Rhode Island § 46-19-5 - Inspection of Dams and Reservoirs

§ 46-19-5. Judicial enforcement of order to make dam or reservoir safe.

(a) If the owner or person having the control of any dam or reservoir, who shall be required to draw off the water, or a portion of the water, in any reservoir, or to make alterations in any reservoir, or repairs thereon or additions thereto, in the manner prescribed in § 46-19-4, shall not forthwith proceed to comply with the requirement, or shall not prosecute the work, when commenced, with reasonable expedition, the director of the department of environmental management shall make out a complaint in which he or she shall set forth the condition of the dam or reservoir, and the steps he or she has taken to cause the water to be drawn off therefrom and for the alteration or repair thereof, or to have additions made thereto to secure the safety of the dam or reservoir, and the default of the owner or person having control thereof in drawing off the water, repairing, altering, or in making an addition to the dam or reservoir, and that the safety of life and property is endangered by the default, and shall subscribe the default, and deliver the complaint to the attorney general or to an assistant attorney general, who shall present the complaint to the supreme court or the superior court, with a petition in the nature of an information ex officio, praying that the person owning or controlling the dam or reservoir may be required and ordered forthwith to comply with the requirements of the director of the department of environmental management theretofore made in the premises, or with such other orders as may be made by the court, to secure all persons having reasonable cause to apprehend injury to life or property from the unsafe condition of the dam or reservoir.

(b) Upon the filing of the petition, a citation shall issue to the person controlling or owning the dam, commanding him or her to appear at a time and place therein named, to show cause, if any exists, why the relief prayed for shall not be granted; and the court shall summarily proceed to hear the cause, and upon hearing the parties, or by proceeding ex parte, if the respondent fails to appear, the court may pass such order and decree in the premises as will effectually secure the persons interested from danger or loss from the breaking of the dam or reservoir complained of; and the court may enforce the orders and decrees by injunction, process for contempt, by sequestration, or by such other process as may be applicable in those cases.