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<br />Risk snalysis can quantify the benefits of upgraded <br />technical standards, inspection programs. or <br />instrumentation programs for dams. Although some <br />progress has already been made in developing the <br />necessary methodology, meaningful applications "to dam <br />safety will require further research. Federal <br />involvement in the further development of such methods, <br />and education and training in their use, is highly <br />desira ble. <br /> <br />Objective information about the probabilities and <br />consequences of structural failure is needed to help in <br />assessing the need for dam insurance, to allow setting <br />reasonable premium levels, and to clarify questions of <br />liability. The reduction of risk offered by a variety <br />of protective actions also"needs to be understood. The <br />U.S. Government should sponsor research aimed at <br />developing background information of this type and <br />should provide for the timely dissemination of the <br />findings through education and training programs. <br /> <br />5.3 TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE <br /> <br />5.3.1 Problem Description <br /> <br />Every state agency responsible for dam safety needs <br />a technical staff acquainted with currently accepted and <br />recommended engineering practices. However, .there are <br />no universally recognized technical standards relating <br />to dam safety. In fact,"a number of state agencies have <br />opposed setting national standards. Many states lack <br />the funds to provide adequate stsffs. Any action by the <br />U.S. government to assist the states in dam safety must <br />take these variations in expertise into account. <br /> <br />Information on technical and institutional aspects <br />of dam safety is widely scattered in the publications of <br />technical societies and government agencies, and in <br />stste and national laws and regulations. It is <br />difficult for technical personnel to acquire complete, <br />up-to-date information in this area. Federal assistance <br />1s needed to provide state agencies access to technical <br />and regulatory material. <br /> <br />-28- <br />