U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20250
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DEPARTMENTAL REGULATION |
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1 PURPOSE
This regulation establishes a USDA Dam Safety Committee. Establishment is in the public's interest in that it will strengthen dam safety efforts in the Department and support the Executive Branch in the implementation of the "Federal Guidelines for Dam Safety."
2 SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS
Departmental Regulation 1043-018, July 20, 1983, is
canceled and is replaced by
this regulation.
3 FUNCTIONS
This committee will coordinate and provide leadership to dam safety activities in the Department. It will assist in defining needs and in implementing procedures to enhance the safety of the dams under the agencies' jurisdiction. The committee will be concerned with the agencies' administrative and technical practices related to dam safety including design, construction, operation, maintenance, periodic inspections, and rehabilitation of dams.
The committee will be advisory to the Secretary and to the agency heads.
4 MEMBERSHIP
The committee is to consist of the dam safety officers appointed by the agency heads of Rural Housing Service (RHS), Forest Service (FS), Rural Utility Service (RUS), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
The Under Secretary for Natural Resources and
Environment is to be the
Chairman. The Dam Safety Officer for
NRCS is to be Executive Secretary.
5 DAM SAFETY OFFICERS
Each of the member agencies is to name a dam safety officer. The responsibility of this position is to see that the agency, as a matter of policy and in actual practice, makes every reasonable and prudent effort to enhance the safety of the dams under the agency's jurisdiction. Duties should include surveillance and evaluation of the agency's administrative and technical practices related to dam safety concerning the design and construction of new dams and the operation, maintenance, periodic inspections, or rehabilitation of existing dams. Also, the officer is to make recommendations for strengthening safety practices and procedures and is to maintain an inventory of agency dams.
The dam safety officer is to report directly to the agency head on matters of dam safety. The officer is to function as an advisor to the head of the agency and through the head of the agency to the administrative and technical units.
6 DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND AND SECURITY (DHS)
The Chairman is to be the primary contact with DHS
for dam safety. The Executive Secretary
is to participate in DHS's activities and to represent the Department in the
Chairman's absence.
The Executive Secretary is to be the contact with DHS in technical matters.
Also, FS's dam safety officer is to fully
participate in technical activities with
DHS.