TITLE 42

IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE — WATER RIGHTS AND RECLAMATION

CHAPTER 17

DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES — WATER RESOURCE BOARD

42-1715.  Inspection during construction, enlargement, alteration, repair or removal of dams and mine tailings impoundment structures — Effect of noncompliance. During the construction, enlargement, repair, alteration, or removal of any dam, reservoir or mine tailings impoundment structure, the director shall make or cause to have made continuous or periodical inspections at state expense for the purpose of securing conformity with the approved plans and specifications, but shall require the owner to perform at his expense such work or tests as necessary to disclose information sufficient to enable him to determine that conformity with the approved plans and specifications is being secured, which shall include adequate inspection, at owner’s expense to verify compliance with approved plans, drawings and specifications.

The work of construction, enlargement, repair, alteration or removal of a dam, reservoir or mine tailings impoundment structure, for which approved plans, drawings and specifications are required, shall be under the responsible charge of a professional engineer who shall certify that such construction, enlargement, repair, alteration or removal was done in accordance with approved plans, drawings and specifications. If, after any inspections, investigations or examinations, or at any time as the work progresses, or at any time prior to issuance of a certificate of approval, it is found by the director that amendments, modifications or changes are necessary to insure safety, the director may order the owner to revise the plans and specifications. If conditions are revealed which will not permit the construction of a safe dam, reservoir or mine tailings impoundment structure, the approval may be revoked. In the event that conditions imposed may be waived or made less burdensome without sacrificing a proper margin of safety, the director may authorize an owner to revise the plans and specifications accordingly. If at any time during construction, enlargement, repair or alterations of any dam, reservoir or mine tailings impoundment structure the director finds that the work is not being done in accordance with the provision of the approval and the approved plans and specifications, he shall give a written notice and order by certified mail or by personal service to the owner. The notice and order shall state the particulars in which the approval and approved plans and specifications or the approval and approved plans and specifications as revised are not being or have not been complied with and shall order the immediate compliance with the approval and approved revised plans and specifications as the case may be. The director may order that no further work be done until such compliance has been effected and approved by him. A failure to comply with the approval and approved plans and specifications as originally approved or as revised shall render the approval subject to revocation by the director, if compliance is not made in accordance therewith after notice and order from him as provided in this chapter.

History:

[42-1715, added 1969, ch. 280, sec. 6, p. 833; am. 1974, ch. 20, sec. 16, p. 533; am. 1978, ch. 309, sec. 6, p. 789; am. 2016, ch. 206, sec. 4, p. 582.]