OWR is supporting the establishment of an Alabama Dam Security and Safety Program. The legislation to establish this program has been under development for several years, but was reemphasized in 2002 when OWR assumed overall management of dam safety and National Flood Insurance Program initiatives from the Alabama Emergency Management Agency (AEMA).
Once established, the program will provide an up-to-date inventory of dams in Alabama. A full inventory of dams will help to benefit public safety and emergency response operations in the event of a natural or other disaster. It will also provide for the inspection and permitting (certification) of certain dams in order to protect the citizens of Alabama by reducing the risk of failure of such dams.
There have been numerous meetings and discussions with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials, officials from other states, and numerous representatives from both public and private organizations in Alabama. A Safe Dams Advisory Group has been meeting to develop this program. This group has been comprised of a wide variety of interests in Alabama addressing any unresolved issues in potential draft legislation and to develop preliminary Rules and Regulations.
This effort is being conducted with every effort towards full public participation and review. Downloadable information can be obtained by clicking the link below. Interested individuals may also learn more about the status of this initiative by contacting the ADECA Office of Water Resources. The phone number is (334) 242-5499; fax at (334) 242-0776; or e-mail to water@adeca.alabama.gov
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