SITE C CLEAN ENERGY PROJECT DAM SAFETY 1
Glen Davidson, P.Eng.
Director, Water Management Branch Comptroller of Water Rights
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
13 January 2014 2 Site C JRP Request
That a representative of the province: Provide a presentation to the panel: • “giving a brief overview of BC dam safety program”, • And explain “how the Project was reviewed from a dam safety perspective.” “...and be able to answer possible questions from the panel.”
3 Overview of Presentation
Water Act and BC Dam Safety Regulation Dam Safety in BC Application to Site C Revelstoke Dam During Construction
4 Water Law in British Columbia
5 Water Act & Site C
Site C could be authorized and regulated under the Water Act Water diversion, storage, operations, construction and dam safety would be regulated BC Dam Safety Regulation is under the Water Act
6 Purpose of BC Dam Safety Program Minimize risks associated with dams to: People Environment Cultural Values Brilliant Dam Infrastructure & Property Economy
7 Regulated Dams in BC Failure Consequence Classifications
Extreme 40 Very High 54 High 257 Significant 555 Low 694 TOTAL 1600
8 COQUITLAM DAM CONSTRUCTION How Successful is Dam Safety in BC?
Extreme consequence dam has never failed in BC On average 1 dam failure per year Most recent significant failure was Testalindin (2010) Large dams have failed in other parts of the world so there is a need for vigilance One death in BC from a dam failure (Union Bay, 1912)
9 Dam Safety Program Components
Project Review & Approval Compliance Enforcement Emergency Planning & Response
BENNETT DAM
10 Recent Reviews of Major Projects
BC Hydro Columbia Power Corporation • Coquitlam Dam Rebuild • Arrow Lakes Generating Station • Revelstoke Upgrade • Brilliant Upgrade & Expansion • Mica Upgrade • Waneta Upgrade & Expansion • Ruskin Rehabilitation Independent Power Producers • John Hart Gen Stn Replacement • Long Lake Rebuild Capital Regional District • Forest Kerr • Sooke Upgrade • East Toba • Montrose Creek Metro Vancouver • Seymour Falls Upgrade Rio Tinto Alcan
• Kemano Upgrade
11
Dam Approval Process in BC
Based on Preliminary Design MICA DAM Environmental Assessment Water Licence
Based on Detailed Design Review of Dam Safety Leave to Commence Construction
12 Project Review Resources
Internal capacity Consultant to the Comptroller Independent Engineer Technical Advisory Boards
13 WANETA DAM EXPANSION PROJECT Next Steps: Water Licence
BC Environmental Assessment Certificate BC Hydro provides additional supporting documentation Additional consultation as required Water Licence application adjudication
14 Next Steps: Review of Design
Meets design targets Sensitivity analysis Operation and maintenance procedures Emergency Preparedness Plan Owner’s dam safety management program
15 Criteria Applied to Review
Water Act BC Dam Safety Regulation Water Licence Canadian Dam Association – Dam Safety Guidelines and Technical Bulletins International Commission on Large Dams – Technical Bulletins Best practices of industry
16 Authorizations
Preliminary design and drawings: Water Licence grants rights and authorizes “works”
Detailed design and drawings: Leave to Commence Construction issued by an Engineer under the Water Act
Construction and Testing Complete: Leave to Commence Operation issued
17 Dam Safety Doesn’t End with Construction!
Dam owners must: Safely operate and maintain works Meet obligations set out in Regulation Report annually on compliance Address new safety issues as they arise
18 Ruskin Dam
Dam Safety Doesn’t End with Construction!
BC Dam Safety Program undertakes: Annual Dam Owner Compliance Monitoring Dam audits Enforcement Emergency Planning & Response Ensure current best practices, guidelines and standards
19
Our Role with Site C to Date
Water Licence application has been received Updated regularly on progress Reviewed Environmental Impact Statement Attended Technical Advisory Board report-outs Attended Internal Design Review report-out Viewed hydraulic model
20 Questions?
Revelstoke Dam 21