A veteran of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission staff, Edward Abrams, has been named director of FERC’s Division of Hydropower Administration and Compliance.
Abrams most recently served five years as deputy director of FERC’s Division of Hydropower Licensing. (Hydro Review April 2010) He was named by Director Jeff Wright of the Office of Energy Projects to succeed Joseph Morgan at DHAC. Acting Director Heather E. Campbell returns to her position as deputy director of the Division of Hydropower Administration and Compliance.
Abrams, a civil engineer, joined FERC’s predecessor Federal Power Commission in 1976 and held numerous positions of increasing responsibility. Prior to joining the FPC, he worked for the California Department of Water Resources designing parts of the California Aqueduct and then for the U.S. Forest Service designing forest facility water systems in the Angeles National Forest, California.
In his new position, Abrams is to manage 50 interdisciplinary staff in post-licensing tracking and in administering license requirements. DHAC inspects site conditions, investigates compliance issues, and assesses penalties. The division also is responsible for processing license amendment, transfer, and surrender applications.
Yearick named deputy director of Division of Hydropower Licensing
Vincent Yearick, FERC’s branch chief for Hydro Licensing East-1, was named to succeed Abrams as deputy director of the Division of Hydropower Licensing.
Yearick, who reports to DHL Director Ann Miles, has worked in hydro licensing since he joined the commission staff in 1990. Prior to being named branch chief in 2003, he served from 1990 as an environmental protection specialist and project coordinator on northeastern and western licensing cases. The Virginia resident’s background is in agricultural economics and recreation resource management.
In his new position, Yearick is to work with Miles and branch chiefs to ensure division responsibilities are carried out. DHL responsibilities include processing applications for preliminary permits, licenses, relicenses, and exemptions. Yearick also is responsible for the division’s major administrative functions.
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