DEM TO HOLD OCTOBER 10 WORKSHOP ON PROPOSED DAM SAFETY REGULATIONS AND DAM HAZARD CLASSIFICATIONS

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News Release
RI Department of Environmental Management
235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908
(401) 222-2771 TDD/(401) 222-4462

For Release:	September 19, 2006
Contact:	Gail Mastrati 222-4700 ext. 2402 Stephanie Powell 222-4700 ext. 4418

DEM TO HOLD OCTOBER 10 WORKSHOP ON PROPOSED DAM SAFETY REGULATIONS AND DAM HAZARD CLASSIFICATIONS

PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management will hold a public workshop on Tuesday, October 10 to present and receive feedback on proposed dam safety regulations and updated hazard classifications for the more than 670 dams in Rhode Island.

The hazard classifications relate to the probable consequences of failure or misoperation of a dam, such as loss of life or major economic loss. The rating has no relationship to a dam's current condition; i.e., a higher-hazard dam is not necessarily more likely to fail or be misoperated than a lower-hazard dam. Under the proposed reclassification, 82 dams are considered to be high hazard, up from the current 17; 106 dams are considered to be significant hazard, up from the current 41; and 445 dams are considered low hazard, with the remainder pending.

The purpose of the draft regulations is to add specificity to the broad provisions of the state's dam safety statute (RIGL 46-19) and more clearly identify the various legal responsibilities of high- and significant-hazard dam owners. To date, DEM has administered its responsibilities under the statute primarily by conducting inspections and issuing reports. But since there have never been any regulations associated with the statute, it has been difficult to compel dam owners to follow proper procedures regarding maintenance and repair, according to DEM officials. The proposed new regulations set forth such procedures, and thus constitute an important step forward, they say, in the state's efforts to improve dam safety in Rhode Island.

Major topics addressed by the draft regulations include:

A requirement that all dam owners register their dam;
A streamlined repair procedure for high- and significant-hazard dams;
An emergency repair procedure for high- and significant-hazard dams;
A required minimum frequency for performing visual inspections for high- and significant-hazard dams; and
A procedure for addressing high- and significant-hazard dams that are deemed to be unsafe.

The October 10 workshop will be held at 2 p.m. in the 3rd floor cafeteria at DEM Headquarters at 235 Promenade Street in Providence. Parking is free, attendance is open, and comments are welcome. Available for review at the workshop will be maps, showing the location of dams throughout the state, along with information specific to each dam. The Department asks those planning to attend to contact Paul Guglielmino at (401) 222-1360, extension 7122, by October 3, to be sure enough materials are available at the workshop; however, pre-registration is not required.

Letters have been sent to all dam owners for whom DEM has addresses and to other interested parties, such as municipalities, consultants and members of the former Dam Safety Task Force. The letters include a copy of the draft regulations; and those sent to specific dam owners provide the proposed hazard classification for their individual dam.

The draft regulations and proposed dam reclassifications can be found on DEM's website, www.dem.ri.gov, by clicking on "Compliance & Inspection" under "Offices and Divisions".

For additional information, contact David Chopy at 222-1360 ext. 7257 or Paul Guglielmino at 222-1360 ext. 7122.

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