Federal Energy 

Regulatory Commission

Washington, DC

www.ferc.gov

A GUIDE FOR THE PUBLIC

Hydropower Licensing—

Get Involved
HYDROPOWER LICENSING—GET INVOLVED
Hydropower in 

Your Community

You may have just learned that the lake near 

your home, the dam that releases water where 

you boat, or the area in the ocean where you 

fish is being considered for a FERC license or relicense.  You may be wondering what that means 

and how it could affect the activities you enjoy.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 

(Commission or FERC) licenses and relicenses 

hydroelectric projects, including new hydrokinetic 

technologies, and wants you to know how to 

participate in the licensing process. To help you 

get involved, this brochure explains the Commission’s licensing process and addresses the most 

frequently asked questions about the hydropower 

program. A glossary is provided at the end of this 

brochure to familiarize you with some of the 

technical terms associated with hydropower 

projects and the work of the Commission. 

3
The Commission’s Role 

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is an independent federal agency with 

a mission to regulate and oversee energy industries in the economic, environmental, 

and safety interests of the American public. Part of this mission involves promoting 

the development of a strong national energy infrastructure that includes hydropower, 

which is currently the leading renewable energy source in the United States. Congress 

has charged the Commission with evaluating whether proposed non-federal hydropower projects should be approved. The Commission does not propose, construct, 

operate, or own such projects. But it does issue preliminary permits and licenses for 

hydropower projects, enforces the conditions of each license for the duration of its 

term, and conducts project safety and environmental inspections. 

What is a preliminary permit?

Preliminary permits maintain a permittee’s priority to file a license application while 

it gathers data and studies the feasibility of developing a proposed project at a particular site. Permits expire after three years, but may be extended by the Commission 

for an additional two years. Permits do not authorize any land-disturbing activities 

or project construction or installation. During the term of the permit, a permittee 

prepares an application for an original hydropower license.

What is an “original” hydropower license? What is a “new” hydropower license?

An original hydropower license authorizes the construction and operation of a project 

for a term of up to 50 years. A new license, also called a relicense, authorizes the 

continued operation of an existing (previously licensed) project, and the license 

term may be 30 to 50 years. 

HYDROPOWER LICENSING—GET INVOLVED
What is the Commission’s involvement after a project is licensed?

If a proposed project is licensed, the Commission reviews and approves the final 

designs for project structures before construction begins and monitors the progress 

of project construction. After construction is complete, Commission staff conducts 

periodic dam safety inspections to ensure safe project operation, as well as environmental inspections to ensure that project operators comply with environmental 

safeguards required by the license. The Commission ensures that any required plans, 

such as shoreline, cultural, or fisheries management plans, are developed and implemented according to the license.

What if a licensee wants to make changes at a licensed project?

During the term of a license, the Commission must approve any proposed changes 

or amendments to that license. Notices of applications to change license requirements, including discontinuing operations, changing ownership or use of project 

lands, or modifying project facilities or operation, are published by the applicant in 

your local newspaper, posted in eLibrary (discussed later), and evaluated before the 

Commission acts. 

Preliminary Permit

 Does not authorize 

construction or any landdisturbing activities

	Issued for a term up to 3 years 

but may be extended 2 years

	Reserves site for permit 

holder; includes progress

reports

	No dam or land

ownership required

License

 Authorizes construction

and operation of a 

hydropower project

	Issued for a term up to 50 years

	Includes measures to protect 

the environment

	Requires that licensee has 

or obtains ownership or 

easement on project lands 

and waters

5

Is It A Permit Or License
Overview of 

Commission 

Procedures

A license or relicense application must 

contain the necessary information for 

the Commission to evaluate project 

effects and prepare the environmental 

documents required by the National 

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and its 

regulations. The Commission’s licensing 

process is designed to identify and obtain 

needed information during the pre-filing 

(before the filing of a license application) 

stage, to inform a comprehensive Commission review of project benefits, effects, 

and recommendations during the postfiling stage.

Does FERC have a standard licensing process?

The Commission follows three different licensing processes. These are called the 

Integrated Licensing Process (ILP), the Traditional Licensing Process (TLP), and the 

Alternative Licensing Process (ALP). The ILP is the Commission’s default licensing 

process. The latter two processes require the Commission’s approval to use in lieu 

of the ILP. All three processes are described in more detail on the Commission’s 

website at www.ferc.gov/industries/hydropower.asp.

What does the pre-filing stage involve?

The applicant files an initial proposal and information document to begin the licensing 

process. Commission staff then seeks input from the public, nongovernmental organizations, Indian tribes, and local, state, and federal resource agencies in order to 

(1) identify environmental issues regarding a proposed or existing project and (2) 

determine what studies are needed in order to better understand these issues. To that 

end, staff will hold public scoping meetings and a project site visit. The applicant then 

works with Commission staff and stakeholders to develop a scientifically supported 

study plan that will characterize resources (such as recreation, water quality, etc.) 

potentially affected by the project and the potential effects on those resources. Studies 

HYDROPOWER LICENSING—GET INVOLVED
typically take one-two years to complete, and the study results are used to develop 

the license application. The Commission will begin its post-filing environmental analysis 

only after all necessary information gathering is complete. 

What does the post-filing stage involve?

The license application includes detailed descriptions of the project facilities, operation, 

and any proposed changes (in the case of a relicense), as well as a description of the 

existing environmental resources, effects of the proposed project on these resources, 

and proposed mitigation measures. After the license application is filed and accepted 

as complete, Commission staff will again seek input from members of the public, 

nongovernmental organizations, tribes, and agencies on the applicant’s license 

application in advance of preparing the environmental documents required by NEPA. 

Comments and recommendations made by stakeholders are taken into account by 

Commission staff in the development of the NEPA documents. The Commission 

will then use the comments and environmental documents to determine whether 

issuing a license for a project is appropriate and, if so, what environmental measures 

and operational conditions to include in the license.

7

Post-Filing

FERC Issues 

License Order

Integrated Licensing Process

Applicant Files Application: 

Proposal, Effects, And 

Mitigation Measures

FERC Reviews and 

Solicits Public Comment

FERC Issues Environmental 

Document and Solicits 

Public Comment

Pre-Filing

Applicant Prepares 

Application

Applicant files Initial 

Proposal and Information 

Document

FERC Holds Scoping 

Meetings and Solicits 

Public Comment

Applicant conducts 

studies, if needed
Learn About Projects Near You

In this section, we explain how to learn about the hydropower projects in your 

community. 

When will I first learn about a proposed hydroelectric project? 

An applicant filing an application for a license is required to publish a public notice 

in the local newspaper. The Commission also publishes public notices of applications 

for preliminary permits and licenses in local newspaper(s) and in the Federal Register.

When would I hear that an existing project is up for relicensing? 

The owner of an existing project, or licensee, must file with the Commission a notice 

of intent to apply for a new license at least five years before the existing license expires. 

The Commission then publishes a notice of commencement of proceeding and 

scoping document (discussed later) in the local newspaper. An applicant will contact 

individuals and groups that may have an interest in the project and encourage them 

to participate in the licensing process. These include landowners affected by the project; 

representatives of local and national stakeholder groups; tribes; and local, state, and 

federal resource agencies. Even if you have not been contacted directly about a project, 

you still have the right to participate in the process. You should contact FERC directly 

to let us know that you want to be included in the Mailing List (discussed later).

HYDROPOWER LICENSING—GET INVOLVED
How do I get more information about a project? 

There are several tools available to learn about projects near you:

• Many licensees that own and operate hydropower projects have websites that you 

can check for information about their hydropower projects and licensing activities. 

• You can look at the Commission’s website at www.ferc.gov/hydropower for a 

list of issued preliminary permits and licenses, as well as their expiration dates, 

in your state; for additional information, see “For Citizens” on www.ferc.gov, and 

click on “Projects Near You.” 

• You also can look in the public notice sections of your local newspapers to learn 

about preliminary permit and license applications. 

How do I stay informed throughout the licensing process?

The most effective ways to monitor licensing activities are to get on the project 

Mailing List, attend scoping meetings, read the license application and NEPA documents, and get up-to-date project information from the Commission’s website 

through eSubscription and eLibrary (both are discussed in more detail later). 

Have Your Voice Heard

You have numerous opportunities to provide comments during both the pre-filing 

and post-filing phases of the Commission’s licensing process. In this section, we 

explain how you may participate during a licensing proceeding. 

Why should I participate? Why is it important for me to get involved early?

It is up to you to inform the Commission of your concerns with, or your support 

for, a project. The Commission uses your input to help determine how best to balance the benefits of electricity generation with the environmental effects of operating an energy-generating facility. Early involvement allows your issues and concerns 

to be identified, discussed, and analyzed during the licensing process. Specifically, 

your participation in licensing discussions may influence decisions about which 

issues to examine, which studies to conduct, and which environmental measures 

to include in the license application.

9
Are individual voices welcome?

Yes. You, as a member of the public, have 

an important role in the Commission’s 

licensing process, particularly during 

NEPA scoping and environmental review. 

NEPA requires that federal agencies 

evaluate, and disclose to the public, the 

environmental effects of any major action 

they are considering, such as issuing a 

hydropower license. 

When and how will I be able to comment on the licensing 

of a hydropower project? 

You will have several opportunities to inform the applicant and Commission of your 

views about a project. During the pre-filing phase, you may:

• Provide written comments documenting your concerns with, or support for, 

the project.

• Provide oral comments and ask questions of Commission staff and the applicant 

at public scoping meetings and the site visit.

• Submit study requests and participate in work groups during study plan development. 

During the post-filing phase, you may:

• Provide written comments on the license application, which may include your 

recommendations for measures to be included as license conditions.

• Provide written comments on the Commission’s environmental documents. 

All written comments and transcripts of scoping meetings will be placed in the record 

for the project and made available to the public via the Commission’s eLibrary. The 

Commission’s licensing decision is based on information in this record. 

What is scoping? 

Scoping, which generally refers to the process of identifying the potential impacts 

that a project would have on the environment or the community, occurs early in the 

pre-filing phase of the Integrated Licensing Process. During scoping, the Commission 

issues what is called a scoping document describing the project, identifying issues, 

HYDROPOWER LICENSING—GET INVOLVED
and inviting further comment from the public. The Commission usually conducts 

one or more public meetings and accepts both written and oral comments on the 

scoping document. Based on comments received during scoping, the Commission 

then determines which issues to address and analyze in the environmental documents. 

When can I request a study?

Study needs are identified early in the pre-filing phase of the licensing process when 

the applicant is meeting with stakeholders to decide what information to include 

in the license application. Studies may also be discussed during scoping meetings.

What do I include in a study request?

You should include an explanation of why the study is needed, along with the study’s 

goals and objectives; public interest considerations; any gaps in existing information 

that the study will fill; an explanation of how the study is connected to project 

operations or effects; study methodology; and the level of effort and cost of conducting 

the requested study.

How are my comments on a license application or NEPA document used 

by the Commission? Where are my concerns addressed?

All comments are important to the Commission. The Commission addresses comments 

in its environmental documents and license orders, and they become part of the record 

upon which the Commission makes its decision. When making comments, you should 

explain your issue as clearly as possible so that Commission staff can fully understand 

your concern.

11
To whom do I send my comments—the applicant, the Commission, or 

both—whether during the pre- or post-filing phase of the licensing process?

Send all comments to the Commission, with a copy to the applicant. You may eFile 

your comments, following the instructions provided on the Commission’s website, 

www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling.asp or mail your comments to the Secretary, 

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20426. 

For either method, direct your comment to the Secretary of the Commission. 

Make sure that you include the FERC project number (also known as the docket 

number) and sub-docket number on all correspondence. The docket number is the 

four- or five-digit number (preceded by P-). The sub-docket number is the three 

digits added to the end of a docket number to distinguish each separate proceeding 

within that docket and is included on all notices and documents that the Commission issues for a specific project. The project number will be used to identify the 

project throughout the life of the original and any new licenses. 

Get Information 

The Commission has created a variety of user-friendly tools to facilitate public 

involvement in the licensing process. In this section, we explain how you can get 

information to and from the Commission. 

What is eLibrary? How is it useful to me?

eLibrary is a records information system that provides access to all public documents 

submitted to and issued by the Commission. You can access eLibrary and its public 

documents through the Commission’s website at www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/eLibrary.

asp. The easiest way to access documents in eLibrary is by using the project number 

(e.g., P-1234) for your particular project, so it is important to record that number 

in your files.

What is eSubscription? How is it useful to me? 

eSubscription is a service offered by the Commission that notifies interested parties 

by email of any filing, including Commission correspondence, for a specific project. 

You can sign up for this free service by going to the Commission’s website at www.

ferc.gov/docs-filing/esubscription.asp and following the steps for registration. 

Again, you will need the project (docket) number to subscribe. 

HYDROPOWER LICENSING—GET INVOLVED
How do I eFile? Who can help me with eFiling?

eFiling is a system that allows interested parties to submit comments to the Commission 

through its website. You would prepare your submission in the same manner as you 

would if you were filing on paper. If you are filing in a docketed proceeding, the document 

you submit must include the project (docket and sub-docket) number (e.g., P-1234-000) 

applicable to your submission. All documents must include the name and address of 

the person responsible for the filing. For more information about submission guidelines, 

go to www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling.asp. The advantage of eFiling is that the document 

is generally logged into the eLibrary system the day it is submitted, while submitting 

comments by first class mail may take longer. If you have questions or need help with a 

submission, the Commission’s eFiling experts can help. They can be reached by telephone at 202-502-6652 or by e-mail at ferconlinesupport@ferc.gov. 

What is an intervenor in a Commission proceeding? How do I become 

an intervenor?

A person who intervenes in a Commission proceeding, known as a party to the 

proceeding, is placed on the project’s Service List and is entitled to seek rehearing 

of a preliminary permit or license order and to appeal the Commission’s final decision to the appropriate federal court. An intervenor receives the applicant’s filings 

and other Commission documents related to the project, as well as materials filed 

13
by other intervenors.  Conversely, an intervenor has an obligation to provide copies 

of any filings made with the Commission to the applicant and all other intervenors. 

This can be done through e-mail or first class mail. Filing a motion to intervene is 

simple; instructions about how to become an intervenor are on the Commission’s 

website at http://www.ferc.gov/resources/guides/how-to/intervene.asp. The 

Commission’s public notice of a preliminary permit application or a license application will set the deadline for filing motions to intervene in that proceeding.

What is the difference between a Mailing List and a Service List?

If you are on the Commission’s Mailing List for a specific project, you will receive 

copies of all correspondence the Commission issues regarding that project. If you 

are on the Service List, you will receive the Commission’s issuances as well as all filings made by others identified on the Service List (intervenors). 

How do I get on (or off) the Commission’s Service List or Mailing List for 

a specific project? 

Intervenors are automatically included in the Commission’s Service List for that proceeding. If you wish to be added to or removed from the Commission’s official Mailing 

List, you may eFile your request or send your request by first class mail to the Secretary, 

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE, Room 1A, Washington, 

DC 20426. All such requests must specify your wish to be removed or added to the 

Mailing List and must clearly identify the project name, docket, and sub-docket 

number on the first page of your request. 

Other Licensing Questions

This section explains several legal issues associated with hydropower licensing.

How is a hydropower project 

boundary defined? 

The project boundary includes lands 

and waters needed for project purposes. 

The Commission determines which lands 

and waters will be needed for an applicant 

or licensee: (1) to construct and operate 

HYDROPOWER LICENSING—GET INVOLVED
its project and (2) to carry out other project purposes such as recreation, wildlife 

protection and enhancement, etc. Typically, the dam, reservoir, powerhouse, tailrace, 

conduits and penstocks, access roads, fish passage facilities, primary transmission 

lines, recreation sites, and wildlife habitat are included within project boundaries. 

Do I get special notice if I am a landowner directly affected by 

a Commission license?

Yes. For an original license (unconstructed project), the applicant would notify you 

as a landowner with property directly within the footprint of the proposed project 

and offer the opportunity to sell outright or grant an easement across any lands that 

are needed for the project. When an existing project is being relicensed, the Commission requires that landowners be notified if the applicant needs to bring additional 

lands into the project boundary to protect environmental resources or to construct 

new facilities.

What is a settlement agreement and how does it relate to the licensing process?

A settlement agreement is a written agreement among the license applicant and 

stakeholders about how the project will operate and what environmental measures 

will be implemented over the term of the license.  Settlement agreements may be 

comprehensive or may include only some of the stakeholders or some of the key 

issues.  In either case, the Commission encourages applicants and stakeholders to 

15
reach a settlement. The license will typically include the provisions of a settlement, 

as long as they are consistent with the Commission’s policy on settlements. You 

can find information about the Commission’s policy on settlement agreements at 

http://www.ferc.gov/whats-new/comm-meet/092106/H-1.pdf. Those beginning 

settlement discussions are encouraged to seek the advice of Commission staff.

What are ex parte communications? 

Ex parte communications are off-the-record communications with the Commission 

and its staff about the merits of a project. Generally, after a license application is filed 

with the Commission, meetings and discussions among the Commission staff, the 

applicant, and other stakeholders must first be publicly noticed so that everyone involved 

has the opportunity to participate. Commission staff may NOT have informal or offthe-record communications about the merits of the project with the applicant, stakeholders, or intervenors in the proceeding. However, communications about procedural 

issues are allowed. 

Is the Commission subject 

to other federal laws? 

Yes. The Commission must comply 

with a variety of federal laws, such 

as the Clean Water Act (to protect 

water quality), the Endangered 

Species Act (to protect threatened 

and endangered plant and animal 

species), and the National Historic 

Preservation Act (to protect culturally significant places and historic 

properties). 

Why are the cultural resource reports and threatened and endangered 

species reports handled in a privileged and confidential manner?

If these reports include sensitive information such as the locations of historic properties or 

threatened and endangered fish, wildlife and plant species, federal regulations require that 

this information be treated as privileged and confidential to protect the sites and species. 

HYDROPOWER LICENSING—GET INVOLVED
Types of Hydropower Projects 

It may be helpful for you to understand the components of a particular hydropower 

project and how it operates, so that you can provide constructive comments during 

the licensing process. In this section, we provide information about conventional 

hydropower and pumped-storage projects and hydrokinetic projects.

CONVENTIONAL AND PUMPED-STORAGE PROJECTS

What is a conventional hydropower project?

Most conventional hydropower projects consist of: (1) a dam to redirect or impound 

and redirect a source of water; (2) a turbine to harness the potential energy of the 

impounded water contained in the reservoir; (3) a generator connected to a turbine; and (4) a transmission line to get the power to the market. Water is diverted 

downhill from the reservoir to a powerhouse where it is directed through the turbine. The weight of the water in the reservoir pushes the water through the penstock and the turbine causing the turbine to spin. The turbine is attached to the 

generator, and as the turbine and generator spin the generator creates electricity, 

which enters the market via the transmission line. 

17

COURTESY OF THE TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY, AS MODIFIED BY FERC STAFF.

Conventional Hydroelectric Project

Reservoir

Intake

Penstock

Turbine

River

Power Lines Powerhouse

Generator
What is a pumped-storage project?

Pumped storage projects consist of: (1) two reservoirs, an upper and a lower; (2) 

a reversible turbine/generator assembly that can act as a water pump or a turbine 

(pump-turbine); (3) a penstock; and (4) a transmission line to get the power to 

the market. Pumped-storage projects act as rechargeable batteries on the electric 

grid and produce and supply electricity during peak demand. At times of low electrical demand, electricity is used by the generator to reverse the direction of the 

pump-turbine and pump water from the lower reservoir through the penstocks 

and up into the upper reservoir. The water is stored in the upper reservoir until 

the demand for electricity is high. The water is then released from the upper reservoir back through the penstock and the pump-turbine into the lower reservoir, 

the pump-turbine generates electricity from the flow of the water, and the power 

enters the market via the transmission line. 

HYDROKINETIC PROJECTS

What is a hydrokinetic project? 

A hydrokinetic project is a project that generates electricity from waves or directly from 

the flow of water in ocean currents, tides, or inland waterways without the use of a dam 

or reservoir. Many hydrokinetic technologies are currently in the experimental or 

HYDROPOWER LICENSING—GET INVOLVED

COURTESY OF THE TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY, AS MODIFIED BY FERC STAFF.

Pumped Storage Project

Lower Reservoir

Transmission Lines

Upper Reservoir

Intake

Penstock

Powerhouse
developmental stage. Wind turbines are not hydrokinetic; the Commission does not 

have jurisdiction over wind projects.

How does hydrokinetic energy generation work?

Devices intended to capture 

energy from tides, ocean currents, 

and river flow can be similar in 

concept to traditional turbines, 

but are placed underwater and 

directly within the flow. Strategies 

for capturing energy from waves 

can vary greatly in design and 

often use floating buoys. 

Are hydrokinetic projects 

treated differently from 

conventional projects?

Yes. Because hydrokinetic technologies are new, rapidly changing, 

and different from conventional 

projects in that they are not directly 

dependent on dams, the Commission has made some adaptations to address hydrokinetic 

projects. For example, to support 

research and development of 

hydrokinetic technologies, the 

Commission will consider expedited licensing for small hydrokinetic projects. The resulting licenses will have shorter license terms and will be 

subject to special environmental protections. In addition, the Commission has 

implemented strict requirements for hydrokinetic preliminary permits; developers 

must show progress in developing an application or the permit will be cancelled 

so that the site is available to others.

19

COURTESY OF VERDANT POWER.
Glossary of Terms

Applicant—A utility, municipality, corporation, or individual applying to license or 

relicense a hydropower project. If a license is granted, the applicant is then referred 

to as the licensee.

Baseline conditions—In a NEPA analysis, baseline conditions are the existing conditions against which the proposed action and all alternatives are considered.

Bypassed Reach—The reach of a river where stream flows are removed by the project for power generation. The bypassed reach of the river extends from the project’s diversion dam to the project’s tailrace. 

Cooperating agency—When the Commission issues its public notice after a license 

application is filed, it asks whether any other agencies are interested in cooperating 

in the preparation of the NEPA documents. Any agency that wishes to be a cooperating 

agency works with the Commission staff to ensure that the NEPA document can be 

used to support both the Commission’s licensing and the agency’s permitting decisions.

Diversion Dam—A structure built to impound a reservoir.

Docket and Sub-docket Number—The docket number is the number (preceded 

by P-) assigned to a hydropower project, also known as a project number. The subdocket number is the three digits added to the end of a docket number to distinguish 

each separate proceeding within that docket. All correspondence with the Commission should include the sub-docket number, if known. For example: P-1234-000. 

P-1234 is the docket number and 000 is the sub-docket number. 

Fish Ladder—A structure used to allow the upstream passage of fish around a 

diversion dam. 

Forebay—The body of water from which water is drawn into the project’s penstock.

Hydropower or hydroelectric power—The production of electricity using water. 

Intake—The facility or structure located at the entrance to a conduit through 

which water is withdrawn for power generation.

HYDROPOWER LICENSING—GET INVOLVED
Licensing process—One of three approaches to license a project that include the 

Integrated Licensing Process (ILP); the Traditional Licensing Process (TLP); and the 

Alternative Licensing Process (ALP). The ILP is the Commission’s default licensing 

process. The latter two approaches require the Commission’ approval for use in lieu 

of the ILP, and are typically reserved for non-controversial projects. 

Mailing list—The Commission’s list of contacts for a particular project that receive 

copies of all correspondence the Commission issues regarding that project.

Mandatory terms and conditions—Terms and conditions that by law must be 

included in a license order. These would include conditions in a water quality certification issued by the appropriate state agency under the Clean Water Act, fishway 

prescriptions issued by the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Commerce 

under section 18 of the Federal Power Act (FPA), or conditions issued by federal 

land managing agencies or tribes for tribal lands under section 4(e) of the FPA. 

National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA—This Act requires federal agencies to 

integrate environmental values into their decision-making processes by considering 

the environmental impacts of their proposed actions and reasonable alternatives to 

those actions. As discussed throughout this brochure, the public plays an important 

role in the NEPA process.

Penstock—A closed conduit or pipe used to carry water under pressure from the 

project’s forebay to a turbine.

Power Canal—A canal that delivers water from a stream or reservoir to a project’s 

forebay.

Powerhouse—A structure that contains the turbine and generator of a hydropower project.

Pre-Application Document, or PAD—This is the foundation document that provides 

the Commission and others with the existing information about a project and its environs. It is filed with the applicant’s notice of intent to file a license application. The PAD 

serves as the basis for determining what additional information is needed to support 

a license application and ultimately for the Commission’s environmental analysis.

21
HYDROPOWER LICENSING—GET INVOLVED

Pre-filing process—This is the portion of the licensing process between an applicant’s 

submission of a notice of intent to file a license application and the filing of the actual 

license application. During this time, the stakeholders and the applicant identify the 

information needed for the license application, the applicant conducts the studies 

necessary to provide that information, and the applicant develops the license application.

Proceeding—Generally each application and certain requests before the Commission 

are considered separate legal proceedings. The sub-docket number (the three digits 

added to the end of a docket number) distinguishes each separate proceeding within 

that docket. 

Public record—The record of filings maintained in eLibrary that informs the public, 

stakeholders, tribes, and agencies and supports the Commission’s decisions. 

Ready for environmental analysis, or REA—The finding the Commission makes 

when the information in a license application is adequate for the Commission to conduct 

its environmental analyses. The Commission’s issuance of this notice triggers the 

filing of terms, conditions, and recommendations from stakeholders and agencies. 

Reservoir—A body of water impounded by a dam.

Scoping—The process of identifying issues to be analyzed in the environmental 

documents as captured in a scoping document.

Stakeholders—Members of the public, agencies, tribes, and organizations with a 

stake in the Commission’s licensing decision. 

Study plan—A document that (1) describes the goals and objectives of each study 

proposed; (2) addresses resource management objectives; (3) describes existing 

information; (4) explains the nexus between project operations and effects for the 

resource to be studied; and (5) describes the proposed study methodology, level 

of effort, and cost.

Tailrace—The channel immediately below the powerhouse into which the turbine 

discharges water.

Transmission Line—Lines that transmit electrical power from a project’s generator 

to the electric grid for distribution.
23

Additional Information

For additional information, contact:

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Office of External Affairs

888 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426

Toll Free: 1-866-208-3372

www.ferc.gov

customer@ferc.gov

Dispute Resolution Service Helpline: 1-877-337-2237

e-mail: ferc.adr@ferc.gov

Other related Commission webpages or documents you may find helpful are available on 

the Commission hydropower webpage at www.ferc.gov/hydropower, and include 

the following:

Complete List of Issued Licenses 

www.ferc.gov/industries/hydropower/gen-info/licensing/licenses.xls 

Complete List of Issued Preliminary Permits 

www.ferc.gov/industries/hydropower/gen-info/licensing/pre-permits.asp 

Handbook for Hydroelectric Project Licensing 

www.ferc.gov/industries/hydropower/gen-info/handbooks/licensing_handbook.pdf 

Hydrokinetic Projects Web page at 

http://www.ferc.gov/industries/hydropower/gen-info/licensing/hydrokinetics.asp 

Compliance Handbook 

www.ferc.gov/industries/hydropower/gen-info/handbooks/compliance_handbook.pdf

Dam Safety and Inspections Web page 

www.ferc.gov/industries/hydropower/safety.asp 

Information for Citizens 

http://www.ferc.gov/resources/get-involved.asp 

A Guide to Electronic Information at FERC can be viewed at 

www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/elec-info-guide.pdf 
HYDROPOWER LICENSING—GET INVOLVED

NOTES
25

NOTES
HYDROPOWER LICENSING—GET INVOLVED

NOTES

Updated June 2016
27

Transmission Lines

Power Canal

Bypassed Reach

Intake

Reservoir

Fish Ladder Boat Launch

Diversion Dam

Canoe Take-out

Portage Trail

Forebay

Penstock

Powerhouse

Tailrace

Picnic Area

Canoe Put-in

Common Features of a Hydropower Project
Federal Energy 

Regulatory Commission

Office of Energy Projects

888 First Street, NE

Washington, DC 20426

202-502-6088

1-866-208-3372 (Toll Free)

202-502-8659 (TTY)

WWW.FERC.GOV

Your project’s docket number/sub-docket

Commission contact