Project Related
Seismic upgrades needed at CA reservoirs
5 of Santa Clara’s 10 reservoirs need seismic repairs and the anticipated cost is around $150M. These dams are kept at less than capacity, and the total maximim water supply for all 10 reservoirs is […]
Miscellaneous
Geotechnical investigation a risk to dinosaur footprints?
Woodside Petroleum says that there is no danger to fossilized dinosaur footprints posed by off-shore geotechnical surveys being conducted for a study in advanced of a possible $30 Billion (AU) project near the West Kimberly […]
Failures
$180 Million Settlement in Reservoir Failure
On December 14, 2005, the upper reservoir of the Taum Sauk pumped storage plant, a hydroelectric power plant in the Missouri Ozarks, suffered a catastrophic failure. The resulting flood severely damaged the Jonhson’s Shut-Ins State Park and swept away the park superintendent and his family. Fortunately all of them survived. (Photos by Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and USGS)
Last week, the Missouri Attorney General’s office announced a settlement of $180 million between the facility’s owner, Ameren Corp. The failure reportedly was a result of negligence on the part of the company. More details after the break.