West Virginia Code
Article 14. Dam Control Act
§22-14-4. General Powers and Duties of Director; Maximum Fee Established for Certificates of Approval and Annual Registration

The secretary has the following powers and duties:
(a) To control and exercise regulatory jurisdiction over dams as provided for in this article;
(b) To review all applications for a certificate of approval for the placement, construction, enlargement, alteration, repair or removal of any dam;
(c) To grant, modify, amend, revoke, restrict or refuse to grant any certificate of approval if proper or necessary to protect life and property as provided in this article;
(d) To propose, modify, repeal and enforce rules and issue orders, to implement and make effective the powers and duties vested in the secretary by the provisions of this article;
(e) To take any lawful action considered necessary for the effective enforcement of the provisions of this article;
(f) To establish and charge reasonable fees not to exceed $300 for the review of applications for certificates of approval and the issuance thereof and for assessment of an annual registration fee not to exceed $100 for persons holding a certificate of approval for existing dams. The secretary shall promulgate rules to establish a schedule of application fees and to establish annual registration fees: Provided, That no fee shall be assessed for dams designed and constructed by the natural resources conservation service for natural resources conservation districts;
(g) To employ qualified consultants or additional persons as necessary to review applications for certificates of approval and to recommend whether they should be approved, to inspect dams and to enforce the provisions of this article;
(h) To cooperate and coordinate with agencies of the federal government, this state and counties and municipalities of this state to improve, secure, study and enforce dam safety and dam technology within this state;
(i) To investigate and inspect dams as is necessary to implement or enforce the provisions of this article and when necessary to enter the public or private property of any dam owner. The secretary may investigate, inspect or enter private or public property after notifying the dam owner or other person in charge of the dam of an intent to investigate, inspect or enter: Provided, That where the owner or person in charge of the dam is not available, the secretary may investigate, inspect and enter without notice; and
(j) To prepare and publish within a reasonable time, criteria to govern the design, construction, repair, inspection and maintenance of proposed dams herein defined, and to review these criteria annually in order to consider improved technology for inclusion in such criteria.

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