Senate Bill 107 Summary

• Exempts "professionally supervised dam removals" of low or intermediate hazard mill dams and run-of-river dams from standard permitting requirements if designed and supervised by a licensed professional engineer.

• Requires 60-day advance notice to the Department of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources and affected parties (Floodplain Mapping Program, DOT, adjacent property owners, local governments) before removal, with engineer certification that removal will not increase flood risk.

• Establishes a $500 notification fee for professionally supervised dam removals, reduced from standard permit fees.

• Eliminates mitigation requirements for impacts associated with dam removal that complies with statute and for impacts to intermittent streams.

• Directs Departments of Environmental Quality and Public Safety to jointly study dam removal processes in North Carolina and other states, with report due to Environmental Review Commission by March 1, 2020.