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CHAPTER 8. DAM FAILURE <br />8-3 <br />U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Dam Safety Program <br />The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is responsible for safety inspections of some federal and non -federal <br />dams in the United States that meet the size and storage limitati ons specified in the National Dam Safety <br />Act. The Corps has inventoried dams; surveyed each state and federal agency’s capabilities, practices and <br />regulations regarding design, construction, operation and maintenance of the dams; and developed <br />guidelines for inspection and evaluation of dam safety (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1997). <br />Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Dam Safety Program <br />The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) cooperates with a large number of federal and state <br />agencies to ensure and promote dam safety. There are 3,036 dams that are part of regulated hydroelectric <br />projects in the FERC program. Two-thirds of these are more than 50 years old. As dams age, concern about <br />their safety and integrity grows, so oversight and regular inspec tion are important. FERC staff inspects <br />hydroelectric projects on an unscheduled basis to investigate the following: <br />• Potential dam safety problems <br />• Complaints about constructing and operating a project <br />• Safety concerns related to natural disasters <br />• Issues concerning compliance with the terms and conditions of a license. <br />Every five years, an independent engineer approved by the FERC must inspect and evaluate projects with <br />dams higher than 32.8 feet (10 meters), or with a total storage capacity of more than 2,000 acre-feet. <br />FERC staff monitors and evaluates seismic research and applies it in investigating and performing structural <br />analyses of hydroelectric projects. FERC staff also evaluates the effects of potential and actual large floods <br />on the safety of dams. During and following floods, FERC staff visits dams and licensed projects, <br />determines the extent of damage, if any, and directs any necessary studies or remedial measures the licensee <br />must undertake. The FERC publication Engineering Guidelines for the Evaluation of Hydropower Projects <br />guides the FERC engineering staff and licensees in evaluating dam safety. The publication is frequently <br />revised to reflect current information and methodologies. <br />The FERC requires licensees to prepare emergency action plans and conducts training sessions on how to <br />develop and test these plans. The plans outline an early warning system if there is an actual or potential <br />sudden release of water from a dam due to failure. The plans include operational procedures that may be <br />used, such as reducing reservoir levels and reducing downstream flows, as well as procedures for notifying <br />affected residents and agencies responsible for emergency management. These plans are frequently updated <br />and tested to ensure that everyone knows what to do in emergency situations. <br />8.2. HAZARD PROFILE <br />8.2.1 Past Events <br />• According to DSO records, 19 notable dam failure events occurred in Washington between 1918 <br />and 2018. None of these occurred within or impacted Kittitas County and to date, Kittitas County <br />has not had a presidentially declared disaster caused by dam failure. <br />8.2.2 Location <br />The DSO oversees 20 dams in Kittitas County, as listed in Table 8-1.. Six are operated by federal agencies, <br />and the remainder are under the jurisdiction of the state. Five of the dams are listed as high hazard, which