Authorization — Vermont Code § 1082

§ 1082. Authorization

• (a) No person shall construct, enlarge, raise, lower, remodel, reconstruct, or otherwise
  alter any nonfederal dam, pond, or impoundment or other structure that is or will
  be capable of impounding more than 500,000 cubic feet of water or other liquid after
  construction or alteration, or remove, breach, or otherwise lessen the capacity of
  an existing nonfederal dam that is or was capable of impounding more than 500,000
  cubic feet within or along the borders of this State where land in this State is proposed
  to be overflowed, or at the outlet of any body of water within this State, unless
  authorized by the Department, provided that an application for activities that require
  authorization under 30 V.S.A. § 248 also shall be approved by the Public Utility Commission. However, in the matter of
  flood control projects where cooperation with the federal government is provided for
  by the provisions of section 1100 of this title, that section shall control. (b) For the purposes of this chapter, the volume a dam or other structure is capable of
  impounding is the volume of water or other liquid, including any accumulated sediments,
  controlled by the structure with the water or liquid level at the top of the lowest
  nonoverflow part of the structure. (c) An intake structure in existence on July 1, 2018 that continues to operate in accordance
  with a valid Department permit or approval that contains requirements for inspection
  and maintenance subject to section 1105 of this title shall have a rebuttable presumption of compliance with the requirements of this chapter
  and rules adopted under this chapter, provided that no presumption of compliance shall
  apply if one or both of the following occur on or after July 1, 2018: (1) the owner or operator of the intake takes an action that requires authorization under
  this section; or (2) the Department issues an order under section 1095 of this title directing reconstruction, repair, removal, breaching, draining, or other action it
  considers necessary to improve the safety of the dam. (Amended 1975, No. 179 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 1981, No. 242 (Adj. Sess.), § 3; 2017, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 2023, No. 121 (Adj. Sess.), § 18, eff. July 1, 2024.)