New rules around monitoring and reporting on the conditions of B.C.'s dams will improve dam safety, Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minister Steve Thomson announced today as he released the first annual British Columbia Dam Safety Annual Report.

The new measures follow through on a commitment to strengthen safety requirements on monitoring, reporting and signage, recommended in the July 2010 Review of the Testalinden Dam Failure. They also bring B.C.'s dam classification system in line with the 2007 Canadian Dam Association Guidelines. The new requirements include:

* Dam owners' submission of operations maintenance and surveillance manual and emergency preparedness plan to dam safety officers.

* Effective Nov. 30, 2011, signs for dams located partially or entirely on Crown land, except dams classified as low-risk under the new Regulation.

* Preparation and implementation of plans in response to the identification of any potential safety hazards.

* Keeping dam classifications accurate and up-to-date if a classification changes.

* Correcting any deficiencies identified by a dam safety officer in a document submitted by a dam owner.

The 2010/11 Dam Safety Annual Report released today is part of the Province's commitment to annual disclosure of information collected through B.C.'s dam safety program. The new annual report includes data on incidents and failures, dam construction, compliance monitoring, and program management highlights.

The report shows that during 2010/2011, dam safety officers completed 99 dam safety audits and the ministry achieved a 93 per cent return rate in compliance reporting by dam owners, up from 87 per cent last year. Major updating was done to the dam registry, including moving spatial data online, now visible on Google Earth. The report also highlights education and outreach programs, such as workshops for dam owners and stakeholder presentations.

Quote:

Steve Thomson, Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations:

"B.C. is one of the few provinces with a robust dam safety program and these regulation amendments make our program even stronger. We're also fulfilling our commitment to provide an annual dam safety report. This is just one more way we're moving towards open and transparent government for British Columbians."

Quick Facts:

* British Columbia is one of four provinces in Canada with a formal dam safety program.

* There are approximately 1,900 dams in the province including some of the largest structures in Canada.

* 1,200 of these dams are classified as low risk under the new Regulation.

Learn More:

The B.C. Dam Safety Report and Dam Safety Regulation are available at: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wsd/public_safety/dam_safety/index.html

Media Contact:

Cheekwan Ho

Public Affairs Officer

Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations

250 356-5261

Connect with the Province of B.C. at www.gov.bc.ca/connect