RÉSUMÉ DIGEST
ACT 687 (SB 280) 2022 Regular Session Bernard
Existing law requires the Department of Transportation, office of engineering, to provide a
means for inspection, regulation, and supervision of all present and future dams within the
state excluding the Toledo Bend Dam.
New law retains existing law and additionally excludes the state from being responsible for
locks and dams on the following:
(1)Red River
(2)Ouachita River
(3)Black River
(4)Mississippi River
(5)Tributaries under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers.
Existing law provides for the definition of dam.
New law retains existing law and provides for definitions for "dam height" and
"modification".
New law further provides all designs for new dams and modification or removal of existing
dams under state jurisdiction shall be designed by a professional engineer registered in the
state of Louisiana.
New law provides that an engineer who does not comply with the notice requirements of new
law shall be reported to LAPELS.
Existing law provides for the requirements in which legal action may be brought against the
state for damages caused by partial or total failure of any dam.
New law provides for technical additions to the requirements for which a legal action may
be brought against the state and provides that every fine collected by the court for violation
of dam safety requirements shall be forwarded to the state treasurer for deposit in the
Transportation Trust Fund to defray the costs of the Louisiana Dam Safety Program.
Effective June 18, 2022.
(Amends R.S. 38:21, 22, 23, 26(C), 27, and 28(B); adds R.S. 38:28(C) and (D))