Senate signs off on Schuette dam safety plan

The Michigan state Senate this week approved state Representative Bill G. Schuette’s plan to overhaul dam safety in Michigan after devastating floods impacted Midland and Gladwin counties in 2020.

“I’m grateful to my colleagues in the state Senate for recognizing the importance of improving Michigan dam safety so we can work to prevent regional crises like we saw in 2020 from ever happening again,” Schuette said. “We are only a few small legislative steps away from these new protections becoming law, ensuring Michigan is a national leader in dam safety moving forward.”

The state Senate has now approved both bills that make up Schuette’s dam safety reforms. Schuette’s House Bill 5485 still needs final approval from the state House while Senate Bill 947 now heads to the governor’s desk. Together, the package addresses gray areas in how dams are kept up. In situations where a dam is licensed at the federal level but an owner is not actively maintaining the structure, state agencies can experience difficulties taking action without federal approval.

When the Sanford Dam failed in Midland County, the state’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) claimed the structure was out of compliance with state and federal regulations for over 20 years prior to its federal license being revoked.

Schuette’s plan would place all Michigan dams under EGLE jurisdiction and establish a 10-year registration process, with registrations denied or revoked until safety standards are not met. It also requires detailed maintenance and emergency records, comprehensive safety inspections every 10 years and provides permitting, emergency response, planning, enforcement and funding mechanisms to strengthen dam safety and protect downstream communities.

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