Today's East Valley Tribune carries a front page story about new homes being built in an area of known earth fissures in the San Tan area souteast of Phoenix (http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/99710).The fissures appear on older AZGS maps and have been known by locals for years, prompting some to post a warning sign along the road in an old tractor tire.
A representative of the developer told the Tribune reporter that a well-known geologist was hired to verify there are no fissures on the property, but he couldn't remember his name.
I think I've heard of that "well-known" geologist...he really gets around. :)
ReplyDeleteOne thing that struck me is something in the audio/slideshow posted on the linked page. The local resident had a good point that the real losers in a situation like this are people moving in from out of state who have no idea what they are getting into. But I suppose the average home buyer likely doesn't know what a fissure is either. I guess it underscores that there is still more work to be done by the AZGS and others to get the word out for the protection of home buyers.