ASDSO's Peer Review Program

Peer Review Overview

The philosophy behind ASDSO’s Peer Review Program is that a review by a diverse and independent group of experienced dam safety professionals can help improve the management and execution of a dam safety program.

Peer Review Photo.jpg ASDSO Peer Review Informational Flyer

The objective of an ASDSO Peer Review is to provide professional guidance to improve the performance and management of dam safety programs. A Peer Review evaluates the mission, objectives, policies and procedures of a dam safety agency or company/organization. The program is evaluated relative to the organization’s own governing regulations, and other guidelines such as the Model State Dam Safety Program (FEMA 316), the FERC dam safety program guidelines for licensees, or the Federal Guidelines for Dam Safety (FEMA 2004), as well as commonly accepted standards of practice.

The Peer Review is performed by a team of engineers and dam safety professionals who provide a professional opinion of the status of the program being evaluated. The Peer Review Team reviews program policies and procedures, conducts on-site interviews, and provides a written report that documents its findings and recommendations. The Team does not perform follow-up or impose sanctions for not following recommendations. Implementation of recommendations is at the discretion of the organization’s decision-makers, its state legislature, Congress, or other enabling body. Peer Review teams do not inspect dams during reviews and are therefore not involved in evaluating any program’s inventory of dams.

ASDSO’s Qualifications

Since 1990, ASDSO has completed peer reviews in 39 states and Puerto Rico. Since 1996, ASDSO has performed reviews for federal dam safety agencies including the US Army Corps of Engineers, the Mine Safety and Health Administration, the Tennessee Valley Authority, and the Department of Interior and its six bureaus. ASDSO has performed peer reviews for private companies such as Ontario Power Generation, BC Hydro, Seattle Public Utilities and Seattle City Light. More recently, ASDSO has completed Owners Dam Safety Program (ODSP) audits for several FERC-regulated licensees including the California Dept. of Water Resources and Grant County PUD.

Qualifications of Reviewers

Reviewers are appointed by the ASDSO Peer Review Committee. The Committee and reviewers are engineers, project managers and other professionals with signiﬁcant experience in the design, construction, and operation of dams and in dam safety program management. In addition, they must have made significant contributions to the profession through involvement with technical and professional societies, licensing boards, and/or other professional activities. Finally, they must have a keen interest in improving dam safety. A reviewer is required to have a minimum of 25 years of dam safety experience, and all reviewers receive training in the ASDSO Peer Review process.

The Benefit of a Peer Review

By doing a peer review the dam organization gets an independent review that identifies opportunities for improving:

Authorities (laws, policies, guidelines, decision making up the chain)
Staffing/training
Technical practices
Reporting & communicating with management
Risk management
Program performance review processes
Out year planning
Interaction with dam owners or regulators

How to Obtain a Review

To get a cost quote or to schedule a peer review, contact:

Michaela Royse (Peer Review Administrator)
859-550-2788 Ext: 107
[email protected]

Lori Spragens (Secondary Contact)
859-550-2788 Ext: 106
[email protected]

Committee Members and Panel of Reviewers

Committee

Dave Gutierrez (Chair), CA (Ret./GEI Consultants)
Mark Baker, Owner (Ret.)/Consultant
Bill Bingham, Consultant (Ret.)
Denny Dickey, Regulator (State-Ret.)/ Consultant)
Ken Smith, Regulator (State)

Panel of Reviewers

Consultants
Terry Arnold, AECOM
Randy Bass, Schnabel Engineering
John France, AECOM (Ret.)
Dean Durkee, Gannett Fleming
Keith Ferguson, HDR
Manoshree Sundaram, Stantec
Paul Schweiger, Gannett Fleming
Greg Paxson, Schnabel Engineering
Rick Scott, McMillen Jacobs Associates

Dam Owners
Erin Gleason, Denver Water
Tony Nokovich, Pennsylvania American Water
Richard Sanchez, CA DWR (Ret.)/ GEI Consultant
Boris Slogar, Environmental Design Group, Muskingum WCD and OH (former)

State Regulators
Roger Adams, PA (Ret.)
Jason Campbell, Vistra Energy, IL (Prev.)
Jim Gallagher, NH (Ret.)
Meg Galloway, ASFPM WI (Ret.)
Bill McCormick, Black and Veatch CO (Ret.)
Keith Mills, OR Water Resources
John Moyle, NJ (Ret.)
Mark Ogden, OH (Ret.)
Jim Pawloski, MI (Ret./Consumers Energy)

Specialized & Federal
Brian Becker, Barr Engineering
Doug Boyer, FERC
Brad Iarossi, DOI-Fish & Wildlife (Ret.)
Doug Johnson, FERC/ (State - Ret.)
Keil Neff, USACE