Wildfire Safety Advisory Board To Hold Vegetation Management Workshop and Quarterly Meeting
The Wildfire Safety Advisory Board (WSAB) will host two remote access (virtual) meetings, on March 2 and 3, 2021 from 1– 4 p.m. as follows:
WHAT: Wildfire Safety Advisory Board Vegetation Management Workshop
WHEN: Tuesday, March 2, 2021, 1– 4 p.m.
WORKSHOP PURPOSE: This workshop will review and discuss California's variable ecosystems and the varying drivers of fire behavior to inform utility vegetation management practices. Speakers will discuss the state-of-the-art technology for monitoring vegetation health and forecasting risks across spatial and temporal scales.
- Dr. Jon Keeley, a world-renowned U.S. Geological Survey Research Scientist, will speak on the variation in the drivers of fire behavior across different vegetations types, especially where utility infrastructure operates.
- Dr. David Marvin, the Co-Founder and CEO of SALO SCIENCES, will discuss the California Forest Observatory, tree mortality, and fire hazard modeling data products for California.
- Kevin Hiers, the Director of Fire Science Applications at Tall Timbers Research Station, will discuss emerging developments in fuel and fire modeling, and the wind effects on vegetation.
Representatives from the large investor-owned utilities will participate in panel discussions. The complete agenda is available here.
PARTICIPATION OPTIONS: Remote access via webcast, WebEx, or conference line.
- Live video broadcast via webcast: www.adminmonitor.com/ca/cpuc
- Participants have audio and video but will not be able to submit written comments/questions.
- WebEx: Provides event audio and video and allows participants to submit written comments/questions.
- Link: https://cpuc.webex.com/cpuc/onstage/g.php?MTID=ec0ebc35e82df244a9acd5ac1df8f27a8
- Event password: 2021
- Phone: Participants can hear the live event and make comment during the Public Comment or Q&A portions of the workshop.
- Call-in number: 1-800-857-1917, passcode: 1767567
- Participants will be placed on mute in “listen-only” mode until the public comment portion of the meeting. Once the public comment portions of the meeting begin, participants may dial * 1 (star one) when they wish to speak to be placed in a queue by the operator.
- Please note public comment will be via phone, WebEx, or email. During the Public Comment or Q&A portions, participants can comment via WebEx chat, emailing wildfiresafetyadvisoryboard@cpuc.ca.gov or dialing * 1 (star one) to be placed in the operator’s queue.
WHAT: Wildfire Safety Advisory Board 1st Quarter Meeting
WHEN: Wednesday, March 3, 2021, 1– 4 p.m.
MEETING PURPOSE: At the Wildfire Safety Advisory Board’s (Board) first Quarterly meeting of 2021, the Board will receive overview presentations from San Diego Gas & Electric, Pacific Gas & Electric, and Southern California Edison on the 2021 Wildfire Mitigation Plan (WMP) Updates. The California Municipal Utility Association will provide an update on a template that electric Publicly Owned Utilities and Cooperatives can use to supplement the 2021 WMP Updates due July 1, 2021. Additionally, Wildfire Safety Division will provide an update on the Division’s review of the Wildfire Mitigation Plans. The complete agenda is available here.
PARTICIPATION OPTIONS: Remote access via webcast or conference line.
- Live video broadcast via webcast: www.adminmonitor.com/ca/cpuc
- Participants have audio and video but will not be able to submit written comments/questions.
- Phone: Participants can hear the live event and make comment during the discussion or Q&A portions of the workshop.
- Call-in number: 1-800-857-1917, passcode: 1767567
- Participants will be placed on mute in “listen-only” mode until the public comment portion of the meeting. Once the public comment portions of the meeting begin, participants may dial * 1 (star one) when they wish to speak to be placed in a queue by the operator.
Members of the public are encouraged to attend remotely and provide their input.
Assembly Bill 1054, signed into law in July 2019, created the California Wildfire Safety Advisory Board, a board of independent expert advisors, to advise a new Wildfire Safety Division within the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) on wildfire safety measures. The Wildfire Safety Advisory Board will also review and provide advisory opinions on the wildfire mitigation plans of publicly owned electric utilities and electrical cooperatives. The Wildfire Safety Advisory Board will serve as an additional forum for the public to provide input on the important topic of wildfire safety.
If you need an additional accommodation or modification to participate in the meeting, please contact the CPUC’s Public Advisor’s Office at public.advisor@cpuc.ca.gov or toll free at 866-849-8390 in advance of the workshop.
Because of the changes related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the most updated information related to Wildfire Safety Advisory Board meetings will be available prior to the commencement of the meetings at www.cpuc.ca.gov/WSAB.
Additional information including an agenda is available at www.cpuc.ca.gov/wsab or by emailing WildfireSafetyAdvisoryBoard@cpuc.ca.gov.
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