Oct 18, 2005 10:25 pm US/Eastern
Romney Orders Emergency Dam Inspections
BOSTON (CBS4) ―
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Governor Romney met with Taunton Mayor Robert Nunes Tuesday morning.
CBS4
Governor Mitt Romney has ordered emergency inspections of 186 of the state's highest risk dams.
The governor says unprecedented rainfall in the area in such a short time, may have compromised local dams.
That rainfall has weakened at least one dam. The Whittenton Mills dam in Taunton is in danger of breaching, and a State of Emergency remains in effect for the city. Thousands of residents and businesses have been evacuated.
There are a total of 320 dams in Massachusetts that are considered "high hazard." That means, if they were to give way it would cause significant loss of property or life.
Of those dams, 2 in Chicopee have failed previous inspections, 38 in the state have been found in poor condition, and 146 have been found in fair condition.
Those 186 dams will all undergo emergency inspections. Massachusetts has a team of 8 dam inspectors. Additional outside consultants will be brought in to assist with the emergency order.
Romney says the 'great majority' of the high hazard dams have been inspected in the last several years. Right now, it is up to a private dam owner to have a dam inspected. The governor says there are new regulations in the works, to give the state authority to enforce those inspections.
Romney also said his administration has developed a 5 year, $10 million capital improvement plan, to fix the state's aging dams.
(© 2005 CBS Worldwide Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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