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FERC Approves Independent Consultant for McCloud-Pit Project Inspections

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has approved Dr. Lelio H. Mejia, Ph.D., P.E., G.E., of Geosyntec Consultants, as the independent consultant responsible for conducting the eleventh Part 12D safety inspections of the Iron Canyon and McCloud Developments of the McCloud-Pit Project. Dr. Mejia's qualifications meet the Commission's independent consultant requirements specified in Section 12.31(a) of the regulations. The independent consultant will be responsible for inspecting the developments and reporting any conditions that require emergency corrective measures.

Key Takeaways:

  • Dr. Lelio H. Mejia, Ph.D., P.E., G.E., of Geosyntec Consultants, has been approved as the independent consultant for the eleventh Part 12D safety inspections of the Iron Canyon and McCloud Developments of the McCloud-Pit Project.
  • The independent consultant must personally inspect the developments or be present during the inspections to supervise those individuals that conduct the inspections.
  • Three paper copies of each inspection report (or two paper copies if the report is eFiled) must be filed with the Division of Dam Safety and Inspections - San Francisco Regional Office by November 1, 2021.
  • The consultant's report must be formatted in accordance with the Enclosure, Part 12D Safety Inspection Report Outline (Outline), revised January 3, 2017.
  • The inspection and project features analyses are to include a thorough evaluation of all dam safety aspects of the developments in accordance with the Commission's Part 12D Dam Safety Regulations.
  • The consultant should be prepared to submit, if requested, CDs containing programs with documentation and input files for any computer analyses used to reach the conclusions in his reports.
  • Chapter 14 of the Engineering Guidelines develops the Commission's Dam Safety Performance Monitoring Program (DSPMP), which includes the Potential Failure Modes Analysis (PFMA) process.
  • The independent consultant should specifically review the PFMAs for any appropriate changes in Potential Failure Mode (PFM) category classification and description.
  • The consultant should review the site before beginning work on the Part 12D inspections and reports by visiting the website: https://www.ferc.gov/industries-data/hydropower/dam-safety-and-inspections/potential-failure-modes-pfms.
  • A Part 12D report submitted with an incomplete, significantly deficient, or unreadable STI will be returned to the licensee as an unresponsive report.
  • A comprehensive PFMA report and the resulting section in the STI should be regarded as living documents and appended as conditions at the site change and as new information is obtained at any time following the initial comprehensive PFMA or when discovered during subsequent Part 12, Subpart D inspections.

Statistics:

  • 60 days: The timeframe for submitting a plan and schedule for designing and carrying out any proposed corrective measures after the reports of the independent consultant are filed with the Regional Engineer.
  • 11: The number of Part 12D safety inspections for the McCloud-Pit Project.
  • 3: The number of paper copies of each inspection report to be filed with the Division of Dam Safety and Inspections - San Francisco Regional Office by November 1, 2021.
  • 2: The number of paper copies of a Part 12D report if the report is eFiled.
  • January 3, 2017: The date of the revised Part 12D Safety Inspection Report Outline (Outline).

Sources:

  • FERC Correspondence With Applicant, Delegated Order FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION, Office of Energy Projects, Division of Dam Safety and Inspections, 888 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20426, March 15, 2021.
  • Email to Russ Prentice, Director, Risk and Compliance, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Diablo Canyon Power Plant, Mail code 104/6/609, P.O. Box 56, Avila Beach, CA 93424.

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