P.R. Laws tit. 22, § 403
The following are among the duties and powers of the unit, without it constituting a limitation:
(a) To adopt the Program’s plan for the operation, conservation, maintenance and inspection of all public and private dams and reservoirs in normal situations and whenever sudden or announced natural phenomena occur that may affect the structures and increase the risk of damage to life and property.
(b) To maintain an up-to-date inventory of dams and reservoirs in Puerto Rico.
(c) To carry out periodic, detailed and complete inspections, at least three (3) times a year, establishing priorities in order to determine the safe conditions of dams and reservoirs and evaluate the hydraulic and hydrologic capacity, structural stability, sufficiency of components and structures, to minimize the hazards to life and property and make recommendations to the owners of the dams and reservoirs on the measures to be taken to remedy any hazardous situation.
(d) To revise and approve the plans and specifications to construct, enlarge, modify or remove any dam or reservoir; Provided, That the plans and specifications must be accompanied by the studies, investigations, analysis and design data that will allow the unit to make a determination as to their safety.
(e) To carry out periodic inspections during the construction, extension, abandonment or removal of a dam in order to ensure compliance with the plans and specifications it approved.
(f) To issue notifications, whenever necessary, requiring the owner or person in charge of the dam or reservoir to correct defects or hazardous conditions, to carry out the necessary conservation work, revise operational procedures or take any other necessary action.
(g) To approve and issue the corresponding certificate of approval and permit, after the construction, extension or modification of a dam or reservoir has been completed, if the plans and safety specifications have been complied with.
History —July 15, 1986, No. 133, p. 419, § 3.