Dr. Zia Zafir Appointed to the California State Mining and Geology Board
SACRAMENTO, California – Congratulations to Dr. Zia Zafir who was recently appointed to the California State Mining and Geology Board (SMGB)!
Caring for the State’s Natural Resources
The SMGB represents the State of California’s interest in the development, utilization, and conservation of mineral resources; reclamation of mined lands; development of geologic and seismic hazard information; and to provide a forum for public participation.
The SMGB is composed of nine members appointed by the Governor, and confirmed by the Senate, for four-year terms. The SMGB serves as a regulatory, policy, and appeals body representing the State’s interests in geology, geologic, and seismologic hazards, conservation of mineral resources, and reclamation of lands following surface mining activities.
The SMGB operates within the Department of Conservation, and is granted certain autonomous responsibilities and obligations under several statutes including the Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zoning Act, the Seismic Hazards Mapping Act, and the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act. The SMGB’s general authority is granted under Public Resources Code (PRC) Sections 660-678. Specifically, PRC Section 662(b) requires all SMGB members to “represent the general public interest”.
Setting the Standard for Technical Leadership
Geotechnical Engineering Service Line Director Steve Wendland said, “Zia’s technical leadership within Kleinfelder and important industry organizations continues to set the standard for the rest of us to follow.”
Dr. Zafir is the vice president for earthquake engineering and is a Geotechnical Senior Fellow at Kleinfelder. He has more than 30 years of experience in the field of geotechnical and earthquake engineering and research, and has been actively involved on seismic hazard evaluations and seismic retrofit for renowned national and international projects.
In addition to California, Dr. Zafir has been involved in seismic design projects in Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Massachusetts, Mexico, Bangladesh, Romania, and Russia.
Dr. Zafir has published and presented more than 30 technical papers in international journals and conferences. He has also been an invited speaker at universities and professional engineering associations across the United States.
Regional Manager Nancy Walker said, “Zia is recognized in the business, academic and political arenas as a seismic expert with the knowledge to identify and mitigate seismic hazards so structures and infrastructure can be designed and constructed safely. His appointment to the California State Mining and Geology Board is indicative of his highly regarded status and reputation with regulatory agencies and decision makers. Kleinfelder is very proud of Zia and his accomplishments.”
Dr. Zafir joined Kleinfelder in 1994 and has served in the role of vice president and chief seismic engineer since 2010.
Kleinfelder. Bright People. Right Solutions. Founded in 1961, Kleinfelder is a leading engineering, design, construction management, construction materials inspection and testing, and environmental professional services firm. Kleinfelder now employs more than 2,200 professionals and operates from over 75 office locations in the United States, Canada, and Australia. The company is headquartered in San Diego, California. Poised for growth, Kleinfelder continues to provide high-quality solutions for our diverse client base. Visit Kleinfelder.com or follow us on LinkedIn/Kleinfelder.
