The Influence of Dam Failures on Dam Safety Laws in Pennsylvania

The origin and evolution of Pennsylvania’s dam safety laws are intertwined with three historic dam failures. The 1911 failure of Austin Dam resulted in 78 deaths and lead to the passing of the nation’s first dam safety law in 1913. In 1977, the failure of Laurel Run Dam near Johnstown resulting in the deaths of 40 residents, lead to the passing of Pennsylvania’s Dam Safety and Encroachments Act in 1978. What is interesting is that these two dam failures are generally less well known than the 1889 failure of the earthen South Fork Dam near Johnstown, Pennsylvania which caused the infamous Johnstown flood, killing 2209. Although the magnitude of this earlier dam failure was clearly more significant, at the time it occurred in the 1880s the response calling for dam safety laws to protect the public was still in its infancy, and no laws were enacted. The development and evolution of Pennsylvania’s dam safety laws is directly related to these three significant dam failures that resulted in substantial loss of life.