Hydropower Licensing Transparency Act

This bill amends the Federal Power Act to require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to submit an annual report to Congress on the status of ongoing hydropower licensing applications. It covers new licenses, subsequent licenses (where certain sections are waived), and original licenses for which a notice of intent was filed at least three years before the report but the license has not yet been issued.

Sec. 2, Annual licensing status report: The Commission must submit a report to Congress within 180 days of enactment and annually thereafter. The report covers the licensing process for each new license and subsequent license (where sections 14 and 15 have been waived) if the existing licensee notified the Commission at least three years prior of intent to file an application, but the license has not yet been issued. It also covers each original license under section 4(e) if a citizen, association, corporation, state, Indian Tribe, or municipality notified the Commission at least three years prior of intent to file an application, but the license has not yet been issued. The report must include: the date the notice of intent was provided; any docket number; whether an application has been filed; the status of the application and the anticipated issuance date; the date of any upcoming proceeding or meeting; and a description of any ongoing or completed actions required of the licensee, applicant, Commission, fish and wildlife agencies, and other applicable agencies. Information must be disaggregated by license type: new license, subsequent license under section 15, or original license under section 4(e).