§179D-2  Declaration of purpose.  Thepurpose of this chapter is to provide for the inspection and regulation ofconstruction, enlargement, repair, alteration, maintenance, operation, andremoval of all dams or reservoirs to protect the health, safety, and welfare ofthe citizens of the State by reducing the risk of failure of the dams orreservoirs.  The legislature finds and declares that the inspection andregulation of all dams or reservoirs are properly a matter of regulation underthe police powers of the State, unless specifically exempted.

The board shall have jurisdiction of all damsand reservoirs until the department has completed its statewide inspections andhas established and implemented rules and criteria for a five year dams andreservoirs inspection and classification processes and the board declares whichdams or reservoirs are to be removed from its jurisdiction. [L 1987, c 199, ptof §1; am L 2007, c 262, §4]