republic-os/legal/us/code/title-25/chapter-40/section-3803.md

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LegalText	25 U.S.C. § 3803	Dam Safety Maintenance and Repair Program	us	united_states_code	code_section	25	INDIANS	40	INDIAN DAMS SAFETY	3803	25 U.S.C. § 3803	current	119-100	2026-06-26	official	https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc25@119-100.zip	/us/usc/t25/s3803	data/legal/raw/us/code/title-25/usc25.xml	49b8060166b77455113dd685bec1dc19fc51ccd5573d121cd5bb03703ea6d2fe	d4661d83bff6862be548ac8e843ba61e942ed983aade7cf83cb7dbc3dcd08168	84741277df4a492ecff43d74ea08ac031f68bf74f782d640a60c5ab73c3fb155	2026-07-04	official	legal us-code

25 U.S.C. § 3803 - Dam Safety Maintenance and Repair Program

Text

(a) Establishment The Secretary shall establish a dam safety maintenance and repair program within the Bureau to ensure maintenance and monitoring of the condition of each dam identified pursuant to subsection (e) necessary to maintain the dam in a satisfactory condition on a long-term basis.

(b) Transfer of existing functions and personnel All functions performed before August 23, 1994, pursuant to the Dam Safety Program established by the Secretary of the Interior by order dated February 28, 1980, and all Bureau of Indian Affairs personnel assigned to such program as of August 23, 1994, are hereby transferred to the Dam Safety Maintenance and Repair Program. Any reference in any law, regulation, executive order, reorganization plan, or delegation of authority to the Dam Safety Program is deemed to be a reference to the Dam Safety Maintenance and Repair Program.

(c) Rehabilitation Under the Dam Safety Maintenance and Repair Program, the Secretary shall perform such rehabilitation work as is necessary to bring the dams identified pursuant to subsection (e) to a satisfactory condition. In addition, each dam located on Indian lands shall be regularly maintained pursuant to the Dam Safety Maintenance and Repair Program established pursuant to subsection (a).

(d) Maintenance action plan The Secretary shall develop a maintenance action plan, which shall include a prioritization of actions to be taken, for those dams with a risk hazard rating of high or significant as identified pursuant to subsection (e).

(e) Identification of dams (1) Development of list The Secretary shall develop a comprehensive list of dams located on Indian lands that describes the dam safety condition classification of each dam, as specified in paragraph (2), the risk hazard classification of each dam, as specified in paragraph (3), and the conditions resulting from maintenance deficiencies.

(2) Dam safety condition classifications The dam safety condition classification referred to in paragraph (1) is one of the following classifications:

(A) Satisfactory No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Safe performance is expected under all anticipated conditions.

(B) Fair No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal loading conditions. Infrequent hydrologic or seismic events would probably result in a dam safety deficiency.

(C) Conditionally poor A potential dam safety deficiency is recognized for unusual loading conditions that may realistically occur during the expected life of the structure.

(D) Poor A potential dam safety deficiency is clearly recognized for normal loading conditions. Immediate actions to resolve the deficiency are recommended; reservoir restrictions may be necessary until resolution of the problem.

(E) Unsatisfactory A dam safety deficiency exists for normal loading conditions. Immediate remedial action is required for resolution of the problem.

(3) Risk hazard classification The risk hazard classification referred to in paragraph (1) is one of the following classifications:

(A) High Six or more lives would be at risk or extensive property damage could occur if the dam failed.

(B) Significant Between one and six lives would be at risk or significant property damage could occur if the dam failed.

(C) Low No lives would be at risk and limited property damage would occur if the dam failed.

(f) Limitation on program authorization Work authorized by this chapter shall be for the purpose of dam safety maintenance and structural repair. The Secretary may authorize, upon request of an Indian tribe, up to 20 percent of the cost of repairs to be used to provide additional conservation storage capacity or developing benefits beyond those provided by the original dams and reservoirs. This chapter is not intended to preclude development of increased storage or benefits under any other authority or to preclude measures to protect fish and wildlife.

(g) Technical assistance To carry out the purposes of this chapter, the Secretary may obtain technical assistance on a nonreimbursable basis from other departments and agencies. Notwithstanding any such technical assistance, the Dam Safety Maintenance and Repair Program established under subsection (a) shall be under the direction and control of the Bureau.

(h) Contract authority In addition to any other authority established by law, the Secretary is authorized to contract with Indian tribes under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450 et seq.) 11 See References in Text note below. to carry out the Dam Safety Maintenance and Repair Program established under this chapter.

(i) Annual report The Secretary shall submit an annual report on the implementation of this chapter. The report shall include—

(1) the list of dams and their status on the maintenance action plan developed under this section; and

(2) the projected total cost and a schedule of the projected annual cost of rehabilitation or repair for each dam under this section.

The report shall be submitted at the time the budget is required to be submitted under section 1105 of title 31 to the Subcommittee on Native American Affairs of the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate.

(Pub. L. 103–302, § 4, Aug. 23, 1994, 108 Stat. 1561; Pub. L. 104–109, § 3, Feb. 12, 1996, 110 Stat. 764.)

Notes

Editorial Notes

References in TextThe Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450 et seq.), referred to in subsec. (h), is Pub. L. 93–638, Jan. 4, 1975, 88 Stat. 2203, which was classified principally to subchapter II (§ 450 et seq.) of chapter 14 of this title prior to editorial reclassification as chapter 46 (§ 5301 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 5301 of this title and Tables.

Amendments1996—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 104–109 substituted “under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450 et seq.)” for “(under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b(e))), as amended,”.

Change of Name Subcommittee on Native American Affairs changed to Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States.