Notice of Availability of Final Engineering Guidelines for the Evaluation of Hydropower Projects: Chapter 16-Part 12D Program, 72954-72955 [2021-27777]
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 244 / Thursday, December 23, 2021 / Notices
dockets. This can reduce the amount of
time you spend researching proceedings
by automatically providing you with
notification of these filings, document
summaries, and direct links to the
documents. For more information and to
register, go to www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/
esubscription.asp.
Intervention Deadline: 5:00 p.m.
Eastern Time on January 5, 2022.
Dated: December 15, 2021.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021–27786 Filed 12–22–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. AD20–21–000]
jspears on DSK121TN23PROD with NOTICES1
Notice of Availability of Final
Engineering Guidelines for the
Evaluation of Hydropower Projects:
Chapter 16—Part 12D Program
The staff of the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) has prepared a final
‘‘Chapter 16—Part 12D Program’’ of its
Engineering Guidelines for the
Evaluation of Hydropower Projects
(Guidelines). This chapter is one of four
new chapters of the Guidelines intended
to provide additional guidance related
to 18 CFR part 12, Safety of Water
Power Projects and Project Works,
Docket No. RM20–9–000, Order No 880,
issued by the Commission on December
16, 2021.
On July 16, 2020, the Commission
issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
(NOPR) to revise its part 12 regulations.
On the same day, the Commission
solicited public review and comment on
four new draft chapters of its
Guidelines. Draft Chapter 16 was part of
that issuance.
The Commission received twelve
comment letters in response to draft
Chapter 16. Most of the comments were
submitted by licensees and individuals
through trade associations, including
National Hydropower Association, Dam
Safety Interest Group of CEATI
International, and US Society on Dams,
as well as the US Army Corps of
Engineers. Comments were also
received from individual licensees,
corporations, and individuals, including
David L. Mathews, McMillen Jacobs
Associates, City of North Little Rock
Electric, Kodiak Electric Association,
Alaska Electric Light and Power
Company, Central Nebraska Public
Power and Irrigation District, Copper
VerDate Sep<11>2014
20:50 Dec 22, 2021
Jkt 256001
Valley Electric Association, and Upper
Peninsular Power Company.
In all, the twelve comment letters
consisted of approximately 335 discrete
comments. The comments received
were varied. Most comments requested
clarification of scope, schedule
requirements, and other details of the
Part 12D process and procedures.
Commenters asked the Commission to:
• Provide additional guidance and
clarification regarding the Part 12D
process, schedule, and review
durations;
• Clarify the difference between a
Comprehensive Assessment waiver and
a Part 12D exemption;
• Consider deleting the requirement
to submit a Pre-inspection Preparation
Report since this task adds additional
burden and cost of performing a Part
12D report;
• Provide additional guidance
regarding the limitations of the
Independent Consultant Team and the
Licensee to communicate and review
the draft Part 12D recommendations;
• Provide clarification that limits the
Independent Consultant team from
reviewing their own prior work on the
project;
• Provide additional guidance and
explanation of the Independent
Consultant Team qualifications and
experience requirements;
• Clarify the role of the Independent
Consultant versus the role of the
Potential Failure Mode Analysis/Risk
Analysis facilitator;
• Clarify the potential postponement
of the site inspection due to submittal
of an insufficient Pre-inspection
Preparation Report;
• Clarify the review requirements of
the Owner’s Dam Safety Program
(ODSP) and how that review differs
from an ODSP audit;
• Clarify what is expected of the
Independent Consultant Team in
performing independent calculations as
part of the Comprehensive Assessment
Report;
• Clarify the scope of work for the
physical site inspection, including
spillway gate testing and inspection of
inaccessible features; and
• Include additional information on
the purpose of the Comprehensive
Assessment Review Meeting or, in the
alternative, consider deleting this
requirement.
Commission staff has considered all
comments in finalizing Chapter 16 of
the Engineering Guidelines. Based on
the comments received, Chapter 16 has
been revised to:
• Provide additional guidance on:
Æ The Part 12D process and schedule;
Æ the limitations of an individual
performing consecutive inspections,
PO 00000
Frm 00038
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
including Periodic Inspections
following Comprehensive Assessments;
Æ the submittal of information for
supporting Independent Consultant
Team members;
Æ the review status of Pre-inspection
Preparation Reports;
Æ the review requirements of the
ODSP;
Æ the scope of the physical site
inspection;
Æ the evaluation of spillway
adequacy;
Æ the summary of findings for the
Comprehensive Assessment Report; and
Æ the purpose of the Comprehensive
Assessment Review Meeting.
• Remove the requirement that the
Potential Failure Mode Analysis/Risk
Analysis facilitator must be from a
different organization or company than
the Independent Consultant Team; and
• Update the appendices, as
appropriate.
All information related to ‘‘Chapter
16—Part 12D Program,’’ including the
draft chapter, all submitted comments,
and the final chapter, can be found on
the FERC website (www.ferc.gov) using
the eLibrary link. Click on the eLibrary
link, click on ‘‘General Search’’ and
enter the docket number, excluding the
last three digits in the Docket Number
field (i.e., AD20–21). Be sure you have
selected an appropriate date range. The
Commission also offers a free service
called eSubscription which allows you
to keep track of all formal issuances and
submittals in specific dockets. This can
reduce the amount of time you spend
researching proceedings by
automatically providing you with
electronic notification of these filings
and direct links to the documents. Go to
the Commission’s website
(www.ferc.gov), select the FERC Online
option from the left-hand column, and
click on eSubscription. Users must be
registered in order to use eSubscription.
The final version of Chapter 16 is also
available on the Commission’s Division
of Dam Safety and Inspections website
at: Engineering Guidelines for the
Evaluation of Hydropower Projects |
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
(ferc.gov).
Information Collection Statement
Chapter 16 includes information
collection activities for which the
Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C.
3501–3521, requires approval by the
Office of Management and Budget
(OMB). The Commission has included
the burden and cost estimates for
information collection activities related
to this chapter in the rulemaking
document (Docket No. RM20–9–000,
Order No. 880). The Commission has
E:\FR\FM\23DEN1.SGM
23DEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 244 / Thursday, December 23, 2021 / Notices
designated the information collection
activities in the rule as FERC–517. Upon
final approval of FERC–517, OMB will
assign an OMB Control Number and
expiration date.
Send written comments on FERC–517
to the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) through www.reginfo.gov/public/
do/PRAMain, Attention: Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission Desk Officer.
Please identify the OMB control number
(1902–TBD) in the subject line. Your
comments should be sent within 30
days of publication of this notice in the
Federal Register. OMB submissions
must be formatted and filed in
accordance with submission guidelines
at www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.
Using the search function under the
‘‘Currently Under Review field,’’ select
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission;
click ‘‘submit’’ and select ‘‘comment’’ to
the right of the subject collection.
For assistance with any of the
Commission’s online systems, please
contact FERC Online Support at
FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll free
at (866) 208–3676, or for TTY, contact
(202) 502–8258.
Dated: December 16, 2021.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021–27777 Filed 12–22–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. AD20–22–000]
jspears on DSK121TN23PROD with NOTICES1
Notice of Availability of Final
Engineering Guidelines for the
Evaluation of Hydropower Projects:
Chapter 17—Potential Failure Mode
Analysis
The staff of the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) has prepared a final
‘‘Chapter 17—Potential Failure Mode
Analysis’’ of its Engineering Guidelines
for the Evaluation of Hydropower
Projects (Guidelines). This chapter
supersedes the portions of ‘‘Chapter
14—Dam Safety Performance
Monitoring Program’’ that pertain to
Potential Failure Mode Analysis, and is
one of four new chapters of the
Guidelines intended to provide
additional guidance related to 18 CFR
part 12, Safety of Water Power Projects
and Project Works, Docket No. RM20–9–
000, Order No 880, issued by the
Commission on December 16, 2021.
On July 16, 2020, the Commission
issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
VerDate Sep<11>2014
20:50 Dec 22, 2021
Jkt 256001
(NOPR) to revise its part 12 regulations.
On the same day, the Commission
solicited public review and comment on
four new draft chapters of its
Guidelines. Draft Chapter 17 was part of
that issuance.
The Commission received eight
comment letters in response to draft
Chapter 17. Most of the comments were
submitted by licensees and individuals
through trade associations, including
National Hydropower Association, Dam
Safety Interest Group of CEATI
International, and US Society on Dams,
as well as the US Army Corps of
Engineers. Comments were also
received from individual licensees,
corporations, and individuals, including
David L. Mathews, City of North Little
Rock Electric, Central Nebraska Public
Power and Irrigation District, and Upper
Peninsular Power Company.
In all, the eight comment letters
consisted of over 180 discrete
comments. The comments received
were varied and ranged from requesting
clarification of the overall purpose and
approach to a Potential Failure Mode
Analysis (PFMA) to questions regarding
implementation and execution of this
revised process. Commenters requested
clarification of procedural aspects of
performing a potential failure mode
analysis and suggested improvements to
the potential failure mode process and
procedures. Commenters asked the
Commission to:
• Consider whether the PFMA
process should take more advantage of
potential failure modes and information
collected from previously performed
PFMA workshops;
• Consider integrating the PFMA
process and the risk analysis process
described in Chapter 18 of the
Engineering Guidelines;
• Provide additional guidance to help
bound the expanded definition of
‘‘failure’’ as it could create a limitless
combination of potential failure modes;
• Provide additional emphasis and
guidance to ensure the PFMA team
understands how the project works as a
system prior to conducting the
brainstorming session;
• Provide additional guidance on
identifying and screening potential
failure modes, including damage state
potential failure modes; and
• Provide additional guidance on the
qualifications and roles of the PFMA
core team members.
Commission staff has considered all
comments in finalizing Chapter 17 of
the Engineering Guidelines. Based on
the comments received, Chapter 17 has
been revised to:
• Clarify the application of PFMAs
for design and construction projects;
PO 00000
Frm 00039
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
72955
• Clarify the qualifications and roles
of a PFMA facilitator;
• Clarify the PFMA brainstorming
session and provide additional guidance
on the PFMA screening processes;
• Provide additional guidance on
financial/damage state and asset
management potential failure mode
categories; and
• Add a new appendix to provide
guidance on an approach for evaluating
complex systems as part of a PFMA.
All information related to ‘‘Chapter
17—Potential Failure Mode Analysis,’’
including the draft chapter, all
submitted comments, and the final
chapter, can be found on the FERC
website (www.ferc.gov) using the
eLibrary link. Click on the eLibrary link,
click on ‘‘General Search’’ and enter the
docket number, excluding the last three
digits in the Docket Number field (i.e.,
AD20–22). Be sure you have selected an
appropriate date range. The Commission
also offers a free service called
eSubscription which allows you to keep
track of all formal issuances and
submittals in specific dockets. This can
reduce the amount of time you spend
researching proceedings by
automatically providing you with
electronic notification of these filings
and direct links to the documents. Go to
the Commission’s website
(www.ferc.gov), select the FERC Online
option from the left-hand column, and
click on eSubscription. Users must be
registered in order to use eSubscription.
The final version of Chapter 17 is also
available on the Commission’s Division
of Dam Safety and Inspections website
at: Engineering Guidelines for the
Evaluation of Hydropower Projects √
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
(ferc.gov).
Information Collection Statement
Chapter 17 includes information
collection activities for which the
Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C.
3501–3521, requires approval by the
Office of Management and Budget
(OMB). The Commission has included
the burden and cost estimates for
information collection activities related
to this chapter in the rulemaking
document (Docket No. RM20–9–000,
Order No. 880. The Commission has
designated the information collection
activities in the rule as FERC–517. Upon
final approval of FERC–517, OMB will
assign an OMB Control Number and
expiration date.
Send written comments on FERC–517
to the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) through www.reginfo.gov/public/
do/PRAMain, Attention: Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission Desk Officer.
Please identify the OMB control number
E:\FR\FM\23DEN1.SGM
23DEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 244 (Thursday, December 23, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72954-72955]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-27777]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. AD20-21-000]
Notice of Availability of Final Engineering Guidelines for the
Evaluation of Hydropower Projects: Chapter 16--Part 12D Program
The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) has prepared a final ``Chapter 16--Part 12D Program'' of
its Engineering Guidelines for the Evaluation of Hydropower Projects
(Guidelines). This chapter is one of four new chapters of the
Guidelines intended to provide additional guidance related to 18 CFR
part 12, Safety of Water Power Projects and Project Works, Docket No.
RM20-9-000, Order No 880, issued by the Commission on December 16,
2021.
On July 16, 2020, the Commission issued a Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking (NOPR) to revise its part 12 regulations. On the same day,
the Commission solicited public review and comment on four new draft
chapters of its Guidelines. Draft Chapter 16 was part of that issuance.
The Commission received twelve comment letters in response to draft
Chapter 16. Most of the comments were submitted by licensees and
individuals through trade associations, including National Hydropower
Association, Dam Safety Interest Group of CEATI International, and US
Society on Dams, as well as the US Army Corps of Engineers. Comments
were also received from individual licensees, corporations, and
individuals, including David L. Mathews, McMillen Jacobs Associates,
City of North Little Rock Electric, Kodiak Electric Association, Alaska
Electric Light and Power Company, Central Nebraska Public Power and
Irrigation District, Copper Valley Electric Association, and Upper
Peninsular Power Company.
In all, the twelve comment letters consisted of approximately 335
discrete comments. The comments received were varied. Most comments
requested clarification of scope, schedule requirements, and other
details of the Part 12D process and procedures. Commenters asked the
Commission to:
Provide additional guidance and clarification regarding
the Part 12D process, schedule, and review durations;
Clarify the difference between a Comprehensive Assessment
waiver and a Part 12D exemption;
Consider deleting the requirement to submit a Pre-
inspection Preparation Report since this task adds additional burden
and cost of performing a Part 12D report;
Provide additional guidance regarding the limitations of
the Independent Consultant Team and the Licensee to communicate and
review the draft Part 12D recommendations;
Provide clarification that limits the Independent
Consultant team from reviewing their own prior work on the project;
Provide additional guidance and explanation of the
Independent Consultant Team qualifications and experience requirements;
Clarify the role of the Independent Consultant versus the
role of the Potential Failure Mode Analysis/Risk Analysis facilitator;
Clarify the potential postponement of the site inspection
due to submittal of an insufficient Pre-inspection Preparation Report;
Clarify the review requirements of the Owner's Dam Safety
Program (ODSP) and how that review differs from an ODSP audit;
Clarify what is expected of the Independent Consultant
Team in performing independent calculations as part of the
Comprehensive Assessment Report;
Clarify the scope of work for the physical site
inspection, including spillway gate testing and inspection of
inaccessible features; and
Include additional information on the purpose of the
Comprehensive Assessment Review Meeting or, in the alternative,
consider deleting this requirement.
Commission staff has considered all comments in finalizing Chapter
16 of the Engineering Guidelines. Based on the comments received,
Chapter 16 has been revised to:
Provide additional guidance on:
[cir] The Part 12D process and schedule;
[cir] the limitations of an individual performing consecutive
inspections, including Periodic Inspections following Comprehensive
Assessments;
[cir] the submittal of information for supporting Independent
Consultant Team members;
[cir] the review status of Pre-inspection Preparation Reports;
[cir] the review requirements of the ODSP;
[cir] the scope of the physical site inspection;
[cir] the evaluation of spillway adequacy;
[cir] the summary of findings for the Comprehensive Assessment
Report; and
[cir] the purpose of the Comprehensive Assessment Review Meeting.
Remove the requirement that the Potential Failure Mode
Analysis/Risk Analysis facilitator must be from a different
organization or company than the Independent Consultant Team; and
Update the appendices, as appropriate.
All information related to ``Chapter 16--Part 12D Program,''
including the draft chapter, all submitted comments, and the final
chapter, can be found on the FERC website (www.ferc.gov) using the
eLibrary link. Click on the eLibrary link, click on ``General Search''
and enter the docket number, excluding the last three digits in the
Docket Number field (i.e., AD20-21). Be sure you have selected an
appropriate date range. The Commission also offers a free service
called eSubscription which allows you to keep track of all formal
issuances and submittals in specific dockets. This can reduce the
amount of time you spend researching proceedings by automatically
providing you with electronic notification of these filings and direct
links to the documents. Go to the Commission's website (www.ferc.gov),
select the FERC Online option from the left-hand column, and click on
eSubscription. Users must be registered in order to use eSubscription.
The final version of Chapter 16 is also available on the
Commission's Division of Dam Safety and Inspections website at:
Engineering Guidelines for the Evaluation of Hydropower Projects
[verbar] Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (ferc.gov).
Information Collection Statement
Chapter 16 includes information collection activities for which the
Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3521, requires approval by the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The Commission has included the
burden and cost estimates for information collection activities related
to this chapter in the rulemaking document (Docket No. RM20-9-000,
Order No. 880). The Commission has
[[Page 72955]]
designated the information collection activities in the rule as FERC-
517. Upon final approval of FERC-517, OMB will assign an OMB Control
Number and expiration date.
Send written comments on FERC-517 to the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) through www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain, Attention:
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Desk Officer. Please identify the
OMB control number (1902-TBD) in the subject line. Your comments should
be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice in the Federal
Register. OMB submissions must be formatted and filed in accordance
with submission guidelines at www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Using
the search function under the ``Currently Under Review field,'' select
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; click ``submit'' and select
``comment'' to the right of the subject collection.
For assistance with any of the Commission's online systems, please
contact FERC Online Support at ferc.gov">[email protected]ferc.gov or toll free
at (866) 208-3676, or for TTY, contact (202) 502-8258.
Dated: December 16, 2021.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021-27777 Filed 12-22-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
