National Dam Safety Review Board

National Dam Safety Review Board
Name	National Dam Safety Review Board
Formation	1980s
Type	Advisory body
Headquarters	Washington, D.C.
Leader title	Chair
Parent organization	Federal Emergency Management Agency

National Dam Safety Review Board is an advisory body established to evaluate dam safety policy and practice across the United States and to advise the Federal Emergency Management Agency and federal stakeholders on risk reduction, preparedness, and remediation. The board conducts independent reviews of major failures, provides guidance to State Emergency Management Agencies, and issues recommendations that influence legislation such as the National Dam Safety Program Act and appropriations overseen by the United States Congress.

History

The board was formed in the aftermath of high-profile failures and growing concern following incidents like the Teton Dam collapse and broader infrastructure reviews prompted by committees of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate; its establishment mirrors precedent from investigations such as the Interstate Commerce Commission inquiries and the National Transportation Safety Board model. Early reports referenced practices from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Bureau of Reclamation, and standards promulgated by the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Federal Emergency Management Agency—leading to statutory action in the context of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act and the eventual codification under the National Dam Safety Program Act. Over decades, the board’s scope evolved alongside reforms advocated by panels including the Blue Ribbon Commission-style reviews and technical committees of the International Commission on Large Dams and state-level entities such as the California Department of Water Resources and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

Mandate and Functions

The board’s mandate includes independent review of dam safety practices, assessment of regulatory frameworks, and issuance of findings to federal bodies including the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the United States Congress. Functions encompass forensic analysis after incidents, recommendations for policy changes affecting the Bureau of Reclamation, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and state dam programs such as those in Texas, California, and Florida. It evaluates technical standards referenced in documents from the American Society of Civil Engineers, the National Research Council, and the Association of State Dam Safety Officials, and provides guidance on funding mechanisms linked to appropriations from the United States Department of the Interior and congressional committees such as the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Organization and Membership

Membership typically comprises experts nominated by federal agencies like the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and selected from academia including faculty from institutions such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of California, Berkeley, and Colorado State University. The board includes engineers with credentials from the American Society of Civil Engineers, geologists affiliated with the United States Geological Survey, hydrologists linked to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and emergency managers from Federal Emergency Management Agency regional offices. Leadership roles—chair and vice chair—are appointed according to charter provisions similar to those used by panels like the National Infrastructure Advisory Council and the National Transportation Safety Board.

Programs and Activities

Programs administered or informed by the board include post-incident reviews, technical workshops, model dam safety program evaluations, and development of best practices that reference ASCE standards and USGS hazard maps. Activities include convening task forces on seepage, seismic resilience informed by research from Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center, risk assessment workshops drawing on methodologies used by the National Research Council, and outreach to state associations such as the Association of State Dam Safety Officials. The board publishes reports that influence guidance used by the Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and state agencies managing reservoirs such as Hoover Dam and Grand Coulee Dam.

Coordination with Federal and State Agencies

Coordination occurs with agencies including the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Bureau of Reclamation, the United States Geological Survey, and state dam safety offices like those of California, Texas, and New York. The board facilitates interagency working groups modeled on collaborations like the National Response Framework and partners with associations such as the Association of State Dam Safety Officials and the American Society of Civil Engineers to harmonize standards. It also interfaces with congressional oversight bodies like the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure during hearings and legislative reviews.

Funding and Resources

Funding for board activities is typically authorized through appropriations administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and may be supplemented by interagency transfers from the Department of the Interior or task-specific support from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Resources include technical support from the United States Geological Survey, research collaboration with universities such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology and University of California, Berkeley, and contractor engagements overseen by federal procurement offices similar to those used by the Government Accountability Office for audits. Budget oversight and reporting align with procedures used by the Office of Management and Budget and congressional appropriations subcommittees.

Notable Reviews and Impact

Notable reviews have examined failures and near-failures with broad public attention—analyses drawing on lessons from the Teton Dam failure, reviews of seepage incidents affecting reservoirs near New Orleans and Mississippi River levee systems, and assessments informing retrofits at major projects such as Hoover Dam and Grand Coulee Dam. Board recommendations have influenced legislative initiatives in Congress, operational changes at the Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and enhancements to state dam safety programs in California and Texas, while reports have been cited by the National Research Council and incorporated into standards by the American Society of Civil Engineers and policy guidance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Category:United States federal boards, commissions, and committees