DATE ISSUED: May 28, 2026

EFFECTIVE DATE: Immediately

The BC Energy Regulator (BCER) is responsible for the authorization and compliance oversight of dams under the Water Sustainability Act and the Dam Safety Regulation (DSR) when their primary purpose is to supply stored water for petroleum and natural gas activities in B.C.

This update provides clarifications on Dam Emergency Response Plan requirements and expectations for Energy Resources Activities Act (ERAA) permit holders for managing emergencies associated with the construction, operation, and decommissioning of dams. These clarifications support the BCER’s ongoing commitment to protect public safety, local communities and the environment.

Signage

Owners of dams with a failure consequence classification of “significant” and higher that are located partly or entirely on Crown land, or on land that is surround by or adjacent to Crown land, must post two signs in the locations specified by the DSR and that meet the requirements of section 11 of the DSR. The sign must show name of the dam, such as “XYZ Dam” along with emergency contact information for the dam. Placing the name of the dam at the top of the signage provides clear information to the public.

The requirement to post signs in accordance with section 11 is intended to inform the public that the structure is a dam and provide instructions for reporting any safety concerns they may observe.

Dam Emergency Response Plan Supplement

Dam owners may provide a standalone Dam Emergency Plan (DEP) or submit the required information as an additional section incorporated into an operator’s existing supplemental Emergency Response Plan (ERP). Regardless, under section 9 of the Dam Safety Regulation, these dam owners are required to develop and maintain a Dam Emergency Response Plan (dam ERP). The Dam ERP must address all dams with a failure consequence classification of “significant” or higher and must be submitted to the BCER for review and acceptance by a Dam Safety Officer (DSO). The emergency contact information for these dams must be reviewed annually and updated, as necessary.

Section 10 and Schedule 2 of the DSR require an owner of a dam with a dam failure consequence classification of “low” to prepare, maintain, and review emergency contact information annually; to revise and update it as necessary; and to provide this information to each local emergency authority for the dam and the BCER’s DSO.

In alignment with the above requirements for the current emergency contacts information for all the dams, irrespective of the consequence class, the BCER expects that the Dam ERP (or equivalent supplemental documentation) include a comprehensive inventory of all dam assets owned by an Energy Resource Activities Act permit holder – including those with a “Low” consequence classification –along with their locations and current emergency contact information.

Recommended Information to include in a Dam Emergency Response Plan:

A. A list of all freshwater reservoir and dam assets, corresponding provincial dam number, location (coordinates), consequence classification, height, live storage volume and emergency contacts.

B. For the significant and higher consequence reservoirs and dams, include the following additional information:

• Directions to the dams, drawings, inundation zone/map, list of persons and roads.
• Basic dam emergency planning and response roles and responsibilities.
• Guidance for determining dam emergency levels, 1, 2 or 3, consistent with provincial dam emergency plan guidance found at the B.C. Government Dam Safety Website.
• Detailed description of each step in the emergency process, including emergency event detection, level determination, notification and communication, expected actions and termination.
• Notification and communication flow chart for the three emergency levels, including activation of the company’s ERP, must be reviewed and if necessary, revised annually.
• Examples of dam emergency situations.
• Template for the dam emergency report to be completed during a dam emergency.

Refer to provincial guidance and templates when completing a Dam ERP.

If you have any questions regarding this technical update, please contact:

Gouri Bhuyan, P.Eng.
Supervisor, Civil Technical Compliance
Gouri.Bhuyan@bc-er.ca

Alicia Remenda
Director, Emergency Management
Alicia.Remenda@bc-er.ca