[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 123 (Wednesday, September 27, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H7622-H7624]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
DAM SAFETY ACT OF 2006
Mr. KUHL of New York. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 4981) to amend the National Dam Safety Program Act,
as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 4981
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Dam Safety Act of 2006''.
SEC. 2. NATIONAL DAM INVENTORY.
Section 6 of the National Dam Safety Program Act (33 U.S.C.
467d) is amended to read as follows:
[[Page H7623]]
``SEC. 6. NATIONAL DAM INVENTORY.
``The Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of
Engineers, shall maintain and update information on the
inventory of dams in the United States. Such inventory of
dams shall include an assessment of each dam based on
inspections completed by either a Federal agency or a State
dam safety agency.''.
SEC. 3. NATIONAL DAM SAFETY PROGRAM.
Section 8(b)(1) of the National Dam Safety Program Act (33
U.S.C. 467f(b)(1)) is amended by striking ``and target dates
to'' and inserting ``performance measures, and target dates
toward effectively administering this Act in order to''.
SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Section 13 of the National Dam Safety Program Act (33
U.S.C. 467j) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 13. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
``(a) National Dam Safety Program.--
``(1) Annual amounts.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to FEMA to carry out sections 7, 8, and 11 (in
addition to any amounts made available for similar purposes
included in any other Act and amounts made available under
subsections (b) through (e)) $6,500,000 for fiscal year 2007,
$7,100,000 for fiscal year 2008, $7,600,000 for fiscal year
2009, $8,300,000 for fiscal year 2010, and $9,200,000 for
fiscal year 2011. Such sums shall remain available until
expended.
``(2) Allocation.--
``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraphs (B) and (C),
for each fiscal year, amounts made available under this
subsection to carry out section 8 shall be allocated among
the States as follows:
``(i) One-third among States that qualify for assistance
under section 8(e).
``(ii) Two-thirds among States that qualify for assistance
under section 8(e), to each State in proportion to--
``(I) the number of dams in the State that are listed as
State-regulated dams on the inventory of dams maintained
under section 6; as compared to
``(II) the number of dams in all States that are listed as
State-regulated dams on the inventory of dams maintained
under section 6.
``(B) Maximum amount of allocation.--The amount of funds
allocated to a State under this paragraph may not exceed 50
percent of the reasonable cost of implementing the State dam
safety program.
``(C) Determination.--The Director and the Board shall
determine the amount allocated to States.
``(b) National Dam Inventory.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out section 6 $650,000 for fiscal year
2007, $700,000 for fiscal year 2008, $750,000 for fiscal year
2009, $800,000 for fiscal year 2010, and $850,000 for fiscal
year 2011.
``(c) Research.--There is authorized to be appropriated to
carry out section 9 $1,600,000 for fiscal year 2007,
$1,700,000 for fiscal year 2008, $1,800,000 for fiscal year
2009, $1,900,000 for fiscal year 2010, and $2,000,000 for
fiscal year 2011. Such sums shall remain available until
expended.
``(d) Dam Safety Training.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out section 10 $550,000 for fiscal year
2007, $600,000 for fiscal year 2008, $650,000 for fiscal year
2009, $700,000 for fiscal year 2010, and $750,000 for fiscal
year 2011.
``(e) Staff.--There is authorized to be appropriated to
FEMA for the employment of such additional staff personnel as
are necessary to carry out sections 8 through 10 $700,000 for
fiscal year 2007, $800,000 for fiscal year 2008, $900,000 for
fiscal year 2009, $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2010, and
$1,100,000 for fiscal year 2011.
``(f) Limitation on Use of Amounts.--Amounts made available
under this Act may not be used to construct or repair any
Federal or non-Federal dam.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
York (Mr. Kuhl) and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Corrine Brown)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.
Mr. KUHL of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
H.R. 4981, as amended, reauthorizes the National Dam Safety Program
for 5 years through fiscal year 2011. It makes minor improvements to
the national inventory of dams. The existing program authorization
expires in just 3 days at the end of September.
The National Dam Safety Program is administered by the Federal
Emergency Management Agency, commonly known as FEMA, and was
established to improve safety and security around dams. The program
provides assistance grants to State dam safety agencies to assist them
in improving their regulatory programs, training and research, and to
create a national inventory of dams.
According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of
Dams, there are nearly 2,000 dams in New York State, of which 133 are
in my congressional district alone. Some of these high-hazard dams
include the Almond Dam in Steuben County; the Canadice Lake Dam in
Ontario County; the Cuba Lake Dam in Allegany County; and the Keuka
Lake Outlet Dam in Yates County.
Of those 133 dams, 30 of them are considered to be high hazard and 41
are significant hazard. That means if there is a failure, and I
underline, there is a high risk of death and destruction, high risk of
death and destruction, according to the American Society of Civil
Engineers.
Reauthorization of this program is necessary to continue the program
and benefit the research, development of information technology, and
the training of State dam safety officials who are considered the
Nation's first line of defense from dam failures.
I support this bill and encourage my colleagues to do the same.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much
time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4981, the Dam Safety Act of
2006, which reauthorizes and amends the National Dam Safety program.
The program's goal is to reduce the risks to life and property by
establishing an effective national dam safety maintenance program that
utilizes the resources and expertise of the Federal and non-Federal
communities to achieve the reduction of dam safety hazards. In other
words, one of the primary purposes of the National Dam Safety program
is to provide financial assistance to the States for strengthening
their dam safety program.
Since the passage of the National Dam Safety Program Act in 1996, the
program has improved the Nation's dam safety. Dam safety inspections
have increased; State training programs have been enhanced; and
research in the area of improving dam safety has increased.
Additionally, in light of our Nation's need to protect our
infrastructure from possible terrorist attacks, the National Dam Safety
Review Board has established the Dam Safety Security Task Force to
facilitate dialogue and offer technical assistance and support on
security-related policy and guidance, and there has been an increase in
the development of dam safety and security emergency action plans.
H.R. 4981, the Dam Safety Act of 2006, seeks to build upon these
achievements made over the past several years and enhance them. The
bill strengthens the act by improving the national dam inventory, and
encourages States to improve State dam safety programs and increase
reauthorization levels of the various components of the act.
Mr. Speaker, many people are not aware that there are approximately
80,000 dams in the United States. Of these, approximately 10,000 dams
are considered to have high hazard potential, meaning their failure
could result in loss of life or severe property damage. It is critical
that we help to ensure the safety and security of these dams.
H.R. 4981, the Dam Safety Act of 2006, is a good bill, has bipartisan
support, and I urge its passage.
Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4981, the
Dam Safety Act of 2006, as amended, which reauthorizes and amends the
National Dam Safety Program. The National Dam Safety Program is a
partnership of the States, Federal agencies, and other stakeholders to
encourage individual and community responsibility for dam safety.
The purpose of the National Dam Safety Program is to ``reduce the
risks to life and property from dam failure in the United States
through the establishment and maintenance of an effective national dam
safety program to bring together the expertise and resources of the
federal and non-federal communities in achieving national dam safety
hazard reduction.''
H.R. 4981 reauthorizes the National Dam Safety Program through fiscal
year 2011. The dam safety program, administered by the Federal
Emergency Management Agency--FEMA--provides grants to State regulatory
agencies, funds research projects aimed at improving dam safety, and
trains safety officials and dam operators.
Of the 79,777 public and private dams in the United States, there are
currently 11,811 high hazard dams across the country. If one of these
dams fails, it could cost lives and damage the economy and the
environment. From 2000 to 2006, the number of high hazard dams
increased by almost 20 percent.
These dams can pose a significant threat. Between 1999 and 2004,
States reported 1,090 dam safety incidents, including 125 failures.
Deficient or unsafe dams mean that these dams have been identified as
having hydrologic or structural deficiencies that make
[[Page H7624]]
them susceptible to a failure triggered by a large storm event, an
earthquake, progressive deterioration, or inadequate maintenance.
Currently, States have identified approximately 3,400 dams as being
deficient or unsafe--an increase of 33 percent since 1998.
Since the creation of the National Dam Safety Program in 1996, dam
safety inspections have increased significantly. In addition, the
program has provided funding to increase the amount and the quality of
dam safety research and has increased the amount of direct assistance
for training State officials and providing technical seminars and
workshops.
Presently, many States lack the financial resources to effectively
carry out the program and many State regulatory programs lack the
support they require at a time when these critical program funds are
truly needed. Clearly, there is a need for this program, the funds it
provides, and the technical support it offers States.
Mr. Speaker, I support the bill and urge its approval.
Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance
of my time.
Mr. KUHL of New York. Mr. Speaker, I have no other requests for time.
I would just like to thank my colleague from the other side of the
aisle, Ms. Brown, for her support of this bill and certainly to my
colleagues Mr. Matheson and Mr. Abercrombie for their cosponsorship of
this bill; and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from New York (Mr. Kuhl) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 4981, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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