An act relating to transferring safety jurisdiction over certain hydroelectric dams

This bill proposes transferring safety jurisdiction over certain hydroelectric dams in Vermont from the Public Utility Commission to the Department of Environmental Conservation. The change would apply primarily to nonfederal dams that are not part of a public utility system or subject to federal licensing, while federal dams would fall under Department oversight when their federal licenses expire. Key provisions establish clear definitions for what constitutes a dam, set authorization requirements for altering structures that can hold more than 500,000 cubic feet of water, and outline procedures for transferring records between agencies when jurisdiction shifts. The bill also requires the Department of Fish and Wildlife to assess potential impacts on fish and wildlife habitats before any dam-related decisions are made.