Alabama reviews safety plans for participating dams and reservoirs

The Alabama Emergency Management Agency administers the Dam Safety Program and adopts rules for it. The rules include steps for reviewing work plans and fees to cover the agency’s program costs. The agency may set fees to cover its costs of running the program. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

Participating owners submit plans and specifications to the agency for approval before covered dam or reservoir work. Covered work includes construction, reconstruction, enlargement, alteration, repair, operation, breaching, abandonment, or removal of a dam or reservoir. Owners participate by choice; privately owned dams are included only if their owners elect to participate. The plans must be signed and sealed by the design engineer. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

Participating owners arrange engineer inspections at least once every four years and prepare emergency plans for certain dams. The inspection rule covers participating dams and reservoirs. The emergency-plan rule covers participating dams classified as high hazard, where failure likely causes loss of life, or significant hazard, where failure may cause major damage or disrupt essential services. State-owned dams must be inspected on that schedule only if the owner has enough legislative funds or relevant grant funds. Emergency plans are required for participating dams classified as high or significant hazard potential. Owners must test and update those plans from time to time and use them if an emergency arises. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

The agency keeps program records out of the public documents available through the agency or local emergency management agencies. The rule covers records about dams and reservoirs kept by the state agency or a local emergency management agency under the program. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.