The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has moved to fully implement provisions of a state law requiring owners of privately held dams to take more responsibility for them.
DEEP has adopted regulations that require:
- Dam owners to have periodic inspections of their dams by a professional engineer. The frequency of inspections are based on the hazard class assigned to a dam – from every two years for high hazard dams to every 10 years for low hazard dams.
- Owners of dams categorized as high or significant hazard to prepare and submit an emergency action plan every two years. Dams are considered to be of high or significant hazard if their failure poses a risk to downstream residents and properties.
DEEP regulates more than 3,000 dams throughout the state, with about 550 of them falling into the high and significant hazard classifications. It said in a statement it has already taken steps under the new law to require inspections of privately held dams, but the new regulations strengthen and clarify provisions for this.
Dam owners are now required to submit an emergency action plan to the commissioner of DEEP, the chief executive official of a city or town, and the emergency management officer of any municipality potentially impacted by an emergency involving the owner’s dam.
Dam owners must submit the plans for approval for Class C Dams (high hazard) no later than Feb. 3, 2017, and no later than Aug. 3, 2017 for Class B dams (significant hazard).
