Promoting Hydropower Development at Existing Nonpowered Dams Act
This bill amends the Federal Power Act (FPA)to authorize the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to exempt from FPA license requirements any qualifying facility (a facility that meets criteria specified in this bill).
No federal authorization required for a qualifying facility may include any condition or other requirement that results in any material change to the storage, control, withdrawal, diversion, release, or flow operations of the associated qualifying nonpowered dam.
Unless FERC determines that its obligations under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 for granting exemptions under this bill can be met through a categorical exclusion, its environmental review of a proposed exemption shall be only an environmental assessment.