33 USC § 467a - Inspection of dams

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t33/s467a"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "33 USC § 467a - Inspection of dams"
title_number: 33
title_name: "NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS"
section_number: "467a"
section_name: "Inspection of dams"
chapter_number: 9
chapter_name: "PROTECTION OF NAVIGABLE WATERS AND OF HARBOR AND RIVER IMPROVEMENTS GENERALLY"
subchapter_number: "VII"
subchapter_name: "DAM INSPECTION PROGRAM"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 92–367, § 3, formerly § 2, Aug. 8, 1972, 86 Stat. 506; Pub. L. 95–91, title IV, § 402(a)(1)(A), Aug. 4, 1977, 91 Stat. 583; renumbered § 3 and amended Pub. L. 104–303, title II, § 215(c)(3), (5), Oct. 12, 1996, 110 Stat. 3685, 3687; Pub. L. 113–121, title III, § 3001(b), June 10, 2014, 128 Stat. 1282.)"
---


# § 467a. Inspection of dams

**(a)** **In general** 16 U.S.C. 791aAugust 8, 1972

As soon as practicable, the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, shall carry out a national program of inspection of dams for the purpose of protecting human life and property. All dams in the United States shall be inspected by the Secretary except (1) dams under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Reclamation, the Tennessee Valley Authority, or the International Boundary and Water Commission, (2) dams which have been constructed pursuant to licenses issued under the authority of the Federal Power Act [ et seq.], (3) dams which have been inspected within the twelve-month period immediately prior to , by a State agency and which the Governor of such State requests be excluded from inspection, and (4) dams which the Secretary of the Army determines do not pose any threat to human life or property. The Secretary may inspect dams which have been licensed under the Federal Power Act upon request of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and dams under the jurisdiction of the International Boundary and Water Commission upon request of such Commission.

**(b)** **State participation** On request of a State dam safety agency, with respect to any dam the failure of which would affect the State, the head of a Federal agency shall—

**(1)** provide information to the State dam safety agency on the construction, operation, maintenance, condition, or provisions for emergency operations of the dam; or

**(2)** allow any official of the State dam safety agency to participate in the Federal inspection of the dam.

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**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 92–367, § 3, formerly § 2, Aug. 8, 1972, 86 Stat. 506; Pub. L. 95–91, title IV, § 402(a)(1)(A), Aug. 4, 1977, 91 Stat. 583; renumbered § 3 and amended Pub. L. 104–303, title II, § 215(c)(3), (5), Oct. 12, 1996, 110 Stat. 3685, 3687; Pub. L. 113–121, title III, § 3001(b), June 10, 2014, 128 Stat. 1282.)

## Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Federal Power Act, referred to in subsec. (a), is , , which is classified generally to chapter 12 (§ 791a et seq.) of Title 16, Conservation. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see  and Tables.

### Prior Provisions

A prior  was renumbered section 4 and is classified to .

### Amendments

2014—Subsec. (b)(1).  substituted “maintenance, condition, or provisions for emergency operations” for “or maintenance”.

1996— inserted section catchline, designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) and inserted heading, and added subsec. (b).

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Transfer of Functions

“Federal Energy Regulatory Commission” substituted in text for “Federal Power Commission” on authority of , , , which is classified to , The Public Health and Welfare.