British Columbia Order in Council — Order under Water British Columbia Dam Safety Regulation approved (O.C. 131/2000)

O.C. 131/2000

British Columbia — Orders in Council

er of E ironment, Lands and Parks (This

part is for administrative purposes only and is not part of the Order) Authority under which Order is made: Presidi • Member of the Executive Council PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA ORDER OF THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL Order in Council No.: 131 , Approved and OrderedFEB - 9 2000 111111n. 0 Lieutenant Governor Executive Council Chambers, Victoria On the recommendation of the undersigned, the Lieutenant Governor, by and with the advice and consent ofthe Executive Council, orders that the attached British Columbia Dam Safety Regulation be made. Water Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 483,

section 46 (

I) and (2) (d), (f), (

h) and (

i) Act and section:- Other (specify):- July 22, 1999 1100/99/37/sak

BRITISH COLUMBIA DAM SAFETY REGULATION Contents I

Definitions 2 Application 3 Operation and maintenance of a dam 4 Alteration of a dam 5 Inspection 6 Reporting 7 Dam safety review 8 Hazardous conditions at a dam 9 Suspension of normal operation or removal of a dam 10 Information and evaluation 1 1 Instrumentation 12 Expert opinion

SCHEDULE I

SCHEDULE 2

Definitions 1 In this regulation: "Act" means the Water Act; "dam" means (

a) a barrier constructed across a stream, or (

b) a barrier constructed off-stream and supplied by diversion of water from a stream, for the purpose of enabling the storage or diversion of water, and includes all works which are incidental to or necessary for the barrier; "dam owner" means, with respect to a dam, any or all of the following: (

a) the person who holds the current licence or is required to hold a licence for the dam; (

b) the person who last held a licence for the dam, including a licence that has been suspended, cancelled, abandoned or terminated; (

c) if there is no person to whom paragraph (

a) or (

b) applies, the owner of the land on which the dam is located or the person who had the dam constructed; "dam safety officer" means an engineer or officer who is designated in writing by the comptroller as a dam safety officer;

"emergency preparedness plan" means a plan prepared by a darn owner under

section 3 (2) (

a) that describes the actions the dam owner proposes to take in the event of an emergency at a dam; "height" means the vertical distance to the top (crest) of a dam measured, (

a) in the case of a dam across a stream, from the natural bed of the stream at the downstream outside limit of the dam, or (

b) in the case of a dam that is not across a stream, from the lowest elevation at the outside limit of the dam; "instrumentation" means, but is not limited to, survey monuments and stations, inclinometers, extensometers, piezometers or measuring weirs; "maintain" or "maintenance" means the performance of those tasks required to keep the dam in good operating condition; "operation, maintenance and surveillance manual" means a manual prepared by a dam owner under

section 3 (2) (

b) that describes the dam owner's operation, maintenance and surveillance procedures for the dam; "professional engineer" means a person registered, and in good standing, as a professional engineer under the Engineers and Geoscientists Act,. "volume of water" means the total storage volume of the reservoir at full supply level measured in accordance with one of the following: (

a) between the natural bed of the stream and the spillway crest; (

b) between the upstream outside limit of the dam and the spillway crest; (

c) if a low level outlet is excavated to an elevation lower than the general foundation of the dam, between the bottom of that outlet and the spillway crest. Application 2

(1) This regulation applies to all of the following: (

a) a dam 1 metre or more in height that is capable of impounding a volume of water greater than 1 000 000 m 3; (

b) a dam 2.5 metres or more in height that is capable of impounding a volume of water greater than 30 000 m 3; (

c) a dam 7.5 metres or more in height; (

d) a dam that does not meet the criteria under paragraph (a), (

b) or (

c) but has a downstream consequence classification under

Schedule 1 of low, high or very high.

(2) This regulation does not relieve a dam owner from any other requirements that may be imposed under the Act, the Water Regulation or any other applicable enactment. 2

Operation and maintenance of a darn 3

(1) A dam owner must operate and maintain a dam in accordance with all of the following: (

a) this regulation; (

b) any applicable license or approval; (

c) any order that is made under the Act; (

d) the emergency preparedness plan that has been prepared and accepted in accordance with subsection (2) (a); (

e) the operation, maintenance and surveillance manual that has been prepared and accepted in accordance with subsection (2) (b).

(2) A dam owner must, in the form and manner and within the time period specified by the comptroller or regional water manager, prepare and submit to a dam safety officer, for acceptance by the dam safety officer, the following: (

a) if the downstream consequence classification under

Schedule 1 is high or very high, an emergency preparedness plan; (

b) if the downstream consequence classification under

Schedule 1 is low, high or very high, an operation, maintenance and surveillance manual. (3) Subsection (2) applies whether or not there is a term or condition in an approval granted or licence issued that requires the preparation of such a plan or manual for the dam.

(4) A dam owner must ensure that the dam is adequately safeguarded to prevent unauthorized operation of the dam by someone other than the dam owner or an agent of the dam owner. Alteration of a dam 4

(1) Any alteration, improvement or replacement to all or any part of a dam must be authorized by an approval, licence or order. (2) Subsection (1) does not apply to an alteration, improvement or replacement for the purpose of (

a) maintaining the dam as authorized under

section 3, or (

b) addressing a hazardous condition under

section 8.

(3) A dam owner must submit to a dam safety officer, on completion of the alteration, improvement or replacement, a report on the work and the manner in which any such alteration, improvement or replacement to all or any part of the dam was performed. I nspection 5 A dam owner must do all of the following: 3

(

a) carry out an inspection of a dam on the frequency applicable to the downstream consequence classification for the dam as set out in

Schedule 2 in order to assess the condition of the dam during the construction, operation or alteration of the dam; (

b) record the results of every inspection performed under paragraph (a); (

c) repair any safety hazard revealed by an inspection, if authorized to do so by an approval, licence or order or as authorized under this regulation. Reporting 6

(1) A dam owner must, when an inspection is carried out under

section 5 or when any other inspection is carried out with respect to a dam, (

a) submit to a dam safety officer, in the form and manner and within the time period specified by the dam safety officer, (

i) the record of inspection required by

section 5 (b), and (ii) the results and analysis of any test or measurement taken including, but not limited to, (

A) instrumentation readings and analysis, (

B) visual records or observations, (

C) drawings, (

D) soil, aggregate and concrete test results, and (

E) any other test results, and (

b) promptly submit to a dam safety officer the record of inspection required by

section 5 (

b) if the inspection reveals a potential safety hazard.

(2) A dam owner must submit to a dam safety officer, if requested by the dam safety officer, the original or clear copies of the following documentation required for the design, construction or alteration of the dam: (

a) all design notes, drawings and specifications; (

b) hydraulic, hydrologic, geological and geotechnical data; (

c) reports and other similar documentation. Dam safety review 7 ( 1) If required by

Schedule 2, a dam owner must have a professional engineer, experienced in dam safety analysis, do a dam safety review and prepare, in the form and manner and within the time period specified by the comptroller or regional water manager, a dam safety report.

(2) The dam owner must submit to a dam safety officer a copy of the dam safety report prepared by the professional engineer who carried out the dam safety review under subsection (1). 4

Hazardous conditions at a dam 8 If conditions exist with are or are likely to be hazardous to a dam, or if conditions may reasonably be anticipated to cause a dam, or any part of a dam, or any operation or action at or in connection with a dam, to be or become potentially hazardous to public safety, the infrastructure or works, other property or the environment, a dam owner must promptly do all of the following: (

a) if an emergency preparedness plan exists, modify the operation of the dam, or any part of the dam, in accordance with the emergency preparedness plan; (

b) if an emergency preparedness plan does not exist, operate the dam in a manner, and initiate any remedial actions, that will (

i) safeguard the public, (ii) minimize damage to the infrastructure or works or to other property, including that not owned by the dam owner, and (iii) minimize damage to the environment; (

c) contact the Provincial Emergency Program continued under the Emergency Program Act; (

d) notify a dam safety officer, or the comptroller or regional water manager, of (

i) the nature of the existing or anticipated conditions, (ii) all things done by the dam owner to rectify the conditions, and (iii) the time and exact nature of any information or warning of existing or anticipated conditions issued to any person under this section; (

e) inform local authorities, and persons who may be in immediate danger from the potential failure of the dam, of the nature of the existing or anticipated conditions and, if necessary, advise those persons who may be in immediate danger to vacate and remove any property from the endangered area; (

f) modify the operation of the dam to minimize or prevent damage which may be caused by the failure of the dam, and undertake any other hazard response activity required by a dam safety officer or engineer or by the comptroller or regional water manager. Suspension of normal operation or removal of a dam 9 ( 1) A dam owner must give the comptroller or regional water manager at least 60 days written notice before undertaking any of the following activities: (

a) removing all or a significant part of a dam; (

b) decommissioning or abandoning a dam; (

c) stopping the normal operation of a dam for a period of time longer than one year.

(2) The dam owner must prepare, and submit to a dam safety officer for approval, (

a) a plan respecting an activity under subsection (1) (

a) or (b), or 5

(

b) if required by the dam safety officer, a plan respecting an activity under subsection (1) (c).

(3) The dam owner must, at least 14 days before the date on which the work is expected to commence, notify a dam safety officer before commencing any work under the approved plan.

(4) The dam owner must submit to a dam safety officer, on the completion of the work performed under the approved plan, a report on the work and the manner in which it was performed.

(5) The dam owner must undertake any further actions that the comptroller or regional water manager requires to alleviate any adverse consequences to any person, the infrastructure or works, other property or the environment that may be affected by any work performed on the dam.

(6) An approval under subsection (2) respecting the decommissioning of a dam is subject to the Environmental Assessment Act and to approvals, if any, required under that Act. Information and evaluation 10 ( 1) A dam owner must, if requested by a dam safety officer, provide the following information in order to evaluate the condition or hazard potential of a dam: (

a) information with respect to the dam including, but not limited to, (

i) foundation investigation results, (ii) design details and as-built plans, (iii) construction records, (iv) operation manuals, (

v) records of instrumentation, (vi) inspection reports, (vii) safety reports, and (viii) inundation studies and emergency preparedness plans; (

b) information with respect to the nature of the land and the stream, and the use of the land and the stream, downstream from or adjacent to the dam or reservoir, including the hydraulic, hydrologic, geological and geotechnical characteristics and the uses of the land and stream; (

c) information with respect to the watershed upstream of the dam.

(2) The information requested under subsectior (1) must be submitted to a dam safety officer, in the form and manner and within the time period specified by the comptroller or regional water manager.

(3) The dam owner must conduct any inspection, investigation, survey or test that is necessary to provide the information required by subsection (1). 6

Instrumentation 11 A dam owner must do all of the following: (

a) install any instrumentation necessary to adequately monitor the performance of a dam; (

b) monitor, maintain or replace instrumentation installed at a dam to ensure continuity of readings; (

c) submit instrumentation readings and evaluations to a dam safety officer, in the form and :nanner and within the time period specified by the dam safety officer; (

d) submit, to a dam safety officer for approval by the dam safety officer, (

i) notice of any planned modifications to, changes to or removal of the instru- mentation at least 60 days before the proposed modification, change or removal, or (ii) an annual plan outlining intended changes to the instrumentation. Expert opinion 12

(1) If, based on information submitted in respect of a dam or related works, the comptroller or regional water manager considers that a question has arisen as to what is proper practice for resolving an issue involving a dam or related works, the comptroller or regional water manager may require a dam owner to retain an expert, satisfactory to the comptroller or regional water manager, with qualifica- tions and experience as follows: (

a) in the case of a dam, in dam design, construction and analysis; (

b) in the case of related works, in hydraulic, hydrological, geological, geotech- nical, mechanical or structural engineering or other appropriate disciplines.

(2) The expert retained under subsection ( 1) must provide a report to the comptroller or regional v4 ater manager on the issue. 7

SCHEDULE 1 (sections 2 ( I) (

d) and 3 (2)) DOWNSTREAM CONSEQUENCE CLASSIFICATION GUIDE Rating I Loss of Life Economic and Social Loss Environmental and Cultural Losses VERY HIGH Large potential for multiple loss of life involving residents and work- ing, travelling andior recreating public. Development within inun- dation area (the area that could be flooded if the dam fails) typically includes communities, extensive commercial and work areas, main highways, railways, and locations of concentrated recreational activ- ity. Estimated fatalities could exceed 100.

Very high economic losses affect- ing infrastructure, public and com- mercial facilities in and beyond inundation area. Typically includes destruction of or extensive damage to large residential areas, concen- trated commercial land uses, high- ways, railways, power lines, pipelines and other utilities. Esti- mated direct and indirect (interrup- tion of service) costs could exceed $100 million.

Loss or significant deterioration of nationally or provincially important fisheries habitat (including water quality), wildlife habitat, rare and/or endangered species, unique landscapes or sites of cultural sig- nificance. Feasibility and/or practi- cality of restoration and/or compensation is low. HIGH [ Some potential for multiple loss of life involving residents, and work- ing, travelling and or recreating public. Development within inun- dation area typically includes high- ways and railways, commercial and work areas, locations of concen- trated recreational activity and scat- tered residences.

Estimated fatalities less than 100. Substantial economic losses affect- ing infrastructure, public and corn- mere ial facilities in and beyond inundation area. Typically includes destruction of or extensive damage to concentrated commercial land uses, highways, railways, power lines, pipelines and other utilities. Scattered residences may be destroyed or severely damaged. Estimated direct and indirect ( inter- ruption of service) costs could exceed SI million.

Loss or significant deterioration of nationally or provincially important fisheries habitat (including water quality), wildlife habitat, rare and/or endangered species, unique landscapes or sites of cultural sig- nificance. Feasibility and practical- ity of restorsaon and/e compensation is high. LOW Low potential for multiple loss of life. Inundation area is typically undeveloped except for minor roads, temporarily inhabited or non- residential farms and rural activities. There must he a reliable element of natural warning i f larger development exists.

Low economic losses to limited infrastructure, public and commer- cial activities. Estimated direct and indirect (interruption of service) costs could exceed S100 000. Loss or significant deterioration of regionally important fisheries habi- tat (including water quality), wild- life habitat, tare and endangered species, unique landscapes or sites of cultural significance. Feasibility and practicality of restoration and/or compensation is high. Includes situations where recovery would occur with time without res- toration. VERY i()W Minimal potential for any loss of life.

The inundation area is typi- catty undeveloped Minimal economic losses typically limited to owner's property not exceed $100 000. Virtually no potential exists for future develop- ment of other land uses within the foreseeable future. No significant loss or deterioration of fisheries habitat, wildlife habitat, rare or endangered species, unique landscapes or sites of cultural sig- nificance. 8

SCHEDULE 2 (sections 5 (

a) and 7 (I)) MINIMUM INSPECTION FREQUENCY AND DAM SAFETY REVIEW REQUIREMENTS Item Very High Consequence High Consequence Low Consequence Very Low Consequence Site Surveillance [a] WEEKLY WEEKLY MONTHLY QUARTERLY Formal Inspection [b] SEMI-ANNUALLY SEMI-ANNUALLY or ANNUALLY ANNUALLY ANNUALLY Instrumentation AS PER OMS * MANUAL AS PER OMS • MANUAL AS PER OMS * MANUAL N/A Test Operation of Outlet Facilities, Spillway gates and other Mechanical Components ANNUALLY ANNUALLY ANNUALLY ANNUALLY Emergency Preparedness Plan UPDATE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTORY SEMI-ANNUALLY UPDATE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTORY SEMI-ANNUALLY UPDATE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTORY ANNUALLY N/A Operation, Maintenance & Surveillance Plan REVIEW EVERY 7 - 10 YEARS REVIEW EVERY 10 YEARS REVIEW EVERY 10 YEARS REVIEW EVERY 10 YEARS Dam Safety Review [c] EVERY 7-10 YEARS [d] EVERY 10 YEARS [d] [d] [d] * Operation, Maintenance, and Surveillance Manual. [a] Site surveillance may consist of visual inspections and/or monitoring of automated data acquisition systems.

Reduced frequencies of visual inspections may be determined by seasonal conditions. [b] Formal Inspections are intended as more thorough inspections performed by the appropriate representative of the owner responsible for safety surveillance. [c] A Dam Safety Review involves collection of all available dam records, field inspec- tions, detailed investigations and possibly laboratory testing. It then proceeds with a check of structural stability and operational safety of the dam, beginning with a reappraisal of basic features and assumptions.

The level of detail required in a Dam Safety Review should be commensurate with the importance and complexity of the dam, as well as the consequences of failure. [d] Dam owners must conduct an annual review of conditions downstream of their dam and notify a dam safety officer if the downstream consequence classification level increases. The downstream consequence classification guide is shown in

Schedule I. 9

Document details

Collection	British Columbia — Orders in Council
Citation	O.C. 131/2000
Type	order_in_council
Volume / chapter	arc oic 0131 2000
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	3513826242cec9ff66491b74b3066d5986090fc6

Source file is stored in the law ingest library (pdf).