Download  

Department of the Interior

Effective Date: 4/14/82

Series: Special Programs

Part 753: Dam Safety Program

Chapter 1: General Criteria

Originating Office: Bureau of Reclamation

1.1 Purpose. This chapter describes the responsibilities and functions regarding the Department's dam safety program which was ordered to be implemented by Secretarial Order No. 3048 dated February 28, 1980. The provisions of this chapter are applicable to each bureau and office with responsibility for design, construction, operation, or regulation (licensing or permitting) of dams.

1.2 Policy. All actions undertaken by Departmental bureaus and offices with regard to planning, designing, constructing, operating, or maintaining dams, will be performed in accordance with the Federal Guidelines for Dam Safety dated June 25, 1979, as directed in an October 4, 1979, Presidential memorandum.

1.3 Responsibilities.

A. Program Assistant Secretaries are responsible for ensuring that bureaus under their authority conduct dam safety programs in accordance with these instructions and the Federal Guidelines for Dam Safety, and for approving and reviewing their respective bureau programs, giving consideration to recommendations by the Commissioner of Reclamation.

B. Heads of Bureaus are responsible for overall operation of the program and:

(1) Designating an office or official, reporting directly to the head of the bureau or his/her specified representative, to be responsible for:

(a) Surveillance and evaluation of administrative, technical, and regulatory practices related to dam safety in design and construction of new dams, and operation, maintenance and rehabilitation of existing dams.

(b) Recommending improvements in practices when evaluation reveals safety-related deficiencies.

(c) Maintaining a dam safety data base (inventory) to include appropriate statistical, structural performance, hazard classification, and identified deficiency data on all storage and diversion dams meeting the definition of dams as contained in the Federal Guidelines.

(d) Identifying those dams which are privately owned and situated on Federal Government-owned land.

(2) Implementing and operating an inspection program for all its applicable existing dams to provide that:

(a) All dams will receive an initial inspection and evaluation within 2 years, commencing October 1, 1981.

(b) Each dam will receive an intermediate inspection at least biennially, and a formal inspection and reevaluation every 5 years.

(c) Inspections and evaluations will be conducted in accordance with the Federal Guidelines for Dam Safety and technical standards set forth as required in 753 DM 1.3C(6) of this chapter.

(d) Deficiencies noted as a result of inspections will be corrected. Priorities for correction will be assigned in accordance with the relative level of failure potential and downstream consequences.

(3) Performing all design, construction, and operations of dams by technically qualified personnel, in accordance with the Federal Guidelines as applicable. Designs will:

(a) Utilize proven and accepted technical criteria.

(b) Receive an independent review for technical adequacy.

(c) Be closely coordinated through all stages of construction with designer involvement and attention to site-specific conditions.

(4) Clearly delineate personnel requirements and costs associated with dam safety during the budget formulation process.

(5) Coordinating bureau dam safety program development and operation with the Commissioner of Reclamation and ensuring bureau compliance with Federal and Departmental dam safety guidelines.

C. Commissioner of Reclamation, as delegated by the Assistant Secretary - Land and Water Resources, and in addition to his/her duties as the head of a bureau under 753 DM 1.3B, is responsible for overall coordinating and advising on development and operation of the dam safety program in the Department including:

(1) Advising and assisting bureaus in developing their individual dam safety programs.

(2) Identifying and developing dam safety policy standards and practices to be implemented Departmentwide.

(3) Reviewing and evaluating the administrative, technical, and regulatory practices of the applicable bureaus.

(4) Reviewing individual bureau dam safety programs, and providing respective program Assistant Secretaries with recommendations for program approval or revision.

(5) Coordinating with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on Departmental dam safety matters and representing the Department with FEMA and other Federal agencies on such matters.

(6) Developing technical standards, criteria, and guidelines in cooperation with Interior bureaus, for design, construction, operation, and inspection of dams.

1.4 Availability of Guidelines. The publication, Federal Guidelines for Dam Safety, referenced in 753 DM 1.2 is available from the Commissioner of Reclamation or from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Chief of Federal Dam Safety.

1.5 Emergency Action Plans.

A. Each Bureau shall prepare or cause to be prepared an emergency action plan for each high or significant hazard dam under its jurisdiction. Report Control Symbol 3-DOI-82-061 has been assigned to this reporting requirement.

B. Bureau Heads shall designate an "emergency planning officer" (in most bureaus, the dam safety officer) who will be responsible for overseeing the bureau's emergency action planning.

C. Definitions are as stated in the Federal Guidelines for Dam Safety, identified in 753 DM 1.4. The following additions are provided:

(1) Emergency - A condition of a serious nature, developing suddenly and unexpectedly, that will endanger the structural integrity of the dam or endanger downstream property and persons (e.g., an impending or actual sudden uncontrolled release of water caused by failure of or accident to a dam or its appurtenant structures) and requiring immediate attention.

(2) Significant hazard dam - A dam whose failure would cause the death of a few persons (rural area) or appreciable economic loss (notable agriculture, industry, or structures).

(3) High hazard dam - A dam whose failure would cause the death of more than a few persons (urban area) or excessive economic loss (extensive community, industry, or agriculture).

D. Each Emergency Action Plan shall:

(1) Be developed in consultation and cooperation with appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies responsible for law enforcement and public safety;

(2) Be designed to provide early warning to upstream and downstream inhabitants, operators of water-related facilities, recreational users, and other persons in the vicinity who might be affected by a project emergency;

(3) Take into account the time of day, particularly hours of darkness, in establishing the proper actions and procedures for use during a project emergency.

E. The Emergency Action Plan shall contain:

(1) Designation of the official responsible for declaring an emergency.

(2) Instructions to project operators, attendants, and maintenance and other responsible personnel regarding the actions they are to take during an emergency, including criteria as to what constitutes an emergency;

(3) Detailed plans for notifying potentially affected persons, appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies responsible for public safety;

(4) Emergency operating criteria for reducing downstream flows;

(5) Inundation maps showing the area downstream from the dam which would be inundated in the event of a sudden uncontrolled release of water caused by failure of the dam or flows resulting from a major flood;

(6) Identification of construction and rescue equipment, materials, labor, and engineering expertise which would be available and the location of such materials and expertise;

(7) Provision for reporting emergency actions to the bureau head and the bureau dam safety officer.

F. Preparation of Emergency Action Plans will be as follows:

(1) New Construction. Emergency action plans for new high or significant hazard dams shall be prepared and submitted to the bureau's emergency planning officer for approval prior to initial filling of the project reservoir.

(2) Temporary Impoundment During Construction. If a temporary impoundment would be created during construction, such as by construction of cofferdams and an accident to or failure of the impounding structure might endanger construction workers or otherwise endanger public safety, a construction emergency action plan shall be prepared and approved prior to initiation of construction.

(3) Existing Structures. For existing high or significant hazard dams without an approved emergency action plan, bureaus shall:

(a) Prioritize the dams according to potential hazard to human life and property;

(b) Prepare emergency action plans as soon as possible for high hazard dams but not later than October 1, 1984;

(c) Prepare emergency action plans for significant hazard dams by October 1, 1986;

(d) Submit an annual summary of emergency planning activities to the Commissioner of Reclamation until all of the high and significant hazard dams under the bureau's jurisdiction have emergency action plans.

G. Posting and Readiness.

(1) A copy of the appropriate emergency action plan shall be posted in a prominent location, readily accessible to operating and emergency notification personnel.

(2) Each bureau shall test annually the state-of-training and readiness of key personnel responsible for responding to a project emergency.

H. Review and Updating of Emergency Action Plans shall be performed at least annually. The bureaus have continuing responsibility to review and revise each emergency action plan in light of any significant changes in upstream or downstream circumstances which might affect water flows or the location or extent of the areas, persons, or property that might be harmed in a project emergency as well as changes in notification personnel.

4/14/82 #2405

Replaces 1/5/81 #2309