EP 1110-2-13
28 Jun 96
Chapter 2
Run Dam in Pennsylvania and the Kelly Barnes Dam in
Georgia in 1977 set in motion the development of the
General Considerations
"Federal Guidelines for Dam Safety" issued in 1979 by
the Federal Coordinating Council for Science,
Engineering, and Technology (FCCSET) (discussed in
2-1. Introduction
paragraph 2-3) (Federal Emergency Management
Agency 1979). In 1979, President Carter created the
Although it is impossible to quantify the overall safety
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and
of a dam, the way to achieve maximum dam safety is
directed Federal agencies to adopt and implement the
well understood, i.e., to apply the utmost care and
Federal Guidelines for Dam Safety and report their
competence to every aspect of design, construction,
progress to FEMA on a biennial basis. In 1980, the
operation, and maintenance. Therefore, the most
Interagency Committee on Dam Safety (ICODS) was
important prerequisite for safety of dams is the
formed to coordinate Federal activities and work with
professional competence of persons associated with the
the states to ensure implementation of dam safety
dam over its life span. A dam with a record of safe
practices. The Corps of Engineers is the Department of
performance may still experience failure due to
Defense representative on ICODS. In 1984, the
undetected deficiencies in the dam or in the foundation.
Association of State Dam Safety Officials (ASDSO)
Dam safety must take precedence over all other
was organized to provide a forum for the exchange of
considerations (International Commission on Large
information and ideas on dam safety and to foster
Dams 1987; National Research Council 1985; Jansen
interstate cooperation (Association of State Dam Safety
1983, 1988b).
Officials 1989). Nongovernment agencies actively
dealing with dam safety include the International
Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD) and its United
2-2. History of Dam Safety
States affiliate, the United States Committee on Large
Dams (USCOLD) and the Electric Power Research
Early development of dams. History indi-
a.
Institute (EPRI) (Colorado Division of Disaster
cates that dams have been a vital part of civilization for
Emergency Services 1987; Tschantz 1982; Reed 1987;
more than 5,000 years. Dams were constructed by the
Walz 1990a; Wiseman 1987; Jansen 1988a;
early settlers in the United States in the 1600's to
Government Accounting Office 1977, 1978; Duscha
provide water supply and power gristmills and
1984, 1986, 1990).
sawmills. The oldest Corps of Engineers dams are six
lock and dams on the Green and Kentucky Rivers built
between 1836 and 1844 (Reed 1987, Walz 1990a).
2-3. Federal Guidelines for Dam Safety
b. Dam safety. Although construction of dams
a. In 1977, President Carter
issued
a
dates back many years, the history of dam safety covers
memorandum directing three actions:
a much shorter time span. Only a limited number of
states had any type of law regulating dam safety prior
(1) That all Federal agencies having responsi-
to 1900. The failure of the South Fork Dam at
bility for dams conduct a thorough review of their
Johnstown, Pennsylvania, in 1889 resulting in 2,209
practices which could affect the safety of these
deaths had limited influence on the dam safety
structures and report their findings to the FCCSET.
programs. California initiated a dam safety program
following failure of the St. Frances Dam in 1928. Fail-
(2) That FCCSET prepare the "Federal Guide-
ures of the Buffalo Creek Dam in West Virginia and
lines for Dam Safety" for use by all Federal agencies.
the Canyon Lake Dam in South Dakota in 1972
contributed to Congress passing "The National Dam
(3) That ICODS be established to promote and
Inspection Act" in 1972. Failure of Teton Dam in
monitor Federal and state dam safety programs.
Idaho in 1976 was followed by "The Reclamation
Safety of Dams Act" in 1977. Failure of the Laurel
b. In 1979, the "Federal Guidelines for Dam
Safety" was published, and ICODS was given oversight
2-1
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