This bill strengthens safety standards for dams and hydropower facilities across the country by requiring the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to enforce stricter dam safety conditions when issuing and renewing operating licenses. The legislation mandates that dam operators meet FERC's safety requirements and maintain their facilities to ensure public safety, and prevents new licenses from being issued unless dams meet these standards or have a plan to fix any safety problems. The bill also requires FERC to assess whether license applicants have the financial resources to maintain their dams and implement required repairs. Additionally, FERC must hold a technical conference with states by October 1, 2025, to discuss dam maintenance, climate impacts on dam integrity, and high-risk dams, and must notify states when dams have unresolved safety issues or when licenses are revoked, while providing detailed records about dam conditions and repair costs. The bill affects hydropower companies and dam operators nationwide, as well as state governments that oversee water resources in their jurisdictions.
Take Action
Your position
Add a comment
to comment on this bill.
Annotate the text
Highlight any passage on the Summary or Full Text tab to attach a note. Annotations appear on the Annotations tab.