A bill recently passed by the Washington State Senate could unleash hundreds of millions of dollars for school seismic retrofits over several years.
Washington has the second largest population at risk from significant earthquake damage in the U.S., but trails California, Oregon, and British Columbia in disaster preparedness, particularly for schools, according to a report in the Seattle Times. Hundreds of schools in the state are likely to incur major damage and cause severe injury in the event of a significant tremor, the report said.
The bill would formally establish a school seismic safety committee to help the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) assess, plan, and implement retrofits, and to advise on school seismic safety. The state, to date, has assessed the geologic risk of more than 560 schools statewide to help prioritize the most urgent seismic retrofits.
The bill awaits a decision by Gov. Jay Inslee.
Related Stories
Legislation | Aug 10, 2016
Calif. bill would speed up environmental lawsuits on certain projects
A nine-month limit has been proposed for some $100 million-plus projects.
Regulations | Aug 5, 2016
Stop-work orders in New York City up sharply this year
The orders come after a rise in the number of deadly accidents that have occurred in the past few years.
Legislation | May 11, 2016
Two bills seek to expand flood insurance policy writing to private carriers
Thanks to new floodplain maps, this market, previously the sole province of a federal program, looks more profitable.
Casinos | Jan 30, 2016
Boston ends its opposition to a casino, Wynn to build $1.7B resort
A judge’s ruling last year paved the way for Wynn Resorts to begin construction on a 33-acre gambling palace in Everett, Mass.
| Jan 5, 2016
RICS 2016 Americas Summit to feature former U.S. Treasury Secretary Larry Summers
RICS - the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors - will hold its fourth annual Summit of the Americas in Washington, D.C., April 3-5, 2016.
Legislation | Sep 25, 2015
Pennsylvania’s contractor payment act doesn’t apply to government, court rules
State Supreme Court denies Navy contractor remedies in lawsuit
Legislation | Sep 18, 2015
Bill aims to harmonize policy regarding federal, state marijuana laws
Would provide protection from federal prosecution for property owners
Multifamily Housing | Jul 16, 2015
Minneapolis relaxes parking requirements on new multifamily buildings
The city cut the number of spots required for large developments by half. It also will accept plans with no parking spaces in certain cases.
