Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia
Department 391 - RULES OF GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
Chapter 391-3 - ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Subject 391-3-8 - RULES FOR DAM SAFETY
Rule 391-3-8-.08 - Permits for the Construction and/or Operation of New and Existing Dams
Universal Citation: GA Rules and Regs r 391-3-8-.08
Current through Rules and Regulations filed through December 18, 2024
(1) New Dams
(a) Applications for a permit to construct
and operate a Category I dam shall be accompanied by a statement from an
engineer who provides engineering design services for the dam, certifying that
he/she has the necessary training and experience to design such dam, and that
to the best of his/her knowledge, understanding and belief such design meets
the standards of the Act and these Rules. If the design engineer determines
that a geological investigation of the dam is advisable, such investigation
shall be conducted by a professional geologist registered to practice in the
State of Georgia.
(b) As an
alternative to a certificate from an engineer, the Director may accept a permit
application accompanied by a certificate from the State Conservation Engineer
of the Natural Resources Conservation Service stating that the design of the
dam meets the standards of this Act and the rules and regulations promulgated
hereunder.
(c) Construction of such
dams shall be completed in the time frame stated in the special conditions of
the Construction and Operation Permit.
(d) Notice by registered mail shall be given
to the Director at least 10 days prior to the commencement of construction for
permitted dam construction activities.
(2) Existing Dams
(a) Permits for the operation of existing
dams may be issued provided the application for a permit is judged complete and
meets the requirements of the Act and these Rules.
(b) When a visual inspection, performed by an
engineer, reveals that abnormal stress exists or that the dam was not
constructed in accordance with the requirements of the Act or these Rules, a
detailed engineering survey meeting the requirements of this section shall be
performed prior to final action on the permit application. Such visual
inspection may be provided by the applicant, in accordance with Section
12-5-376(g) of
the Act, or by the Division, or by another authorized agency under contract
with the Director on behalf of the Division.
(3) Applications for permits for existing or new dams shall include the following evaluations and information, when such information is relevant and available, as determined by the Director:
(a) A regional vicinity map showing the
location of the existing or new dam and the latitude and longitude of the
center of the dam expressed to the nearest second, the watershed drainage area,
and the downstream area subject to potential damage due to failure or
misoperation of the dam or operation equipment (including other artificial
barriers or downstream fixed improvements which would be affected);
(b) A detailed description of the existing or
new dam, including:
1. proposed or as-built
drawings indicating plans, elevations and sections of the dam and appurtenant
works including details of the discharge facilities such as outlet works,
limited service and emergency spillways, flashboards, fuse plugs and other
operation equipment;
2. the
elevation of the top and lowest outside limit of the dam, and the elevation of
the lowest upstream and downstream toe;
3. the profile of the top of the dam and the
dam's structural height;
4. the
maximum and normal storage elevation, hydraulic heights and freeboard and
storage capacity associated with each elevation;
5. the surface area of the
impoundment;
6. the top and bottom
width of the dam;
7. the elevation
of the crest, type, width or diameter; length and location of spillways and the
number, size and type of gates if the structure is controlled;
8. the type, location, entrance and exit
inverts of outlet works, and emergency drawdown facilities;
9. the location, crest elevation, and
description of the invert, sides, and length of limited service and emergency
spillways;
10. the location and
description of flashboards and fuse plugs, including hydraulic head (pool
elevation) and other conditions required for breaching along with the assumed
results of breaching;
11. the type,
location, observations and records of hydrometeorological gauges appurtenant to
the project;
12. the maximum
non-damaging discharge causing only negligible damage at potential damage
locations downstream;
13. the
location and description of any proposed or existing instrumentation including,
but not limited to, observation wells, piezometers, settlement devices, seepage
outlets and weirs; and
14. the
location, elevation and description of areas affected by reservoir
fluctuation.
(c) Design
and safety evaluation reports, including:
1. a
hydrological analysis of the new or existing dam, reservoir, drainage basin
system including computation of the basin P.M.P. or the design storm event,
average watershed slope, watershed area, hydrologic soil groups, land use of
impoundment watershed, reservoir inflow hydrograph, spillway and exit
water-surface profiles, flow rate, expected frequency of emergency spillway use
and minimum freeboard;
2. analysis
and/or evaluation of the new or existing dam that indicates that the dam will
be stable during construction (new dams), filling (new dams) and under all
conditions of reservoir operations including assumed material properties and
all pertinent applied loads;
3.
evaluation of seepage and measures taken to control seepage through the
embankment, foundation, and abutments so that no internal erosion will take
place and that there will be no significant sloughing in the area where the
seepage emerges;
4. evaluation of
the geology of the site and foundation including any boring logs or laboratory
testing with engineering conclusions, foundation data, geological maps,
profiles and cross sections, foundation treatment, and any relevant seismic
information;
5. evaluation of
materials in the foundation and embankment including results of any laboratory
tests, field permeability tests, construction control tests, and assumed design
or evaluation properties of materials;
6. the properties of concrete including
source or proposed source of aggregate, mix design, type of cement and
additives, and the result of testing during construction;
7. evaluation or design of cover (vegetation,
masonry, or riprap) to protect the upstream slope, crest, and downstream slope
of the dam and abutments against erosion from wind, waves and runoff;
8. the proposed water control plan, including
the regulation plan under normal conditions and during flood or other emergency
conditions;
9. analysis of the
anticipated time required to completely drain the flood control zone and normal
pool;
10. the electric and
mechanical equipment types and rating of normal and emergency power supplies,
hoists, cranes, valves and valve operators, control and alarm systems, and
other electrical and mechanical equipment systems that could affect the safe
operation of the dam;
11. the
spillway and tailwater rating curve below the dam site, including the elevation
corresponding to the maximum design flood discharge and approximate nondamaging
channel capacity; and
12.
evaluation and/or analysis of settlement estimates and steps adopted to
compensate for total settlement and to minimize differential
settlements;
(d) Other
data requirements for new and existing dams:
1. New Dams:
(i) the proposed method of construction and
quality control provisions for the project, including the responsibilities of
the applicant, the design engineer, the builder, and the prescribed order of
the work;
(ii) the proposed dam
construction schedule and filling schedule for the reservoir;
(iii) the proposed inspection and maintenance
plan;
(iv) the proposed
instrumentation and monitoring plan including the filling surveillance
plan;
(v) the estimated life of the
dam and reservoir; and
(vi) any
other pertinent data as may be required by the Director;
2. Existing dams:
(i) detailed description of the condition of
the dam and appurtenant works resulting from a detailed visual inspection,
including a description of any signs of structural deterioration and seepage
such as, but not limited to, surface cracks, settlement, structural condition
of any conduits through the dam, and erosion;
(ii) the year of construction, and the date
and description of any modifications or repairs to the dam;
(iii) the construction history of the dam,
including the diversion scheme, construction sequence, pertinent construction
problems, alterations, modifications, and major maintenance repairs;
(iv) a summary of past major flood events or
previous failures or known deficiencies of the dam, including any experiences
that presented a threat to the safety of the project or to human life and any
action taken to correct or eliminate such hazards;
(v) the records of performance observations,
including instrumentation records;
(vi) the inspection history of the dam,
including the results of the last safety inspection, the organization that
performed the inspection, and the date the inspection was performed;
and
(vii) Any other pertinent
information as may be required by the Director.
O.C.G.A. §§ 12-5-370 through 12-5-385.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Georgia may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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