Are Hydropower Permits and Licenses Being Issued Quicker Due to FERC's Streamlined Procedures?

GAO was requested to assess the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC) efforts to streamline its licensing process to determine if the process has reduced license approval time. Information developed in a previous hydropower report and documentation gathered at FERC were used. Recent legislation mandated FERC to simplify its permitting and licensing processes for hydroelectric projects. The legislation required FERC to establish a program to use simple and expeditious licensing procedures in issuing licenses for small hydroelectric projects of less than 15,000 kilowatts (kw) at existing dams. The main thrust of each of three FERC orders to carry out its mandate is to clarify for the applicant exactly what material is needed for a complete permit or license application. The legislation also redefined a small hydroelectric project as having an installed capacity of less than 30,000 kw at an existing dam. FERC has recently delegated authority to act on permits and licenses to the Office of Electric Power Regulation. The Office can now approve all uncontested licenses and permits and will soon be given authority to approve contested permits and licenses in cases where one is clearly superior over the other.