Procurement
National Levee Safety Program
Issue
On January 15, 2009 the National Committee on Levee Safety completed its draft report and presented its recommendations for a National Levee Safety Program to Congress. The Committee is composed of levee safety experts from US Army Corps of Engineers and FEMA and appointees from state levee agencies, local and regional governments, Indian tribes, and the private sector.
The Committee recognized the need for a broader national flood risk management approach, and submitting 20 specific recommendations for a National Levee Safety Program. The recommendations to Congress are:
- Establish a National Levee Safety Commission, to provide leadership and approaches
- Expand and Maintain the National Levee Database
- Adopt a Hazard Potential Classification System
- Develop and Adopt National Levee Safety Standards
- Develop Tolerable Risk Guidelines
- Change “Levee Certification” to “Compliance Determination”, under the National Flood Insurance Program
- Subject Levee Compliance Determinations to Peer Review
- Swiftly Address Growing Concerns Regarding Liability for Damages Resulting from Levee Failures
- Develop a Comprehensive National Public Involvement and Education/Awareness Campaign to Communicate Risk and Change Behavior in Leveed Areas
- Provide Comprehensive Technical Materials and Direct Technical Assistance
- Develop a National Levee Safety Training Program
- Develop and Implement Measures to More Closely Harmonize Levee Safety Activities with Environmental Protection Requirements
- Conduct a Research and Development Program
- Design and Delegate Program Responsibilities to States
- Establish a Levee Safety Grant Program
- Establish the National Levee Rehabilitation, Improvement, and Flood Mitigation Fund
- Explore Potential Incentives and Disincentives
- Mandate Purchase of Risk-Based Flood Insurance in Leveed Areas
- Augment FEMA’s Mapping Program to Improve Risk Identification and Communication
- Align FEMA’s Community Rating System to Reward Development of State Levee Safety Programs
ACEC Position
ACEC urges Congress to create a National Levee Safety Program that includes all of the recommendations of the National Committee on Levee Safety. Each recommendation is an integral part of a complete and comprehensive program. ACEC is especially concerned that without a reduction in potential liability for firms performing engineering services for levee systems (#8), state and local interest and ability to develop levee safety programs (including much needed levee evaluations, repairs, and rehabilitation) will come to a halt.
