Part V. Design Requirements
4VAC50-20-240. Design of structures.
A. The owner shall complete all necessary investigations prior to submitting the design report (Design Report for the Construction or Alteration of Virginia Regulated Impounding Structures). The design report shall contain those components outlined in 4VAC50-20-70 for construction activities or those outlined in 4VAC50-20-80 for alteration activities. The scope and degree of precision required is a matter of engineering judgment based on the complexities of the site and the hazard potential classification of the proposed structure.
B. Surveys shall be made with sufficient accuracy to locate the proposed construction site and to define the total volume of storage in the impoundment. Locations of center lines and other horizontal and vertical controls shall be shown on a map of the site. The area downstream and upstream from the proposed impounding structure shall be investigated in order to delineate the areas and extent of potential damage in case of failure or backwater due to flooding.
C. The drainage area shall be determined. Present and planned land-use conditions shall be considered in determining the runoff characteristics of the drainage area. The most severe of these conditions shall be included in the design calculations which shall be submitted as part of the design report.
D. The geotechnical engineering investigation shall consist of borings, test pits and other subsurface explorations necessary to adequately define the existing conditions. The investigations shall be performed so as to appropriately define the soil, rock and ground water conditions.
E. All construction materials shall be adequately researched and selected so as to ensure that their as constructed behavior will reasonably conform to design criteria. If on-site materials are to be utilized, they shall be located and determined to be adequate in quantity and quality.
Statutory Authority
§ 10.1-605 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR625-01-00 § 5.1, eff. February 1, 1989; amended, Virginia Register Volume 24, Issue 25, eff. September 26, 2008.
4VAC50-20-250. (Repealed.)
Historical Notes
Derived from VR625-01-00 § 5.2, eff. February 1, 1989; repealed, Virginia Register Volume 24, Issue 25, eff. September 26, 2008.
4VAC50-20-260. Spillway design.
A. Every impounding structure shall have a spillway system with adequate capacity to discharge the design flood without endangering the safety of the impounding structure.
B. Vegetated earth or an unlined emergency spillway may be approved when the applicant demonstrates that it will pass the spillway design flood without jeopardizing the safety of the impounding structure (such as by allowance of overtopping of a structure not designed to permit overtopping). In no case shall impounding structure owners permit the growth of trees and other woody vegetation in the emergency spillway area.
C. Lined emergency spillways shall include design criteria calculations, plans and specifications for suitable energy dissipators and for spillways that include crest control structures, chutes, walls, panel lining, sills, blocks, and miscellaneous details. All joints shall be reasonably water-tight and placed on a foundation capable of sustaining applied loads without undue deformation. Provision shall be made for handling under seepage and uplift pressures from the foundation which might adversely affect the structural integrity and structural stability of the impounding structure.
Statutory Authority
§ 10.1-605 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR625-01-00 § 5.3, eff. February 1, 1989; amended, Virginia Register Volume 24, Issue 25, eff. September 26, 2008.
4VAC50-20-270. Principal spillways and outlet works.
A. It will be assumed that principal spillways and regulating outlets provided for special functions will operate to normal design discharge capabilities during the spillway design flood, provided appropriate analyses show:
1. That control gates and structures are suitably designed to operate reliably under maximum heads for durations likely to be involved and risks of blockage by debris are minimal;
2. That access roads and passages to gate regulating controls would be safely passable by operating personnel under spillway design flood conditions; and
3. That there are no substantial reasons for concluding that outlets would not operate safely to full design capacity during the spillway design flood.
B. If there are reasons to doubt that any of the above basic requirements might not be adequately met under spillway design flood conditions, the "dependable" discharge capabilities of regulating outlets shall be assumed to be less than 100% of design capacities, generally as outlined in the following subsections C through G of this section.
C. Any limitations in safe operating heads, maximum velocities to be permitted through structures or approach channels, or other design limitations shall be observed in establishing "dependable" discharge rating curves to be used in routing the spillway design flood hydrograph through the reservoir.
D. If intakes to regulating outlets are likely to be exposed to significant quantities of floating debris, sediment depositions or ice hazards prior to or during major floods, the dependable discharge capability during the spillway design flood shall be assumed to be zero.
E. If access roads or structural passages to operating towers or controls are likely to be flooded or otherwise unusable during the spillway design flood, the dependable discharge capability of regulating outlets will be assumed to be zero for the periods of time during which such conditions might exist.
F. Any deficiencies in discharge performance likely to result from delays in the operation of gates before attendants could be reasonably expected to reach the control must be taken into account when estimating "dependable" discharge capabilities assumptions in routing the spillway design flood through the impoundment. Reports on design studies shall indicate the allowances made for possible delays in initiating gate operations. Normally, for projects located in small basins, where critical spillway design flood inflows may occur within several hours after intense precipitation, outflows through any regulating outlets that must be opened after the flood begins shall be assumed to be zero for an appropriate period of time subsequent to the beginning of intense rainfall.
G. All gates, valves, conduits and concrete channel outlets shall be designed and constructed to prevent significant erosion or damage to the impounding structure or to the downstream outlet or channel.
Statutory Authority
§ 10.1-605 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR625-01-00 § 5.4, eff. February 1, 1989; amended, Virginia Register Volume 24, Issue 25, eff. September 26, 2008.
4VAC50-20-280. Drain requirements.
All new impounding structures regardless of their hazard potential classification, shall include a device to permit draining of the impoundment within a reasonable period of time as determined by the owner's licensed professional engineer. Existing drains on impounding structures shall be kept operational. When practicable, existing impounding structures shall be retrofitted with devices to permit draining.
Statutory Authority
§ 10.1-605 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR625-01-00 § 5.5, eff. February 1, 1989; amended, Virginia Register Volume 24, Issue 25, eff. September 26, 2008.
4VAC50-20-290. Life of the impounding structure.
Components of the impounding structure, the outlet works, drain system and appurtenances shall be durable and maintained or replaced in keeping with the design and planned life of the impounding structure.
Statutory Authority
§ 10.1-605 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR625-01-00 § 5.6, eff. February 1, 1989; amended, Virginia Register Volume 24, Issue 25, eff. September 26, 2008.
4VAC50-20-300. Additional design requirements.
A. Flood routings shall start at or above the elevation of the crest of the lowest ungated outlet. Freeboard determination and justification must be addressed by the owner's engineer.
B. All elements of the impounding structure shall conform to sound engineering practice. Safety factors, design standards and design references that are used shall be included with the design report.
C. Inspection devices may be required by the director for use by inspectors, owners or the director in conducting inspections in the interest of structural integrity during and after completion of construction and during the life of the impounding structure.
Statutory Authority
§ 10.1-605 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR625-01-00 § 5.7, eff. February 1, 1989; amended, Virginia Register Volume 24, Issue 25, eff. September 26, 2008.
4VAC50-20-310. Plans and specifications.
The plans and specifications for a proposed impounding structure required in 4VAC50-20-70 for construction activities and in 4VAC50-20-80 for alteration activities shall consist of a detailed engineering design report (Design Report for the Construction or Alteration of Virginia Regulated Impounding Structures) and engineering drawings and specifications, with the following as a minimum:
1. The name of the project; the name of the owner; classification of the impounding structure as set forth in this chapter; designated access to the project and the location with respect to highways, roads, streams and existing impounding structures and impoundments that would affect or be affected by the proposed impounding structure.
2. Cross-sections, plans, profiles, logs of test borings, laboratory and in situ test data, drawings of principal and emergency spillways, impounding structures, outlet works, drain system and appurtenances, and other project components in sufficient detail to indicate clearly the extent and complexity of the work to be performed.
3. Contract drawings should include, but not be limited to, foundation and abutment treatment, stream or river diversion, excavation and material fill processes, phased fill and compaction and drainage devices.
4. The erosion and sediment control plan, as approved by the local government, which minimizes soil erosion and sedimentation during all phases of construction or alteration.
5. Technical specifications, as may be required to describe the materials, performance, and methods of the construction and construction quality control for the project.
Statutory Authority
§ 10.1-605 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR625-01-00 § 5.8, eff. February 1, 1989; amended, Virginia Register Volume 24, Issue 25, eff. September 26, 2008.
4VAC50-20-320. Acceptable design procedures and references.
To ensure consistency of approach, within the major engineering disciplines of hydrology, hydraulics, soils and foundations, structures, and general civil design, criteria and approaches from multiple sources shall not be mixed for developing the design of a given feature or facility without approval of the director. In all cases the owner's engineer shall identify the source of the criteria.
The following are acceptable as design procedures and references:
1. The design procedures, manuals and criteria used by the United States Army Corps of Engineers.
2. The design procedures, manuals and criteria used by the United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service.
3. The design procedures, manuals and criteria used by the United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation.
4. The design procedures, manuals and criteria used by the United States Department of Commerce, National Weather Service.
5. The design procedures, manuals and criteria used by the United States Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
6. Other design procedures, manuals and criteria that are accepted as current, sound engineering practices, as approved by the director prior to the design of the impounding structure.
Statutory Authority
§ 10.1-605 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR625-01-00 § 5.9, eff. February 1, 1989; amended, Virginia Register Volume 18, Issue 14, eff. July 1, 2002; Volume 24, Issue 25, eff. September 26, 2008.
4VAC50-20-330. Other applicable dam safety references.
A. Manuals, guidance, and criteria used by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, including the following:
1. Federal Guidelines for Dam Safety: Emergency Action Planning for Dam Owners, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency, October 1998, Reprinted January 2004; FEMA 64 or as revised.
2. Federal Guidelines for Dam Safety: Selecting and Accommodating Inflow Design Floods for Dams, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency, October 1998, Reprinted April 2004; FEMA 94 or as revised.
B. Manuals, guidance, and forms provided by the department. Such materials may be located on the department's website at: http://www.dcr.virginia.gov.
Statutory Authority
§ 10.1-605 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 24, Issue 25, eff. September 26, 2008.