USED WITH PERMISSION FROM Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Environmental Protection WEB SITE
MEADVILLE (June 7) -- Environmental Protection Northwest Regional Director Kelly Burch today said an unpermitted dam on the north side of U.S. Route 6 will be breached after the 18-acre lake it impounds is drained to ease hazardous conditions. The dam is located on the north side of the highway and west of Edinboro in Elk Creek Township, Erie County.
“During a recent inspection that occurred as the result of a complaint, DEP discovered a hole in the dam wall that compromises its structural integrity,� Burch said. “Because of its close proximity to U.S. Route 6 and some homes in the area, the department concluded that the deteriorated condition of the structure presents a dam hazard emergency. DEP met with the dam owner, William Zelina, and his attorney to discuss what needed to be done to alleviate the potential threat, and they agreed to drain the lake and temporarily breach the dam.�
DEP issued a notice of violation to Zelina for unsafe conditions at the dam. The dam, built in the 1960s, was never permitted by DEP.
Zelina began draining the lake last week. It is expected that the dam will be emptied later this week. Zelina then will submit a breach plan to DEP to outline what steps he will take to ensure the area behind the dam does not refill with water.
Upon approval of the breach plan, DEP will issue an emergency permit to allow Zelina to breach the dam. After the dam is breached as approved by DEP, Zelina may begin the permit application process for the rehabilitation, operation and maintenance of the dam if he chooses to rebuild the dam.
DEP regulates approximately 3,100 dams statewide.
In August, the Association of State Dam Safety Officials selected Governor Edward G. Rendell to receive the 2004 ASDSO National Award of Merit, the organization’s highest award given to individuals who have advanced the dam safety cause nationwide. Governor Rendell has worked to focus national attention on the issue of dam safety, launching a major dam-safety initiative in Pennsylvania and calling on the federal government for additional support.
The Governor also has written to President George Bush and has received support from several states in asking the President to fund a national Dam Rehabilitation and Repair Act that would provide grants and loans to fix unsafe dams, finance an updated inventory of dams across the country and support dam safety emergency preparedness and anti-terrorist efforts to enhance homeland security.
For more information on dams, visit DEP’s Web site at www.dep.state.pa.us, Keyword: “Dam Safety.�
Copyright © 2004
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Environmental Protection
DEP Press Office Contact: Susan Rickens, Editor
P.O. Box 2063, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2063
(717) 787-1323
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