Technical Manual: Conduits through Embankment Dams (FEMA 484)

Chapter 11—Appropriate Emergency Actions11.2 Obtaining the services of a qualified professional engineerTens of thousands of embankment dam owners in the United States have exposureto liability for the water stored behind their dams. The responsibility for maintaininga safe embankment dam rests with the owner. For many owners, the properoperation and maintenance of the embankment dam is only one aspect of theirorganization’s activities. Safely maintaining the embankment dam is a key element inpreventing a failure and limiting the liability that an owner could face. An importantway to help reduce an owner’s exposure to the potential for an embankment damfailure is to have a qualified dam engineer periodically inspect and assess the dam forthe development of problems that could lead to the dam’s failure. The engineershould provide a written inspection report with recommendations for repairs for anypotential problems found.11.2.1 The need for an engineerEmbankment dams, like any other natural or constructed structures, will deterioratewith time. Failure of a embankment dam, whether due to conduit deterioration,inadequate spillway capacity, seismic inadequacies, or other reasons could leave thedam owner liable for lives lost and property damage that occur downstream as aresult of the failure. For these reasons, the owner needs to be sure that theembankment dam and any appurtenant water-retaining structures have beendesigned, constructed, and maintained to withstand each of the probable loadingsthat these structures could be subject to during their lifetime. To maintain a safeembankment dam and minimize the possibility of a dam failure, regular periodicinspections, proper maintenance, and occasional repair and rehabilitation of thestructures are inevitable. To perform these tasks, an owner needs the expertise of aqualified professional engineer (ADSO, undated), experienced in the design andconstruction of embankment dams and appurtenant structures. If no design andconstruction drawings and records exist for the engineer to work with, it may benecessary for the engineer to develop basic plans and calculations. These will helpthe owner and engineer better understand the structures, evaluate them for stabilityconditions, and understand the consequences of a embankment dam failure. Anengineer can also provide the owner with assistance in selecting a contractor toperform repair or remediation work if necessary and can provide construction qualitycontrol if needed.11.2.2 The type of engineer neededChoosing a registered professional engineer (P.E.) with a civil and geotechnicalengineering background, who is competent and experienced in the field of damsafety is important. Criteria to look for in the prospective dam engineer include:271