Land Movement Update

State of Emergency Request

Since the City requested Governor Gavin Newsom declare a state of emergency in response to natural gas shutoffs in the Portuguese Bend community, the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) has requested staff submit preliminary cost estimates for damages related to the emergency. These estimates will help Cal OES determine whether a state of emergency will be declared at the state level and what potential assistance can be made available (i.e. public and/or individual assistance).

With help from the Portuguese Bend Community Association, City staff is finalizing the damage estimates, which include costs incurred by residents who have reported spending tens of thousands of dollars on propane and solar energy conversion projects, as well as the City’s emergency expenses. The final estimates will be submitted to Cal OES before the August 16 deadline.

The City’s goal in seeking a state of emergency due to a sudden and severe energy shortage is to emphasize the need for individual financial assistance for residents who have been without gas service for over two weeks. Cal OES’s determination will be shared with the community as soon as it is available.

SCE Update

On the afternoon of August 14, the City heard from residents in the Seaview neighborhood seeking information about a power outage that was later resolved. The City continues to urge Southern California Edison (SCE) to notify customers of repair outages, if possible, as we know many of our residents in the landslide area are on edge about potentially losing their electricity service indefinitely due to land movement. In the event of a power outage, please check sce.com/outage for the latest updates, including an estimated restoration time. You can also sign up for outage alerts at sce.com/outagealerts. Report an outage at sce.com/outage or by calling 1-800-611-1911.

In case you missed it, SCE has updated its dedicated RPV webpage with frequently asked questions about the potential of discontinuing electricity in the landslide area. Explore this new section at: sce.com/rpv.

On August 2, the City sent a letter to SCE Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Jill C. Anderson raising serious concerns about the potential of cutting electricity to the landslide area and urging efforts to minimize any disruptions as much as possible. On August 9, Ms. Anderson provided a response, noting that SCE is “moving forward with urgency to reconfigure portions of the electric system and install devices in the area to limit the impact of potential future outages should the hazardous conditions worsen.” Ms. Anderson also stated that “to the extent conditions continue to deteriorate, SCE may be required to temporarily de-energize some circuits or portions of circuits, and we will continue to work on alternate service options. In addition, we may further be required to permanently discontinue service to some locations if necessary to maintain public safety.”

The City remains in regular contact with SCE and has requested the earliest possible notice of any potential temporary or long-term electricity shutoffs. Copies of both letters are available on the City website:

Letter to Elon Musk

Last week, Mayor John Cruikshank sent a letter to Tesla CEO Elon Musk seeking assistance for homeowners in the landslide area impacted by the gas shutoffs and potential electricity shutoffs. Mayor Cruikshank stated that a potential partnership to equip impacted homes with solar panels and Powerwall batteries would not only provide these residents with immediate relief, but also demonstrate the viability of clean energy solutions in a real-world scenario, further solidifying Tesla's role as a leader in the green energy revolution. Read the letter on the City website:

August 8 Letter to Elon Musk (PDF)

New LACSD Webpage

The Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts (LACSD) is the wastewater utility provider for Rancho Palos Verdes residents. LACSD’s main sewer trunk lines transport all wastewater out of the area to be processed at its treatment plants. All local resident sewer lines flow to LACSD trunk lines. The operation and preservation of these sewer trunk lines is imperative for handling wastewater and sewage appropriately to protect the health and wellbeing of residents and the environment. Currently, LACSD’s sewer lines continue to operate normally. In the event of unforeseen land movement that severely compromises LACSD infrastructure in the Peninsula area, LACSD has created a webpage with information for residents about what to expect and what to do: lacsd.org/rpv.

The website contains information that will be updated frequently in accordance with any major disruption. It also contains information pertaining to potential disruption, not current circumstances. In the event of future catastrophic land movement, residents will be directed to access the information on this page frequently for updates.

Communications will also be sent broadly across all City and LACSD communication platforms as frequently as necessary. LACSD staff may also be active onsite depending on the severity of the situation. Follow LACSD on social media: @SanitationDistrictsLACounty, @sandistricts, @SanDistricts, YouTube

Please note that LACSD’s webpage contains information related to possible future scenarios and does not apply to current conditions. This is your best source of information for any unforeseen sewer emergencies in the future. LACSD encourages residents to bookmark this link on their phone or computer.

August 20 City Council Meeting

On August 20, the City’s geologist will present the City Council with the latest land movement data in the Portuguese Bend Landslide complex. City staff will update the Council on efforts to install two emergency hydraugers — also called dewatering wells — to slow the movement. Because test boreholes drilled as deep as 350 feet into the earth have confirmed the presence of a much deeper active slide plane than previously thought, the Council will be asked to consider expanding the scope of the project to include the Abalone Cove, Klondike Canyon, and Beach Club Landsides, and to explore additional strategies to slow the movement in a united and coordinated effort with the Abalone Cove and Klondike Canyon Landslide Abatement Districts (ACLAD and KCLAD).

A staff report (PDF) with more information is available on the City website.

Meeting Info

The meeting will take place on August 20 at 7 p.m. in McTaggart Hall at Hesse Park and via Zoom. Watch live at rpvca.gov or on Cox 33/FiOS 38. To participate in public comment during the meeting, fill out a speaker slip if you are attending in person, or complete a form online at rpvca.gov/participate to participate virtually or leave a pre-recorded voice message. Email your comments on this topic to cc@rpvca.gov.

The City will continue to provide regular community updates at rpvca.gov/landmovement.

Questions?

If you have questions, please email landmovement@rpvca.gov.

Media Inquiries

If you have a media inquiry related to land movement in the City of Rancho Palos Verdes, please contact the City’s communications partner, Tripepi Smith, with your questions at RPVMedia@TripepiSmith.com. They will also add you to our media list so you receive our listserv updates, press releases and media advisories.

If you are a person with a disability and need an accommodation to participate in programs, services, activities and meetings, contact the City's ADA Coordinator/Risk Manager at 424-327-3982, adarequests@rpvca.gov, 30940 Hawthorne Blvd., Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275, at least 48 hours in advance to request an auxiliary aid or accommodation.