‘Dam Safety’ Bill Reported Favorably from Committee

State Senator Marc R. Pacheco (D-Taunton) is pleased to announce that the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture has reported the ‘Dam Safety’ legislation favorably out of Committee today, March 14th; following a hearing held at the State House.

The ‘Dam Safety’ Bill (An Act Relative to the Repair, Removal and Replacement of Dams in the Commonwealth) authored by Senator Pacheco, aims to address serious concern that many of the 3,000 dams in the Commonwealth have been abandoned, are in unsafe condition or no longer serve their original purpose and pose a serious threat to people, property and the environment. The proposed legislation would encourage dam removal wherever appropriate, strengthen enforcement measures, and ensure an inventory of dams is developed. It would also establish a revolving loan fund for private dam owners to inspect, repair and remove dams.

Senator Pacheco, Chairman of the Committee had this to say: “This is a very serious issue that communities across the commonwealth need to deal with. There are numerous dams across the state that are in a dangerous condition. This bill will help provide private and municipal dam owners the options and tools to safely repair or remove dams in a way that is financially feasible. This is a public safety concern and I will do all I can to support it.”

Renewed interest in Dam Safety issues could be attributed to the growing number of dam related incidents in recent years as well as reports filed by state officials outlining an urgent need for dam repair and removal. Back in 2006, Senator Pacheco, then Chairman of the Post Audit and Oversight Committee, published the Post Audit Report “Decades of Neglect” which outlined a statewide need to improve dam safety. Most recently, the outgoing Auditor Joseph DeNucci published a report highlighting more than 100 dams in the state, deeming them unsafe and called for action to be taken.

Pacheco Responds to Community Forums and Questionnaires.

This past June I held a series of four community forums throughout the First Plymouth and Bristol District, meeting with neighbors across the district to get your ideas on what you would like to see here in our region. I organized these forums to give citizens the opportunity to let my state and local government colleagues and me know what the people we represent think we should be doing to stimulate the economy and how we can create more jobs for our area.

Included in the following report is every citizen proposal, my response, and the actions that I will be taking in the coming months.

I heard your ideas and comments and I plan to use that information on Beacon Hill as a blueprint for the district and Commonwealth we’re working together to create. Thank you to all of those that showed interest in these forums. Your input is a crucial tool as I represent you at the State House and I look forward to continuing to work to solve the issues most important to you. Please don’t hesitate to share your ideas with me in the future, and I’ll continue to keep you updated as we fight through these difficult times.

To read this report and my responses to your questions and concerns, please click here.

According to the Nature Conservancy, There is currently one dam for every three miles of stream in the state and 80% of the approximate 3,000 dams in Massachusetts no longer serve their intended purpose.

Commissioner Ed Lambert of the Department of Conservation and Recreation spoke at this morning’s hearing and stressed the importance of this legislation and Senator Pacheco’s Commitment to this issue, “We applaud your [Senator Pacheco] inexhaustible efforts at the forefront of this public safety issue as a champion and leader both at the local level in Taunton and its surrounding communities and across the Commonwealth,” Said Commissioner Lambert.

Numerous state and private organizations, environmental groups and citizens also called for action by unanimously supporting this legislation at the public hearing today. The organizations that spoke in favor of the legislation include but are not limited to, Auditor Bump’s Office, the Boston Society of Civil Engineers, American Council of Engineering Companies of Massachusetts, Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions, Environmental League of Massachusetts, The Nature Conservancy, The Massachusetts Organization of State Engineers and Scientists, and American Rivers, Northeast Region.

This legislation has been reported favorably to the Senate.

Thank you to all my constituents who attended the four community forums and those of you who took the time to fill out the flier and let me know your opinions and concerns.