Senate OK’s dam safety bill

On July 28, the Senate approved a bill that would provide up to $21 million in low-interest loans for the repair of dams, giving priority to those owned by municipalities and nonprofits.

The bill (S. 1985), authored by Sen. Marc Pacheco, would allow cities and towns to borrow money, outside of their debt limit, to pay for the cost of acquiring dams within their borders and to remove, repair, reconstruct or improve the dams.

The bill would also expand the authority of the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Office of Dam Safety by requiring the DCR, in conjunction with the Department of Fish and Game, to submit an annual report listing the ownership and location of all registered dams in the state. The report would also provide information on all dams that are hazardous, abandoned or an environmental threat and all dam owners that have failed to meet dam safety requirements.

S. 1985 would require the DCR to review the hazard classifications of dams every five years and to develop emergency action plans for dams considered a “high hazard” or “significant hazard.” The DCR would also be required to inspect high-hazard dams every two years, to inspect significant-hazard dams every five years, and to inspect low-hazard dams every 10 years.

Dam owners that fail to comply with dam safety regulations would be fined $5,000 per violation.

The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.