Citing security, Nevada keeps dams' emergency plans secret

RENO — Nevada keeps emergency response plans for potential dam failures secret for the same reason the U.S. government refuses the state’s demands for information about weapons-grade plutonium shipped to the Las Vegas area: It’s confidential for security purposes, even for dams at golf course ponds.

A two-year investigation by The Associated Press identified at least 1,680 dams nationwide rated high-hazard because of the potential for loss of life if they failed and are considered to be in poor or unsatisfactory condition.

For the 14 such dams in Nevada, the publicly available data suggest none poses an imminent threat or has a safety concern that is not already being addressed. Most are smaller, earthen irrigation dams or retention ponds. Some are empty, two have been decommissioned and three others are headed that way.

But unlike many other states, Nevada will not release the Emergency Action Plans that dam owners are required to update annually so details of potential damage downstream from catastrophic failures are unknown.

Read more: https://www.nevadaappeal.com/news/government/citing-security-nevada-keeps-dams-emergency-plans-secret/