Dam Safety—An Objective of Federal Licensing

The safety of dams is a subject of both national and worldwide interest. An important area of such interest in the United States concerns the hydroelectric power dams constructed and operated by non-federal entities under licenses issued by the Federal Power Commission. The Commission's regulations require the licensee to submit detailed drawings for projects, accompanied by adequate information relating to controlling factors, such as data on foundations and construction materials, stability and stress analyses for important structures, and spillway design criteria. Regional office staff engineers usually inspect projects under construction at not less than monthly intervals and those in operation about once a year. In December, 1965, the Commission established a new Part 12 of its regulations. The new regulations provide for a program of inspections by independent consultants at regular five-year intervals, to supplement the inspections by the Commission's staff.