Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
New rules around monitoring and reporting on the conditions of B.C.’s dams will improve dam safety, Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minister Steve Thomson announced in late June as he released the first annual British Columbia Dam Safety Annual Report.
The new measures follow through on a commitment to strengthen safety requirements on monitoring, reporting and signage, recommended in the July 2010 Review of the Testalinden Dam Failure. They also bring B.C.’s dam classification system in line with the 2007 Canadian Dam Association Guidelines. The new requirements include:
* Dam owners’ submission of operations maintenance and surveillance manual and emergency preparedness plan to dam safety officers.
* Effective Nov. 30, 2011, signs for dams located partially or entirely on Crown land, except dams classified as low-risk under the new Regulation.
* Preparation and implementation of plans in response to the identification of any potential safety hazards.
* Keeping dam classifications accurate and up-to-date if a classification changes.
* Correcting any deficiencies identified by a dam safety officer in a document submitted by a dam owner.
* 1,200 of these dams are classified as low risk under the new regulation.