(a) General rule. After the initial inspection and report under this subpart for a project development, a new inspection under this subpart must be completed and the report on it filed not later than five years from the date the last report on an inspection was to be filed under this subpart.

(b) Initial inspection and report.

(1) For any development that has a dam that is more than 32.8 feet (10 meters) in height above streambed or impounds an impoundment with a gross storage capacity of more than 2,000 acre feet (2.5 million cubic meters), which development was constructed before the date of issuance of the order licensing or amending a license to include that development, the initial inspection under this subpart must be completed and the report on it filed not later than two years after the date of issuance of the order licensing the development or amending the license to include the development.

(2) For any development that was constructed after the date of issuance of the order licensing or amending a license to include the development, the initial inspection under this subpart must be completed and the report on it filed not later than five years from the date of first commercial operation, or the date on which the impoundment first reaches its normal maximum surface elevation, whichever occurs first.

(3) For any development not set forth in either subparagraph (b)(1) or (b)(2), the initial inspection under this subpart must be completed and the report on it filed by a date specified by the Regional Engineer. The filing date must not be more than two years after the date of notification that an inspection and report under this subpart are required.

(4) The last independent consultant's inspection and report made for a development before March 1, 1981 in compliance with the Commission's rules then in effect is deemed to fulfill the requirements for an initial inspection and report under this subpart for that development, except that the first report filed under this subpart for that development after March 1, 1981 must contain the information and analyses required by §12.37(b).

(c) Extension of time. For good cause shown, the Regional Engineer may extend the time for filing an independent consultant's report under this subpart.