OSM. 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING 

RECLAMATION AND ENFORCEMENT 

DIRECTIVES SYSTEM 

DAM SAFETY PROGRAM 

Title: 

'" 

AUG 

directive establishes the Office of Surface 

and Enforcement's (OSM) policy on the 

and procedures for implementing the Deparlment 

(DOI) Dam Safety Program for dams permitted by 

2. Summary. This directive establishes the responsibility of 

the various OSM offices to ensure that dams permitted by OSM are 

in conformance with POI's Dam Safety Program. It utilizes 

Natural Resource conservation Service's (NRCS) hazard criteria 

and Mine Safety and Health Administration's (MSHA) size criteria 

for dams. 

3. Definitions. 

a. Dam. A dam is any impounding structure that impounds 

water, sediment, or slurry and meets Class B or c of NRCS's 

hazard criteria or satisfies the definition from section 30 CFR 

77.216. 

b. Emergency Action Plan. A plan to alleviate risk during 

or after construction of a dam, or to reduce the consequences if 

conditions develop in which a dam failure is likely or 

unpreventable. This plan must include size and locatior. of ~l'.e 

dam and reservoir, an evaluation of upstream and downstream 

inundation hazards, and alerting procedures in case of failure. 

4. Policy/Procedures. 

a. Background. Part 753 of the Departmental Manual 

requ~res each bureau which designs, constructs, operates, or 

permits dams to have a dam safety program which implements the 

Federal Guidelines for Dam Safety. 

b. Policy. Dams permitted by OSM shall be designed, 

constructed, operated and maintained to the standards necessary 

to safeguard life and protect property. 
c. Responsibilities. 

(1) Assistant Director. Program Support is responsible 

for overall operation of the dam safety program as described in 

Departmental Manual (DMJ Part 753 OM l.3.B. These 

responsibilities include evaluating the policies and procedures 

for the conduct of the dam safety regulatory practices related to 

dam safety design and construction in accordance with 753 OM 1.3 

B(l) (a). 

'" 

(a) Providing technical support to permittees 

upon request concerning the safety and maintenance of dams as 

discussed in 4.d. (4) (b) of this directive. 

I b) 

permitted by their 

directive. 

Maintaining a current 

office as discussed in 

inventory of dams 

section 4.d.(2) of this 

(c) Providing assistance to permittees, upon 

request, concern1ng the preparation of emergency action plans. 

(d) Providing information necessary to complete 

the appropriate sections of the biennial report on dam safety as 

requested by the OSM Dam Safety Officer. 

(3) Dam Safety 

Development and Transfer! 

Officer !Office of Technoloov 

is responsible for: 

(a) Coordinating OSM's Dam Safety Program and 

serving as OSM's Emergency Planning Officer as described in 753 

DM 1.5.8. 

(b) Ensuring that all OSM offices are aware of 

the need for actions to ensure that dams permitted by OSM are 

safe. 

{c) Coordinating the OSM program with the Bureau 

of Reclamation, MSHA and other Federal and State agencies, 

industry, and private organizations. 

{d) Coordinating the preparation and submission 

of the biennial report on dam safety to DOI. 

d. Procedures. 

,"o;"'"'"R1e'v"'i0e,w¥. All dams defined in Section 3. 

this directive on mining operations for which OSM 

~:~: ;•~::~:;'~~ authority must receive a review of their design 

c 753 DM 1.3 B{3) {b) by either MSHA or the OSM 

permitting entity (Appalachian, Western or the Mid-Contlnenc 

Regional Coordinating Center) 

' 
(2) Inventory. Each Regional office must maintain a 

current inventory of dams as defined in Section 3. Definitions. 

of this directive on mining operations for which it is a 

permitting authority. Maintaining a current inventory complies 

with 753 DM 1.3 B(l) (c). The inventory must include structural 

performance, hazard classification, and identified deficiency 

data. It is anticipated that in most cases this requirement will 

be met by the MSHA inventory of dams. The inventory must be 

submitted/updated to the OSM Dam Safety Officer, Headquarters, by 

July lst of each year. 

(3) Emergency Action Plans. All dams defined in 

Section 3. Definitions. of this directive must have emergency 

action plans required by 30 CFR 816(817.49(a) (13). 

(4) Inspections and Inspection Reoorts. 

(a) Inspection reports, required under 30 CFR 

77.216 and 816.49(a)(11), form the basis to determine the need 

for any appropriate corrective action. These reports mus~ 

include information on the structural integrity of the dam and 

any hazardous conditions about the structure. 

(b) Safety related deficiencies and structural 

weaknesses identified at a dam must be immediately referred to 

the applicable Regional Director. This reporting requirement is 

in accordance with the 753 DM 1. 3 B (1.) (b) . 

5. Reoorting Requirements. Permitting offices as described in 

section 4.c. (2) of this directive must forward copies of the 

inventories required in section 4.d. (2) of this directive to the 

Headquarters Dam Safety Officer by July 1 of each year. 

Effect On Other Documents. None 

7. References. 

a. Department of the Interior, Departmental Manual Part 

753 Dam Safety Program, April 14, 1982. 

b. Federal Guidelines For Dam Safety, Federal Coordinating 

Council for Science, Engineering and Technology, 

Washington, D.C. 20500. 

c. Emergency Action Planning Guidelines for Dams, Federal 

Emergency Management Agency, FEMA 64, February 1985. 

d. How to Develop and Implement an Emergency Action Plan, 

Training Aids for Dam Safety Module, Bureau of 

Reclamation, Denver, CO. 
e. ACER 

Denver co, 1985. 

8. Effective Date. Upon Issuance. 

9. Contact. Technology Development and Transfer, 12021 208-

2971. 

10. Keywords. Dams, Safety, Impoundments, Permitting, Dam 

Safety. 

11. List of Appendices. None.