BILL: Dams
cific schedule in place, according to Gallagher’s office.
DWR personnel, contacted early Thursday, said someone from DWR would consider commenting on the proposed bill, but did not return calls as of the end of business.
An agency spokesperson previously told the Appeal-Democrat that Oroville Dam is inspected annually by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and inspected one to two times each year by the State Division of Safety of Dams.
“While the investigation about the cause of the failure of Oroville Dam is ongoing, one thing has become clear – this was not just the work of Mother Nature,” Gallagher said in a press release. “We have to learn from the construction, design, and maintenance issues that led to the failure at Oroville.”
Gallagher’s bill also stipulates DWR will be required to submit a report every year that details plans for improvement and maintenance of water structures. The report would include a comprehensive plan to fund those projects.
“Not only will this require more comprehensive inspections, but it will require complete transparency from the Department regarding the funding and maintenance of the dams it operates,” Gallagher said.
AB 1270 is scheduled for a hearing in the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee on Tuesday.
In the meantime, area Congressman John Garamendi said in a Williams town hall meeting that he’s been monitoring the situation with Oroville. While he did not reference Gallagher’s bill, Garamendi indicated he thought the state and the water agency were responsible for solving the problem.
“The dam belongs to the state and the water district: Their dam, their responsibility,” Garamendi said. “I would object to any federal government involvement at this point. The state spent nearly half a billion on a stupid tunnel that should never have been built in the first place. They need to pay for the dam; not the taxpayers, and not the federal government.”
Garamendi also believes any information revealed by the Oroville Dam investigation should be public to increase the odds of finding an effective solution.
“The state is absolutely wrong keeping secrets about what’s wrong with the dam,” Garamendi said. “The information needs to come out. When it does, a better solution will be found.”