National Dam and Hydropower Safety Improvements Act of 2026

Debbie Dingell

Democrat · MI · Representative

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

• John R. Moolenaar (R-MI-2)Original· 2026-05-19

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

2026-05-19

Source: Congress.gov

The legislation would strengthen safety standards and oversight for dams and hydroelectric power facilities across the country, requiring better inspections, maintenance practices, and emergency preparedness plans. This would affect dam operators, hydropower companies, and communities living near these structures by ensuring the facilities are regularly checked for potential failures that could cause flooding or other disasters. The bill aims to prevent dam failures and improve public safety while maintaining the nation's hydroelectric power generation capacity.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 8889 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8889 To improve dam and hydropower safety, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 19, 2026 Mrs. Dingell (for herself and Mr. Moolenaar) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To improve dam and hydropower safety, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``National Dam and Hydropower Safety Improvements Act of 2026''. SEC. 2. DAM SAFETY CONDITIONS. Section 10 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 803) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(k) That the dam and other project works meet the Commission's dam safety requirements and that the licensee shall manage, operate, and maintain the dam and other project works in a manner that ensures dam safety and public safety under the operating conditions of the license.''. SEC. 3. DAM SAFETY REQUIREMENTS. Section 15 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 808) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(g) The Commission may issue a new license under this section only if-- ``(1) the Commission determines that the dam and other project works covered by the license meet the Commission's dam safety requirements and that the licensee can continue to manage, operate, and maintain the dam and other project works in a manner that ensures dam safety and public safety under the operating conditions of the new license; or ``(2) the new license includes a plan to resolve the noncompliance of the dam or other project works covered by the license with the Commission's dam safety requirements.''. SEC. 4. VIABILITY PROCEDURES. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission shall establish procedures to assess the financial viability of an applicant for a license under the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 791a et seq.) to-- (1) meet applicable dam safety requirements; and (2) operate the dam and project works under the license. SEC. 5. FERC DAM SAFETY TECHNICAL CONFERENCE WITH STATES. (a) Technical Conference.--Not later than October 1, 2027, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, acting through the Director of the Office of Energy Projects, shall hold a technical conference with the States to discuss and provide information on-- (1) dam maintenance and repair; (2) Risk Informed Decision Making; (3) climate and hydrological regional changes that may affect the structural integrity of dams; and (4) high hazard dams. (b) State Defined.--In this section, the term ``State'' has the meaning given such term in section 3 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 796). SEC. 6. REQUIRED DAM SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN FERC AND STATES. (a) In General.--The Commission, acting through the Director of the Office of Energy Projects, shall notify each State within which a project is located when-- (1) the Commission issues a finding, following a dam safety inspection, that requires the licensee for such project to take actions to repair the dam and other project works that are the subject of such finding; (2) after a period of 5 years starting on the date a finding under paragraph (1) is issued, the licensee has failed to take actions to repair the dam and other project works; and (3) the Commission initiates a non-compliance proceeding or otherwise takes steps to revoke a license due to the failure of a licensee to take actions to repair a dam and other project works. (b) Notice Upon…

Revocation, Surrender, or Implied Surrender of a License.--If the Commission issues an order to revoke a license or approve the surrender or implied surrender of a license under the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 792 et seq.), the Commission shall consult with the State within which the project that relates to such license is located to provide to such State-- (1) all records pertaining to the structure and operation of the applicable dam and other project works, including, as applicable, any dam safety inspection reports by independent consultants, specifications for required repairs or maintenance of such dam and other project works that have not been completed, and estimates of the costs for such repairs or maintenance; (2) all records documenting the history of maintenance or repair work for the applicable dam and other project works; (3) information on the age of the dam and other project works and the hazard classification of the dam and other project works; (4) the most recent assessment of the condition of the dam and other project works by the Commission; (5) as applicable, the most recent hydrologic information used to determine the potential maximum flood for the dam and other project works; and (6) the results of the most recent risk assessment completed on the dam and other project works. (c) Definition.--In this section: (1) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. (2) Licensee.--The term ``licensee'' has the meaning given such term in section 3 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 796). (3) Project.--The term ``project'' has the meaning given such term in section 3 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 796). <all>

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