National Dam Safety Program

National Dam Safety Program (NDSP) State Assistance improves the safety of dams in the United States and strives to achieve the key objective of �dam safety and dam risk reduction.� This grant program implements the Department of Homeland Security and Presidential Preparedness Directive (PPD)-8 objective of hazard mitigation, to develop and maintain those capabilities necessary to reduce loss of life and property by lessening the impact of the failure of dams. The program objectives are: 1. Reduce risks to life and property associated with dams; 2. Increase awareness of the risks associated with dams and the benefit of state dam safety programs; and 3. Advance the state of practice of dam safety and dam risk management

States with an approved state dam safety program. For a State to be eligible for assistance under this subsection, a State dam safety program must be working toward meeting the following criteria and budgeting requirement: (A) State dam safety program must be authorized by State legislation to include, at a minimum�(i) the authority to review and approve plans and specifications to construct, enlarge, modify, remove, and abandon dams;(ii) the authority to perform periodic inspections during dam construction to ensure compliance with approved plans and specifications; (iii) a requirement that, on completion of dam construction, State approval must be given before operation of the dam; (iv) the authority to require or perform periodic evaluations of all dams and reservoirs to determine the extent of the threat to human life and property in case of failure; (v)(I) the authority to require or perform the inspection, at least once every 5 years, of all dams and reservoirs that would pose a significant threat to human life and property in case of failure to determine the continued safety of the dams and reservoirs; and (II) a procedure for more detailed and frequent safety inspections; (vi) a requirement that all inspections be performed under the supervision of a State-registered professional engineer with related experience in dam design and construction; (vii) the authority to...

Funds appropriated for State Assistance are allocated per mandated formula in 33 U.S.C. section 467j: (i) One-third among States that qualify for assistance. (ii) Two-thirds among States that qualify for assistance, to each such State in proportion to�(I) the number of dams in the State that are listed as State-regulated dams on the inventory of dams maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; as compared to (II) the number of dams in all States that are listed as State-regulated dams on the inventory of dams maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. For more information see the Notices of Funding Opportunity posted on www.Grants.gov.

Match: none required (federal program listing). This program has MOE requirements, see funding agency for further details. The National Dam Safety Program State Assistance (NDSP SA) grant program does not have a matching requirement and does not have a total allocation over $100 million for the fiscal year. However, according to 33 U.S.C. Section 467j, an award to a state may not exceed four times (4x) the amount of funds committed by the State to implement dam safety activities. A state must enter into such agreement with the Administrator that the State will maintain the aggregate expenditures of the State from all other sources for programs to ensure dam safety for the protection of human life and property at or above a level equal to the average annual level of such expenditures for the 2 fiscal years preceding the fiscal year.

Fiscal year 2025: Dam inspections to protect people against loss of life and property from dam failure. Condition Assessments of dams. Development of new and updated Emergency Action Plan (EAP) for High Hazard dams. Professional education, workshops, and training on content such as dam operations and safety standards, industry best practices, risk assessment methodologies, and risk communication strategies for dam owners, local officials, emergency management personnel, and state dam safety staff. Equipment purchases for dam safety activities, such as drones to assist in inspections. Fiscal year 2026: Dam inspections to protect people against loss of life and property from dam failure. Condition Assessments of dams. Development of new or updated Emergency Action Plan (EAP) for High Hazard dams. Professional education, workshops, and training on content such as dam operations and safety standards, industry best practices, risk assessment methodologies, and risk communication strategies for dam owners, local officials, emergency management personnel, and state dam safety staff. Equipment purchases for dam safety activities, such as drones to assist in inspections.