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<br />EMERGENCY ACTION PLANNING GUIDELINES <br />FOR DAMS <br /> <br />I. Basic Considerations for Preparing Emergency Action Plans <br /> <br />A. Purpose. <br /> <br />1. General. The general purpose of these guidelines is to encourage <br />thorough and consistent emergency action planning for levels of preparedness <br />which may save lives and reduce property damage in areas affected by dam <br />operation or failure. <br /> <br />2. Emergency Potential. Whenever human habitation is located in an area <br />that could be flooded by the operation or failure of a dam, an emergency <br />potential is assumed to exist. <br /> <br />3. Supplementation of Information. The Federal Guidelines for Dam <br />Safety defines the need for and provides general guidance on emergency action <br />plans. However, the guidance is not specific enough for many dams owners and <br />communities to develop meaningful emergency plans without supplemental <br />information and guidance. This document provides specific guidance on the <br />development of emergency action plans. It does not address the adequacy of <br />design, construction, maintenance, or operation of dams. <br /> <br />4. Uniformity of Plans. The effectiveness of emergency action plans can <br />be enhanced by promoting a uniform format which ensures that all aspects of <br />emergency planning are covered in each plan. Uniform emergency action plans <br />and advance coordination with local and State officials should enhance the <br />integration of the dam owner's plans with actions of impacted communities. <br />This is particularly important where a community is exposed to the <br />consequences of more than one dam failing and the dams are owned by different <br />persons or organizations. <br /> <br />B. Background. The following information provides various Federal and <br />non-Federal views on the need for and content of emergency action plans. <br /> <br />1. Federal Guidelines for Dam Safety. An ad hoc interagency committee <br />on dam safety of the Federal Coordinating Council for Science, Engineering, <br />and Technology prepared, "Federal Guidelines for Dam Safety" which was <br />published June 25, 1979. This activity was directed by Presidential <br />Memorandum dated April 23, 1977. A second Presidential Memorandum dated <br />October 4, 1979 directed Federal agencies to adopt and implement the Federal <br />Guidelines. Part D3 of the guidelines outlines the need for and the essential <br />elements of emergency action planning. <br /> <br />2. Non-Federal Dam Inspection Program. In 1981 the U.S. Army Corps of <br />Engineers completed inspection of nearly 9,000 non-Federal dams. This <br />national inspection program was carried out in accordance with Public Law <br />92-367. The dams inspected were those located where loss of life and major <br /> <br />. <br />