Notice2021-27778
Notice of Availability of Final Engineering Guidelines for the Evaluation of Hydropower Projects: Chapter 17-Potential Failure Mode Analysis
Primary source
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Published
December 23, 2021
Issuing agencies
Energy DepartmentFederal Energy Regulatory Commission
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 244 (Thursday, December 23, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 244 (Thursday, December 23, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72955-72956]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[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:
<bullet> Consider whether the PFMA process should take more
advantage of potential failure modes and information collected from
previously performed PFMA workshops;
<bullet> Consider integrating the PFMA process and the risk
analysis process described in Chapter 18 of the Engineering Guidelines;
<bullet> Provide additional guidance to help bound the expanded
definition of ``failure'' as it could create a limitless combination of
potential failure modes;
<bullet> Provide additional emphasis and guidance to ensure the
PFMA team understands how the project works as a system prior to
conducting the brainstorming session;
<bullet> Provide additional guidance on identifying and screening
potential failure modes, including damage state potential failure
modes; and
<bullet> 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:
<bullet> Clarify the application of PFMAs for design and
construction projects;
<bullet> Clarify the qualifications and roles of a PFMA
facilitator;
<bullet> Clarify the PFMA brainstorming session and provide
additional guidance on the PFMA screening processes;
<bullet> Provide additional guidance on financial/damage state and
asset management potential failure mode categories; and
<bullet> 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 (<a href="http://www.ferc.gov">www.ferc.gov</a>)
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 (<a href="http://www.ferc.gov">www.ferc.gov</a>),
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
<radical> Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (<a href="http://ferc.gov">ferc.gov</a>).
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 <a href="http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain">www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain</a>, 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 <a href="http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain">www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain</a>. 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 <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#773112051438191b1e191224020707180503374b16571f0512114a" http: ferc.gov">ferc.gov</a>">FercOnlineSupport@<a href="http://ferc.gov">ferc.gov</a></a> 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]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
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