Dam Removal Policy Carved in Stone

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has refused to reconsider its December 14, 1994, policy statement on hydroelectric plant decommissioning. That policy upholds the FERC's authority to deny new project licenses when existing licenses expire and to order owners to remove a dam during the relicensing process (Docket Nos. RM93-23-000, RM93-23-001). Commissioner James J. Hoecker noted that the FERC has received petitions challenging its authority, but added that other parties feel the FERC should have gone farther and established a national or dam-specific decommissioning fund.