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It would be helpful to the promotion of adequate legislation if FEMA or some other U.S. government agenc: or private organization would compile a detailed description of the laws and regulations of all states with regard to dam safety. While the Corps of Engineers, for the 1975 report to the Congress, otNational Programs of Inspection of Dams," surveyed the states to determine what their supervisory practices were and whether or not they had statutory authority over dams, it made no detailed analysis of the laws and regulations. The USCOLD model could be used to compare state programs. Such a compilation should be updated periodically, perhaps every two to five years. Further it might be useful to poll the states periodically to determine what problems they see in their programs. (Such a poll could maintain the anonymity of the responding parties if found desirable). 4.1.3 Nationsl Perspective Because of inadequate state supervision and the magnitude of the consequences of widespread dam failures, a national perspective on dam safety is needed. The problems will not be solved entirely without a nationwide perspective or the impetus that a broad-based group can offer. This could be provided by either a government agency or a nongovernmental entity, such as FEMA, an association of state dam safety officials, or a combination of these in a cooperative forum like the U.S. Committee on Large Dams or the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). 4.1.4 Conclusions FEMA, in coordinating dam safety, should encourage states to assume and discharge competently their rightful supervisory responsibilities for dam aafety. FEMA, for example, could promote state legislation comparable to the USCOLD model law and help formulate a national association or forum for discussing problems 0: dam safety. FEMA should also establish means for impartial assessments of state programs 'and disseminate the results of such assessments appropriately. -20-