New Mexico Administrative Code › Title 19 - NATURAL RESOURCES AND WILDLIFE › Chapter 25 - ADMINISTRATION AND USE OF WATER - GENERAL PROVISIONS › Part 12 - DAM DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND DAM SAFETY › Section 19.25.12.18 - EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 13, July 16, 2024
Owners of dams classified as high or significant hazard
				  potential shall prepare, maintain and exercise an emergency action plan for
				  immediate action in the event of a potential dam failure. Because each site and
				  operating practice is unique, waivers of specific requirements in this section
				  will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Request for waiver shall be in
				  writing accompanied with documentation justifying the request. If the request
				  is not justified to the satisfaction of the state engineer the request will be
				  denied. The emergency action plan shall follow the format provided by the state
				  engineer or a format that has prior approval of the state engineer. The
				  emergency action plan shall also be submitted in an electronic format
				  acceptable to the state engineer. The front cover shall identify the document
				  as an emergency action plan and shall show the name of the dam, the county in
				  which the dam is located and the dam owner. The pages immediately behind the
				  front cover shall show the name of the dam, the county in which the dam is
				  located, signed certifications from the dam owner, engineer, local and state
				  officials responsible for emergency management and a certification for the
				  state engineer in accordance with Subsections A, B, D and E of
				  19.25.12.12 NMAC.
				  The dam owner shall coordinate with the local emergency management office in
				  preparing the emergency action plan. The coordination is required to ensure
				  that there is an agreement on the evacuation limits and responsibilities. The
				  dam owner shall submit a copy to the local and state officials responsible for
				  emergency management for acceptance prior to submittal to the state engineer.
				  The dam owner shall review the emergency action plan annually, update as
				  necessary and furnish a copy of updates to all official copyholders. The dam
				  owner shall exercise the emergency action plan to verify those involved in its
				  implementation know their roles and responsibilities. It is recommended the dam
				  owner conduct a functional exercise of the emergency action plan every 5 years
				  with a table top exercise conducted 2 to 3 years before the functional
				  exercise. The exercise may result in updates to ensure the emergency action
				  plan maintains operational readiness, timeliness and responsiveness. Failure to
				  act in accordance with the accepted emergency action plan that affects public
				  safety will result in an order being issued requiring the dam owner to address
				  the problem. Failure to comply with orders issued by the state engineer may
				  result in the license to operate the dam being revoked and the dam being
				  ordered breached in accordance with Subsection B or C of
				  19.25.12.19
				  NMAC. A professional engineer licensed in the state of New Mexico qualified in
				  the design and construction of dams shall prepare engineering information for
				  the emergency action plan as specified below. An emergency action plan shall
				  contain the information described below and any other additional information
				  determined necessary by the state engineer or emergency management official to
				  evaluate the planned response to an emergency situation by the dam
				  owner.
A. Notification flowchart: A
				notification flowchart showing who is to be notified, by whom and in what
				priority.
B. Emergency detection,
				evaluation and classification: Procedures for reliably and timely identifying
				an emergency situation to ensure that an appropriate course of action is
				implemented. A professional engineer licensed in the state of New Mexico
				qualified in the design and construction of dams shall prepare this
				element.
C. Responsibilities: A
				list designating responsibilities for the emergency action plan related tasks
				including, but not limited to developing, maintaining, exercising,
				implementing, warning, evacuation and termination of the emergency.
D. Preparedness: A list of materials,
				equipment and manpower available to moderate or alleviate the effects of a dam
				failure or spillway release.
E.
				Evacuation map: An evacuation map delineating the areas that will be evacuated
				as a result of dam failure. The evacuation map shall extend to a point where
				the consequences of dam failure does not pose a threat to life and evacuation
				or restricting access is not required. If available, shape files from
				geographic information system software of the evacuation map shall be
				submitted. Evacuation maps shall include the following information at critical
				locations downstream when required by the local official responsible for
				emergency management:
(1) distance downstream
				from the dam;
(2) arrival time of
				the leading edge of the flood wave;
(3) peak flow depth, incremental rise or
				water surface elevation in feet; and
(4) peak velocity in feet per
				second.