Description
The National Dam Safety Program supports state dam safety programs in the development and maintenance of dam safety programs. The program enables statutory state dam safety programs to take precautions that ensure the safety of the dams. The key objectives of the program are to ensure that new and existing dams are safe, encourage acceptable engineering policies and procedures, and develop mechanisms to provide federal technical assistance for dam safety to non-federal dam safety practitioners. Some of the key tasks involved in this program include:
• Developing and maintaining regulatory authority for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of dams
• Conducting periodic inspections and evaluations of dams
• Developing emergency action plans for dams
• Providing education and training to dam owners and the public about dam safety
• Maintaining procedures for conducting detailed and frequent safety inspections
The program also involves the development of a comprehensive dam safety hazard education and public awareness initiative to assist in preparing for, mitigating, responding to, and recovering from dam incidents.