[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 100 (Friday, June 29, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Page S4775]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
By Mr. AKAKA (for himself, Mr. Boozman, Mr. Whitehouse, and Mr.
Crapo):
S. 3362. A bill to reauthorize the National Dam Safety Program Act,
and for other purposes; to the Committee on Environment and Public
Works.
Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation to
reauthorize the National Dam Safety Program managed by the Federal
Emergency Management Agency, FEMA. I thank Senators Boozman,
Whitehouse, and Crapo for joining me in sponsoring this bill that will
help promote public safety and prevent the destruction caused by dam
failures. This fiscally responsible legislation will help states do
more to protect communities and avoid costly dam incidents without
increasing funding above the most recent authorization level.
With more than 84,000 dams listed in the National Inventory of Dams,
dams are a critical and ubiquitous part of our nation's infrastructure.
In Hawaii, 142 State-regulated dams are located across our islands from
Kekaha on Kauai to Paauilo on Hawaii Island. These dams are owned by
non-profit organizations, private companies, individuals, and Federal,
State, and local governments. While they go largely unseen, dams
benefit our lives every day. They provide drinking water, hydroelectric
power, irrigation water, flood control, and recreational opportunities.
However, dams also pose a significant risk to public safety, local
economies, and the environment. Our nation's dams received a grade of
``D'' from the American Society of Civil Engineers 2009 Report Card for
America's Infrastructure, which cited more than 4,000 deficient dams,
including more than 1,800 that would result in loss of life if they
failed. Unfortunately, we know that this risk is not just hypothetical.
In 2006, the Ka Loko Dam on Kauai collapsed killing seven people, and
dozens of other dam failures have occurred across the nation since that
time. While we cannot avoid all dam incidents, this legislation will
help prevent dam disasters and better prepare Americans for when they
do happen.
The National Dam Safety Program is the foundation of prevention
efforts nationally. The program helps states to check for deteriorating
conditions at dams. This is important so that repairs can be made in
order to safeguard against incidents that result in loss of life and
property. The program also helps ensure that states have the technical
assistance, training, and procedures needed to prevent dams from
reaching a condition that puts communities in danger.
I very much appreciate the involvement of experts in dam safety,
including FEMA, the Army Corps of Engineers, Hawaii Department of Land
and Natural Resources, the American Society of Civil Engineers, and the
Association of State Dam Safety Officials, in developing this
legislation. I urge my colleagues to support his measure.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be
printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be
printed in the Record, as follows:
S. 3362
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 2012''.
SEC. 2. PURPOSE.
The purpose of this Act and the amendments made by this Act
is to reduce the risks to life and property from dam failure
in the United States through the reauthorization of an
effective national dam safety program that brings together
the expertise and resources of the Federal and non-Federal
communities in achieving national dam safety hazard
reduction.
SEC. 3. ADMINISTRATOR.
(a) In General.--The National Dam Safety Program Act (33
U.S.C. 467 et seq.) is amended by striking ``Director'' each
place it appears and inserting ``Administrator''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 2 of the National Dam
Safety Program Act (33 U.S.C. 467) is amended--
(1) by striking paragraph (3);
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as paragraphs
(2) and (3), respectively; and
(3) by inserting before paragraph (2) (as redesignated by
paragraph (2)) the following:
``(1) Administrator.--The term `Administrator' means the
Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.''.
SEC. 4. INSPECTION OF DAMS.
Section 3(b)(1) of the National Dam Safety Program Act (33
U.S.C. 467a(b)(1)) is amended by striking ``or maintenance''
and inserting ``maintenance, condition, or provisions for
emergency operations''.
SEC. 5. NATIONAL DAM SAFETY PROGRAM.
(1) Objectives.--Section 8(c) of the National Dam Safety
Program Act (33 U.S.C. 467f(c)) is amended by striking
paragraph (4) and inserting the following:
``(4) develop and implement a comprehensive dam safety
hazard education and public awareness program to assist the
public in preparing for, mitigating, responding to, and
recovering from dam incidents;''.
(2) Board.--Section 8(f)(4) of the National Dam Safety
Program Act (33 U.S.C. 467f(f)(4)) is amended by inserting
``, representatives from nongovernmental organizations,''
after ``State agencies''.
SEC. 6. PUBLIC AWARENESS AND OUTREACH FOR DAM SAFETY.
The National Dam Safety Program Act (33 U.S.C. 467 et seq.)
is amended--
(1) by redesignating sections 11, 12, and 13 as sections
12, 13, and 14, respectively; and
(2) by inserting after section 10 (33 U.S.C. 467g-1) the
following:
``SEC. 11. PUBLIC AWARENESS AND OUTREACH FOR DAM SAFETY.
``The Administrator, in consultation with other Federal
agencies, State and local governments, dam owners, the
emergency management community, the private sector,
nongovernmental organizations and associations, institutions
of higher education, and any other appropriate entities shall
carry out a nationwide public awareness and outreach program
to assist the public in preparing for, mitigating, responding
to, and recovering from dam incidents.''.
SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(1) National dam safety program.--
(A) Annual amounts.--Section 14(a)(1) of the National Dam
Safety Program Act (33 U.S.C. 467j(a)(1)) (as so
redesignated) is amended by striking ``$6,500,000'' and all
that follows through ``2011'' and inserting ``$9,200,000 for
each of fiscal years 2012 through 2016''.
(B) Maximum amount of allocation.--Section 14(a)(2)(B) of
the National Dam Safety Program Act (33 U.S.C. 467j(a)(2)(B))
(as so redesignated) is amended--
(i) by striking ``The amount'' and inserting the following:
``(i) In general.--The amount''; and
(ii) by adding at the end the following:
``(ii) Fiscal year 2013 and subsequent fiscal years.--For
fiscal year 2013 and each subsequent fiscal year, the amount
of funds allocated to a State under this paragraph may not
exceed the amount of funds committed by the State to
implement dam safety activities.''.
(2) National dam inventory.--Section 14(b) of the National
Dam Safety Program Act (33 U.S.C. 467j(b)) (as so
redesignated) is amended by striking ``$650,000'' and all
that follows through ``2011'' and inserting ``$500,000 for
each of fiscal years 2012 through 2016''.
(3) Public awareness.--Section 14 of the National Dam
Safety Program Act (33 U.S.C. 467j) (as so redesignated) is
amended--
(A) by redesignating subsections (c) through (f) as
subsections (d) through (g), respectively; and
(B) by inserting after subsection (b) the following:
``(c) Public Awareness.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out section 11 $1,000,000 for each of
fiscal years 2012 through 2016.''.
(4) Research.--Section 14(d) of the National Dam Safety
Program Act (as so redesignated) is amended by striking
``$1,600,000'' and all that follows through ``2011'' and
inserting ``$1,450,000 for each of fiscal years 2012 through
2016''.
(5) Dam safety training.--Section 14(e) of the National Dam
Safety Program Act (as so redesignated) is amended by
striking ``$550,000'' and all that follows through ``2011''
and inserting ``$750,000 for each of fiscal years 2012
through 2016''.
(6) Staff.--Section 14(f) of the National Dam Safety
Program Act (as so redesignated) is amended by striking
``$700,000'' and all that follows through ``2011'' and
inserting ``$1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2012 through
2016''.
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