Title 33Navigation and Navigable WatersRelease 119-73

§467f–2 Rehabilitation of high hazard potential dams

Title 33 › Chapter CHAPTER 9— - PROTECTION OF NAVIGABLE WATERS AND OF HARBOR AND RIVER IMPROVEMENTS GENERALLY › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER VII— - DAM INSPECTION PROGRAM › § 467f–2

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

FEMA must run a grants program to help States with dam safety programs repair, remove, or otherwise make eligible high-hazard dams safer. States can give the money to local groups or dam owners for repair, removal, or other safety projects. States apply to FEMA under rules FEMA sets. FEMA will make a grant agreement that names the projects and the dollar amount and requires the dam owner to promise to maintain the dam for its expected life. A State may not give more than the lesser of 12.5 percent of the total program funds or $7,500,000 for any one dam. Each project must be approved by the State dam safety agency. Local or Tribal subrecipients must show the community participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and is not on probation, suspended, or withdrawn. Within 2 years after FEMA publishes hazard-mitigation plan criteria, the local or Tribal government where the dam sits must have a hazard mitigation plan that includes dam risks and meets the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000. FEMA must publish those criteria not later than 1 year after December 27, 2020. A floodplain management plan is required: for dam removals it must already be in place, show affected areas, and include outreach; for other projects it must be in place or be developed within 2 years after the project agreement and put into effect within 2 years after construction ends. FEMA, with the Board, will give plan criteria, technical help, and a risk-based priority system to pick projects. Grants normally need at least a 35 percent non-Federal share (in-kind allowed), but that requirement does not apply to projects helping underserved communities. Each year, one-third of funds are divided equally among States with applications and two-thirds are split based on each State’s share of eligible high-hazard dams. Grant money cannot be used on Federal dams, routine operation or maintenance, to add hydroelectric power, to increase storage capacity, or for changes that do not improve safety. For grants over $1,000,000, A/E and related service contracts must be awarded by qualifications-based selection under chapter 11 of title 40 or a State equivalent; such contracts do not give the United States a proprietary interest. Authorized funding: $10,000,000 for fiscal years 2017 and 2018; $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2019; $40,000,000 for fiscal year 2020; and $60,000,000 for each fiscal year 2021 through 2026.

Full Legal Text

Title 33, §467f–2

Navigation and Navigable Waters — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Administrator shall establish, within FEMA, a program to provide technical, planning, design, and construction assistance in the form of grants to States with dam safety programs for rehabilitation of eligible high hazard potential dams.
(b)A grant awarded under this section to a State may be used by the State to award grants to eligible subrecipients for—
(1)repair;
(2)removal; or
(3)any other structural or nonstructural measures to rehabilitate an eligible high hazard potential dam.
(c)(1)(A)A State interested in receiving a grant under this section may submit to the Administrator an application for the grant.
(B)An application submitted to the Administrator under this section shall be submitted at such time, be in such form, and contain such information as the Administrator may prescribe by regulation.
(2)(A)The Administrator may make a grant in accordance with this section for rehabilitation of eligible high hazard potential dams to a State that submits an application for the grant in accordance with the regulations prescribed by the Administrator.
(B)The Administrator shall enter into a grant agreement with the State to establish the terms of the grant and the projects for which the grant is awarded, including the amount of the grant.
(C)As part of a grant agreement under subparagraph (B), the Administrator shall require that each eligible subrecipient to which the State awards a grant under this section provides an assurance from the dam owner, with respect to the dam to be rehabilitated, that the dam owner will carry out a plan for maintenance of the dam during the expected life of the dam.
(D)A State may not award a grant to an eligible subrecipient under this section that exceeds, for any 1 dam, the lesser of—
(i)12.5 percent of the total amount of funds made available to carry out this section; or
(ii)$7,500,000.
(d)(1)A grant awarded under this section to an eligible subrecipient for a project shall be approved by the relevant State dam safety agency.
(2)To receive a grant under this section, an eligible subrecipient shall, with respect to the dam to be rehabilitated by the eligible subrecipient—
(A)demonstrate that the community in which the dam is located participates in, and complies with, all applicable Federal flood insurance programs, including demonstrating that such community is participating in the National Flood Insurance Program, and is not on probation, suspended, or withdrawn from such Program;
(B)beginning not later than 2 years after the date on which the Administrator publishes criteria for hazard mitigation plans under paragraph (3), demonstrate that the Tribal or local government with jurisdiction over the area in which the dam is located has in place a hazard mitigation plan that—
(i)includes all dam risks; and
(ii)complies with the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (Public Law 106–390; 114 Stat. 1552);
(C)for a project not including removal, obtain a commitment from the dam owner to provide operation and maintenance of the project for the expected life of the dam following completion of rehabilitation;
(D)comply with such minimum eligibility requirements as the Administrator may establish to ensure that each owner and operator of a dam under a participating State dam safety program and that receives assistance under this section—
(i)acts in accordance with the State dam safety program; and
(ii)carries out activities relating to the public in the area around the dam in accordance with the hazard mitigation plan described in subparagraph (B); and
(E)comply with section 5196(j)(9) of title 42 (as in effect on December 16, 2016) with respect to projects receiving assistance under this section in the same manner as recipients are required to comply in order to receive financial contributions from the Administrator for emergency preparedness purposes.
(3)Not later than 1 year after December 27, 2020, the Administrator, in consultation with the Board, shall publish criteria for hazard mitigation plans required under paragraph (2)(B).
(e)(1)As a condition of receipt of assistance under this section, an eligible subrecipient shall demonstrate that a floodplain management plan to reduce the impacts of future flood events from a controlled or uncontrolled release from the dam or management of water levels in the area impacted by the dam—
(A)for a removal—
(i)is in place; and
(ii)identifies areas that would be impacted by the removal of the dam and includes a communication and outreach plan for the project and the impact of the project on the affected communities; or
(B)for a project not including removal—
(i)is in place; or
(ii)will be—
(I)developed not later than 2 years after the date of execution of a project agreement for assistance under this section; and
(II)implemented not later than 2 years after the date of completion of construction of the project.
(2)In the case of a plan for a removal, the Administrator may not impose any additional requirements or conditions other than the requirements in paragraph (1)(A).
(3)A plan under paragraph (1)(B) shall address—
(A)potential measures, practices, and policies to reduce loss of life, injuries, damage to property and facilities, public expenditures, and other adverse impacts of flooding in the area protected or impacted by the dam;
(B)plans for flood fighting and evacuation; and
(C)public education and awareness of flood risks.
(4)The Administrator, in consultation with the Board, shall provide criteria, and may provide technical support, for the development and implementation of floodplain management plans prepared under this subsection.
(f)The Administrator, in consultation with the Board, shall develop a risk-based priority system for use in identifying eligible high hazard potential dams for which grants may be made under this section.
(g)(1)(A)Except as provided in subparagraph (C), any assistance provided under this section for a project shall be subject to a non-Federal cost-sharing requirement of not less than 35 percent.
(B)The non-Federal share under subparagraph (A) may be provided in the form of in-kind contributions.
(C)Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to a project carried out by or for the benefit of an underserved community.
(2)The total amount of funds made available to carry out this section for each fiscal year shall be distributed as follows:
(A)⅓ shall be distributed equally among the States in which the projects for which applications are submitted under subsection (c)(1) are located.
(B)⅔ shall be distributed among the States in which the projects for which applications are submitted under subsection (c)(1) are located based on the proportion that—
(i)the number of eligible high hazard potential dams in the State; bears to
(ii)the number of eligible high hazard potential dams in all such States.
(h)None of the funds provided in the form of a grant or otherwise made available under this section shall be used—
(1)to rehabilitate a Federal dam;
(2)to perform routine operation or maintenance of a dam;
(3)to modify a dam to produce hydroelectric power;
(4)to increase water supply storage capacity; or
(5)to make any other modification to a dam that does not also improve the safety of the dam.
(i)(1)Subject to paragraph (2), as a condition on the receipt of a grant under this section of an amount greater than $1,000,000, an eligible subrecipient that receives the grant shall require that each contract and subcontract for program management, construction management, planning studies, feasibility studies, architectural services, preliminary engineering, design, engineering, surveying, mapping, and related services entered into using funds from the grant be awarded in the same manner as a contract for architectural and engineering services is awarded under—
(A)chapter 11 of title 40; or
(B)an equivalent qualifications-based requirement prescribed by the relevant State.
(2)A contract awarded in accordance with paragraph (1) shall not be considered to confer a proprietary interest upon the United States.
(j)There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section—
(1)$10,000,000 for fiscal years 2017 and 2018;
(2)$25,000,000 for fiscal year 2019;
(3)$40,000,000 for fiscal year 2020; and
(4)$60,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2026.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000, referred to in subsec. (d)(2)(B)(ii), is Pub. L. 106–390, Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1552. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

of 2000 Amendment note set out under section 5121 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, and Tables.

Amendments

2025—Subsec. (c)(2)(C). Pub. L. 118–272, § 1132(c)(1), added subpar. (C) and struck out former subpar. (C). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “As part of a grant agreement under subparagraph (B), the Administrator shall require that each eligible subrecipient to which the State awards a grant under this section provides an assurance, with respect to the dam to be rehabilitated by the eligible subrecipient, that the dam owner will carry out a plan for maintenance of the dam during the expected life of the dam.” Subsec. (d)(2)(C). Pub. L. 118–272, § 1132(c)(2), substituted “for a project not including removal, obtain a commitment from the dam owner” for “commit”. Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 118–272, § 1132(c)(3), added subsec. (e) and struck out former subsec. (e) which related to floodplain management plans to reduce impacts of future flood events in areas protected by projects. Subsec. (g)(1)(A). Pub. L. 118–272, § 1132(c)(4)(A), substituted “Except as provided in subparagraph (C), any” for “Any”. Subsec. (g)(1)(C). Pub. L. 118–272, § 1132(c)(4)(B), added subpar. (C). 2020—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 116–260, § 132(b)(1), substituted “to States with dam safety programs” for “to non-Federal sponsors”. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 116–260, § 132(b)(2), substituted “to a State may be used by the State to award grants to eligible subrecipients for” for “a project may be used for” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (c)(1)(A). Pub. L. 116–260, § 132(b)(3)(A), substituted “State” for “non-Federal sponsor”. Subsec. (c)(2)(A). Pub. L. 116–260, § 132(b)(3)(B)(i), substituted “eligible high hazard potential dams to a State” for “an eligible high hazard potential dam to a non-Federal sponsor”. Subsec. (c)(2)(B). Pub. L. 116–260, § 132(b)(3)(B)(ii), in heading, substituted “Grant” for “Project grant” and, in text, substituted “grant agreement with the State” for “project grant agreement with the non-Federal sponsor” and “projects for which the grant is awarded,” for “project,”. Subsec. (c)(2)(C). Pub. L. 116–260, § 132(b)(3)(B)(iii), amended subpar. (C) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “As part of a project grant agreement under subparagraph (B), the Administrator shall require the non-Federal sponsor to provide an assurance, with respect to the dam to be rehabilitated under the project, that the owner of the dam has developed and will carry out a plan for maintenance of the dam during the expected life of the dam.” Subsec. (c)(2)(D). Pub. L. 116–260, § 132(b)(3)(B)(iv), substituted “A State may not award a grant to an eligible subrecipient under this section that exceeds, for any 1 dam,” for “A grant provided under this section shall not exceed” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 116–260, § 132(b)(4)(A), inserted “to an eligible subrecipient” after “this section”. Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 116–260, § 132(b)(4)(B)(i), (ii), substituted “Eligible subrecipient” for “Non-Federal sponsor” in heading and “an eligible subrecipient shall, with respect to the dam to be rehabilitated by the eligible subrecipient” for “the non-Federal sponsor shall” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (d)(2)(A). Pub. L. 116–260, § 132(b)(4)(B)(iii), amended subpar. (A) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (A) read as follows: “participate in, and comply with, all applicable Federal flood insurance programs;”. Subsec. (d)(2)(B). Pub. L. 116–260, § 132(b)(4)(B)(iv), substituted “beginning not later than 2 years after the date on which the Administrator publishes criteria for hazard mitigation plans under paragraph (3), demonstrate that the Tribal or local government with jurisdiction over the area in which the dam is located has” for “have” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (d)(2)(C). Pub. L. 116–260, § 132(b)(4)(B)(v), substituted “expected life of the dam” for “50-year period”. Subsec. (d)(3). Pub. L. 116–260, § 132(b)(4)(C), added par. (3). Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 116–260, § 132(b)(5)(A)(i), substituted “an eligible subrecipient” for “non-Federal sponsor” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (e)(1)(B). Pub. L. 116–260, § 132(b)(5)(A)(ii), substituted “2 years” for “1 year” in cls. (i) and (ii). Subsec. (e)(3). Pub. L. 116–260, § 132(b)(5)(B), added par. (3) and struck out former par. (3). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The Administrator may provide technical support for the development and implementation of floodplain management plans prepared under this subsection.” Subsec. (i)(1). Pub. L. 116–260, § 132(b)(6), substituted “an eligible subrecipient” for “a non-Federal sponsor” in introductory provisions.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Rulemaking Pub. L. 114–322, title IV, § 5006(c), Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1896, provided that: “(1) Proposed rulemaking.—Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 16, 2016], the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall issue a notice of proposed rulemaking regarding applications for grants of assistance under the

Amendments

made by subsection (b) to the National Dam Safety Program Act (33 U.S.C. 467 et seq.) [enacting this section]. “(2) Final rule.—Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall promulgate a final rule regarding the

Amendments

described in paragraph (1).” Rehabilitation of Corps of Engineers Constructed Dams Pub. L. 114–322, title I, § 1177, Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1674, as amended by Pub. L. 115–270, title I, § 1132, Oct. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 3781; Pub. L. 116–260, div. AA, title III, § 305, Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2703; Pub. L. 117–263, div. H, title LXXXI, § 8370, Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3806; Pub. L. 118–272, div. A, title III, § 1367, Jan. 4, 2025, 138 Stat. 3164, provided that: “(a) In General.—If the Secretary [of the Army] determines that the project is feasible, the Secretary may carry out a project for the rehabilitation of a dam described in subsection (b). “(b) Eligible Dams.—A dam eligible for assistance under this section is a dam—“(1) that has been constructed, in whole or in part, by the Corps of Engineers for flood control purposes; “(2) for which

Construction

was completed before 1940; “(3) that is classified as ‘high hazard potential’ by the State dam safety agency of the State in which the dam is located; and “(4) that is operated by a non-Federal entity. “(c) Cost Sharing.—The non-Federal share of the cost of a project for rehabilitation of a dam under this section, including the cost of any required study, shall be the same share assigned to the non-Federal interest for the cost of initial

Construction

of that dam, including provision of all land, easements, rights-of-way, and necessary relocations. “(d) Agreements.—

Construction

of a project under this section shall be initiated only after a non-Federal interest has entered into a binding agreement with the Secretary [of the Army]—“(1) to pay the non-Federal share of the costs of

Construction

under subsection (c); and “(2) to pay 100 percent of any operation, maintenance, and replacement and rehabilitation costs with respect to the project in accordance with

Regulations

prescribed by the Secretary. “(e) Cost Limitation.—“(1) In general.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Secretary shall not expend more than $60,000,000 for a project at any single dam under this section. “(2) Exception.—For a project under this section for which the Federal share of the costs is expected to exceed $60,000,000, the Secretary may expend more than such amount only if—“(A) the Secretary submits to Congress the determination made under subsection (a) with respect to the project; and “(B)

Construction

of the project substantially in accordance with the plans, and subject to the conditions described in such determination, is specifically authorized by Congress. “(f) Funding.—There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $60,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

33 U.S.C. § 467f–2

Title 33Navigation and Navigable Waters

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73