The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Dam & Safety Inspections Department – Risk-Informed Decision Making Branch gave a virtual training on July 1, 2026, hosted by the National Hydropower Association (NHA)’s Hydro Academy.
Drawing on experiences across Potential Failure Mode Analysis (PFMA) and Level 2 Risk Analysis (L2RA) activities, the training highlights emerging best practices in:
– Facilitation
– Hydrologic and seismic hazard analyses
– Consequence estimation
– PFM development
– Screening efficiency
– Documentation quality
In the training, staff from FERC’s RIDM Branch walked through:
– Practical insights on preparing effective PFMAs
– Employing consistent risk methodologies
– Improving team coordination
– Strengthening the dam safety case through robust justification, uncertainty discussion, and confidence evaluation
Watch the recorded session: Part 1 and Part 2
