Photo by Amy Cherry
Mike Rattay, U.S. Army Corp. of Engineers project manager for the East Branch Dam safety initiative, provided an update on work being done at the dam.

By Amy Cherry

Staff Writer

Mike Rattay, project manager for the East Branch Dam safety initiative, provided an update about the ongoing repairs taking place during the recent fall community relations meeting.
Complete geotechnic work, initiated in October 2008, was completed in June. This work included drilling and sampling soil and rock to further explore possible seepage paths indicated by the Seepage Flow Path Mapping, to gain a better understanding of ground water conditions in the hillside on the right side of the dam.
Also completed this summer was the installation of storage bins and lighting on the top and bottom of  the dam.
“We are on target to develop recommendations on a permanent fix. In early November we (the Pittsburgh District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) plan to conduct an in progress review,” Rattay said. “We are also continuing to monitor the dam 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”
Currently in progress is the Dam Safety Modification Study, being prepared to evaluate combinations of risk reduction measures to optimize risk reduction and cost and recommend a plan for approval. The study will define the scope, cost and schedule of the approved long-term risk reduction plan.
According to Rattay, two possible alternatives have been introduced in repairing East Branch.
“There is over a $100 million cost difference between the two possible alternatives,” Rattay said. “We plan to finish the report and receive approval for it in 2010.”
He noted there is adequate funding in the Pittsburgh District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to continue with the study.
Among the alternatives described by Rattay is the idea of basically designing a new dam. This entails installing numerous pipes, measuring 45 feet in diameter, across the length of the dam. The pipes will be filled with concrete and installed 300 feet below the surface.
The second alternative is more entailed involving excavating a trench in the middle of the dam. This plan also includes grouting rock, installing grout tubes and constructing a concrete slurry wall up to 220 feet.
“These alternatives provide a permanent solution for seepage,” Rattay said.
According to Rattay cost estimates could possibly exceed $200 million.
This money would be utilized from federal funding. Rattay explained the East Branch project will be competing against other projects across the country for funding.
Another public meeting will likely be scheduled in early December.
The outcome of the November meeting will be presented along with additional information.