Defining a Federal Agenda to Encourage Strong State Programs and Owner Responsibility for Non-Federal Dams

NOTE: This paper was provided to ASDSO by Bruce Tschantz's estate. Further information related to this paper is not available.

It is indeed a pleasure to be here at this dam safety workshop. This is the first opportunity to my knowledge, for technical people a-rid other experts to come face to face with non-Federal dam owners and discuss the complex problems brought on by dam failures and unsafe dams. There are many questions and there is no easy answer. However, the public challenges us all to work out a solution which is acceptable to them, is fair to owners, is sensitive to State needs, and is politically and technically feasible.

The President, in establishing 'the new Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), delegated lead agency responsibility for .coordination of efforts to promote d&m safety to the FEMA Office of Mitigation and Research. One aspect of FEMA's responsibility is encouraging and facilitating long-term dam safety programs within the private sector and the States. (Continued)