Prepared by the Task Committee on Instrumentation and Monitoring Dam Performance of the Hydropower Committee of the Energy Division of ASCE. This report is a handy and comprehensive source of information for dam owners, engineers, and regulators about instrumentation and measurements for monitoring performance of all types of dams. It presents the methodology and process for the selection, measurement instruments and techniques, installation, operation, maintenance, use, and evaluation of instrumentation and measurement systems for dams, appurtenant structures, their foundations, and environment. Topics include: factors affecting dam performance, means and methods of monitoring dam performance, planning and implementation of a monitoring program, data evaluation and reporting, and decision making. Case histories of instrumentation and monitoring programs at specific dams are provided for the reader. Product Review "I highly recommend this comprehensive reference on instrumentation used to evaluate dam performance. All owners, engineers, and regulators of dams should own a copy of this book." ?Fred Sage, Field Branch Chief, California Division of Safety of Dams

On October 11, 2000, a breakthrough of Martin County Coal Corporation's coal waste impoundment released 250 million gallons of slurry in near Inez, Kentucky. The 72-acre surface impoundment for coal processing waste materials broke through into a nearby underground coal mine. Although the spill caused no loss of human life, environmental damage was significant, and local water supplies were disrupted. This incident prompted Congress to request the National Research Council to examine ways to reduce the potential for similar accidents in the future. This book covers the engineering practices and standards for coal waste impoundments and ways to evaluate, improve, and monitor them; the accuracy of mine maps and ways to improve surveying and mapping of mines; and alternative technologies for coal slurry disposal and utilization. The book contains advice for multiple audiences, including the Mine Safety and Health Administration, the Office of Surface Mining, and other federal agencies; state and local policymakers and regulators; the coal industry and its consultants; and scientists and engineers.