Dam Safety Act for Alabama Slide 2 Baldwin Hills Dam Disaster -
1963 Slide 3 IRS Code 501-(c )-(6), non for profit organization,
advocating for the engineering profession in Alabama. ACEC is a
federation, headquartered in Washington, DC, with offices in each
state of the nation. ACEC's roots date back to 1909 when a small
group of engineers in private practice established the American
Institute of Consulting Engineers (AICE), the forerunner of ACEC.
Today ACEC is a large federation of 51 state and regional councils
representing the great breadth of America's engineering industry.
ACEC member firms employ hundreds of thousands of engineers,
architects, land surveyors, scientists, and other specialists,
responsible for more than $200 billion of private and public works
annually. Member firms range in size from a single registered
professional engineer to corporations employing thousands of
engineering and industry related professionals. 2014 marks the 50
th anniversary of ACECs operation in Alabama. Members Firms: 53
Associates/Sustaining Firms: 17 Annual Operating Income:
$400,000.00 Slide 4 What we know: Alabama Dam Safety Act Alabama is
the only state in the nation without a dam safety program. The
location and condition of most dams in Alabama is unknown. Most
Alabama dams do not have an Emergency Action Plan. There is a lack
of information for citizens and emergency management officials to
plan for an emergency in the event of a dam failure or mis-
operation. Slide 5 Alabamas National Inventory of Dams (NID) Red:
High Hazard Failure or mis-operation would cause loss of human life
and significant property destruction. Yellow: Significant Hazard
Failure or mis-operation will cause significant property
destruction Black: Low Hazard Failure would cause minimal property
destruction. THIS MAP DATA IS OVER 30 YEARS OLD! Through a FEMA
grant, ADECAs Office of Water Resources updated some dam safety
inventory information in 16 counties using aerial imagery and found
that NID dams in those counties increased from 214 to 866.
Presently, ADECAs Office of Water Resources reports that 2/3 of the
state has been inventoried. Slide 6 Bill history: Alabama Dam
Safety Act Dialogue with Stakeholders Bill reportedly died in
committee Office of Water Resources, ADECA 2008 Bill HB454 Provides
for inventory and classification of dams, but no regulation of
dams. Rep. Wood, Canfield, McCutcheon, Laird, Bridges, Fite Bill
died in Commerce Committee Office of Water Resources, ADECA 2014
Bill HB610 Rep. McClurklin and leaders in a community within her
district contacted ASDSO. A national model bill was introduced, in
joint effort with ASCE. Rep. McClurklin, Hill and Wallace Bill died
in Commerce and Small Business Committee Office of Water Resources,
ADECA 2003 Bill Slide 7 Provisions: Alabama Dam Safety Act An
Alabama dam safety program comprehensively regulates dam safety in
Alabama. If enacted, the bill would establish statewide procedures
for the construction, alteration, repair, operation, abandonment
and removal of dams. 1. The bill would require inspection of
existing dams. 2. Oversee remediation of deficient dams. 3. Permit
the construction of new dams. 4. High Hazard Potential and
Significant Hazard Potential dams must have an approved Emergency
Action Plan. Dam owners would work with local officials and dam
owners on emergency preparedness to mitigate losses resulting from
dam failures. Slide 8 Dam Safety Act for Alabama The advocates
Slide 9 Stakeholders Public Entities - Federal, State, County,
Municipal, etc. Private owners & Land Developers Mining
Industries Utilities Electric, Water, Sewer, etc. Agricultural
Industries Farming/Forestry/Pulp Paper Parks & Recreation USACE
USDA/Natural Resources Conservation Service Manufacturers River
Users Alliances Homeland Security Home Owner Groups FEMA/Alabama
EMA Dept. of Industrial Relations Soil and Water Conservation
Commission Elected Officials Downstream Communities/Property Owners
Slide 10 common core A dam safety program is a life/safety matter.
Engineers have an ethical responsibility to protect the public.
This bill makes sense for Alabama. This matter has a tremendous
environmental impact. Engineers have an obligation to influence
meaningful legislation to protect the People of Alabama. Slide 11
moving forward Start with the pre-negotiated bill version. Initiate
dialogue; seek feedback from Stakeholders. Educate legislative
leadership and governor on the need for this legislation. Initiate
a Stakeholders meeting this fall. Introduce bill early in the 2015
regular session. Stay the course. Slide 12 Contact Us Rene Anne
Casillas ACEC/Alabama Executive Director 531 Herron Street |
Montgomery, Alabama 36104 P. 334.264.1500 | F. 334.264.0099 |
www.aceca.org Kevin Blake, PE ACEC/Alabama President, 2014-2015
Principal Engineer, VP CTL, Inc. 1211 Newell Parkway | Montgomery,
Alabama 36110 P. 334.260.9174 | F. 334.260-9177 | M. 334.430.5951
Alain Gallet, PE, FACEC ACEC/Alabama Past President &
Legislative Chairman Senior Principal, National Director - Energy
Sector Terracon Consultants | M. 205.541.7956 | P. 205.942.1289 Joe
Meads, PE ASCE/AL Legislative Chairman, Past ACEC/Alabama
Birmingham Area Vice President Principal/Owner Sain Associates,
Inc. | P. 205.940.6420
