Hydropower is one of the project types in which FERC regulates both the construction and operational phase of a project. Dam safety is a critical part of the Commission's hydropower program and receives top priority. Before projects are constructed, the Commission staff reviews and approves the designs, plans, and specifications of dams, powerhouses, and other structures. During construction, Commission staff engineers frequently inspect a project, and once construction is complete, Commission engineers continue to inspect it on a regular basis.
- FERC After-Action Panel Report on Oroville Dam Spillway Incident
- Final Revised Engineering Guidelines Chapter 13 – Evaluation of Earthquake Ground Motions
- Final Engineering Guidelines Chapter 12 – Water Conveyance
- Final Revised Engineering Guidelines Chapter 11 – Arch Dams
- Guidance for ODSP External Audits
- Annual Letter to Licensees and Exemptees – Reminder of Responsibilities
- Revised Dam Safety Surveillance Monitoring Plan and Report (DSSMP/DSSMR) - Appendices J and K
- Time Sensitive EAP Initiative
- Extension of Potential Failure Mode Analyses at Significant and Low Hazard Potential Dams
- Risk-Informed Decision Making (RIDM)
- Staff Overview of Dam Safety and Inspections Presentation
Initiatives
- Spillway Assessments and Inspections
- Dam Safety Surveillance and Monitoring
- Non-Operating Projects
- Potential Failure Modes (PFMs)
- Owners Dam Safety Program (ODSP)
- Time Sensitive EAP Initiative
- Extension of Potential Failure Mode Analyses at Significant and Low Hazard Potential Dams
- Tips for Developing and Submitting GIS Inundation Map Files
- Pumped Storage Technical Guidance Initiative
Projects
- Sanford, Secord and Smallwood Dams
- Anderson Dam
- Oroville Dam Service Spillway (P-2100)
- Taum Sauk Pumped Storage Project (P-2277), Dam Breach Incident
- Swinging Bridge Dam (P-10482) Dam Safety Remediation Project
- Saluda Dam (P-516) Remediation Project
- Dead River Project (P-10855), Silver Lake Incident
Meetings, Workshops, and Conferences
- Hydropower Security Program Requirements and Cyber Security Briefing for licensees/exemptees
- Dam Safety and Inspections - Workshops
- Western Forum Workshop
Regulations, Guidelines, Manuals, and Risk-Informed Decision-Making
- Engineering Guidelines for the Evaluation of Hydropower Projects
- Risk-Informed Decision Making (RIDM)
- Hydropower Filing Guide
- Emergency Action Plan (EAP) Program
- Security Program for Hydropower Projects Revision 3
- Safety Signage at Hydropower Projects Report
- Dam Safety Performance Monitoring Program (DSPMP)/Potential Failure Modes Analysis (PFMA)
- Part 12 of the Commission's Regulations, Safety of Water Power Projects and Project Works
- Guidelines for Public Safety at Hydropower Projects
- Federal Guidelines for Dam Safety
- Draft-Federal Guidelines for Dam Safety Risk Management
- Glossary of Terms for Dam Safety, FEMA 148
- Hazard Potential Classification Systems for Dams, FEMA 333
- Selecting and Accommodating Inflow Design Floods for Dams, FEMA 94
- Emergency Action Planning for Dam Owners, FEMA 64
- Earthquake Analyses and Design of Dams, FEMA 65
- Federal Guidelines for Dam Safety, FEMA 93