[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 52 (Thursday, May 4, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4056-S4057]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BOND (for himself and Mr. Akaka):
  S. 2735. A bill to amend the National Dam Safety Program Act to 
reauthorize the national dam safety program, and for other purposes; to 
the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
  Mr. BOND. Mr. President, my distinguished colleague Senator Akaka and 
I are introducing legislation today to reauthorize the National Dam 
Safety and

[[Page S4057]]

Security Program. The goal of this program, administered by FEMA, has 
been to advance dam safety in the United States and prevent loss of 
life and property damage from dam failures at both the Federal and 
State programmatic levels.
  Over the last several months we have seen in both my home State of 
Missouri and my colleague's State of Hawaii, how critically important 
proper regulation, inspection and safety training is for maintaining 
our Nation's dams. The National Dam Safety Program Act provides much 
needed assistance to State dam safety programs, which are responsible 
for regulating 95 percent of the 80,000 dams in the U.S.
  The States receive training assistance for their dam safety engineers 
and State grant assistance based on the number of dams in the State. 
The National Dam Safety Program, currently administered by FEMA within 
DHS, expires in September 30, 2006 and needs to be reauthorized.
  I am proud to introduce this legislation along with my colleague 
Senator Akaka in order to strengthen the protection of our citizens and 
critical infrastructure from dam failures through the Dam Safety and 
Security Program.
  Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I rise today, along with my colleague, 
Senator Christopher Bond, to introduce the Dam Safety Act of 2006. This 
legislation is designed to help prevent such tragic failures as the 
collapse of the privately owned Ka Loko Dam in Kauai last March in 
which seven people died. The legislation complements legislation that I 
introduced with Senator Inouye, S. 2444, the Dam Rehabilitation and 
Repair Act of 2006, which assists in securing and repairing publicly 
owned dams. Both of these bills are critical to preventing the type of 
devastating collapse which occurred on Kauai.
  This legislation is vitally important not only to my State but to 
every State. There are approximately 79,000 dams registered in the 
National Inventory of Dams. However, there are many more dams that are 
small and unregulated. This bill provides funding for State dam safety 
programs to enhance their oversight and support abilities.
  The Dam Safety Act of 2006 reauthorizes the National Dam Safety 
Program, NDSP, which was first established as part of the Water 
Resources Development Act of 1996 Public Law 104-303. In 2002, the NDSP 
was reauthorized for another 4 years by the enactment of the Dam Safety 
and Security Act of 2002 Public Law 107-310. It expires at the end of 
this fiscal year, so its reauthorization is imperative.
  The National Dam Safety Program delivers vital Federal resources to 
State governments to improve their dam safety programs by providing 
funds for training, technical assistance, research, and support. 
Federal incentive grants are awarded to States to enhance their dam 
safety programs. In addition, funds have been used to hire staff for 
inspections, pay for specialized training, and develop specialized 
mapping in the event that a dam failure necessitates evacuation.
  Of the approximately $12 million authorized for each fiscal year, $8 
million is divided among the States to improve safety programs and $2 
million is allocated for research to identify more effective techniques 
to assess, construct, and monitor dams. In addition, $700,000 is 
available for training assistance for State engineers, and $1 million 
is used for the National Inventory of Dams.
  The costs of failing to maintain dams properly are extremely high. 
There have been at least 29 dam failures in the United States during 
the past 2 years causing more than $200 million in property damages. 
The failure of the Silver Lake Dam in Michigan in 2003 caused more than 
$100 million in property damage. A December 2005 dam collapse in 
Missouri injured three children and destroyed several homes. People 
caught in the path of a dam collapse are often helpless to escape.
  Such was the tragic situation in Hawaii when, in March, the Ka Loko 
Dam, a 116-year earthen dam, on the island of Kauai suddenly collapsed 
during heavy rains, killing seven people. When a dam collapses, 
destruction is often swift and uncontrollable. In the case on Kauai, 
local, State, and Federal officials quickly responded to the tragedy, 
assisting citizens while engineers from both the State Department of 
Land and Natural Resources and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 
inspected the over 50 dams on Kauai. Neighbors worked together to help 
neighbors, and our Governor quickly requested more funds, which the 
legislature approved, for cleanup and additional inspections.
  While most of the responsibility is at the State and local level, 
there is a role for the Federal Government in supplementing State 
resources and developing national guidelines for dam safety. The funds 
Hawaii receives under the program help the State's staff to acquire and 
maintain equipment and software to assess dam safety. It is a small 
amount but vitally important to my State and to every State.
  I urge my colleagues to join Senator Bond and me in supporting the 
reauthorization of the National Dam Safety Program.
  I ask unanimous consent to insert in the Record at this point a 
letter from the Dam Safety Coalition endorsing this legislation.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                         Dam Safety Coalition,

                                      Washington, DC, May 4, 2006.
     Hon. Kit Bond,
     Russell Senate Office Building,
     Washington, DC.
     Hon. Daniel Akaka,
     Hart Senate Office Building,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Bond and Senator Akaka: We would like to 
     commend you for your commitment to dam safety and to the 
     reauthorization of the National Dam Safety Program.
       Dams are a vital part of our nation's aging infrastructure 
     and provide enormous benefits to the majority of Americans--
     benefits that include drinking water, flood protection, 
     renewable hydroelectric power, navigation, irrigation and 
     recreation. Yet, these critical daily benefits provided by 
     the nation's dams are inextricably linked to the potential 
     consequences of a dam failure if the dam is not maintained, 
     or is unable to impound water, pass large flood events or 
     withstand earthquake events in a safe manner.
       The Dam Safety Coalition is proud to highlight the 
     achievements of the National Dam Safety Program, administered 
     by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). 
     Specifically, the program has fostered significant 
     improvements in state dam safety programs, provided critical 
     training to state engineers and established unprecedented 
     cooperation between federal dam safety agencies and state dam 
     safety programs. It requires FEMA to provide assistance to 
     states in establishing, maintaining and improving dam safety 
     programs.
       Dams in the United States are aging, downstream development 
     below dams is increasing dramatically and many older dams do 
     not meet current dam safety standards. Dam failures are 
     largely preventable disasters.
       In 2005, the American Society of Civil Engineers published 
     the Report Card for America's Infrastructure giving the 
     condition of our nation's dams a grade of D, equal to the 
     overall infrastructure grade. States have identified 3,500 
     unsafe or deficient dams, many being susceptible to large 
     flood events or earthquakes. It is a reasonable expectation 
     of every American to be protected by our government; 
     including protection from preventable disasters such as dam 
     failures.
       To contact the Dam Safety Coalition please call Brian 
     Pallasch if we can be of assistance.
       We look forward to working with you to enact the National 
     Dam Safety Act in the 109th Congress.
           Sincerely,
     Brian T. Pallasch,
       Co-Chair, Dam Safety Coalition.
     Lori C. Spragens,
       Executive Director, ASDSO.
                                 ______