[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 210 (Thursday, October 30, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58732-58734]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-28795]


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FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY


Interagency Committee on Dam Safety (ICODS); Charter and 
Operating Rules

AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

ACTION: Notice of the revised Charter and Operating Rules of the 
Interagency Committee on Dam Safety.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) gives notice of 
the revised Charter and Operating Rules of the Interagency Committee on 
Dam Safety (ICODS). The purpose of ICODS is to coordinate policies for 
and provide guidance to all participants of the National Dam Safety 
Program.

DATES: This notice is effective as of October 30, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Harold W. Andress Jr., National Dam Safety Program, Mitigation 
Directorate, Federal Emergency Management Agency, 500 C Street SW., 
Washington, DC 20472, (202) 646-2801, (facsimile) (202) 646-4596 (not 
toll free calls).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FEMA's National Dam Safety Program was 
established October 4, 1979, when President Carter instructed the heads 
of each Federal agency responsible for any aspect of dam safety to 
adopt the Federal Guidelines for Dam Safety. This coincided with the 
formation of FEMA under Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1978 and the 
subsequent assignment of responsibility for the coordination of efforts 
to promote dam safety to the Director of FEMA under Sec. 2-103 of 
Executive Order 12148. Federal departments and agencies were directed 
to report their progress in implementing the dam safety guidelines to 
the Director of FEMA. Subsequently, the national dam safety program was 
codified when the President signed into law the Water Resources 
Development Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-303) on October 12, 1996. 
Section 215 of the Public Law 104-303, which amended Public Law 92-367, 
named the latter Act the National Dam Safety Program Act (the Act), and 
formally established ICODS. Public Law 104-303 directs the Director of 
FEMA to lead a coordinated national dam safety program. Under section 7 
of the Act ICODS comprises representatives of 10 Federal departments 
and agencies: the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Defense, 
the Department of Energy, the Department of the Interior, the 
Department of Labor, FEMA, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 
the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Tennessee Valley Authority, and 
the United States Section of the International Boundary and Water 
Commission. The Director of FEMA chairs ICODS.
    ICODS provides a permanent forum for member agencies to coordinate 
interagency activities and to identify, discuss, and recommend 
solutions to institutional, managerial, technical, legislative, and 
policy issues that affect national dam safety. ICODS has been active on 
several fronts since its formation, April 24, 1980. It is now 
appropriate to announce formally its revised Charter and Operating 
Rules, and its objectives, mission, duties and oversight role for the 
National Dam Safety Program, originally published in the Federal 
Register, August 28, 1985, 50 FR 34912.

[[Page 58733]]

Interagency Committee on Dam Safety (ICODS) Charter and Operating Rules

I. Preamble

    The need for positive action and leadership to assure safe dams has 
long been established by the President, Acts of Congress, actions of 
Federal agencies, State Governments, professional societies, engineers, 
public concerns, and now statutorily by the Congress through passage of 
Public Law 104-303. A dam is as defined in section 2 of that Act.
    It is necessary that Federal agencies having an involvement with 
dams coordinate their activities to assure optimum use of agency 
resources in establishment of principles and guidance that will lead to 
safer dams. These agencies also have the responsibility to provide 
leadership so others may benefit from the skills, experience, and 
programs of the Federal establishment. ICODS provides the framework for 
meeting these objectives. ICODS members will individually carry 
decisions and recommendations that impact on policy and legislative 
matters to their respective agencies for appropriate actions.

II. Mission

    The mission of ICODS is to encourage the establishment and 
maintenance of effective Federal and State programs, policies, and 
guidelines to enhance dam safety for the protection of human life and 
property. This is achieved through coordination and information 
exchange among Federal agencies and State dam safety agencies sharing 
common problems and having responsibilities for any aspect of dam 
safety (e.g., planning, design, construction, operation, emergency 
actions, inspections, maintenance, regulation or licensing, technical 
or financial assistance, research, data collection and ultimate 
disposition). Such coordination is not limited to Federal dam safety 
matters as State and local issues and may provide a need for technology 
exchange.
    ICODS will provide a permanent forum for these organizations to 
advise FEMA in its role of establishing and maintaining a coordinated 
national dam safety program by making recommendations on institutional, 
managerial, technical, legislative, and policy issues that affect 
national dam safety.

III. Objectives

    ICODS objectives are aligned with the objectives of the National 
Dam Safety Program. These objectives are to:
    (1) ensure that new and existing dams are safe through the 
development of technologically economically feasible programs and 
procedures for national dam safety hazards reduction;
    (2) encourage acceptable engineering policies and procedures to be 
used for dam site investigation, design, construction, operations, 
maintenance, inspections and modifications, and emergency preparedness;
    (3) encourage the establishment and implementation of effective dam 
safety programs in each State based on State standards;
    (4) develop and encourage public awareness projects to increase 
public acceptance and support of State dam safety programs;
    (5) develop technical assistance materials for Federal and non-
Federal dam safety programs; and
    (6) develop mechanisms with which to provide Federal technical 
assistance for dam safety to the non-Federal sector.

IV. Duties

    ICODS shall encourage the establishment and maintenance of 
effective Federal and State programs, policies, and guidelines intended 
to enhance dam safety for the protection of human life and property 
through:
    (1) coordination and information exchange among Federal agencies 
and State dam safety agencies;
    (2) coordination and information exchange among Federal agencies 
concerning implementation of the Federal Guidelines for Dam Safety;
    (3) federal activities that foster State efforts to develop and 
implement effective programs for the safety of dams;
    (4) improved techniques, historical experience, and equipment for 
rapid and effective dam construction, rehabilitation, and inspection; 
and
    (5) devices for the continued monitoring of the safety of dams.

V. Oversight

    The ICODS oversight role includes providing consultation to the 
FEMA Director in the establishment and maintenance of a coordinated 
national dam safety program. Also included is the preparation of a 
biennial report, not later than 90 days after the end of each odd-
numbered fiscal year, that describes the status of the Program and 
describes the progress achieved by Federal agencies in implementing the 
Federal Guidelines for Dam Safety during the two preceding fiscal 
years.

VI. Organization

A. Membership
    The members are one representative designated from each of the 
following Federal Departments/Agencies: Agriculture, Defense, Energy, 
Interior, Labor, FEMA, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Nuclear 
Regulatory Commission, Tennessee Valley Authority, and the United 
States Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission.
B. Chair
    The Director of FEMA is the Chair of ICODS. In the absence of the 
Director, the FEMA member will serve as designated Chair. In the 
absence of the FEMA member a representative of a member Federal 
Department will be named by the Director to act as Chair. At the 
discretion of the Chair, others may participate in ICODS meetings and 
subcommittees activities.
C. Subcommittees
    ICODS will establish necessary subcommittees to fulfill its 
purpose. A member of ICODS will be named by the Chair as contact person 
for each subcommittee. Subcommittees, their membership, chairs, and 
assignments will be approved by ICODS. It shall be the responsibility 
of the subcommittee chair to report to ICODS. Standing subcommittees of 
ICODS shall include, but are not limited to, Operations, Research, 
Training, Guidelines Development, National Dam Safety Coordinations, 
and National Inventory of Dams.
D. Meetings
    The Chair will call meetings as needed. A minimum of one meeting 
per calendar quarter will be scheduled.
E. Voting and Rules
    Each member of ICODS will have one vote. Each subcommittee member 
shall have one vote on their subcommittee. A member may designate an 
alternate to vote in his or her absence. Every effort will be made to 
arrive at a consensus. Robert's Rules of Order will be followed.
F. Funding
    Each agency will be responsible for supporting its representatives. 
Any cost for consultants, printing, etc., will be funded through the 
National Dam Safety Program.
G. Reporting
    Each member of ICODS will be responsible for reporting biennially 
to the Congress on their activities as set forth in Section 10 of the 
National Dam Safety Program Act.

[[Page 58734]]

VII. Amending Charter and Operating Rules

    Amendments may be made to the Charter and Operating Rules, the 
members desiring, by a two-thirds majority vote of the membership.

    Dated: October 23, 1997.
Michael J. Armstrong,
Associate Director, Mitigation Directorate.
[FR Doc. 97-28795 Filed 10-29-97; 8:45 am]
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