Engineer: State's Unsafe Dams Are 'Potential Time Bombs'
BOSTON (AP) -- Lawmakers have being urged to take quick action to remove unsafe, abandoned and obsolete dams that threaten public safety or wildlife habitats in Massachusetts.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Mike Macklin reports
Podcast
A public hearing was held Monday on legislation that would require the state to identify and remove dangerous dams. The measure would also set up revolving loan fund for private dam owners who cannot afford to repair or remove their structures.
Peter Richardson of the Boston Society of Civil Engineers described the dams as "potential time bombs" that could cause loss of life or significant property damage if they fail.
A legislative panel was told that fewer than one in five dams in Massachusetts still serve the original purpose for which they were built.
A recent state audit identified 100 dams in unsafe or poor condition.
(© Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
