Ariz. Admin. Code § 12-15-1210

Current through Register Vol. 30, No. 50, December 13, 2024

Section R12-15-1210 - Application to Construct, Reconstruct, Repair, Enlarge, Alter, Breach, or Remove a Low Hazard Potential Dam

A. An application package to construct, reconstruct, repair, enlarge, or alter a low hazard potential dam shall include the following prepared by or under the supervision of an engineer as defined in R12-15-1202(11):

1. A completed application filed in duplicate on forms provided by the Director.

2. An initial application fee based on the total estimated project cost, computed in accordance with A.R.S. § 45-1204 and R12-15-104(A)(7).

3. A detailed estimate of project costs. Project costs are all costs associated with construction of the dam and appurtenant works, including preliminary investigations and surveys, engineering design, supervision of construction, and any other engineering costs.

4. The seal and signature of the responsible engineer in accordance with A.A.C. R4-30-304.

5. A statement by the responsible engineer that classifies the dam as low hazard in accordance with R12-15-1206(B). The responsible engineer shall submit a map of the area that would be inundated by failure or improper operation of the dam. The responsible engineer shall demonstrate that failure or improper operation of the dam would be unlikely to result in:

a. Loss of human life. The demonstration may be based on an emergency action plan for persons who may be in the area of inundation;

b. Significant incremental adverse consequences; or

c. Significant intangible losses, as defined in R12-15-1202(21) and identified and evaluated by a public natural resource management or protection agency.

6. Two complete sets of construction drawings as prescribed by R12-15-1215(1).

7. Two complete sets of construction specifications as prescribed by R12-15-1215(2).

8. An engineering design report that includes information needed to evaluate all aspects of the design of the dam and appurtenances, including references with page numbers to support any assumptions used in the design, as prescribed in R12-15-1215(3).

9. A description of the use for the impounded or diverted water, proof of a right to appropriate, and a permit to store water as prescribed in A.R.S. §§ 45-152 and 45-161.

10. A construction quality assurance plan clearly describing all aspects of construction supervision.

11. A long-term budget plan and evidence of financing, prepared using customary accounting principles, that demonstrate that the applicant has the financial capability to construct, operate, and maintain the dam in a safe manner. If the applicant does not have evidence that can be verified by an independent audit of the financial capability to construct, operate, and maintain the dam in a safe manner, the Director may require a performance bond for the entire cost of the proposed construction work.

B. An application package for the breach or removal of a low hazard potential dam shall include the following:

1. A completed application filed in duplicate on forms provided by the Director that contains the following information:

a. The name and address of the owner of the dam or the agent of the owner.

b. A description of the proposed removal.

c. The proposed time for beginning and completing the removal.

2. An initial application fee based on the total estimated project cost and computed in accordance with A.R.S. § 45-1204 and R12-15-104(A)(7).

3. A statement by the responsible engineer demonstrating both of the following:

a. That the dam will be excavated to the level of natural ground at the maximum section; and

b. That the breach or breaches will be of sufficient width to pass the greater of:

i. The 100 year flood at a depth of less than 5 feet, or

ii. The 100 year flood at a normal flood depth of not more than 2 feet at a distance of 2,000 feet downstream of the dam,

iii. Subsection (B)(3)(b) shall not be construed to require more than a total removal of the dam regardless of flood magnitude.

c. That the sides of the breach will be excavated to a slope ratio that is stable and not steeper than 1 horizontal to 1 vertical.

4. A detailed estimate of project costs. Project costs are all costs associated with the removal of the dam and appurtenant works, including preliminary investigations and surveys, engineering design, supervision of removal, and any other engineering costs.

C. An applicant intending to reduce a low hazard potential dam to nonjurisdictional size shall submit a written notice to the Director at least no less than 60 days before the date that construction begins.

D. Within 45 days after receipt of a complete application package as prescribed by subsection (A) or (B), the Director shall either:

1. Determine that the dam falls within the low hazard potential classification, or

2. Issue a written notice that the dam does not fall within the low hazard potential classification.

E. The Director's determination that the proposed dam does not fall within the low hazard classification is an appealable agency action and subject to administrative and judicial review under A.R.S. Title 41, Chapter 6, Article 10.

F. Upon completion of construction, the owner shall notify the Department in writing. The owner shall not use the dam or reservoir before issuance of a license unless the Director issues written approval.

G. Within 90 days after completing construction, reconstruction, repair, enlargement, or alteration of a low hazard potential dam, the owner shall file the following:

1. An affidavit showing the actual cost of construction, reconstruction, repair, enlargement, or alteration of the dam. The owner shall submit a detailed accounting of the costs, including all engineering costs.

2. An additional fee or refund request computed in accordance with A.R.S. § 45-1209 and R12-15-104(A)(7), based on the actual cost of construction, reconstruction, repair, enlargement, or alteration.

3. A brief completion report summarizing the salient features of the project, including a description of the causes for any changes or deviations from the approved application package prepared by the engineer who supervised the construction, in accordance with A.R.S. Title 32, Chapter 1. The engineer shall indicate:

a. That the dam has been designed and constructed in compliance with basic principles of dam construction currently being practiced in the industry;

b. That the dam as constructed has structural integrity and flood routing capacity consistent with its hazard potential classification; and

c. That the as constructed drawings and the report accurately represent the construction of the dam.

4. As constructed drawings prepared and sealed by the engineer who supervised the construction. The owner and the engineer shall maintain a record of the drawings.

H. Upon receiving the Director's written approval, the owner may operate the dam and appurtenant works. Within 30 days after receipt of the information in subsection (G), the Director shall issue to the owner either a license or a notice that the dam and appurtenant works shall not be operated because the dam and appurtenant works do not qualify as low hazard or were not built according to the submitted design. The license shall include conditions of operation, including:

1. The safe storage level of the reservoir,

2. A requirement that the dam be operated and maintained so that it does not constitute a danger to human life and property,

3. A requirement that the conditions resulting in the low hazard classification be maintained throughout the life of the dam, and

4. A requirement that the owner demonstrate in writing the low hazard classification in the manner prescribed by subsection (A)(5) every five years.

I. Within 90 days after completing removal of a low hazard potential dam, the owner shall file the following. The Director shall remove the dam from jurisdiction upon approval of the submittal.

1. An affidavit showing the actual cost of removal of the dam. The owner shall submit a detailed accounting of the costs, including all engineering costs.

2. An additional fee or refund request computed in accordance with A.R.S. § 45-1204 and R12-15-104(A)(7), based on the actual cost of removal.

3. A brief completion report, including a description of the causes for any changes or deviations from the approved application package prepared by the engineer who supervised the construction, in accordance with A.R.S. Title 32, Chapter 1. The engineer shall certify that the as removed drawings and the report accurately represent the actual removal of the dam.

4. As-removed drawings prepared and sealed by the engineer who supervised the removal. The owner and the engineer shall maintain a record of the drawings.

J. An owner shall immediately commence repairs necessary to safeguard human life and property and prevent failure and improper operation of a low hazard potential dam. The owner shall notify the Department as soon as reasonably possible and in all cases within 10 days of commencing the required repairs.

Ariz. Admin. Code § R12-15-1210

New Section adopted by final rulemaking at 6 A.A.R. 2558, effective June 12, 2000 (Supp. 00-2). Amended by final rulemaking at 13 A.A.R. 3022, effective October 6, 2007 (Supp. 07-3). Amended by exempt rulemaking at 16 A.A.R. 1205, effective June 15, 2010 (Supp. 10-2). Amended by exempt rulemaking at 16 A.A.R. 1950, effective September 10, 2010 (Supp. 10-3). Amended by final rulemaking at 17 A.A.R. 659, effective June 4, 2011 (Supp. 11-2).