July 2014

NSPE TODAY
NSPE Approves New Position Statements

The NSPE Board of Directors has approved a new position statement on levee certification and revised others on nuclear electric power and natural gas.

In response to recent natural events, particularly Hurricane Katrina, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has instituted a new requirement that all levees be certified by a PE in order to be eligible for FEMA accreditation and meet the criteria for a moderate-risk area on a Flood Insurance Rate Map.

The new position statement, No. 1771, commends FEMA for recognizing the crucially significant role of the PE in evaluating a levee for certification. However, it is the position of NSPE that this certification program places an unreasonable burden on engineers, exposing them to great legal risk. NSPE recommends that FEMA should revise its certification requirement to allocate the responsibility and liability to the parties in the best position to assume that responsibility and liability—the levee boards, owners, and operators.

The updated Position Statement No. 1757 demonstrates the Society’s continuing support for nuclear electric power, with emphasis on Generation III reactors that reduce costs, enhance plant safety, and help decrease US greenhouse gas emissions by increasing the nation’s percentage of nuclear generated electricity.

In addition, the updated statement on natural gas (No. 1759) expresses the Society’s support in two areas, first for a rapid conclusion to the Environmental Protection Agency’s study into hydraulic fracturing, and second for commercial development of hydraulic fracturing as long as it is performed in a manner that minimizes risks to the environment and does not jeopardize potable water supplies.

Visit “Take Action” in the “Issues and Advocacy” section of www.nspe.org for the full text of the position statements.