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<br />responsible. Without an inventory, effective exercise of <br />its regulatory functions seem doubtful. <br /> <br />o Mine Safety and Health Administration. The agency <br />apparently does not exercise its regulatory authority <br />over 566 dams related to metal/nonmetal mining sites. <br /> <br />o Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The agency does not use <br />regulatory authority over 29 dams at nuclear installa- <br />tions where possible dam failures are judged to present <br />no radiological hazards. <br /> <br />Leqislative. Policv. and Budqet Constraints <br /> <br />Almost all agencies have indicated that competition for <br />agency resources from other programs has been a factor in <br />slowing dam safety activities. In addition, the agencies have <br />reported specific constraints as follows: <br /> <br />o soil Conservation service. The agency has authority to <br />provide technical assistance to owners of existing <br />SCS-assisted dams, but is very dependent on state dam <br />safety agencies for continuing surveillance and inspection <br />of those structures. <br /> <br />o Bureau of Reclamation. Financial inabilities of project <br />water users to fund reimbursable dam rehabilitation work, <br />the difficulties in convincing those users of the needs <br />for such work, and Federal constraints on contracting for <br />engineering services have hindered dam safety activities. <br /> <br />o Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The expansion of the <br />Agency's regulatory program to encompass dams where <br />failure would not affect the radiologic health and safety <br />of the public is regarded by the agency staff as a policy <br />question to be taken up with the Commission itself. <br /> <br />Adequacv of Aqencies' Staffs <br /> <br />In general, the agency reports have indicated adequate <br />existing staff capabilities to meet responsibilities imposed by <br />the Federal Guidelines. Some exceptions are as follows: <br /> <br />o Department of Agriculture. Agencies in the Department <br />other than the Forest Service rely heavily on the Soil <br />Conservation Service to provide technical assistance <br />for any dam safety problems. The Forest Service relies on <br />state dam safety agencies for inspection of, and enforce- <br />ment of safety standards on privately-owned dams within <br />national forests. <br /> <br />Chapter 3 - page 18 <br />