Section 865 Of Chapter 8. Activities To Abate An Impending Peril From California Government Code >> Division 3.6. >> Title 1. >> Part 2. >> Chapter 8.
865
. The Legislature hereby finds and declares that:
(a) The gradual movement of land, such as in prehistoric slide
areas, or as a result of subsidence due to the depletion of
underground or subterranean supporting substances, such as minerals,
petroleum sources, water, and similar substances, can result in
danger to persons or property. Although the movement is gradual and
expressed in terms of numbers of inches, feet or meters per day, week
or year, at some point the forces that are exerted by the movement
will sever underground utilities, such as water, sewer, gas,
electricity or telephone services and can cause the destruction of
aboveground structures whose foundations become undermined or where
support is denied altogether. Unlike an earthquake or rapid rockslide
or landslide, these gradual earth movements permit possible
intervention to arrest the movement and avoid harm which is posed to
persons or property. If there is an adequate manifestation of the
problem before actual harm to persons or property, it is possible to
make some determinations as to a method of remedial action which can
abate the hazard. However, any undertaking to arrest the earth
movement may not be successful or may have within it the potential
for hastening the movement and the damages resulting from such
movement. Regardless of how slight that potential for aggravating the
damages, local public entities are unwilling to undertake action to
alleviate the hazard if such undertaking may invite potential
liability.
(b) It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this chapter
to create an incentive for local public entities, upon learning of
the particular earth movement which will result in possible damage to
substantial areas of property and constitute a threat of injury to
persons, to undertake remedial action to abate the earth movement or
protect against the danger therefrom without fear of incurring
liability as a result of undertaking such action.