[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 61 (Tuesday, May 14, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E803-E804]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      DAM SAFETY AND SECURITY ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BILL SHUSTER

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 14, 2002

  Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce legislation that 
will prevent us from repeating the past. Specifically, the National Dam 
Safety and Security Act reauthorizes a program that has directly helped 
the states and protects the citizens of this great country.
  Dams provide tremendous benefits including water supply for drinking, 
irrigation and industrial uses; flood control; hydroelectric power; 
recreation; and navigation. At the same time, dams also represent one 
of the greatest risks to public safety, local and regional economies, 
and the environment. Historically, some of the largest disasters in the 
U.S. have resulted from dam failures. The 1928 St. Francis Dam failure 
killed more than 500. During the 1970's the Buffalo Creek, Teton and 
Toccoa Creek dam failures collectively cost 175 lives and more than $1 
billion in losses.
  One dam failure hits a little closer to home for me. On May 31, 1889, 
the 72-foot high South Fork Dam above Johnstown, Pennsylvania, burst. 
Twenty million tons of water took its natural course, dropping 450 feet 
in 14 miles, at times 70 to 75 feet high and reaching speeds of 40 
miles per hour. In 40 minutes, three miles of water drained into the 
valley below.
  At 4:07 on the chilly, wet afternoon the inhabitants heard a low 
rumble that grew to a roar like thunder. Most never saw anything until 
the 36-foot wall of water, already boiling with huge chunks of debris, 
rolled over them at 40 miles per hour, consuming everything in its 
path. Making the wave even more terrifying was the black pall of smoke 
and steam that hung over it--the ``death mist'' remembered by 
survivors. Almost 113 years ago to the date, more than 2,209 people 
lost their lives when the dam failed. In their memory, we must not let 
this happen again.
  Unfortunately, even today many dams are not maintained properly. Dams 
require ongoing maintenance, monitoring, frequent safety inspections, 
and rehabilitation. More than 90 percent of the nation's approximately 
100,000 dams are regulated by the states. Further, many dam owners, 
including most private dam owners who own over half of all dams, lack 
the resources necessary to perform dam maintenance or to make 
significant repairs.
  In the past two years more than 520 dam incidents, including 61 dam 
failures, were reported to the National Performance of Dams Program. As 
a matter of fact, the number of high-hazard potential dams whose 
failure would cause loss of human life is increasing, due to 
development of downstream land. Today there are 9,921 high-hazard 
potential dams.
  Even more alarming, states presently report approximately 2,100 
``unsafe'' dams, which have deficiencies that leave them highly 
susceptible to failure.
  The combined effect of rapid downstream development and aging or 
noncompliant structures, coupled with a predicted increase in extreme 
events, demands fully funded and staffed State dam safety programs as 
well as substantial and proactive funding for dam repairs.
  In an effort to ensure dam safety, Congress passed the National Dam 
Safety Program in 1996. Under this program, State dam safety agencies 
have received grants totaling $7 million to assist them with improving 
dam safety regulatory programs by procuring equipment, implementing new 
technology, and enabling more frequent inspections. The program also 
provided opportunities for continuing education to dam safety engineers 
and funding for research to advance the technology of investigations, 
construction and rehabilitation of dams.
  I am pleased to report that this program was successful and deserves 
to be continued. It is important to note that this model program sent 
the money directly to the States--where it was used, to educate, inform 
and help protect the people.
  My State of Pennsylvania has been at the forefront of the nation's 
dam safety efforts over the last two decades and our program has been 
cited as a role model for other States in developing new and expanded 
programs. Of the three thousand two hundred dams in Pennsylvania, nine 
hundred and fifty are now classified as high-hazard potential 
structures, meaning their failure could cause loss of life or 
substantial damage to properties. This determination helps our State 
dam officials identify which dams deserve regular inspection and those 
that require more infrequent inspection. In conversations with the 
Pennsylvania State dam officials, they confirmed that they couldn't 
have done it without the National Dam Safety Program.
  My bill reauthorizes this successful National Dam Safety and Security 
Act by updating and

[[Page E804]]

fine-tuning the underlying language and providing a modest boost to the 
funding for research and development. Importantly, my legislation will 
provide States the technical assistance necessary to maintain security 
for the nation's dams.
  Specifically, the program will:
  Ensure new and existing dams are safe through the development of 
technologically and economically feasible programs and procedures for 
national dam safety hazard reduction;
  Encourage acceptable engineering policies and procedures to be used 
for dam site investigations, design, construction, operation and 
maintenance, and emergency preparedness;
  Encourage the establishment and implementation of effective dam 
safety programs in each State based on State standards;
  Develop and encourage public awareness projects to increase public 
acceptance and support of State dam safety programs;
  Develop technical assistance materials for Federal and non-Federal 
dam safety programs;
  Develop mechanisms with which to provide Federal technical assistance 
for darn safety to the non-Federal sector; and
  Develop technical assistance and encourage appropriate security for 
the nation's dams.
  I want to point out that this program is truly a State-based 
program--because that is where the money goes and is used. The money in 
this program is not swallowed up in some nameless and faceless 
bureaucracy here in Washington, the money goes directly to the States.
  It is also important to note that this program does not provide funds 
for constructing or fixing dams due to the cost of such activities. 
These funds are to identify and educate the public and dam owners about 
dam safety and conduct necessary research to ensure dams are as safe as 
possible.
  For less than $10 million, this program authorizes:
  Provides $6,000,000 per year 2003-2006 National Dam Safety Program;
  Provides $500,000 per year for National Dam Inventory;
  Provides $500,000 per year for Dam Safety Training;
  Provides $1,500,000 per year for research; and
  Provides $600,000 per year for staff.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to remind everyone how important dams are 
to this country. Dams provide hydroelectric power to almost every State 
in the union, habitats for fish, birds, and other animals, recreational 
activities from bird watching to water sports, flood control and are a 
source of water. Maybe because of the positive impacts of dams more and 
more people are building downstream from dams. This is not dangerous, 
as long as the dams are monitored and maintained.
  For these reasons, and in memory of the lives lost one hundred and 
thirteen years ago in Johnstown, I ask that the House favorably 
consider this legislation.

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