[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 135 (Friday, December 8, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H9205-H9206]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
DAM SAFETY ACT OF 2006
Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the Senate bill (S. 2735) to amend the National Dam Safety Program
Act to reauthorize the national dam safety program, and for other
purposes.
The Clerk read as follows:
S. 2735
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. DAM SAFETY.
(a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the ``Dam
Safety Act of 2006''.
(b) National Dam Inventory.--Section 6 of the National Dam
Safety Program Act (33 U.S.C. 467d) is amended to read as
follows:
``SEC. 6. NATIONAL DAM INVENTORY.
``The Secretary of the Army shall maintain and update
information on the inventory of dams in the United States.
Such inventory of dams shall include any available
information assessing each dam based on inspections completed
by either a Federal agency or a State dam safety agency.''.
(c) National Dam Safety Program.--
(1) Duties.--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''.
(2) Assistance for state dam safety programs.--Section
8(e)(2)(A) of the National Dam Safety Program Act (33 U.S.C.
467f(e)(2)(A)) is amended--
(A) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking
``substantially'';
(B) by redesignating clauses (iv) through (x) as clauses
(v) through (xi), respectively;
(C) by inserting after clause (iii) the following:
``(iv) the authority to require or perform periodic
evaluations of all dams and reservoirs to determine the
extent of the threat to human life and property in case of
failure;''; and
(D) in clause (vii) (as redesignated by subparagraph (B)),
by inserting ``install and monitor instrumentation,'' after
``remedial work,''.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 13 of the
National Dam Safety Program Act (33 U.S.C. 467j) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ``$6,000,000 for each
of fiscal years 2003 through 2006'' and inserting
``$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'';
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ``$500,000 for each
fiscal year'' and inserting ``$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'';
(3) in subsection (c), by striking ``$1,500,000 for each of
fiscal years 2003 through 2006'' and inserting ``$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'';
(4) in subsection (d), by striking ``$500,000 for each of
fiscal years 2003 through 2006'' and inserting ``$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''; and
(5) in subsection (e), by striking ``$600,000 for each of
fiscal years 2003 through 2006'' and inserting ``$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''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Alaska (Mr. Young) and the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Alaska.
{time} 0045
Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, S. 2735, known as the Dam Safety Act of 2006,
reauthorizes the National Dam Safety Program for 5 years, through
fiscal year 2011, and makes a number of improvements to the national
inventory of dams.
I want to thank Mr. Kuhl of New York for his dedication to the
National Dam Safety Program. He has been a steadfast proponent of
reauthorization and deserves credit for strengthening the program.
The National Dam Safety Program is administered by FEMA and was
established to improve safety around dams. The program provides 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 in existence.
With the passage of S. 2736 today, we clear the bill for the
President and ensure authorization of this successful program through
the year 2011. I support the bill and encourage my colleagues to do the
same.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
(Mr. OBERSTAR asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, the structural integrity of dams
throughout the United States has been a concern of the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure and its predecessors going back to
the Rivers and Harbors Committee in the very beginning of this Nation.
We have repeatedly visited the issue of dam safety and enacted dam
safety programs in years past, reauthorizing in 1996, and this
legislation is an update of the 1996 legislation.
The Corps of Engineers, at the direction of our committee and through
the reauthorization we provided, working with the Federal Emergency
Management Agency, has identified 79,777 public and private dams in the
United States of which 11,811 are high-hazard dams. What is troubling
to us on the committee is that the number of high-hazard dams has
increased by over 20 percent in the last 6 years. Clearly action has to
be taken. We have had 125 failures between 1999 and 2004.
This legislation will put FEMA on alert, put the Corps of Engineers
on alert, raise visibility of these issues and provide the tools
necessary to take action to protect citizens living below these
structures from catastrophic failure that can wipe out whole
communities.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 2735, the National Dam
Safety Program Act, 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
[[Page H9206]]
bring together the expertise and resources of the Federal and non-
Federal communities in achieving national dam safety hazard
reduction.''
S. 2735 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 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 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.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my
time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. LaHood). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young) that the House suspend
the rules and pass the Senate bill, S. 2735.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds of those voting having
responded in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the Senate
bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________