Periodic Inspection Fees

Ecology’s Dam Safety Office conducts periodic inspections of existing dams that are located in areas where dam failure and release of the reservoir contents could result in the loss of life.  The inspections are intended to identify deficiencies, reasonably assure safe operations, and confirm that maintenance is being adequately performed.  Periodic inspection fees apply.

Note:  Starting July 1, 2009, significant hazard dams are inspected every 5 years, based on a proviso in the 2009 budget passed by the Legislature.  They were previously inspected on a 10-year cycle.

Basis for Inspection Fees

Inspections are done every five years for High Hazard and Significant Hazard dams.  Inspection fees are collected annually in advance of each 5-year inspection. To determine your fee for this year, refer to Periodic Inspection Fees Table (below).  The annual inspection amount invoiced to the dam owner is based on the hazard level of the dam:

• Significant Hazard: 1-2 homes (or equivalent population) at risk downstream in event of dam failure.
• High Hazard: 3 or more homes (or equivalent population) at risk downstream in event of dam failure.
   

  Periodic Inspection Fees Table
  Fiscal Year (July 1 to June 30)	Dam Hazard Level
  	Significant Hazard	High Hazard
  2012 (Billed July 2011)	$625	$856
  2013 (Billed July 2012)	$881 *	$1208 *
  * Expected fee after the rule amendment takes effect

New Rulemaking

From 2005 to 2010, the fees for periodic inspections were calculated using a Fiscal Growth Factor applied to the previous year’s fees.  Current rulemaking will remove the use of a Fiscal Growth Factor and implement fees increases as directed in the 2011 Legislature’s budget bill.  For more information on this rulemaking, please see Dam Safety Fee Rulemaking or Current Rulemaking Chapter 173-175 WAC - Dam Safety.

Exceptions to the periodic inspection fee

The exceptions to the normal periodic inspection fees are:

• For dams less than 10 years old, NO fees are charged.
• For dams more than 10 but less than 20 years old, fees equal the fee for significant hazard dams.
• For impoundments with multiple dams, a single facility fee is charged, based on the dam with the highest hazard.
• For multi-cell impoundments, such as multi-cell wastewater lagoons, a single facility fee is charged, based on the highest hazard cell.
• For non-routine and public request inspections, NO fees are charged.

Current periodic inspection fees are explained in the July 2009 Publication “Dam Safety Fees”