CT DEEP Issues New EAP Requirements for Class C and Class B Dams

The State of Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) recently adopted Regulation 22a-411a concerning the preparation and update of Emergency Action Plans (EAPs) for High Hazard (Class C) and Significant Hazard (Class B) dams.  EAPs meeting the new requirements for Class C dams must be submitted to DEEP within 12 months of February 3, 2016, the effective date of the new regulation, and within 18 months for Class B dams. Dam owners will be required to submit an updated EAP every two years thereafter, or more frequently as necessary to reflect significant changes to the dam structure or downstream area.

An EAP is intended to be a pragmatic document that both identifies conditions that require a response and provides clear instructions in an emergency situation.  “The new requirements for dam owners minimize the potential for dam failures and increase public safety by directing owners to improve oversight and responsibility for their dams through the preparation of Emergency Action Plans (EAPs) and regular inspections,” said DEEP Commissioner Robert Klee.

The new EAP regulations include criteria for inundation mapping, dam monitoring procedures, formal warning notification and communication procedures, and EAP review and revisions. Copies of the EAP must be filed with the DEEP, the chief executive officer, and the emergency management officer of any municipality that would potentially be affected by an emergency involving the dam for which the EAP has been prepared.

For more information, or for assistance meeting the new requirements for Dam EAPs, please contact us.