Document ID: FERC-2021-1599-0001
Agency: ferc
Document Type: Notice
Title: Guidance: Final Engineering Guidelines for the Evaluation of Hydropower Projects: Chapter 17-Potential Failure Mode Analysis
Posted Date: 2021-12-23T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 244 (Thursday, December 23, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72955-72956]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-27778]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. AD20-22-000]

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 (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;
     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

[[Page 72956]]

(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. 2021-27778 Filed 12-22-21; 8:45 am]
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