National Dam and Hydropower Safety Improvements Act of 2024

This bill amends the Federal Power Act to strengthen dam and hydropower safety requirements and improve communication between the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and states. It adds new conditions for licenses, requires financial viability assessments, and mandates technical conferences and notifications to states about dam safety issues.

Sec. 2, Dam safety conditions: Adds a new condition to licenses under the Federal Power Act requiring that dams and project works meet FERC's dam safety requirements and that licensees manage, operate, and maintain them to ensure dam and public safety under the license's operating conditions.

Sec. 3, Dam safety requirements: FERC may issue a new license only if it determines the dam and project works meet dam safety requirements and the licensee can continue to ensure safety, or if the new license includes a plan to resolve noncompliance with dam safety requirements.

Sec. 4, Viability procedures: FERC must establish procedures to assess the financial viability of license applicants to meet dam safety requirements and operate the dam and project works under the license.

Sec. 5, FERC dam safety technical conference with states: By October 1, 2025, FERC, through the Director of the Office of Energy Projects, must hold a technical conference with states to discuss dam maintenance and repair, Risk Informed Decision Making, climate and hydrological changes affecting dam structural integrity, and high hazard dams.

Sec. 6, Required dam safety communications between FERC and states: FERC must notify each state where a project is located when it issues a finding requiring repairs, if the licensee fails to repair within 5 years, and when it initiates non-compliance proceedings or revokes a license. Upon revocation, surrender, or implied surrender of a license, FERC must consult with the state and provide records including inspection reports, repair specifications, cost estimates, maintenance history, dam age and hazard classification, condition assessments, hydrologic information, and risk assessment results.