Title 16 — ConservationRelease 119-73

§823d Alternative conditions and prescriptions

Title 16 › Chapter CHAPTER 12— - FEDERAL REGULATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF POWER › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - REGULATION OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF WATER POWER AND RESOURCES › § 823d

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

People who apply for a license to build or operate a project on a U.S. reservation, or anyone in the license process, can offer an alternative to a condition the Secretary in charge requires. The Secretary must accept an alternative and the Commission must include it if the Secretary finds, based on strong evidence, that the alternative protects the reservation (or, for fishways, is at least as protective) and either costs much less or improves how the project produces electricity. The Secretary must look at evidence about costs and electricity impacts from the applicant, other parties, or the Commission when deciding. The Secretary must put a written explanation and any studies or data used into the public record. That explanation must show equal consideration of effects on energy supply, flood control, navigation, water supply, air quality, and other environmental quality. If the Commission thinks the Secretary’s final choice breaks the law or the subchapter’s purpose, it can send the issue to the Commission’s Dispute Resolution Service. That service will give a non-binding recommendation within 90 days. The Secretary may accept that advice unless it would fail to protect the reservation or fish resources, and must put the advice and the Secretary’s final decision into the record.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §823d

Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(1)Whenever any person applies for a license for any project works within any reservation of the United States, and the Secretary of the department under whose supervision such reservation falls (referred to in this subsection as the “Secretary”) deems a condition to such license to be necessary under the first proviso of section 797(e) of this title, the license applicant or any other party to the license proceeding may propose an alternative condition.

(2)Notwithstanding the first proviso of section 797(e) of this title, the Secretary shall accept the proposed alternative condition referred to in paragraph (1), and the Commission shall include in the license such alternative condition, if the Secretary determines, based on substantial evidence provided by the license applicant, any other party to the proceeding, or otherwise available to the Secretary, that such alternative condition—

(A)provides for the adequate protection and utilization of the reservation; and

(B)will either, as compared to the condition initially by the Secretary—

(i)cost significantly less to implement; or

(ii)result in improved operation of the project works for electricity production.

(3)In making a determination under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall consider evidence provided for the record by any party to a licensing proceeding, or otherwise available to the Secretary, including any evidence provided by the Commission, on the implementation costs or operational impacts for electricity production of a proposed alternative.

(4)The Secretary concerned shall submit into the public record of the Commission proceeding with any condition under section 797(e) of this title or alternative condition it accepts under this section, a written statement explaining the basis for such condition, and reason for not accepting any alternative condition under this section. The written statement must demonstrate that the Secretary gave equal consideration to the effects of the condition adopted and alternatives not accepted on energy supply, distribution, cost, and use; flood control; navigation; water supply; and air quality (in addition to the preservation of other aspects of environmental quality); based on such information as may be available to the Secretary, including information voluntarily provided in a timely manner by the applicant and others. The Secretary shall also submit, together with the aforementioned written statement, all studies, data, and other factual information available to the Secretary and relevant to the Secretary’s decision.

(5)If the Commission finds that the Secretary’s final condition would be inconsistent with the purposes of this subchapter, or other applicable law, the Commission may refer the dispute to the Commission’s Dispute Resolution Service. The Dispute Resolution Service shall consult with the Secretary and the Commission and issue a non-binding advisory within 90 days. The Secretary may accept the Dispute Resolution Service advisory unless the Secretary finds that the recommendation will not adequately protect the reservation. The Secretary shall submit the advisory and the Secretary’s final written determination into the record of the Commission’s proceeding.

(b)(1)Whenever the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Commerce prescribes a fishway under section 811 of this title, the license applicant or any other party to the license proceeding may propose an alternative to such prescription to construct, maintain, or operate a fishway.

(2)Notwithstanding section 811 of this title, the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Commerce, as appropriate, shall accept and prescribe, and the Commission shall require, the proposed alternative referred to in paragraph (1), if the Secretary of the appropriate department determines, based on substantial evidence provided by the license applicant, any other party to the proceeding, or otherwise available to the Secretary, that such alternative—

(A)will be no less protective than the fishway initially prescribed by the Secretary; and

(B)will either, as compared to the fishway initially prescribed by the Secretary—

(i)cost significantly less to implement; or

(ii)result in improved operation of the project works for electricity production.

(4)The Secretary concerned shall submit into the public record of the Commission proceeding with any prescription under section 811 of this title or alternative prescription it accepts under this section, a written statement explaining the basis for such prescription, and reason for not accepting any alternative prescription under this section. The written statement must demonstrate that the Secretary gave equal consideration to the effects of the prescription adopted and alternatives not accepted on energy supply, distribution, cost, and use; flood control; navigation; water supply; and air quality (in addition to the preservation of other aspects of environmental quality); based on such information as may be available to the Secretary, including information voluntarily provided in a timely manner by the applicant and others. The Secretary shall also submit, together with the aforementioned written statement, all studies, data, and other factual information available to the Secretary and relevant to the Secretary’s decision.

(5)If the Commission finds that the Secretary’s final prescription would be inconsistent with the purposes of this subchapter, or other applicable law, the Commission may refer the dispute to the Commission’s Dispute Resolution Service. The Dispute Resolution Service shall consult with the Secretary and the Commission and issue a non-binding advisory within 90 days. The Secretary may accept the Dispute Resolution Service advisory unless the Secretary finds that the recommendation will not adequately protect the fish resources. The Secretary shall submit the advisory and the Secretary’s final written determination into the record of the Commission’s proceeding.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 823d

Title 16 — Conservation

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73