Snow Avalanche Hazards and Mitigation in the United States -- Copyright -- Acknowledgments -- Contents -- Executive Summary -- 1 Snow Avalanche Problems -- 2 The Avalanche Phenomenon -- AVALANCHES-A TYPE OF GROUND FAILURE. -- CAUSES OF AVALANCHE RELEASE -- GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION OF AVALANCHE HAZARD -- ECONOMIC COSTS OF U.S. AVALANCHES -- EXAMPLES OF ECONOMIC IMPACT -- 3 Avalanche Management Policy in the United States -- HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT -- CURRENT STATUS. -- COMMENTS -- 4 An International Perspective on Avalanche Management -- LEGISLATION -- HAZARD DELINEATION -- INSURANCE AND DISASTER RELIEF -- COMMENTS -- 5 Avalanche Control. -- ARTIFICIAL RELEASE OF AVALANCHES -- CONTROLLING THE USE OF EXPLOSIVES -- MAJOR PROBLEMS IN THE USE OF EXPLOSIVES -- MECHANICAL COMPACTION AND DISRUPTION -- STRUCTURAL CONTROL OF AVALANCHES -- COMMENTS -- NOTES. -- 6 Forecasting Avalanches -- FORECASTING ORGANIZATIONS -- STATE OF THE FORECASTING ART -- COMMENTS -- 7 Avalanche Research -- INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS -- CURRENT STATUS OF AVALANCHE RESEARCH IN THE UNITED STATES. -- COMMENTS -- NOTE -- 8 Problems in Communications -- TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER -- EDUCATION -- COMMENTS. -- 9 Conclusions and Recommendations -- NATIONAL LEADERSHIP -- Recommendations -- HAZARD DELINEATION AND REGULATION -- Recommendations -- CONTROL MEASURES -- Recommendations. -- FORECASTING -- Recommendations -- RESEARCH -- Recommendations -- COMMUNICATIONS -- Recommendations -- CONCLUDING REMARKS. -- References.