Decree-Law No. 344/2007 approving the Regulation of Security of Dams.

This Decree-Law approves the Regulation of Security of Dams. This Regulation, consisting of 56 articles divided into four Chapters and one Annex, aims at regulating the safety of dams during the design, construction, first filling, operation and abandonment phases. This Regulation shall apply to: a) all dams with a height of 15 m. or more, measured from the lowest of the foundations to the height, or to dams with a height of 10 m. or more whose reservoir has a capacity exceeding 1 hm3, designated by large dams; b) dams with a height lesser than 15 m. whose reservoir has a capacity exceeding 100 000 m3; Other dams which, as a result of project approvals or safety assessment studies, are included in class I and are subject to the provisions of this Regulation. Dams are grouped according to the potential damage associated with them. This classification shall take into account human lives, properties and the environment, in accordance with the rules set out in the attached Annex.