United States Department of Agriculture
Research, Education, and Economics
ARS * CSREES * ERS * NASS
Policies and Procedures
| Title: | Dam Safety |
| Number: | 650.1 |
| Date: | 11/10/80 |
| Originating Office: | Office of the Administrator for Agricultural Research |
| This Replaces: | |
| Distribution: | ARS Headquarters, Regions, Areas/Centers, Locations, and All Scientists |
| This Directive establishes SEA policy on Dam safety, duties and responsibilities of the SEA Dam Safety Officer, identifies research areas concerned with dam safety, and describes potentially hazardous structures which impound or divert water (referred to as dams) and gives qualified assistance contacts for meeting safety requirements. |
Contents
1. Abbreviation
2. Policy
3. Authorities
4. Definition
5. Duties and Responsibilities of The SEA Dam Safety
Officer
6. Program Areas Concerned
7. Dam Classification
8. Potentially Hazardous Dams
9. Obtaining Qualified Assistance
SCS - Soil Conservation Service
To protect human life and property, SEA scientists and other responsible personnel will
obtain qualified assistance from the State Government or SCS in the design, construction,
and maintenance of potentially hazardous dams described below.
Public Law 92-367, House Resolution 15951, August 8, 1972. SCS National Engineering Manual
Subchapter C, Part 520, subpart C, 520.21, Definitions and Classes.
As used in this DIRECTIVE, a dam is an artificial barrier, with any associated spillways
and appurtenant works, that does or may impound or divert water.
The SEA Dam Safety Officer will be appointed by the Director, Science and Education, to
represent SEA on USDA's dam safety committee and:
SEA is involved in dam safety in two areas:
Most of the water impoundment structures used in research are small with no hazard potential.
The SEA units responsible for the construction, design, financing, or ownership of water impounding structures must also adhere to this DIRECTIVE.
Dams are classified according to the potential hazard to life and property if the dam should suddenly breach or fail. Existing and future downstream development including controls for future development must be considered when classifying the dam. The classification of a dam is determined only by the potential hazard from failure.
Class A -- Dams in rural or agricultural areas where failure may damage farm buildings, agricultural land, or township and country roads.
Class B -- Dams in predominantly rural or agricultural areas where failure may damage isolated homes, main highways, minor railroads, or cause interruption in service of relatively important public utilities.
Class C -- Dams where failure may cause loss of life or serious damage to homes, industrial and commercial buildings, important public utilities, main highways, or railroads.
The dams described below are considered potentially hazardous. Qualified assistance must be obtained to meet applicable design and construction requirements if any of the following criteria are met:
NOTE: Height is the difference in elevation between the top of the dam and the lowest
elevation at the downstream tolerance. Storage capacity is the capacity of the reservoir
below the elevation of the crest of the emergency spillway or the elevation of the top of
the dam if there is no emergency spillway.
If a proposed dam comes under I l above, the proposing scientist will seek assistance from the State Government to meet State and local requirements.
If a proposed dam comes under the bulleted paragraphs of Section 8 above, the proposing
scientist will seek assistance from the SCS State Conservationist for the State where the
dam will be located.
ANSON R. BERTRAND
Director
Science and Education