%20(1)_edited.png)
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) must step up its oversight and enforcement of dam safety regulations to prevent potential failures that could lead to catastrophic damage and loss of life, according to a recent audit from New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.
While dam failures are rare in New York, DiNapoli emphasized the importance of maintaining proactive measures to keep it that way. “We want to ensure dam owners are complying with safety standards, including up-to-date engineering assessments, emergency plans, and proof of proper maintenance,” DiNapoli said.
DEC regulates over 6,500 dams in the state, ranging from privately owned to municipal structures, and is responsible for ensuring that these dams are safely operated and maintained. The audit, which examined 843 dams posing the highest risk between 2020 and 2024, uncovered significant lapses in safety compliance. Some dam owners failed to submit emergency plans, engineering assessments, or proof that the dams were being maintained safely. These documents are vital for identifying potential risks and ensuring the appropriate emergency response if necessary.
The audit found several key areas where DEC’s oversight was lacking:
158 dams (19%) did not have emergency plans on file, including 30% of Hazard Class B dams.
33% of dams did not have an engineering assessment on file, and 15% of them hadn’t updated assessments in the last 10 years.
14% of dams were missing annual certifications, which confirm proper maintenance.
In addition to these findings, DEC has been slow to assign condition ratings to many dams, leaving 26% of high-risk dams unassessed. Without these ratings, it’s more difficult for DEC to enforce actions that could prevent a potential disaster.
DiNapoli’s audit calls for several actions to improve dam safety, including:
Updating DEC’s database to include dam condition ratings.
Increasing the number of timely inspections of high-risk dams.
Establishing strict timelines for inspection report completion.
Implementing enforcement procedures for non-compliant dam owners.
DEC has generally agreed with the audit’s findings and is already working on implementing the recommendations.
As the threat of dam failures continues to loom, these improvements in oversight and enforcement could make a critical difference in protecting lives, property, and communities across New York State.
Comments