Safety of Dams on Indian Lands

To improve the structural integrity of dams on Indian lands, including operations and maintenance of these dams.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs' (BIA) Safety of Dams (SOD) Program was established under the Indian Dams Safety Act (IDSA) of 1994, P.L. No. 103-302, 25 U.S.C. § 3801 et seq. SOD's principal authorities include, but are not limited to, 25 U.S.C. §§ 3801 - 3805, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Federal Guidelines for Dam Safety. The mission of SOD is to reduce the potential loss of human life and property damage caused by dam failure by making dams under the administration of the BIA as safe as practically possible. SOD endeavors to ensure that its dams are maintained in satisfactory condition on a long-term basis and to promote awareness and access to the beneficial uses achieved through public investments in SOD dam infrastructure. When applicable, SOD program funds are awarded through Federal Acquisitions Regulation contracts.

Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments and Native American Organizations authorized by Indian tribal governments to be benefited by the award.

Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments and their members and Native American Organizations.

Funds allow for the inspection, operation and maintenance, early warning systems, and emergency action plans of high and significant hazard dams under the responsibility of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and for safety of dam rehabilitation construction necessary to correct identified deficiencies on the most unsafe dams. Financial awards are specific to a given site and awards are restricted to Indian tribes or tribal organizations affected by the projects.

Funds allow for the inspection, operation and maintenance, early warning systems, and emergency action plans of high and significant hazard dams under the responsibility of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and for safety of dam rehabilitation construction necessary to correct identified deficiencies on selected dams. Financial awards are specific to a given site, and awards are restricted to Indian tribes or tribal organizations affected by the projects.

Contracts are for the duration of the project, often one to five years, and the funds remain available until expended by the contractor/grantee. The timing of payments will be negotiated with the grantee.

Informal preapplication conference is recommended. Technical assistance in preparing the application is available upon request.

Affected Tribes are contacted directly and notified of the offer.

The relative probability of dam failure (risk-of-failure) is determined from the technical factors used in the SEED report to determine placement on the Department of the Interior's Technical Priority Rating List. This priority list is then used to prioritize budget requests for repair of the Bureau's most unsafe dams. Approximately $22,000,000 of the funds for the Safety of Dams program are distributed in accordance with the Technical Priority Rating listing for Department of the Interior dams.

In most cases, the award will be approved at the regional level with the approval of BIA Dam Safety Officer.

Affected Tribes are contacted directly and notified of the offer.

Applications for construction projects will be processed within 90 days after receipt of the final proposal.

Projects are generally multi-year agreements with no renewal. Under extenuating circumstances, extensions may be granted.

An unsuccessful applicant may request an informal conference with the deciding official, or may appeal the denial of the application to the Interior Board of Indian Appeals, or may bring suit in U.S. District Court. Full appeal procedures are found in 25 CFR, Part 900, Subpart L.