Hydropower Licensing Transparency Act

This legislation, known as the Hydropower Licensing Transparency Act, aims to enhance oversight of the hydropower licensing process by amending the Federal Power Act. It specifically mandates the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to submit an annual report to Congress, providing detailed insights into the status of certain hydropower licensing applications. The annual report must cover applications for both new and subsequent licenses , as well as original licenses , where the Commission received a notice of intent to file at least three years before the report's submission. For each application, FERC is required to include critical information such as the date the notice of intent was provided, any assigned docket number, and whether the application has been filed. Additionally, the report must specify the anticipated date of license issuance, any upcoming proceedings, and a description of ongoing or completed actions required from all involved parties, including the licensee, FERC, and relevant fish and wildlife agencies. All information presented must be disaggregated by license type to provide clear insights into the different categories of hydropower licenses.