensometerdatafortheMGLEEproject.TheTAPReport stated: Throughoutthetwotunneldrives,procedureswereinplacetocloselycontrolthetunneling operationandlimitsettlement.Acomprehensiveprogramofinstrumentationandsurveying wasconductedtomonitorgroundmovementaroundandabovethetunnels.Seventyfive extensometerswereinstalledinverticalboringsalongthetwotunnelcenterlinestomeasure groundmovementnearthecrownoftheadvancingtunnelsandatmiddepthbetweenthe tunnelandthegroundsurface.Displacementsimmediatelyabovethetunnelcrownwere typicallylessthan0.1inchandanorderofmagnitudelessthanthespecifiedActionand Maximumallowablesettlementlevels,confirmingthattheEPBoperationwaseffectivein minimizinggroundmovement. AsstatedintheTunnelingSafetyReport(Section4.2),nosubstantiatedsettlementclaimsweremadeat MGLEEduringorafterconstruction.Thistunnelpassedasshallowas35feetdirectlybelowexisting buildingfoundationswhiletheywereoccupied.Incontrast,thetunnelsatCenturyCityaremorethan50 WESTSIDE SUBWAY EXTENSION PROJECT
Page 4-2 April 4, 2012
feetbelowthesurface.TheMetroIndependentReviewPanel(IRP)alsoreviewedtheMGLEEsettlement dataandagreedwithMetrosassessment.
4.3
Soil Conditions in Century City, Beverly Hills and East Los Angeles (Gold Line)
TheExponentReport(Section5.1.2)commentedthatthegeologicalconditionsthatwouldbe encounteredattunnelingdepthbeneathBHHSwoulddiffer,perhapssignificantly,fromthoseconsidered typicalduringdrillingoftheMGLEE.Thisdifferencemayormaynotaffectthetunnelingperformanceof thepressurefaceTBMsanticipatedforuseintheproject.Thereportalsonotedtheimportanceof minimizingwaterlossfromthesaturatedsandsduringdrilling(sic)thatcouldresultinground settlement,includingduringanunplannedhaltbeneaththehighschool. ThepressurizedfaceTBMsystemsaredesignedtooperateefficientlyandcontrolthegroundinthe rangeofgroundconditionsencounteredatbothCenturyCityandatMGLEE,andtheexperienceon MGLEEisfullyapplicable,aswellasthecurrentandextensiveexcellentexperiencewithpressurized, closedfaceTBMsthroughoutthetunnelingindustry.TheminimumpressuresonthefaceoftheTBM arespecifiedandcontrolledtobeabovethegroundwaterpressures,thuspreventinginflowofwater. Tunnelingcanbeplannedtoadvancecontinuouslydirectlybeneathstructures.Furthermore,asnoted below,thesoilconditionsatMGLEEaresimilartothoseatCenturyCity. AschematicprofileofsoilconditionsatMGLEE(shownonFigure43oftheTunnelingSafetyReport) showsthattheMGLEEtunnelwasadvancedintheOlderAlluviumformation,whichincludedzonesof predominantlysandysoilsandzonesofpredominantlyclayeysoils.ThetextintheExponentReport statesthatthesandysoilsweresomewhatclayeyatMGLEE,whereasthoseatCenturyCitywere different.However,intheWestwoodarea,thesoilsareOlderAlluvium,whichalsocontainsbothsandy andclayeyzones.Furthermore,asdescribedbelow,thesandysoilsintheLakewoodformationatBHHS havesimilargradationstothoseinthesandyzonesatMGLEE.Suchgroundconditionsareamenableto efficientpressurizedfacetunneling,whichcanbeaccomplishedwithverysmallgroundmovements,as wasexperiencedatMGLEE. OnedifferencebetweenCenturyCityandMGLEEisthatthetunnelalignmentforCenturyCityisdeeper thanatMGLEE.Adeeperalignmentreducesthemagnitudeofthesurfacesettlementsforagiven tunnelsgroundloss.AnotherdesirableconditionatBHHSforgroundbehaviorattunnellevelisthe presenceofmoreverystifftohardolderalluviumabovethetunnelcrown.
4.4
Surface Settlements
TheExponentReportstatesinSection5.1.1.thataccordingtoreports[BellConsulting,2004] describingsurfaceeffectsduringtunnelingoftheMetroRedLinesubway,settlementsweremuchhigher (2to10inches)thanoriginallypredicted(0.5inches).TheExponentReportusesthisstatementto concludethathigherdifferentialsettlementsandcosmeticandevenstructuraldamageshouldbe expectedfortheCenturyCityalignment. ExponentincorrectlyreferencesareportthatdescribesearlierMetrotunnelingexperiencewithopen facediggershieldsthatarenolongerbeingusedorproposedforMetrotunnelprojects,anddoesnot acknowledgethequantumleapsinproventunnelingtechnologyforcontrollinggroundmovements,as evidencedbythetunnelingexperienceonMGLEE.TheExponentReportstatementwasmadeinspiteof theextensivediscussionandexplanationsintheTunnelingSafetyReportandtheTAPreportthatthe WESTSIDE SUBWAY EXTENSION PROJECT
April 4, 2012 Page 4-3
RedLinetunnelsconstructedinthe1990susedopenfaceshields,whichweresubjecttolarger settlementsthanthepressurizedclosedfaceTBMsnowbeingusedthroughoutthetunnelingindustry. Forthisreason,pressurizedclosedfaceTBMswererecommendedbytheMetroTAPinthe1990s(see Section92oftheTunnelingSafetyReportandSection4.1oftheTAPreport).Metroacceptedthe recommendation,andpressurizedfacemachineswerethenspecifiedandusedontheMGLEEproject wheresettlementswereheldto0to0.3inchesPressurizedfacemachinesarebeingspecifiedforMetro tunnelingprojectscurrentlyindesign,andwillbeusedfortunnelinginCenturyCity. Openfacediggershieldsnotonlyhadthepotentialforlargegroundmovementsintotheunsupported tunnelface,buttheyhadnomethodforpreventingtheregulargroundlossintotheovercutannulus aroundtheshield.Additionalgroundlossalsooccurredbehindthetailoftheshieldduringthetimeit tooktoinstallandexpandthetunnellining.Withopenshields,dewateringisrequiredtopreventinflows ofgroundwaterandsoil. Therefore,pastexperiencewithgroundlossesaroundopenshieldisnotapplicabletopressurized closedfaceTBM.Theabilitytocontrolgroundmovementsandlimitgroundlosstosmallvalues(less than0.5%,equivalenttoapproximately0.5inchesforthetunneldepthsbeingconsidered)isbeing achievedwithpressurizedfacemachinesonprojectsallovertheU.S.andworldwide.Monitoringof groundmovementsandpressuresaroundtheTBMshieldhasshownthatpressurizationoftheshield perimeteraswellasthetunnelfacepreventssignificantgroundloss.Asstatedabove,pressurizedface machinesarebeingspecifiedforMetrotunnelingprojectscurrentlyindesign,andincluderequirements forpressurizingtheshieldperimeteraswellasrequirementsforpressurizationofthetunnelfaceand forimmediategroutingaroundthesegmentaltunnelliningastheshieldhasadvanced.
4.5
TheExponentReportstatesinSection5.1.1:ItappearsthatsettlementconsiderationsintheSafety Reportonlyaccountfordeformationalongaprofileperpendiculartothecenterlineofthetunnels. Differentialsettlementswouldalsobeexpectedbetweenareasaheadofandbehindtheadvancing boringmachine. Exponentcorrectlynotesthatdifferentialsettlementsdooccuralongtheaxisoftheadvancingtunnel. However,itisincorrecttoconcludethatMetrodoesnotconsiderthem.Metroconsultantshave,over manyyears,monitoredanddevelopedrelationshipsbetweenthelongitudinalsettlementslopes(along theaxisofthetunnel)andthelateralsettlementslopes(alongaprofileperpendiculartothecenterline ofthetunnel).Theconclusionisthatthelateralsettlementslopesprovideanupperlimittothe longitudinalslopesand,therefore,estimatingthelateralsettlementslopesfromaprofileperpendicular tothetunnelaxisissufficientfordeterminingtherelationbetweenbuildingdistortionanddamage. Metrosconsultantsmadethepioneeringearlymeasurementsofthethreedimensionalpatternof settlementsaroundanadvancingtunnelshield(CordingandHansmire,1975,Hansmire,1975)and reportedontherelationshipbetweensettlementslopesinthelongitudinaldirectionandthoseinthe tunnelcrosssectionperpendiculartothetunnelaxis.Suchmeasurementshavebeenmadeonanumber ofprojects.Theresultsindicatethatthemaximumsettlementslopesinthelongitudinaldirection(along thetunnelaxis)areequaltoorlessthantheaverageslopeofthesettlementtroughinthecrosssection. Thus,theaveragesettlementslopeinthetunnelcrosssectionprovidesanupperlimittothe longitudinalslope.Therefore,itisappropriatetousetherelationshipbetweengroundmovementsina WESTSIDE SUBWAY EXTENSION PROJECT
Page 4-4 April 4, 2012
4.6
Consolidation Settlements
TheExponentReportstatesinSection5.1.1,Itisalsoimportanttonotethatsettlementcalculations describedintheSafetyReportdonotappeartoconsiderconsolidationsettlementsduetogroundwater loss. ThisstatementconfirmsExponentslackofunderstandingofcurrenttunnelingtechnology. Consolidationsettlementsduetogroundwaterlossduringtunnelingarenotanissueasthereisno waterloss.Itismostimportanttonotethatpressurizedfacetunnelingbalancesgroundwaterpressures andthelineriswaterandgastightsothatdrainageintothetunnelproducingdewateringand consolidationsettlementsdonotoccur.Furthermore,thedenseandstiffsoilsaroundthetunnelsin CenturyCitywillnotbesubjecttomeasurableconsolidationduetostressandgroundwaterchanges duringtunneling.Moreover,asdescribedintheDEIS/EIR,theLosAngelesareahasbeensubjectedto manycyclesoffluctuationingroundwaterlevels,andsoilsaregenerallynotsubjecttofurther consolidationwithgroundwaterchanges.
4.7
Protection of Utilities
TheExponentReportsuggeststhatolder,fragilewaterlinescouldbedamagedbytunnels.Section5.2 states,Considerationmustbegiventothepossibilitythattheseveryoldutilitylinesmaybebrittleand unabletotolerateeventheprojecteddifferentialsettlements. Utilitiesalongthetunnelalignmentareroutinelyassessedandevaluatedduringdesignand construction.Usingsimilaranalysismethodsasforsettlementofbuildings,standardpracticeinthe tunnelingindustryistoidentifyandevaluateutilitieslocationswithrespecttothetunnel(depthand offset,materialcomposition,age,typeofjoints,andcontents).Themajorlinesareidentifiedfor relocationasrequiredatstationlocationsandforcoordinationwiththeutilityowner.Whereanalysisof autilityshowsthatadditionalprotectionisneeded,stepsaretakenpriortotunnelingsuchas replacementorrepairoftheutility,orbyothermethodssuchasgroundmodificationtofurther reducesettlement. WithrespecttoExponentsconcernsaboutbrittleutilities,itshouldbenotedthateventheoldcastiron watermainsoverlyingMGLEEwerenotdamagedbytheEPBMtunneling.Metroengineershave abundantunderstandingandexperiencewiththebehaviorandprotectionofutilities.Infactoneofthe membersoftheIRPpanelisaconsultantfortheLosAngelesDepartmentofWaterandPower(LADWP) andisacoauthorofthecomprehensiveLADWPreportontheconditionandprotectionofthesesame typesofcastironwaterlinesthatexistatbothMGLEEandtheConstellationalignments(Bardet,etal, 2010). Asfortunnelingmethods,ExponentcommentsinSection5.2onlargegroundmovementandformation ofasinkholein1995ontheRedLineandincorrectlyrelatesittothesensitivityofutilitiesandTBM tunneling.The1995sinkholeinHollywooddidnotoccurduringTBMtunneling.Thesinkholeresulted fromremining(removalandresettingoftheinstalledsupport)ofamisalignedtunnel.Themethodused WESTSIDE SUBWAY EXTENSION PROJECT
April 4, 2012 Page 4-5
4.8
TheExponentReportstatesinSection5.6,TheSafetyreportdoesnotaddressanyplansfor reconnaissanceormonitoringofstructuresorutilitylinesbeforeorduringtunnelingoperations. Comprehensivediscussionsofsurveysandmonitoringarepresentedinanumberofreports,including theTAPreportandtheDraftEIS/EIR.Exponentshouldbeawarethatthisisstandardpracticeinthe tunnelingindustry. Instrumentationandmonitoringduringtunnelingareabsolutelykeythisisstandardpracticeinthe tunnelingindustryandisdescribedintheDraftESI/EIR.Designsforinstrumentationandmonitoring,as wellaspreconstructionsurveys,arecarriedoutinfinaldesign.Furthermore,preconstructionsurveys mustbecarriedoutaslateaspracticalbeforetunnelingsothatthesurveyreflectsconditions immediatelypriortotunneling.Detailedinspectionsarecarriedoutaspartofthenormaldesignand preconstructionprocess.Settlementmonitoringpointsareplacedonbuildings,andaprecondition surveyisperformedforcomparisonwithconditionsaftertunnelinghasbeenaccomplished. TheTAPnotedinitssafetyreport: Designcriteriaandconstructionprocedureswillbeinplacetoensurethattheground movementsarecontrolledtorequiredlevels.ActionandMaximumlevelsforsettlementwill bespecifiedandmonitoringsectionswillbeestablishedtomeasuregroundmovementsprior toandduringtunnelingbeneaththehighschoolandotherstructuresalongthealignment. Themonitoringwillbeusedtoconfirmthatgroundmovementsarebeingcontrolledto requiredlevelsortomakeanyrequiredadjustmentsintunnelingprocedures.
4.9
Provenmethodshavebeenusedandareappropriateforanalyzingthemagnitudeanddistributionof groundmovementsandtheirimpactonstructuresforthesoilconditionsintheCenturyCity/Beverly Hillsarea.Themethodsarebasedonextensiveexperiencemonitoringdeepgroundmovementsaround theadvancingtunnelshield,measurementsofthesurfacesettlementandlateraldisplacementsovera widerangeofgroundconditions,andcorrelationswithnumericalanalyses.InthedesignofMetro tunnelsandexcavations,afullrangeofmethodsisusedforevaluatinggroundmovements,including compilingfieldmeasurementsandnumericalanalyses.Furtherevaluationsandanalysesareconducted duringthefinaldesignandconstructionplanning;however,thecurrentanalysesarenotonlysufficient, butwellprovenforestablishingthatmovementscanbecontrolledtorequiredlevels. Metrotunnelcontractswillspecifyrequirementsforcontrollinggroundmovements,includinguseof pressurizedfaceTBMsandrequirementsforpressurizingthetunnelfaceandshieldperimeterand pressuregroutinginthetailinordertopreventsettlement.Thecontractswillhaveprequalification requirementsthatwillrequiretunnelingcontractorsandtheirindividualoperatorsandtunnelmanagers tohavehadexperienceindrivingpressurizedfaceTBMsonsimilarprojects. WESTSIDE SUBWAY EXTENSION PROJECT
Page 4-6 April 4, 2012
Inthepast10years,oneofthekeyadvancesinpressurizedfacetunnelinghasbeentheimproved controlprocedures,withrealtime,continuousmonitoringanddigitalreadoutofkeymachinefunctions toconfirmoradjustthevariousfunctionstomeetrequiredtargetlevelsandtoprovideanarchival recordforlaterreviewandevaluation. TheExponentReportnotesthatrecordedsettlementsordamageduringtunnelingshouldbecorrelated withmodelpredictions. Metroconsultantshavecorrelatedobservationsofgroundmovements,buildingdistortionandbuilding damagewithappropriatescalingrelationships,closedformsolutions,physicalmodels,andnumerical models,includingdistinctelementanalysesandtwoandthreedimensionalfiniteelementanalyses usingadvancedconstitutivemodels.Theresultsoftheseinvestigationshavebeenusedtodevelop damagecriteria,suchastherelationshipprovidedintheTunnelSafetyReportforrelatingbuilding strainsanddistortionstodamagelevels(BoscardinandCording,1989). However,theprimarymethodforcontrollinggroundmovementsandpreventingdamageisnotto observedamageduringtunnelingandcorrelateitwithmodelpredictions.Rather,itistocontrolground movementstopreventdamage.Themeasurementsofinterestareobtainedusingdeepextensometers todeterminethesettlementandgroundlossimmediatelyaroundtheTBMasitisdrivenpastthe extensometerlocation.Thisinformation,alongwithmonitoringofmachinefunctions,isusedeitherto confirmthatgroundmovementsareundercontrolortoidentifythelocationofanygroundlossaround theshieldsothatadjustmentscanbemadetoreducegroundlossespriortoreachingstructures.Inthe caseoftheMGLEEproject,75deepextensometerswereinplace,measuringgroundlossasthetunnel shieldpassed.Inallcases,theextensometersshowedthatdeepsettlementswereverysmallonthe orderof0to0.1inchesandanorderofmagnitudelessthantheactionlevel.Asaresult,therewasno damageandnoopportunitytocorrelatedamagewithanymodelpredictions.
Response to Hazard Assessment Study by Exponent 5.0 - Gas Conditions At Constellation Station Option
5.0
TheExponentReport(ExecutiveSummary)states:ItisExponentsviewthatthealternative ConstellationBoulevardstation,whilegenerallyinamorefavorablelocationwithregardstofaulting issues,isinsteadfacedwithpotentialmethanegashazardsthatcouldrepresentatleastasgreata hazardtothepublicasthefaultinghazardsassociatedwiththeSantaMonicaBoulevardstation. Exponentsstatementisincorrect.Comparisonofgashazardswithsitingastationonanactivefaultis inappropriate.AnactivefaultattheSantaMonicaBoulevardStationsitecannotbemitigated.Gas hazardscanbemitigatedandareroutinelymitigatedforMetrostationsanddeepbasements throughoutLosAngeles,includingareasofmuchhighergasconcentrationsthanatConstellation Station,andwillbemitigatedinthestationsalongtheWestsidecorridorusingprovendesignsand constructionprocedures.Metrohasassembledanoutstandingteamofhighlyexperiencedconsultants withdecadesofexperienceinevaluatinggasanddesigningandconstructingstationsanddeep basementsingassyareas. TheLosAngelesbuildingandfiredepartmentspromulgatedofficialmethanemitigationstandardsas earlyas1985.ThesestandardshavebeenusedsuccessfullytomitigatemethanehazardsalloverLos Angeles,includingnumerousschools,basements,andundergroundstationsformorethan25years. Also,aspresentedintheTunnelingSafety Report,thegashazardrelativetotunneland stationexcavationsafetywasevaluatedusing datafromnewboringstakenbyMetroand fromexistingprojectsconstructedinthe CenturyCityarea.Thelevelsofmethanefound werecomparedtothosefoundintheexisting Metrotunnels(e.g.,RedLinedowntown). Whilemethanegaswasmeasuredinboringsat theConstellationStationarea,thefactthat tunnelsandstationshavebeenconstructedin similarorhigherlevelsofgasandthereare severalexistingdeepundergroundstructures intheCenturyCitygroundconditions demonstratesfeasibilitybothforconstruction andforoperation.Forexample,theThemebuildingwithmultiplelevelsofundergroundparking(refer tophoto)wasbuiltmorethan40yearsagoinCenturyCityadjacenttotheCenturyCityStationarea.The WestsideprojecthasevaluatedrequirementsforconstructingsubwaystationsalongtheWestside alignmentingassygroundandhaspreparedPreliminaryEngineering(PE)designsforliningthestations usingsystemsforpreventinginfiltrationofgas.Duringexcavation,constructionprocedures,including ventilationmethods,aredesignedtoensurethatgasconcentrationsarebelowrequiredlimitsinboth coveredandopenexcavations.Mitigationmeasuresforcontrollingandpreventinggasinflowatstations alongtheWestsidecorridor,includingatCenturyCity,havebeeninvestigatedduringthePEphase. Provenmitigationmeasureswillbeincorporatedintothedesign,construction,andoperatingplans. Underground Construction Constellation Boulevard
Response to Hazard Assessment Study by Exponent 5.0 - Gas Conditions At Constellation Station Option
5.1
IntheExponentReport(Section4.3),ExponentquestionedplacementoftheSantaMonicaConstellation StationwithintheSanPedroformation.Exponentsconclusionswereapparentlymistakenlybasedon recommendationsfromareportpreparedfortheMidCityExtensioninthe1990sthatdonotapplyto theconditionsatConstellation.Whiletunnelandgeotechnicalengineersoftenusedatafromnearby sitestogainadditionalknowledgeongroundconditions,theydonotbasefoundationorsubsurface designsondatafromanothersite,especiallyifitisseveralmilesaway.SincetheAlternativesAnalysis StudyquotedbyExponentwascompleted,sitespecificboringshavebeencompletedfortheWestside SubwayExtension. GasconcentrationsatthePico/SanVicentestationarea(overfourmilesfromCenturyCity)were generallyhigherthanthosefoundinWilshire/Fairfaxareaparticularlyconcentrationsoftoxic hydrogensulfidegas.AtthePico/SanVicentestationlocation,thevastmajorityofthegaswasconfined totheupper,unsaturatedportionoftheSanPedroformation.Atthatlocation,theSanPedroformation wascappedbyadepositofclayandanassociatedzoneofperchedgroundwater.Thoseconditions resultedinpotentiallytrappingandpressurizationofthegas. ThesubsurfaceconditionsattheWestsideSubwayExtensionstationlocationsdiffersignificantlyfrom thosefoundattheMidCitysPico/SanVicentestationsite.AspresentedinFigure58intheTunneling SafetyReport,thegasmeasurementsinCenturyCityarelowerthanthoseMetroencounteredinthe existingRedLine,particularlywithrespecttohydrogensulfide.Asnotedabove,deepexcavationsfor undergroundparkingintheCenturyCityConstellationStationareahavebeenconstructedintheSan Pedroformationandhavebeenoperatingsafelyformorethan40years.
5.2
TheExponentReport(Section5.3)reiteratespropertiesofmethaneandtheimportanceofsafety precaution.Metroagreeswiththesestatementsanditsconstructionspecificationwillrequire compliancewithallapplicablestateandfederalregulations.Andasdiscussedextensivelyinthe TunnelingSafetyReport,subsurfacegasesarecommonintheLosAngelesBasis.Figure52ofthe TunnelingSafetyReportshowsthatalmosttheentireWestsideSubwayExtensionalignmentiswithin thecityofLosAngelesMethaneZone.UsingLessonsLearnedoverthepast25+years,theCitiesof LosAngelesandBeverlyHillshaveidentifiedgeographicareasofconcerns,developedmethodsto measuregases,designedfortheirpresence,andmonitoredforcontrol.Metrohasalsodemonstrated designsandoperatingsystemsfortheseconditions. Travelofwaterandgasalongthetunnelarepreventedbypressuregroutingaroundthetunnel.Groutis specifiedtobeinjectedunderpressurethroughthetailofthetunnelingshieldasitisadvances.Thisis donenotonlyminimizesettlements,asdiscussedinSection4.1,buttoprovidecontinuoussupportof thesegmentaltunnelliningandtopreventflowofwaterandgasalongthecontactbetweenthetunnel andtheground.Monitoringofgroutpressuresandvolumesinjectedisconductedduringeachadvance ofthetunnelshield,andacontinuousdigitalrecordisobtainedforimmediateviewingbythe contractorsengineersandoperatorsandforlaterreviewandevaluation.Inaddition,ifnecessarya programofcheckgroutingcanbecarriedouttotestforgroutplacementaroundtheliningafterthe initialgroutisinplace.
Response to Hazard Assessment Study by Exponent 5.0 - Gas Conditions At Constellation Station Option
Response to Hazard Assessment Study by Exponent 5.0 - Gas Conditions At Constellation Station Option
THISPAGEINTENTIONALLYLEFTBLANK
6.0
TheExponentReport(Section5.3)notesthattheshallowgeophysicalexplorationdoesnothavea sufficientrangetolocatewellcasingattunneldepth,statesthatmagnetometerprobingcannot thereforebeconsideredarobustscreeningtoolforoldwellcasings,andstatesthatprobingatthe tunneldepthwouldbenecessary. Thatiscorrect.TheTunnelingSafetyReportdiscussedtheseissuesindetail,includingthelimited sensingdepth,andmadetherecommendationthatmagnetometerprobingattunneldepththrough horizontalprobeswasnecessary,thusrecommendingthehorizontaldirectionaldrilling(HDD).In addition,theTAPmadethefollowingrecommendationsintheirreport: Conductmagnetometersurveysinprobeholesdrilledalongthetunnelalignmentinoilfields where there is the possibility of intersecting well casings, either ahead of the advancing tunnelsorpriortotunneling,usinghorizontaldirectionaldrilling.Itisrecommendedthat,to the east of the Constellation Station and on the Beverly Hills High School property, the surveysbeconductedduringthedesignphaseusinghorizontaldirectionaldrillholes. ForexplorationbeneaththeBHHSbuildingsduringthenextphasesofdesign,HDDinvestigationwillbe conductedalongthealignmentattunnellevel.Amagnetometerprobesurveywillbeconductedinthe drilledholetodetectmetalcasingssothatiffound,theycanbereabandonedproperlybelowthe tunneldepthpriortotunneling.ThisHDDmethodologywasinventedbymetrotorespondtothe specificneedsofthisproject. Moreover,duringtunnelconstructioninLosAngeles,magnetometersurveyshavebeenconductedin probeboringsextendinginfrontoftheTBMtoensurethatobstructions,suchaswellcasings,are detectedbeforetheyarereachedbytheTBM.Insuspectedoilfieldareas,probingofthetunnelzone willbecarriedouteitherbyHDDbeforetunnelingoraheadofthefaceduringtunneling. Whiledetectingandremovingoilwellsinadvanceoftunnelingispreferable,shouldtheybe encounteredduringtunneling,procedureshavebeendevelopedandimplementedtoevaluatethewell conditionsandsafelyreabandonthem.Abandonedoilwellshavebeenencounteredinthepastduring tunnelinginLosAngeles,asdescribedintheTunnelingSafetyReport. Chapter6.0oftheTunnelingSafetyReportaddressesactiveandabandonedoilwells.Metroresearched oilwellrecords(mapsandwellinformation)keptbytheStateofCalifornia,reviewedhistoricphotos, andperformeddetailedscanningusingstateoftheartgeophysicalandmagneticscanningmethods wherethesurfaceisaccessible.Whilenowellsinthetunnelalignmentwereconfirmed,thereport clearlyaddressedtheriskofuncertaintyandpotentialforunknownwellsatinaccessibleordeeper locations;oneexamplemightbeundertheparkinggarageeastofCenturyParkEast,abovethe ConstellationStationalignment.Forthisreason,Metrohasrecommendedthatadditionalexplorationbe carriedoutpriortotunneling,usingmethodssuchasHDDandfurthermagneticprobing(Section6.4.1). Shouldawellbeidentified,proceduresforabandonment(alsoprovidedinthereport)willbefollowed. Acomprehensivestudyofallavailableinformationfoundthattherewasonemappedabandonedoil wellclosetoorwithintheproposedtunnelalignment.Thelocationofthiswelldoesnotliewithinthe BHHScampus.Themagneticsurveyprogramandotherinconsistenciesinmapping(alsonotedby Exponent)indicatedthatthemappedlocationsofabandonedoilwellscouldbeinaccurateby50to200 WESTSIDE SUBWAY EXTENSION PROJECT
April 4, 2012 Page 6-1
7.0
FUTURE DEVELOPMENT
IntheExponentReport(Section5.5),Exponentstates,AtthistimeExponentdoesnothaveinformation regardingpotentialfuturedevelopmentplansatotherbusinessesorresidencesalongtheproposed tunnelalignment.Ingeneral,futuredevelopmentatotherpropertieswouldbeexpectedtobeimpacted inthesamemannerasdiscussedaboveforBHHS. FuturedevelopmentofotherpropertieshassimilarissuesandsolutionsasBHHS.Subsurfaceeasements wouldneedtobeobtained(asforanytunnelingprojectunderprivateproperty)alsodescribedinthe DEIS/EIR. MetrospecificallyaddressedfuturedevelopmentatBHHSattherequestoftheMetroBoard.Like Exponent,Metrowasunabletoobtainfuturedevelopmentplansforthehighschool.Giventhedepthof thetunnel,andworkingwithBHHSdesigners,furtherconstructionontheBHHSwouldnotbeprecluded withthepresenceoftunnels.ThisisdiscussedindetailinSection8.0oftheTunnelingSafetyReport. Exponent(intheirpresentationtotheCityofBeverlyHills)describedtheuseofmajorbridgestructures abovethetunnelstosupportfoundationsforstructuresplacedabovethetunnels.Suchbridgelike structuresarenotrequiredandtheywouldonlyaddcostandunnecessarydisruption.Asdiscussedin theTunnelingSafetyReport,foundationscanbebuiltonslabsabovethetunnelorwithfoundations betweenthetunnelssothatmajorbridgestructureswithwidespansarenotrequired. Otherpropertiesforwhichsubsurfaceeasementswillbeobtainedaredocumentedinthe EnvironmentalReport.AnyfutureprojecttobedevelopedadjacenttoMetrorightofwaywillneed Metroapprovalpriortoconstruction.Thisdoesnotprecludedevelopment;infactsometimesiteven encouragesuseasseenatmanylocationsalongtheexistingRedLine.Examplesofadjacentproperty developmentoverthetunnelsandstationsincludetheWilshire/Vermont,Hollywood/Western,and UnionStationapartmentsjointdevelopments.
THISPAGEINTENTIONALLYLEFTBLANK
8.0
CONCLUSIONS
MetroreconfirmstheconclusionsgiveninthethreeCenturyCityareareports(TunnelingSafety,Fault Investigation,andTAPReports)andrecommendsthattheConstellationStationalignmentbeselected fortheWestsideSubwayExtension.ActivefaultingispresentonSantaMonicaBoulevard,andno stationlocationonSantaMonicaBoulevardinCenturyCitywillmeetMetroscriteria.TheConstellation StationsiteissuitableforaMetrostationandcanbesafetyconstructedandoperated.Tunnelingcan alsobesafelyaccomplishedalongtheConstellationStationalignmentunderBHHSandadjacent properties. Metroconducteditsinvestigationswithworldclassscientistsandengineerswithextensiveexperience inapplyingtheirexpertisetoinfrastructuredesignintheLosAngelesregion.Throughouttheir distinguishedcareers,theseindividualshavebeenworkingonspecificissuessuchasthosethey addressedforMetrointheseinvestigations.Theirareasofexpertiseincludeseismicityandfaultgeology geotechnicalandearthquakeengineering,paleoseismology,geomorphology,tunnelingandground control,riskmanagement,gasoccurrenceandmitigation,andoilwelldetectionandabandonment. Tunnelingthroughactivefaultscanbesafelyaccomplished.Metrohasdevelopeddesignsforcrossing activefaultsandinstallingtunnelliningsusingpressurized,closedfaceTBMs. Metrosreportsaretheresultofacomprehensiveinvestigationofthespecificissuesrequestedbyits BoardofDirectorstoassessrisksandtodevelopplanstomitigaterisk.Themethodologyandstandards usedarethesameusedforselectionofallothertransitprojects,requiringreviewandapprovalbythe FTAanditsProjectManagementOversightrepresentatives,aswellasthequalifieddesignersandtheir specialtyexpertsandreviewpanels.ThisassuresMetrothatithasaddressedsafetyandtheengineering andmanagementactionsneededtoassuresafety. ThespecifictypeofprobabilitybasedriskanalysisthatExponentsuggestsisnotappropriatefor respondingtothequestionsaskedbytheBoardanddoesnotprovideinformationordatathatcan readilyusedbytheBoardtomakedecisions.Itismoreappropriatetoidentifythenmitigatetherisks. MetrosRiskmitigation(reduction)measuresincludesubsurfaceinvestigations,designqualityassurance throughdesignreviews,proceduresforqualifyingconstructioncontractorsandtheirkeypersonnel, contractspecificationsthataddressspecificmeasuresforcontrollingrisk,andmonitoringthroughout constructiontoconfirmthatthemeasureshavebeenachieved. ThesuccessfultunnelingontheMGLEEisjustoneofnumerouscasehistoriesintheU.S.andworldwide thatdemonstratetheabilityofthecurrenttunnelingtechnologiestocontrolthetunnelingprocessand minimizesettlements.Exponentsreferencetotunnelmethodsandimpacts(suchasasinkholeorlarger settlements)duringRedLineconstructionhasnorelevancetothevastlyimprovedtunnelingtechnology currentlyemployedonMetroprojects.Inthe1990s,MetrosTAPreviewedRedLinetunnelingmethods aswellastunnelingconstructionworldwide,statedthattunnelingcouldbeaccomplishedundercontrol, andrecommendedthatMetrorequiretheuseofpressurized,closedfaceTBMs.Metrorequiredthe technologyonMGLEEandisspecifyingitforprojectscurrentlyinthedesignphase.Oneofthemain advancesintunnelingtechnologyhasnotonlybeentheabilitytopressurizeandsupportthetunnel face,buthasalsobeenthedevelopmentofcomprehensiveproceduresforcontrollingTBMoperation andformonitoringtoensurethatcontroloftheground,groundwaterandgas,hasbeenachieved. WESTSIDE SUBWAY EXTENSION PROJECT
April 4, 2012 Page 8-1
Currentinformationonthelocationandcharacterofthefaultzonesissufficienttoselectthe alignment. TheConstellationStationlocationisrecommendedandcanbebuiltandoperatedsafely. ItissafetotunnelunderWestwood,CenturyCity,WestBeverlyHills,andBHHSusingdesignand tunnelingproceduresoutlinedinMetrosreports. ThepresenceofatunnelwillnotpreventBHHSfrombeingusedasanEmergencyCenterorfrom developingtheirsitebyplacingnewfacilitiesoverthetunnel. Metrosbroadbasedengineeringandriskreductionprogramwillcontinueintofinaldesignand construction.Comprehensiveinvestigationswillbeconductedduringdetailedengineeringto addressareaswhereadditionalinformationisneededasoutlinedinMetrosthreeCenturyCityArea StudyReports
9.0
REFERENCES
Bardet,J.P.,D.Ballantine,G.E.C.Bell,A.Donnellan,S.Foster,T.S.Fu,J.List,R.J.Little,T.D.ORourke,and M.C.Palmer,ExpertReviewofWaterSystemBreaksintheCityofLosAngelesduringSummer 2009,ReportbyUSCCenteronMegaCities,UniversityofSouthernCalifornia,USC<April9,2010, 167pp Boscardin,M.D.,andE.J.Cording,1989,BuildingResponsetoExcavatedInducedSettlement,Journal ofGeotechnicalEngineering,AmericanSocietyofCivilEngineers,Vol.115,No.1,pp121. Chouiery,et.al,PlanningandConstructionoftheMetroGoldLineEastsideExtension,Proceedings, RETC,2007. Cording,E.J.andW.H.Hansmire,"DisplacementsAroundSoftGroundTunnels,"GeneralReport,Session 4,5thPanAmericanCongressonSoilMechanicsandFoundationEngineering,BuenosAires, November,1975,Vol.4,pp.571633. Cording,E.J.,ImpactandcontrolofgroundmovementinundergroundConstruction,KerstenLecture, UniversityofMinnesota,February29,2010. Diponio,M.,Frank,G.,Ehsan,A.,Cording,E."SettlementRiskofExtendedOvercutinDenseSoils," NorthAmericanTunnelingConference,2012,(inpress) Dolan,J.F.andSiehK.,1992,TectonicGeomorphologyoftheNorthernLosAngelesBasin:Seismic HazardsandKinematicsofYoungFaultMovement,inEhlig,P.L.,andSteiner,E.A.,eds.,Engineering GeologyFieldTrips:OrangeCounty,SantaMonicaMountains,andMalibu,GuidebookandVolume: Berkley,California,AssociationofEngineeringGeologists,p.B2026. Dolan,J.F.andSieh,K.,1992,PaleoseismologyandGeomorphologyoftheNorthernLosAngelesBasin: EvidenceforHoloceneActivityontheSantaMonicaFaultandIdentificationofNewStrikeSlipFaults throughDowntownLosAngeles,EOS,TransactionsoftheAmericanGeophysicalUnion,Vol.73,p. 589. Eisenstein,Z.D,KeyNoteAddresstoInternationalTunnellingAssociation(ITA)WorldTunnelCongress, TunnelsinMetropolis,Prague2007.Printedinspecialissue2007oftheCzechprofessional bulletinTUNEL. MetroTunnelAdvisoryPanel(TAP),CenturyCityAreaTunnelingSafetyandFaultInvestigationsReport, October2011 ParsonsBrinckerhoff,CenturyCityAreaFaultInvestigationReport,October2011 ParsonsBrinckerhoff,CenturyCityAreaTunnelingSafetyReport,October2011 RobinsonB.andBragard,C.,LosAngelesMetroGoldLineEastsideExtensionTunnelConstruction CaseHistory,Proceedings,RapidExcavationandTunnelingConference,(RETC),2007. Rockwell, T.K.,2000,Useofsoilgeomorphologyinfaultstudies:inQuaternaryGeochronology: MethodsandApplications,J.S.Noller,J.M.Sowers,andW.R.Lettis,eds,AGUReferenceShelf4, AmericanGeophysicalUnion,WashingtonD.C.,p.273292 USNRC2012,PracticalImplementationGuidelinesforSSHACLevel3and4HazardStudies,NUREG2117, February2012
THISPAGEINTENTIONALLYLEFTBLANK