Project Comparison Chart
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	Conduit Exemption	5-MW Exemption	License
Installed Capacity Limitations	15 MW or less (for non-municipality) 40 MW or less (for a municipality)	5 MW or less	Unlimited
Location Limitations in Addition to Off-Limits Sites	Must be located on a conduit used for agricultural, municipal, or industrial consumption Cannot be located on federal lands Cannot be located at an impoundment	Must be located at an existing dam or natural water feature Cannot be located at a dam owned or operated by the federal government
Ownership Limitations	Must have all real property rights necessary to develop and operate the project or an option to obtain such interests Proof of ownership required at time of filing the application	If located on private lands, must have all real property rights necessary to develop and operate the project or an option to obtain such interests Proof of ownership required at time of filing the application	Proof of ownership not required at time of filing the application; power of eminent domain may be conferred by section 21 of the FPA, 16 U.S.C. § 814
Term Limitations	Issued in perpetuity	Issued in perpetuity	Up to 50 years for license
May be Subject to the Following Mandatory Conditions	Federal and state fish and wildlife conditions under section 30(c) of the FPA, 16 U.S.C. § 823a(c)	Federal and state fish and wildlife conditions under section 30(c) of the FPA, 16 U.S.C. § 823a(c)	Federal reservation conditions under section 4(e) of the FPA, 16 U.S.C. § 797(e) Fishway prescriptions under section 18 of the FPA, 16 U.S.C. § 811
Consultation Requirements	3-stage consultation required under 18 C.F.R. § 4.38 With concurrence from all resource agencies, the applicant may seek waiver of the consultation requirements under 18 C.F.R. § 4.38(e)	3-stage consultation required under 18 C.F.R. § 4.38 With concurrence from all resource agencies, the applicant may seek waiver of the consultation requirements under 18 C.F.R. § 4.38(e)	Integrated Licensing Process (ILP) required under 18 C.F.R § 5 If waiver of ILP regulations was sought under 18 C.F.R. § 5.1(f), and granted, then 3-stage consultation required under 18 C.F.R. § 4.34(i) for the Alternative Licensing Process or 18 C.F.R. § 4.38 for the Traditional Licensing Process With concurrence from all resource agencies, the applicant may seek waiver of the consultation requirements under 18 C.F.R. § 4.38(e)
Preparation of Environmental Document	Categorically exempt from preparing an environmental document under 18 C.F.R. § 380.4(a)(14) unless determined necessary	Prepared consistent with NEPA	Prepared consistent with NEPA
Project Boundary	Includes powerhouse and connection to conduit (excludes the transmission line and the conduit itself).	Includes all associated lands and facilities, such as the powerhouse, dam, impoundment, transmission line, and any lands that fulfill a project purpose (e.g., recreation, resource protection, and access roads).	Includes all associated lands and facilities, such as the powerhouse, dam, impoundment, transmission line, and any lands that fulfill a project purpose (e.g., recreation, resource protection, and access roads).
Filing Fees	None	None	None
Annual Charges	Currently projects up to 1.5 MW not charged	Currently projects up to 1.5 MW not charged	Currently projects up to 1.5 MW not charged
Implementing Statutes	FPA section 30(c). 16 U.S.C. § 823a	Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) sections 405 and 408. 16 U.S.C. §§ 2705 and 2708	FPA sections 4 thru 27 16 U.S.C. §§ 797-821
Application Regulations	18 C.F.R. §§ 4.90-4.96	18 C.F.R. §§ 4.101-4.108	18 C.F.R. § 5 (Integrated Licensing Process) 18 C.F.R. §§ 4.30-4.61(Traditional Licensing Process) 18 C.F.R. § 4.34(i) (Alternative Licensing Process)

For a narrative description of the project types, see: Conduit Exemption, 5-MW Exemption, and License.