FERC Coordinates with State Dam Safety Office on Squam Lake Dam Hydroelectric Project Surrender

Strategic Insights -

A telephone call on August 21, 2025, between Mr. Thoma Beno, Ph.D., FERC, and Mr. Dan Mattaini, PE, Operations and Maintenance Engineer, Water Division/Dam Bureau, New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES), discussed the initial coordination with the State Dam Safety Office on the surrender application for Project No: 5274-001, Squam Lake Dam Hydroelectric Project. The NHDES, as the current owner of the project and the Exemptee, filed an exemption surrender application on June 2, 2025, supplemented on June 13, 2025. Mr. Beno informed Mr. Mattaini about the FERC's review of the surrender application, and they discussed the process for obtaining CEII documents, such as inspection reports and Part 12D reports.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is currently reviewing the surrender application for the Squam Lake Dam Hydroelectric Project, filed by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) on June 2, 2025, and supplemented on June 13, 2025.
  • The surrender application involves the transfer of ownership and jurisdiction of the dam/project features from FERC to the State Dam Safety Office, pending approval.
  • Mr. Thoma Beno, Ph.D., FERC, provided guidance on the process for obtaining CEII documents, such as inspection reports and Part 12D reports, and explained how NHDES can access these documents through FERC.gov.
  • Mr. Beno suggested a separate meeting/joint inspection with NHDES to discuss specific issues about the project, as the dam/project features would fall under the State's jurisdiction if the surrender was approved.
  • The phone call served as a starting point for initial coordination, with potential follow-up discussions to address any questions and concerns.
  • toyia Johnson at (202) 502- 6088 is available for any questions on CEII requests.

Statistics:

  • FERC received the exemption surrender application on June 2, 2025, and June 13, 2025, as supplemented.
  • The current owner of the project and the Exemptee, NHDES, has requested no additional documents for the surrender application.
  • FERC is reviewing the surrender application.
  • The dam/project features would fall under the jurisdiction of the State Dam Safety Office if the surrender is approved.

Sources:

  • Telephone Memo To discuss the initial coordination with State Dam Safety Office on the Surrender Application for Project No: 5274-001, Squam Lake Dam Hydroelectric Project (FERC).
  • Document Accession #: 20250826-3087 Filed Date: 08/26/2025 (FERC).
  • FERC.gov (FERC).