HJ118: Dam safety regulations; Department of Conservation and Recreation to study.
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 118
WHEREAS, in 2008 Virginia's Soil and Water Conservation Board approved changes to Virginia's Impounding Structure Regulations (4VAC50-20); and
WHEREAS, the changes made in 2008 to Virginia's Impounding Structure Regulations changed specifications associated with impounding structures from guidelines to binding requirements; and
WHEREAS, the changes made in 2008 to Virginia's Impounding Structure Regulations have imposed extremely high costs on dam owners who are required to seek recertification of their dams; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Department of Conservation and Recreation be requested to study changes to Virginia's Impounding Structure Regulations that may result in cost savings to owners of dams. In conducting its study, the Department of Conservation and Recreation shall ensure that any recommended changes to the regulations will protect the public's safety.
All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Department of Conservation and Recreation for this study, upon request. The Department of Conservation and Recreation shall convene an advisory group comprising stakeholders representing the engineering community, local governments, dam owners, and homeowners associations.
The Department of Conservation and Recreation shall complete its meetings by November 30, 2014, and shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly an executive summary and a report of its findings and recommendations for publication as a House or Senate document. The executive summary and report shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports no later than the first day of the 2015 Regular Session of the General Assembly and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.