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| 1 | WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE CUPA GIS PROJECT AND THE GIS BOUNDARY MAP? | All jurisdictional boundaries have been established by law, local ordinances, or agreements between CUPAs or PAs. The CUPA GIS project creates a digital map of jurisdictional boundaries for Certified Unified Program Agencies (CUPAs) and their associated Participating Agencies (PAs). This effort is in response to challenges in determining CUPA and PA jurisdiction based on zip codes. The current zip code-based identification of jurisdictional boundaries is problematic in densely populated areas and sometimes causes confusion over who has jurisdiction. The map will be incorporated into CERS NextGen and other applications sponsored by CalEPA and its boards, divisions, and offices. |
| 2 | HOW WILL THE MAP INCORPORATE NEW FACILITIES? | The Boundary map will not track GIS data about individual facilities. The Map will only track the CUPA and PA jurisdictional boundaries. The map will allow a user to search based on a facility address and program to determine which CUPA or PA has jurisdiction over the facility. |
| 3 | WILL CUPAS STILL MANUALLY MOVE A FACILITY TO THE APPROPRIATE AGENCY IF THE BUSINESS MISREPORTS? | The Boundary Map will only represent CUPA and PA boundaries as accurate shapes on a digital map. The Boundary Map will not contain information about individual businesses. Based on a searched address, the map will display the location of the address, the relevant CUPA and PA boundaries, and other familiar geographic information like street names and satellite images. In the near term, CUPAs will need to continue manually updating CERS if a facility is currently reporting to the incorrect CUPA. |
| 4 | WHO WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THE CUPA GIS PORTAL? | Access and use of the Boundary Map will be separated into two different environments. One environment will be secured, requiring a license and user account provided and assigned by CalEPA. The secured environment will allow CUPAs to propose changes to the default CUPA and PA boundaries. A second environment will be publicly accessible, allowing users to search for jurisdiction assignments and identify the appropriate regulator based on an address. The public version of the Boundary Map will be used only for searching and viewing the official, published boundaries. |
| 5 | WHAT IS THE TIMELINE FOR COMPLETING THE CUPA GIS PORTAL? | The project is underway and is targeting a Winter 2022 deployment of the Boundary Map. CalEPA would like all CUPAs to validate and update their jurisdictional boundaries within 90 days of deploying the Boundary Map. |
| 6 | WILL CUPAS NEED TO PROVIDE GIS SHAPE FILES, OR WILL CALEPA PROVIDE AN INTERFACE TO SET BOUNDARIES? | CUPAs will not need to provide anything but their time. CalEPA will provide an interface with default boundaries that follow city and county borders. CUPAs can use the interface to propose changes to the default boundaries at the parcel level. CalEPA will ask CUPAs to propose changes to the default boundaries at the APN level to reflect local ordinances or agreements that have created variances from city or county lines. |
| 7 | WHAT TRAINING WILL BE NEEDED? | Training development is in the planning phases. CUPAs will receive system training (how to use the boundary map) and process training (specific to business changes resulting from the CUPA GIS Project). Prior GIS experience is not needed for this Project. |
| 8 | HOW WILL THE GEOSPATIAL BOUNDARY DATA BE COLLECTED? | CalEPA will survey all CUPAs to determine which CUPAs have boundaries that vary from the existing city or county borders. CUPAs with variances will be asked to use the boundary map to propose changes to the default boundaries. CUPAs will propose changes by selecting parcels near or on the default boundary and assigning them to the correct CUPA or PA. |
| 9 | IS THERE ANY SUPPORTING INFORMATION FOR THE CUPA GIS PROJECT? | CalEPA will provide more supporting information as the project continues. Updates about the project’s status will be provided via email and in the monthly CUPA newsletter. Additional training resources will also be provided when the boundary map is ready. |
| 10 | HOW MUCH CUPA TIME WILL BE REQUIRED FOR THIS PROJECT? | The time required will depend on boundary complexity and the required changes. Each CUPA will be asked to validate its boundaries and coordinate with CalEPA to make needed changes. The CUPAs will also be responsible for validating their PA boundaries and ensuring they are accurately reflected in the Boundary Map. |
| 11 | WILL THIS PROJECT BENEFIT THE CUPAS? | A map of CUPAs and PAs does not currently exist. The resulting map will be integrated into CERS NextGen and other state applications. Anticipated benefits of the project include enhanced emergency response coordination, simpler and more accurate identification of assigned jurisdictions, and improved public communication. |
| 12 | WILL THERE BE AN EXPECTED BOUNDARY MAINTENANCE WINDOW? | Following the initial validation of the CUPAs boundaries, the only expected maintenance would be if/when there is a change in the CUPA's boundary. As such, there is no defined maintenance window. CUPAs will be responsible for initiating communication with CalEPA regarding future boundary changes. |
| 13 | WHO CAN I CONTACT WITH QUESTIONS OR TO REPORT PROBLEMS? | CalEPA has engaged Organizational Change Management consultants Ivan Parra, ivan.parra@calepa.ca.gov, and Michelle Kirwan, michelle.kirwan@calepa.ca.gov, to engage and communicate with CUPAs about the project. |
| 14 | IS THIS PROJECT RELATED TO THE HAZARDOUS WASTE TRACKING SYSTEM AND THE ASSIGNMENT OF EPA IDS? | This project is separate from the Department of Toxic Substance Control's Hazardous Waste Tracking System and will not impact the assignment and issuance of EPA ID numbers. |
| 15 | WHO SHOULD MARK YES FOR IMPLEMENTING THE CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE ON THE SURVEY? | CUPAs or PAs implementing the HMBP program should mark "yes". In this context we are referring to the HMMP and HMIS portion of the unified program. |
| 16 | WHERE DID THE UPA BOUNDRIES COME FROM THAT ARE BEING USED IN THE SURVEY? | The County and City boundaries used as a starting point were pulled from Cal Fire. They are the most updated maps we could access in terms of County and City boundaries statewide. The two layers specifically that we are using are the incorporated city boundaries and the county boundaries. These can be accessed at: https://frap.fire.ca.gov/mapping/gis-data/ |
| 17 | IF OUR AGENCY HAS GIS SHAPEFILES OF OUR AND OUR PA BOUNDARIES, CAN WE PROVIDE THOSE TO THE PROJECT? | No, at this time the project does not have the ability to analyze and incorporate individual agency maps. This may be an option in the editing phase of the project depending on the level of edits required State Wide. |
| 18 | IF OUR UPA DELEGATES FARM FACILITY INSPECTIONS TO THE COUNTY AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT, BUT THEY ARE NOT A PA, HOW SHOULD THIS BE REFLECTED ON THE MAP? | At this time we are only trying to capture the CUPAs and PAs. In this case the CUPA remains responsible for overseeing program implementation though shared inspectors and remains the responsible party. |
