[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 72 (Thursday, April 14, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22202-22206]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-07987]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. RD22-2-000]


Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-725a, FERC-
725d, FERC-725g, FERC-725m and FERC-725Z)

AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of information collection and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or 
FERC) is soliciting public comment on a renewal of currently approved 
information collection, (FERC-725A, FERC-725D, FERC-725G, FERC-725M and 
FERC-725Z) the proposed retirement of FAC-010-3, the proposed FAC-011-
4, FAC-014-3, IRO-008-3, TOP-001-6 and proposed corresponding revisions 
to FAC-003-5, PRC-002-3, PRC-023-5 and PRC-026-2 Reliability Standards.

DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due June 13, 2022.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments (identified by Docket No. RD22-2-
000) by one of the following methods:
    Electronic filing through http://www.ferc.gov, is preferred.
     Electronic Filing: Documents must be filed in acceptable 
native applications and print-to-PDF, but not in scanned or picture 
format.
     For those unable to file electronically, comments may be 
filed by USPS mail or by hand (including courier) delivery:
    [cir] Mail via U.S. Postal Service Only: Addressed to: Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission, Secretary of the Commission, 888 First 
Street NE, Washington, DC 20426.
    [cir] Hand (including courier) delivery: Deliver to: Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, MD 20852.
    Instructions: All submissions must be formatted and filed in 
accordance with submission guidelines at: http://www.ferc.gov. For user 
assistance, contact FERC Online Support by email at 
[email protected], or by phone at (866) 208-3676 (toll-free).
    Docket: Users interested in receiving automatic notification of 
activity in this docket or in viewing/downloading comments and 
issuances in this docket may do so at http://www.ferc.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen Brown may be reached by email at 
[email protected], telephone at (202) 502-8663.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: FERC-725A, FERC-725D, FERC-725G, FERC-725M and FERC-725Z.
    OMB Control No.: OMB Control No: 1902-244 (FERC-725A), 1902-247 
(FERC-725D), 1902-252 (FERC-725G), 1902-263 (FERC-725M) and 1902-276 
(FERC-725Z).
    Type of Request: Three-year approval of the FERC-725A, FERC-725D, 
FERC-725G, FERC-725M and FERC-725Z information collection requirements 
with changes to the current reporting requirements as follows.
    Abstract: The Electricity Modernization Act of 2005, which is Title 
XII of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 \1\ (EPAct 2005), was enacted into 
law. Reliability Standards that NERC proposes to the Commission may 
include Reliability Standards that are proposed by a Regional Entity to 
be effective in that region.\2\ Section 215 of the FPA requires a 
Commission-certified ERO to develop mandatory and enforceable 
Reliability Standards, subject to Commission review and approval. Once 
approved, the Reliability Standards may be enforced by the ERO subject 
to Commission oversight or by the Commission independently.
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    \1\ 16 U.S.C. 824d(a).
    \2\ 16 U.S.C. 824o(e)(4). A Regional Entity is an entity that 
has been approved by the Commission to enforce Reliability Standards 
under delegated authority from the ERO. See 16 U.S.C. 824o(a)(7) and 
(e)(4).
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    The number of respondents below is based on an estimate of the NERC 
compliance registry for balancing authority, transmission operator, 
generator operator, generator owner and reliability coordinator. The 
Commission based its paperwork burden estimates on the NERC compliance 
registry as of January 7, 2022. According to the registry, there are 98 
balancing authorities (BAs), 325 transmission owners (TOs), 168 
transmission operators (TOPs), 204 transmission planners (TPs), 1,068 
generator owners (GOs), 945 generator operators (GOPs), 302 
distribution providers (DPs), 63 planning coordinators (PCs) and 12 
reliability coordinators (RCs). The estimates are based on the change 
in burden from the current standards to the standards approved in this 
Order. The Commission based the burden estimates on staff experience, 
knowledge, and expertise.
    The estimates are based combination on one-time (years 1 and 2) and 
ongoing execution (year 3) obligations to follow the revised 
Reliability Standards.
    The Project 2015-09 Establish and Communicate System Operating 
Limits Standard Drafting Team (SDT): (1) Developed proposed revisions 
to Reliability Standards and their applicable functional entities: FAC-
011-4 (RC), FAC-014-3 (PC, RC, TO, TP), IRO-008-3 (RC), and TOP-001-6 
(BA, TO, GO, DP); (2) proposed the retirement of FAC-010-3 (PA/PC) and 
developed corresponding revisions to FAC-003-5 (TO, GO), PRC-002-3 (RC, 
TO, GO), PRC-023-5 (TO, GO, DP, PC), and PRC-026-2 (TO, GO, PC) 
Reliability Standards to remove or replace references to system 
operating limits

[[Page 22203]]

(SOLs) and interconnection reliability operating limits (IROLs) 
established by planning entities.
    The developed proposed revisions to Reliability Standards are:
     FAC-011-4 is applicable to the RC and its purpose is to 
ensure that SOLs used in the reliable operation of the bulk electric 
system are determined based on an established RC methodology or 
methodologies. NERC clarified acceptable system performance criteria 
for the operations horizon and developed an SOL risk-based notification 
framework through the RC's SOL methodology.
     FAC-014-3 is applicable to the PC, RC, TOP and TP and its 
purpose is to ensure that SOLs used in the reliable operation of the 
bulk electric system are determined based on an established RC 
methodology or methodologies and that Planning Assessment performance 
criteria is coordinated with these methodologies. NERC removed 
references to planning horizon SOLs and IROLs and clearly delineate 
specific functional entity responsibility for determining and 
communicating each type of SOL used in operations.
     IRO-008-3 is applicable to the RC and requires RCs to 
perform analyses and assessments to prevent instability, uncontrolled 
separation, or cascading. NERC added a new requirement requiring a RC 
to use its SOL methodology when determining SOL exceedances for its 
analyses and assessments and further revised a requirement requiring 
the RC to use its SOL risk-based notification framework when 
communicating SOL or IROL exceedances.
     TOP-001-6 is applicable to the BA, TOP, GOP, and DP but 
the proposed revisions only impact the TOP. NERC added a new 
requirement requiring a TOP to use its RC SOL methodology when 
determining SOL exceedances and further revised a requirement requiring 
TOP notifications regarding SOL exceedances to be done according to the 
risk-based approach in the RC's SOL methodology.
    NERC further proposes the retirement of currently effective 
Reliability Standard FAC-010-3 that requires PCs and TPs to establish 
SOLs for the planning horizon. The proposed retirement of FAC-010-3 is 
mainly due to its redundancy with currently effective TPL-001-4 
Standard and new requirements in proposed FAC-014-3.
    In addition, the proposed retirement of FAC-010-3 developed 
corresponding revisions to proposed Reliability Standards FAC-003-5, 
PRC-002-3, PRC-023-5, and PRC-026-2 as follows:
     FAC-003-5 is applicable to TOs and GOs and NERC proposes 
to modify Applicability Sections 4.2.2 and 4.3.1.2 of FAC-003-5 to 
replace references to ``elements of an IROL under NERC Standard FAC-014 
by the Planning Coordinator'' with references to facilities:

``identified by the Planning Coordinator or Transmission Planner, 
per its Planning Assessment of the Near[hyphen]Term Transmission 
Planning Horizon as a Facility that if lost or degraded are expected 
to result in instances of instability, Cascading, or uncontrolled 
separation that adversely impacts the reliability of the Bulk 
Electric System for a planning event.''

     PRC-002-3 is applicable to the RC, TO and GO and NERC 
proposes to modify the applicability of the PRC-002-3 standard to 
remove PCs as a responsible entity subject to the standard and replace 
any references in the standard that would have included PCs with 
references to RCs. NERC concluded that the RC was the appropriate 
entity to carry out the duties that currently apply to PCs in certain 
interconnections, including the identification of BES elements that are 
part of an IROL or stability-related SOL.
     PRC-023-5 is applicable to the TO, GO, DP and PC and NERC 
proposes to modify Section B2 of Attachment B to PRC-023-5 as follows:

``B2. The circuit is selected by the Planning Coordinator or 
Transmission Planner based on Planning Assessments of the Near-Term 
Transmission Planning Horizon that identify instances of 
instability, Cascading, or uncontrolled separation, that adversely 
impact the reliability of the Bulk Electric System for planning 
events.``

    Attachment B sets the criteria used to determine the circuits in a 
Planning Coordinator area for which Transmission Owners, Generator 
Owners, and Distribution Providers must comply with certain 
requirements in the standard applicable to protective relays.
     PRC-026-2 is applicable to the GO, PC and TO and NERC 
proposes modification to the PRC-026-2 standard, Requirement R1, 
Criteria 1, 2, and 4 to replace references to planning horizon SOLs 
with references to the TPL-001-4 Planning Assessment.
    The Commission estimates that the NERC proposal, which would retire 
FAC-010-3, moves impacted and revised Reliability Standards without 
adding new obligations on registered entities resulting in a change in 
burden for industry of 128 hours. The proposed retirement of FAC-010-3 
is mainly due to its redundancy with currently effective TPL-001-4 
Standard and new requirements in proposed FAC-014-3. The Commission 
based the change in burden estimates on staff experience, knowledge, 
and expertise.

Proposed Changes Due to the Approval of NERC's Proposed Reliability Standards and the Retirement of FAC-010-3 in
                                                Docket No. RD22-2
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                                                   Number of
                                 Type \3\ and       annual       Total number    Average number    Total burden
     Reliability standard         number of      responses per   of responses   of burden hours       hours
                                    entity          entity                        per response
                               (1)............             (2)     (1) * (2) =  (4)............  (3) * (4) = (5)
                                                                           (3)
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                                                    FERC-725D
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FAC-010-3 \4\ Retire (marked   PA/PC (63).....               1            (63)  (220.6 hrs.);    (13,898 hrs.);
 in red).                                                                        ($19,192).       ($1,209,109).
FAC-010-2.1, R5 \5\ (FERC-     PA.............               1            (63)  (25.4 hrs.);     (1,600 hrs.);
 725D).                                                                          ($2,209.8).      ($139,217).
                              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Retirement for FAC-010-  PA.............               1            (63)  (246)..........  (15,498 hrs.);
 3 \6\.                                                                                           ($1,348,326).
One Time Estimate Years 1 and
 2:
    FAC-011-4................  RC (12)........               1              12  176 hrs.;        2,112 hrs.;
                                                                                 $15,312.         $183,744.
    FAC-014-3................  RC (12)........               1              12  64 hrs.; $5,568  768 hrs.;
                                                                                                  $66,816.

[[Page 22204]]

 
    FAC-014-3................  PA/PC (63).....               1              63  96 hrs.; $8,352  6,048 hrs.;
                                                                                                  $526,176.
    FAC-014-3................  TP (204).......               1             204  96 hrs.; $8,352  19,584 hrs.;
                                                                                                  $1,703,808.
    FAC-014-3................  TOP (168)......               1             168  32 hrs.; $2,784  5,376 hrs.;
                                                                                                  $467,712.
Ongoing Estimate Year 3
 ongoing:
    FAC-011-4................  RC (12)........               1              12  16 hrs.; $1,392  192 hrs.;
                                                                                                  $16,704.
    FAC-014-3................  RC (12)........               1              12  16 hrs.; $1,392  192 hrs.;
                                                                                                  $16,704.
    FAC-014-3................  PA/PC (63).....               1              63  16 hrs.; $1,392  1,008 hrs.;
                                                                                                  $87,696.
    FAC-014-3................  TP (204).......               1             204  16 hrs.; $1,392  3,264 hrs.;
                                                                                                  $334,080.
    FAC-014-3................  TOP (168)......               1             168  16 hrs.; $1,392  2,688 hrs.;
                                                                                                  $233,856.
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        Sub-Total for FERC-    ...............  ..............             918  ...............  41,232hrs;
         725D.                                                                                    $3,637,296.
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                                                  FERC-725M \7\
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One Time Estimate Years 1 and
 2:
    FAC-003-5................  TO (325).......               4           1,300  8 hrs.; $696...  10,400 hrs.;
                                                                                                  $904,800.
    FAC-003-5................  GO (1068)......               4           4,272  8 hrs.; $696...  34,176 hrs.;
                                                                                                  $2,973,312.
                              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ongoing Estimate Year 3
 ongoing:
        Sub-Total for FERC-    ...............  ..............           5,572  ...............  44,576hrs;
         725M.                                                                                    $3,878,112.
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                                                    FERC-725G
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One Time Estimate Years 1 and
 2:
    PRC-002-3 \8\............  RC (12)........               1              12  32 hrs.; $2,784  384 hrs.;
                                                                                                  $33,408.
    PRC-002-3 \9\ Retired      PA/PC (35).....               1            (35)  (32 hrs.);       (2,016 hrs.);
     (marked in red).                                                            ($2,784).        ($175,392).
    PRC-023-5 \10\...........  PA/PC (63).....               1              63  32 hrs.; $2,784  2,016 hrs.;
                                                                                                  $175,392.
    PRC-026-2 \11\...........  PA/PC (63).....               1              63  32 hrs.; $2,784  2,016 hrs.;
                                                                                                  $175,392.
Ongoing Estimate Year 3
 ongoing:
    PRC-002-3................  RC (12)........               1              12  16 hrs.; $1,392  192 hrs.;
                                                                                                  $16,704.
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        Sub-Total for FERC-    ...............  ..............             150  ...............  4,608hrs;
         725G.                                                                                    $400,896.
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                                                    FERC-725Z
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One Time Estimate Years 1 and
 2:
    IRO-008-3................  RC (12)........               1              12  32 hrs.; $2784.  384 hrs.;
                                                                                                  $33,408.
Ongoing Estimate Year 3
 ongoing:
    IRO-008-3................  RC (12)........               1              12  16 hrs.; $1,392  144 hrs.;
                                                                                                  $16,704.
                              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Sub-Total for FERC-    ...............  ..............              24  ...............  528 hrs.;
         725Z.                                                                                    $50,112.
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[[Page 22205]]

 
                                                    FERC-725A
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One Time Estimate Years 1 and
 2:
    TOP-001-6 \12\...........  TOP (168)......               1             168  32 hrs.; $2,784  5,376 hrs.;
                                                                                                  $467,712.
Ongoing Estimate Year 3
 ongoing:
    TOP-001-6................  TOP (168)......               1             168  16 hrs.; $1,392  2,688hrs;
                                                                                                  $233,856.
                              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Sub-Total for FERC-    ...............  ..............             336  ...............  8,064 hrs.;
         725A.                                                                                    $701,568.
        Total Reductions Due   ...............  ..............  ..............  ...............  99,008 hrs.;
         to Docket No. RD22-2-                                                                    $8,667,984.
         000.
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    Titles: FERC-725A, Mandatory Reliability Standard: TOP-001-6; FERC-
725D, Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Bulk Power System: 
Reliability Standards FAC-010, FAC-011, FAC-014; FERC-725G, Mandatory 
Reliability Standards for Bulk-Power System: Reliability Standard PRC; 
FERC-725Z, Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Bulk-Power System: 
Reliability Standard IRO; FERC-725M, Mandatory Reliability Standards:
     
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    \3\ RC=Reliability Coordinator; BA=Balancing Authority; 
TP=Transmission Planner; TOP=Transmission Operator; TO=Transmission 
Owner; GO=Generator Owner; DP=Distribution Provider; PA/PC=Planning 
Coordinator; and RC=Reliability Coordinator.
    \4\ FAC-010-2, FAC-011-2 and FAC-014 -2 were all approved by the 
Commission in ((Docket No. IC14-5-000 COMMISSION INFORMATION 
COLLECTION ACTIVITIES (FERC-725D); COMMENT REQUEST; EXTENSION 
(February 21, 2014)) with a burden of 138,979 hours. Staff estimates 
that the PC burden under FAC-010-3 from that estimate is 10 percent 
of the total or 13,898 hours. FERC staff estimates that industry 
costs for salary plus benefits are similar to Commission costs. The 
FERC 2021 average salary plus benefits for one FERC full-time 
equivalent (FTE) is $180,703/year (or $87.00/hour) posted by the 
Bureau of Labor Statistics for the Utilities sector (available at 
https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics3_221000.htm).
    \5\ In Docket No. RM13-8-000 FERC 725D OMB Control: From 1902-
0247 for the FAC-010-2.1 Requirement R5 burden of 1,600hrs should be 
retired with full retirement of FAC-010-3.
    \6\ The total of manhours associated FAC-010-3 equals the sum of 
13,898 hrs. + 1,600 hrs. = 15,498 hrs.
    \7\ Proposed revision is a one-time change to align updated 
terminology in the NERC Standards.
    \8\ Proposed revision adds burden to the RC only.
    \9\ The removal of the PC from PRC-002-3 is a one-time reduction 
in burden. Eastern and ERCOT interconnection impacted.
    \10\ Proposed revision adds burden to the PA/PC only and is a 
one-time change to align updated terminology in the NERC Standards.
    \11\ Proposed revision adds burden to the PA/PC only and is a 
one-time change to align updated terminology in the NERC Standards.
    \12\ Proposed revision adds burden to the TOP only.
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    Action: Changes to Existing Collections of Information, FERC-725A, 
FERC-725G, FERC-725M, FERC-725Z, 725D, and Elimination of Collections 
of Information.
    OMB Control Nos: 1902-0244 (FERC-725A); 1902-0247 (FERC-725D); 
1902-0252 (FERC-725G); 1902-0263 (FERC-725M) and 1902-0276 (FERC-725Z).
    Respondents: Business or other for profit, and not for profit 
institutions.
    Frequency of Responses: On occasion (and proposed for deletion).
    Necessity of the Information: This proceeding approves the 
retirement of FAC-010-3 (System Operating Limits Methodology for the 
Planning Horizon) Reliability Standards. Reliability Standards FAC-011-
4 (System Operating Limits Methodology for the Operations Horizon), 
FAC-014-3 (Establish and Communicate System Operating Limits), FAC-003-
5 (Transmission Vegetation Management), PRC-002-3 (Disturbance 
Monitoring and Reporting Requirements), PRC-023-5 (Transmission Relay 
Load-ability), PRC-026-2 (Transmission Relay Load-ability), IRO-008-3 
(Reliability Coordinator Operational Analyses and Real-time 
Assessments), TOP-001-6 (Transmission Operations) are part of the 
implementation of the Congressional mandate of the Energy Policy Act of 
2005 to develop mandatory and enforceable Reliability Standards to 
better ensure the reliability of the nation's Bulk Power system. 
Specifically, the revised standards ensure generating resources are 
prepared for local cold weather events and that entities will 
effectively communicate information need operating the Bulk Power 
System.
    Internal review: The Commission has reviewed NERC's proposal and 
determined that its action is necessary to implement section 215 of the 
FPA. The Commission has assured itself, by means of its internal 
review, that there is specific, objective support for the burden 
reduction estimates associated with the information requirements 
approved for retirement.
    Interested persons may obtain information on the reporting 
requirements by contacting the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 
Office of the Executive Director, 888 First Street NE, Washington, DC 
20426 [Attention: Ellen Brown, email: [email protected], phone: 
(202) 502-8663, fax: (202) 273-0873].
    Comments concerning the information collections and requirements 
approved for retirement in this Final Rule and the associated

[[Page 22206]]

burden estimates, should be sent to the Commission in this docket and 
may also be sent to the Office of Management and Budget, Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs [Attention: Desk Officer for the 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission]. For security reasons, comments 
should be sent by email to OMB at the following email address: 
[email protected]. Please refer to the appropriate OMB 
Control Number(s) and Docket No. RD22-2-000 in your submission.

Environmental Analysis

    The Commission is required to prepare an Environmental Assessment 
or an Environmental Impact Statement for any action that may have a 
significant adverse effect on the human environment.\13\ The Commission 
has categorically excluded certain actions from this requirement as not 
having a significant effect on the human environment. Included in the 
exclusion are rules that are clarifying, corrective, or procedural or 
that do not substantially change the effect of the regulations being 
amended.\14\ The actions approved here fall within this categorical 
exclusion in the Commission's regulations.
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    \13\ Regulations Implementing the National Environmental Policy 
Act of 1969, Order No. 486, 52 FR 47897 (Dec. 17, 1987), FERC Stats. 
& Regs., Regulations Preambles 1986-1990 ] 30,783 (1987).
    \14\ 18 CFR 380.4(a)(2)(ii).
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Document Availability

    In addition to publishing the full text of this document in the 
Federal Register, the Commission provides all interested persons an 
opportunity to view and/or print the contents of this document via the 
internet through the Commission's Home Page (http://www.ferc.gov) and 
in the Commission's Public Reference Room during normal business hours 
(8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern time) at 888 First Street NE, Room 2A, 
Washington, DC 20426.
    From the Commission's Home Page on the internet, this information 
is available on eLibrary. The full text of this document is available 
on eLibrary in PDF and Microsoft Word format for viewing, printing, 
and/or downloading. To access this document in eLibrary, type the 
docket number excluding the last three digits of this document in the 
docket number field.
    User assistance is available for eLibrary and the Commission's 
website during normal business hours from the Commission's Online 
Support at (202) 502-6652 (toll free at 1-866-208-3676) or email at 
[email protected], or the Public Reference Room at (202) 502-
8371, TTY (202) 502-8659. Email the Public Reference Room at 
[email protected].

    By direction of the Commission.

    Dated: April 8, 2022.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2022-07987 Filed 4-13-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P