State Rep. Cam Cavitt today voted for a bipartisan legislative plan that will strengthen dam safety standards across the state of Michigan. 

“Our community has seen firsthand the destructive aftermath of dam failure,” said Cavitt (R-Cheboygan). “We’ve seen livelihoods wiped away in minutes. We deserve peace of mind in knowing that our dam complexes our being held to the highest standards of safety. With this vote, I took action to make sure that our community is not put at unnecessary risk.” 

Senate Bill 947 expands Michigan’s dam safety regulations by creating a 15-year dam registration program, increasing inspections and safety evaluations, and strengthening emergency action plans and engineering standards. The bill also gives the state greater authority to respond to unsafe dams and recover emergency costs from owners, while improving information sharing between the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and Michigan’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE). 

“This is about preventing a problem before it becomes an emergency,” Cavitt said. “Investing in dam safety today is far more responsible than waiting for a failure tomorrow. This legislation gives the state the tools it needs to identify risks early and act long before lives and property are put in serious danger.”