SB284 Alabama 2023 Session

Updated Feb 22, 2026

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Clyde ChamblissSenator
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2023
Title: Relating to dam safety; to provide for the inspection of certain dams and reservoirs by an engineer; to require certain dam owners to develop emergency action plans; and to require these dam owners to notify their local emergency management agency of any new dam construction or enlargement.
Summary: SB284 creates a dam safety program in Alabama that requires engineer inspections, emergency action plans for certain dams, and owner notifications to emergency management agencies, plus a loan program for repairs.
What This Bill Does
Participating dam owners must have their dams inspected at least every two years by a licensed engineer, who certifies the inspection to the local emergency management agency and provides a copy to the owner. Owners must notify the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) about any new dam construction or enlargement, and plans must be signed and sealed by the design engineer. For high and significant hazard dams, the engineer must develop an emergency action plan in consultation with the local EMA, detailing detection, inundation, responsibilities, and response, with periodic testing and updates. The act also creates a Dam Rehabilitation Loan Program to assist with repairs, and designates ADEM as the public repository for dam documents; ownership transfers require notifying EMA, with the new owner able to continue or terminate participation.

Who It Affects
Participating dam owners (municipalities, counties, public utilities, districts, or other entities that elect to participate): must arrange engineer inspections, notify EMA of new construction or enlargement, and develop emergency action plans for high/significant hazard dams; ownership transfers require EMA notification and participation may continue or cease.
Local emergency management agencies (EMA): receive inspection reports and emergency action plans, coordinate emergency response planning with engineers, and are involved in implementing emergency action plans for participating dams.
Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM): receives inspection reports and notifications, and serves as the public repository for dam-related documents.
Licensed engineers and related professionals (geologists and other specialists): required to conduct inspections, certify reports, and prepare emergency action plans for participating dams.

Key Provisions
Participating owners must have their dams inspected at least once every two years by a licensed engineer, who certifies the inspection to the local EMA and provides a record to the owner.
Owners must notify ADEM about any new dam construction or enlargement, and plans for such work must be signed and sealed by the design engineer.
High and significant hazard dams must have an emergency action plan developed by an engineer in consultation with the local EMA, including plan elements like emergency notification, inundation maps, responsibilities, and preparedness, with periodic testing and updates.
A Dam Rehabilitation Loan Program is created to help owners repair and rehabilitate dams.
ADEM serves as the public repository for dam documents; ownership transfers require notifying EMA, and the new owner may choose to continue or terminate participation; local EMA has no regulatory duties under the act.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Public Safety, to provide for and increase dam safety