Eramet Waste Retention Dam
Eramet Waste Retention Dam is an earth dam located in Washington County, Ohio, built in 1982. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Eramet Waste Retention Dam
The primary purpose of Eramet Waste Retention Dam is tailings. Tailings dams contain waste material from mining operations — typically a slurry of finely ground rock left over after valuable minerals have been extracted. These structures require ongoing monitoring because tailings can contain heavy metals and other contaminants. The dam is owned by Eramet Marietta, Inc.. It impounds the Tributary To Ohio River near Briscoe.
The dam stands 118 feet tall and stretches 702 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 76 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,655 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1982, the structure is 44 years old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 11/01/2023.
At 118 feet, this dam is taller than 98% of all dams in the United States.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Ohio dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Ohio |
| County | Washington |
| Nearest City | Briscoe |
| River/Stream | Tributary To Ohio River |
| Coordinates | 39.37833, -81.52167 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 118 ft |
| Dam Height | 118 ft |
| Dam Length | 702 ft |
| Year Completed | 1982 (44 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,655 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,655 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,077 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 76 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 418 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Tailings |
| Owner | Eramet Marietta, Inc. |
| Owner Type | Not Listed |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 11/01/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OH01100 |
| Federal ID | OH01100 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |