[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 161 (Tuesday, August 20, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67430-67432]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-18529]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC24-24-000]


Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-725V); Comment 
Request; Extension

AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

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 the currently approved 
information collection, FERC-725V, Mandatory Reliability Standards: COM 
Reliability Standards. There are no changes to the reporting 
requirements with this information collection.

DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due October 21, 
2024.

ADDRESSES: You may submit copies of your comments (identified by Docket 
No. IC24-24-000) by one of the following methods:
    Electronic filing through https://www.ferc.gov, is preferred.
     Electronic Filing: Documents must be filed in acceptable 
native applications and print-to-PDF, not in scanned or picture format.
     For those unable to file electronically, comments may be 
filed by USPS mail or by other delivery methods:
    [cir] Mail via U.S. Postal Service Only: Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, Secretary of the Commission, 888 First Street NE, 
Washington, DC 20426.
    [cir] All other delivery services: Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, Office of the Secretary, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, 
MD 20852.
    Instructions: All submissions must be formatted and filed in 
accordance with submission guidelines at: https://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

[[Page 67431]]

docket or in viewing/downloading comments and issuances in this docket 
may do so at https://www.ferc.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doug Reimel may be reached by email at 
[email protected], telephone at (202) 502-6461.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: FERC-725V, Mandatory Reliability Standards: COM Reliability 
Standards.
    OMB Control No.: 1902-0277.
    Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC-725V information 
collection requirements with no changes to the current reporting 
requirements.
    Abstract: On August 15, 2016, the North American Electric 
Reliability Corporation (NERC) filed a petition for Commission 
approval, pursuant to section 215(d)(1) of the Federal Power Act 
(``FPA'') \1\ and Section 39.5 \2\ of the Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission's regulations, for Reliability Standard COM-001-3 
(Communications), the associated Implementation Plan, retirement of 
currently-effective Reliability Standard COM-001-2.1, and Violation 
Risk Factors (``VRFs'') and Violation Severity Levels (``VSLs'') 
associated with new Requirements R12 and R13 in Reliability Standard 
COM-001-3. Reliability Standard COM-001-3 reflects revisions developed 
under Project 2015-07 Internal Communications Capabilities, in 
compliance with the Commission's directive in Order No. 888 that NERC 
``develop modifications to COM-001-2, or develop a new standard, to 
address the Commission's concerns regarding ensuring the adequacy of 
internal communications capability whenever internal communications 
could directly affect the reliability opera.
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    \1\ 16 U.S.C. 824o (2012).
    \2\ 18 CFR 39.5 (2015).
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    Reliability Standards COM-001-2 and COM-002-4 do not require 
responsible entities to file information with the Commission. COM-001-2 
requires that transmission operators, balancing authorities, 
reliability coordinators, distribution providers, and generator 
operators to maintain documentation of interpersonal communication 
capability and designation of Alternate Interpersonal Communication, as 
well as evidence of testing of the Alternate Interpersonal 
Communication facilities. COM-002-4 requires balancing authorities, 
distribution providers, reliability coordinators, transmission 
operators, and generator operators to develop and maintain documented 
communication protocols, and to be able to provide evidence of training 
on the protocols in their annual assessment. Additionally, all 
applicable entities (balancing authorities, reliability coordinators, 
transmission operators, generator operators, and distribution 
providers) must be able to provide evidence of three-part communication 
when issuing or receiving an operating instruction during an Emergency.
    The one-time consideration of responsibility for COM-002-4 
associated with Requirement R1 is no longer needed as entities 
previously developed protocols associated with effective communication. 
The ongoing work for COM-001-3 and COM-002-4 will remain the same, but 
the type of job responsibilities to follow the requirements will be 
split between an engineer and record-keeper, instead of just an 
engineer. Since the previous renewal, there has been an incremental 
increase in the number of respondents who must meet the requirements of 
these two COM reliability standards.
    Type of Respondents: Public utilities.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: \3\ The Commission estimates the annual 
public reporting burden for the information collection as:
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    \3\ The Commission defines burden as the total time, effort, or 
financial resources expended by persons to generate, maintain, 
retain, or disclose or provide information to or for a Federal 
agency. For further explanation of what is included in the 
information collection burden, reference 5 Code of Federal 
Regulations 1320.3.
    \4\ BA = balancing authority, RC = Reliability Coordinator, DP = 
distribution provider, TOP = transmission operator; GOP = generator 
operators. These values were derived from the NERC Compliance data 
of April 16, 2024, using only unique United States registered 
entities.
    \5\ The estimated hourly cost (salary plus benefits) is a 
combination based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), as of 
2024, for 75% of the average of an Electrical Engineer (17-2071) 
$79.31/hr., 79.31 x .75 = 59.4825 ($59.48-rounded) ($59.48/hour) and 
25% of an Information and Record Clerk (43-4199) $44.74/hr., $44.74 
x .25% = 11.185 ($11.19 rounded) ($11.19/hour), for a total ($59.48 
+ $11.19 = $70.67/hour).

                                          FERC-725V, Mandatory Reliability Standards: COM Reliability Standards
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                                                              Annual  number                    Average burden &     Total annual burden
                                     Number of  respondents    of  responses   Total number     cost per response      hours &  total        Cost per
                                              \4\             per respondent   of responses            \5\               annual cost      respondent ($)
                                   (1)......................             (2)     (1) * (2) =  (4).................  (3) * (4) = (5).....       (5) / (1)
                                                                                         (3)
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Maintain evidence of               (DP) 300.................               1             300  4 hrs. $282.68......  1,200 hrs. $84,804..         $282.68
 Interpersonal Communication
 capability [COM-001-3 R7 and R8].
                                   (GOP) 1,028..............               1           1,028  4 hrs. $282.68......  4,112 hrs.                    282.68
                                                                                                                     $290,595.04.
Maintain evidence of training and  (BA) 98..................               1              98  8 hrs. $565.36......  784 hrs. $55,405.28.          565.36
 assessments [COM-002-4 R2, R4,
 R5 and R6].
                                   (RC) 12..................               1              12  8 hrs. $565.36......  96 hrs. $6,784.32...          565.36
                                   (TOP) 165................               1             165  8 hrs. $565.36......  1,320 hrs.                    565.36
                                                                                                                     $93,284.40.
Maintain evidence of training      (DP) 300.................               1             300  8 hrs. $565.36......  2,400 hrs. $169,608.          565.36
 [COM-002-4 R3 and R6].
                                   (GOP) 1,028..............               1           1,028  8 hrs. $565.36......  8,224 hrs.                    565.36
                                                                                                                     $581,190.08.
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    Total........................  .........................  ..............           2,931  ....................  18,136 hrs.           ..............
                                                                                                                     $1,281,671.12.
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    Comments: Comments are invited on: (1) whether the collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the Commission, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden and 
cost of the collection of information, including the validity of

[[Page 67432]]

the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and, clarity of the information collection; and (4) ways to 
minimize the burden of the, collection of information on those who are 
to respond, including the use of automated collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.

    Dated: August 13, 2024.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024-18529 Filed 8-19-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P