Public Comment Form

Dam Safety Rule Environmental Justice Assessment

Increasing Dam Safety Fees 

Through a rulemaking update, Ecology plans to increase fees for dam safety operations. These fees are paid by dam owners and allow Ecology to fund oversight of dam construction and regular inspections of hazardous dams.  

Environmental Justice Considerations 

  • Dam safety protects the lives and property of Washington communities living downstream of hazardous dams, especially those with fewer resources to prepare for, or recover from, a dam failure.  
  • Some dam owners, such as small farms or towns, may feel financial strain from fee increases if they operate hazardous dams or plan to construct any new dams in the future.  
  • Tribes would be required to pay the same increased fees if they plan to construct new dams in the future.  

Tell us what you think! 

Your comments on this form will directly inform our environmental justice assessment (EJA) for this rulemaking. You may use the following questions to guide your feedback: 

  • How does dam safety benefit your community? 
  • Should there be a fee relief option for dam owners? Who should be eligible for this relief? 
  • What other environmental impacts to overburdened communities, vulnerable populations, or Tribes could result from this rulemaking update? How can Ecology reduce potential environmental impacts or equitably distribute environmental benefits? 

Comments should be submitted no later than November 30, 2026. If you would like us to follow up with you directly, please let us know in your comment and leave your contact information in the form.  

You can also reach out directly to the Water Resources Program’s Environmental Justice Planner, Laura Gladson, at any time by sending an email to Laura.Gladson@ecy.wa.gov or calling (564) 213-6776. 


Thank you! 


Visit the rulemaking page for more information.


Please note that this comment form is for the purpose of submitting a comment to the Washington State Department of Ecology. Contact information is necessary if you want to receive future notices or responses related to this topic.



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Comments are due by 11:59 p.m. on Nov. 30, 2026.

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