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Senator Moore’s law plays key role in private dam inspections |
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October 20, 2005 - In the aftermath of heavy rains and dams threatening to breach, Governor Mitt Romney, Tuesday ordered an emergency inspection of all “high hazard’ dams in the state. Three years ago Senator Richard T. Moore (D-Uxbridge) was a primary sponsor of a 2002 law that shifts the inspection of private dams to their owners. To date, this law has not yet been implemented. “In 2002, I recognized that the state lacked resources to inspect all the dams in the Commonwealth,” Senator Moore said. “I am pleased that the Governor will finally finalize the new regulations. Regular inspections of all the dams will help to prevent them from becoming a serious public safety threat again.” The law drafted by Senator Moore, Chapter 330 of the Acts of 2002, Relative to the Inspection, Registration, Construction and Reconstruction of Dams, transfers the responsibility of overseeing and maintaining private dams to the individual owner. Under previous regulations, owners were not required to do their own inspections and report to the state. There are approximately 3,000 dams in Massachusetts and most of them are privately owned. Under the new regulations, the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Office of Dam Safety will continue to inspect the state-owned dams and monitor private dams by requiring periodic reports from them. The state will maintain enforcement power over private dam owners who fail to make needed repairs as suggested by the department. The Romney Administration plans to have the new regulations finalized by the end of the year. From 1994 to 1996, Senator Moore served as the Associate Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and oversaw the National Dam Safety Program as part of his duties. Since returning to the Massachusetts Legislature, Senator Moore has been the principal sponsor of legislative efforts to establish a state level hazard mitigation policy, to create a hazard mitigation trust fund and to enact a public health emergency law to deal with bioterrorism. Log onto www.senatormoore.com for more information on Senator Moore’s legislation. |
