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![handle is hein.gao/gaobadxun0001 and id is 1 raw text is:
DOCUMENT RESUME
0?515 - [A1872911]
Actions Needed to Increase the Safety of Dams. June 30, 1977. 12
pp.
Testimony before the House Committee on Government Operations:
Environment, Energy, and Natural Resources Subcommittee; by
Henry Eschwege, Director, Community and Economic Development
Div.
Issue Area: 7ater and Water Related Programs (2500).
Contact: Community and Economic Development Div.
Budget Function: Natural Resources, Environment, and Energy:
Water Resources and Power (301).
OrganizatiCn Concerned: Bcreau of Peclar-stion; Department of -he
Army: Corps of Engineers.
ZQngressional Relevance: House Committee on Government
Operations: Environment, Energy, and Natural Pesources
S ubcommittee.
Authority: National Dam Inspection Act of 1972 (P.L. 92-367.
GAO testified and reportel previously on Federal
aspects of dam building and on implementation of the National
Dam Inspection Act of 1972. After failure of the Teton Dam, a
comparative review was performed of r'-ocedures and practices
used by the Bureau of Reclamation, che Corps of Engineers, the
Tennessee Valley Authority, California, and private firms. It
was found that the Bureau took unnecessary risks and placed too
much reliance on design and that emergency planb were
inadequate. The Corps of Engineers, unlike the Bureau,
emphasized mu.iple defenses in its dams to prevent erosion from
seep e, and used independent consultants more frequeat1v.
Actioiis taken by the Bureau and the Department of the Interior
to correct some of the weaknesses were approved by GAO.
Recommendations were made both to the Bureau and the Corps to
correct procedural gaps and for improving emergency preparedness
plans. In testimony on the National Dam Inspection Act of 1972,
which is concerned largely with nor-Federal dams, it was noted
that progress in achieving the objectives of the act was slow.
Approximately 5 years after enac,-ert, the provision for
inspection of all dams had not beon carxied out. A recent
directive by the Presilent, aimed at insuring dam safety, will
develop data that should be considered by the Corps in
developing a national dam safety program. (HTW)](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.gao/gaobadxun0001&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)