Bill Aimed at Improving Dam Safety

The National Dam Safety Act of 2006 was recently introduced in Congress by Rep. Randy Kuhl (R-N.Y.) and Rep. Jim Matheson (D-Utah).

If enacted, the legislation would reauthorize the National Dam Safety Program, a national program administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency that seeks to improve the safety and security of the nation's dams.

"The tragedy of this week's dam failure in Hawaii has made it painfully clear that there is a dire need for federal leadership in dam safety," said Alexandria, Va.-based American Society of Civil Engineers President Dennis Martenson. "Dams can provide a tremendous benefit to society, but a dam failure can result in severe loss of life, economic disaster and extensive environmental damage."

Reauthorization of the program would allow FEMA to continue leading national safety efforts, including research, technology transfer, communication between state and federal agencies and training for state dam safety engineers. The grant assistance component of the act will also provide vital support for the improvement of state dam safety programs, which regulate 95 percent of the more than 78,000 dams in the United States.

Dams can provide many benefits including flood protection, drinking water, hydroelectric power, irrigation and recreation.

However, without proper maintenance, dams can be hazardous structures. Failure or improper dam operation can result in loss of human life, economic loss, lifeline disruption and environmental damage. In order to provide safe, continuous service, dams require maintenance, monitoring, safety inspections and rehabilitation.

Reauthorization of the program would provide federal leadership and assistance to the state-level programs that shoulder the burden of assuring the safety of our nation's dams.

Russell Named ARTBA National Field Director

Larry Russell was named national field director of the Washington-based American Road and Transportation Builders Association.

He manages a team that focuses on providing ARTBA membership services, new member development, fundraising and expanding the association's grassroots activities throughout the U.S.

Russell and the field team are focused on building a national coalition of transportation design and construction firms around the country to engage in critical issues in the Nation's Capital - particularly leading up to reauthorization of VISION-100 in 2007 and SAFETEA-LU in 2009.

Russell joined ARTBA as director of western operations in early 2005. He spent time as manager of business development for Cedar American Rail Holdings Inc. in Sioux Falls, S.D.

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