Document ID: FERC-2013-1595-0001
Agency: ferc
Document Type: Rule
Title: Retirement of Requirements in Reliability Standards
Posted Date: 2013-12-06T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 235 (Friday, December 6, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 73424-73434]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-28516]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

18 CFR Part 40

[Docket No. RM13-8-000; Order No. 788]

Retirement of Requirements in Reliability Standards

AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, DOE.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 215 of the Federal Power Act, the 
Commission approves the retirement of 34 requirements within 19 
Reliability Standards identified by the North American Electric 
Reliability Corporation (NERC), the Commission-certified Electric 
Reliability Organization. The requirements approved for retirement 
either: Provide little protection for Bulk-Power System reliability; or 
are redundant with other aspects of the Reliability Standards. In 
addition, the Commission withdraws 41 Commission directives that NERC 
develop modifications to Reliability Standards. This rule is part of 
the Commission's ongoing effort to review its requirements and reduce 
unnecessary burdens by eliminating requirements that are not necessary 
to the performance of the Commission's regulatory responsibilities.

DATES: Effective Date: This rule will become effective January 21, 
2014.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kevin Ryan (Legal Information), Office of the General Counsel, Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 
20426, Telephone: (202) 502-6840

[[Page 73425]]

Michael Gandolfo (Technical Information), Office of Electric 
Reliability, Division of Reliability Standards and Security, Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 
20426, Telephone: (202) 502-6817.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
145 FERC ] 61,147
Before Commissioners: Jon Wellinghoff, Chairman; Philip D. Moeller, 
John R. Norris, Cheryl A. LaFleur, and Tony Clark.

Final Rule

(Issued November 21, 2013)

    1. Pursuant to section 215(d) of the Federal Power Act (FPA),\1\ 
the Commission approves the retirement of 34 requirements within 19 
Reliability Standards identified by the North American Electric 
Reliability Corporation (NERC), the Commission-certified Electric 
Reliability Organization (ERO). The retirement of these provisions meet 
the benchmarks set forth in the Commission's March 15, 2012 order that 
requirements proposed for retirement either: (1) Provide little 
protection for Bulk-Power System reliability or (2) are redundant with 
other aspects of the Reliability Standards.\2\ Consistent with the 
Commission's proposal in the March 2012 Order, we conclude that the 
requirements approved for retirement can ``be removed from the 
Reliability Standards with little effect on reliability and an increase 
in efficiency of the ERO compliance program.'' \3\
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    \1\ 16 U.S.C. 824o(d) (2006).
    \2\ See North American Electric Reliability Corp., 138 FERC ] 
61,193, at P 81 (March 2012 Order), order on reh'g and 
clarification, 139 FERC ] 61,168 (2012).
    \3\ Id. P 81.
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    2. In addition, in this Final Rule, we withdraw 41 directives that 
NERC develop modifications to Reliability Standards.\4\ In Order No. 
693 and subsequent final rules, the Commission has identified various 
issues and directed NERC to develop modifications to the Reliability 
Standards or take other action to address those issues.\5\ While NERC 
has addressed many of these directives, over 150 directives remain 
outstanding. The withdrawal of these directives will enhance the 
efficiency of the Reliability Standards development process, with 
little or no impact on Bulk-Power System reliability.
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    \4\ The 41 withdrawn directives are listed in Attachment A to 
this Final Rule.
    \5\ Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Bulk-Power System, 
Order No. 693, FERC Stats. & Regs. ] 31,242, order on reh'g, Order 
No. 693-A, 120 FERC ] 61,053 (2007). See also Mandatory Reliability 
Standards for the Calculation of Available Transfer Capability, 
Capacity Benefit Margins, Transmission Reliability Margins, Total 
Transfer Capability, and Existing Transmission Commitments and 
Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Bulk-Power System, Order No. 
729, 129 FERC ] 61,155 (2009), order on clarification, Order No. 
729-A, 131 FERC ] 61,109 (2010), order on reh'g and reconsideration, 
Order No. 729-B, 132 FERC ] 61,027 (2010).
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    3. Pursuant to Executive Order 13579, the Commission issued a plan 
to identify regulations that warrant repeal or modification, or 
strengthening, complementing, or modernizing where necessary or 
appropriate.\6\ In the Plan, the Commission also stated that it 
voluntarily and routinely, albeit informally, reviews its regulations 
to ensure that they achieve their intended purpose and do not impose 
undue burdens on regulated entities or unnecessary costs on those 
entities or their customers. The action in this Final Rule is a part of 
the Commission's ongoing effort to review its requirements and reduce 
unnecessary burdens by eliminating requirements that are not necessary 
to the performance of the Commission's regulatory responsibilities.
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    \6\ Plan for Retrospective Analysis of Existing Rules, Docket 
No. AD12-6-000 (Nov. 8, 2011). Executive Order 13579 requests that 
independent agencies issue public plans for periodic retrospective 
analysis of their existing ``significant regulations.'' 
Retrospective analysis should identify ``significant regulations'' 
that may be outmoded, ineffective, insufficient, or excessively 
burdensome, and to modify, streamline, expand, or repeal them in 
order to achieve the agency's regulatory objective.
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I. Background

A. Section 215 of the FPA

    4. Section 215 of the FPA requires the Commission-certified ERO to 
develop mandatory and enforceable Reliability Standards, subject to 
Commission review and approval. Once approved, the Reliability 
Standards may be enforced in the United States by the ERO subject to 
Commission oversight or by the Commission independently.\7\
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    \7\ See 16 U.S.C. 824o(e)(3).
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Pursuant to the requirements of FPA section 215, the Commission 
established a process to select and certify an ERO \8\ and, 
subsequently, certified NERC as the ERO.\9\
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    \8\ Rules Concerning Certification of the Electric Reliability 
Organization; and Procedures for the Establishment, Approval, and 
Enforcement of Electric Reliability Standards, Order No. 672, FERC 
Stats. & Regs. ] 31,204, order on reh'g, Order No. 672-A, FERC 
Stats. & Regs. ] 31,212 (2006).
    \9\ North American Electric Reliability Corp., 116 FERC ] 
61,062, order on reh'g and compliance, 117 FERC ] 61,126 (2006), 
aff'd sub nom. Alcoa Inc. v. FERC, 564 F.3d 1342 (D.C. Cir. 2009).
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B. March 2012 Order

    5. In the March 2012 Order, the Commission accepted, with 
conditions, NERC's ``Find, Fix, Track and Report'' (FFT) initiative. 
The FFT process, inter alia, provides NERC and the Regional Entities 
the flexibility to address lower-risk possible violations through an 
FFT informational filing as opposed to issuing and filing a Notice of 
Penalty. In addition, the Commission raised the prospect of revising or 
removing requirements of Reliability Standards that ``provide little 
protection for Bulk-Power System reliability or may be redundant.'' 
\10\ Specifically, the Commission stated:
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    \10\ March 2012 Order, 138 FERC ] 61,193 at P 81.

. . . NERC's FFT initiative is predicated on the view that many 
violations of requirements currently included in Reliability 
Standards pose lesser risk to the Bulk-Power System. If so, some 
current requirements likely provide little protection for Bulk-Power 
System reliability or may be redundant. The Commission is interested 
in obtaining views on whether such requirements could be removed 
from the Reliability Standards with little effect on reliability and 
an increase in efficiency of the ERO compliance program. If NERC 
believes that specific Reliability Standards or specific 
requirements within certain Standards should be revised or removed, 
we invite NERC to make specific proposals to the Commission 
identifying the Standards or requirements and setting forth in 
detail the technical basis for its belief. In addition, or in the 
alternative, we invite NERC, the Regional Entities and other 
interested entities to propose appropriate mechanisms to identify 
and remove from the Commission-approved Reliability Standards 
unnecessary or redundant requirements.\11\
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    \11\ Id.

In response, NERC initiated a review, referred to as the ``P 81 
project,'' to identify requirements that could be removed from 
Reliability Standards without impacting the reliability of the Bulk-
Power System.

C. NERC Petition

    6. In a February 28, 2013 petition, NERC requested Commission 
approval of the retirement of 34 requirements within 19 Reliability 
Standards. According to NERC, the 34 requirements proposed for 
retirement ``are redundant or otherwise unnecessary'' and that 
``violations of these requirements . . . pose a lesser risk to the 
reliability of the Bulk-Power System.'' \12\ NERC stated that the 
proposed retirement of the 34 requirements ``will allow industry 
stakeholders to focus their resources appropriately on reliability 
risks and will increase the efficiency of the ERO compliance program.'' 
\13\
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    \12\ Petition at 2.
    \13\ Id.

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[[Page 73426]]

    7. NERC explained that the ``P 81 Team'' developed three criteria 
for its review:
    (1) Criterion A: An overarching criteria designed to determine that 
there is no reliability gap created by the proposed retirement; (2) 
Criterion B: Consists of seven separate identifying criteria designed 
to recognize requirements appropriate for retirement (administrative; 
data collection/data retention; documentation; reporting; periodic 
updates; commercial or business practice; and redundant); and (3) 
Criterion C: Consists of seven separate questions designed to assist 
the P 81 Team in making an informed decision regarding whether 
requirements are appropriate to propose for retirement.\14\
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    \14\ Id. at 4. See also id. n. 8 (setting forth the seven 
questions of Criterion C).
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    8. NERC explained that the project team focused on the 
identification of ``lower-level facilitating requirements that are 
either redundant with other requirements or where evidence retention is 
burdensome and the requirement is unnecessary'' because the reliability 
goal is achieved through other standards or mechanisms.\15\ According 
to NERC, the proposed retirement of documentation requirements will not 
create a gap in reliability because ``NERC and the Regional Entities 
can enforce reporting obligations pursuant to section 400 of NERC's 
Rules of Procedure and Appendix 4C to ensure that necessary data 
continues to be submitted for compliance and enforcement purposes.'' 
\16\ NERC asserts that, although the P 81 project proposes to retire 
requirements associated with data retention or documentation, ``the 
simple fact that a requirement includes a data retention or 
documentation element does not signify that it should be considered for 
retirement or is otherwise inappropriately designated as a 
requirement.'' \17\
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    \15\ Id. at 7.
    \16\ Id. at 8 (citing North American Electric Reliability Corp., 
141 FERC ] 61,241, at P 82 (2012) (approving proposed revisions to 
NERC's Rules of Procedure)).
    \17\ Id. at 9 (emphasis in original).
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    9. Based on this approach, NERC identified the following 34 
requirements within 19 Reliability Standards for potential retirement:

 BAL-005-0.2b, Requirement R2--Automatic Generation Control
 CIP-003-3, -4, Requirement R1.2--Cyber Security--Security 
Management Controls \18\
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    \18\ NERC explains that although only eight requirements in the 
Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) body of Reliability 
Standards are proposed for retirement, NERC proposes the retirement 
of those eight requirements in both CIP versions 3 and 4. Therefore, 
the total number of CIP requirements proposed for retirement is 
sixteen.
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 CIP-003-3, -4, Requirements R3, R3.1, R3.2, and R3.3--Cyber 
Security--Security Management Controls
 CIP-003-3, -4, Requirement R4.2--Cyber Security--Security 
Management Controls
 CIP-005-3a, -4a, Requirement R2.6--Cyber Security--Electronic 
Security Perimeter(s)
 CIP-007-3, -4, Requirement R7.3--Cyber Security--Systems 
Security Management
 EOP-005-2, Requirement R3.1--System Restoration From 
Blackstart Services
 FAC-002-1, Requirement R2--Coordination of Plans for New 
Facilities
 FAC-008-3, Requirements R4 and R5--Facility Ratings
 FAC-010-2.1, Requirement R5--System Operating Limits 
Methodology for the Planning Horizon
 FAC-011-2.1, Requirement R5--System Operating Limits 
Methodology for the Operations Horizon
 FAC-013-2, Requirement R3--Assessment of Transfer Capability 
for the Near-term Transmission Planning Horizon
 INT-007-1, Requirement R1.2--Interchange Confirmation
 IRO-016-1, Requirement R2--Coordination of Real-Time 
Activities Between Reliability Coordinators
 NUC-001-2, Requirements R9.1, R9.1.1, R9.1.2, R9.1.3, and 
R1.9.4--Nuclear Plant Interface Coordination
 PRC-010-0, Requirement R2--Assessment of the Design and 
Effectiveness of UVLS Programs
 PRC-022-1, Requirement R2--Under-Voltage Load Shedding Program 
Performance
 VAR-001-2, Requirement R5--Voltage and Reactive Control

    10. NERC also requested that the Commission approve the 
implementation plan, provided as Exhibit C to NERC's petition, which 
provided that the identified requirements will be retired immediately 
upon Commission approval.
    11. NERC stated that it will apply the ``concepts'' from the P 81 
project to improve the drafting of Reliability Standards going forward. 
Specifically, NERC explained that Reliability Standards development 
projects ``will involve stronger examination for duplication of 
requirements across the NERC body of Reliability Standards and the 
technical basis and necessity for each and every requirement will 
continue to be evaluated.'' \19\ According to NERC, requirements that 
were proposed and ultimately not included in the immediate filing will 
be mapped for consideration in future standards projects.
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    \19\ Petition at 9.
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D. Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

    12. On June 20, 2013, the Commission issued a Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking (NOPR) proposing to approve the retirement of the 34 
requirements within 19 Reliability Standards, consistent with NERC's 
petition.\20\ In addition, the Commission proposed to withdraw 41 
outstanding Commission directives that NERC develop modifications to 
Reliability Standards.
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    \20\ Electric Reliability Organization Proposal To Retire 
Requirements in Reliability Standards, Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking, 78 FR 38,851 (June 28, 2013), 143 FERC ] 61,251 (2013) 
(NOPR), errata, 78 FR 41,339 (July 10, 2013).
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    13. Comments on the NOPR were due by August 27, 2013. Seven 
entities filed comments, identified in Attachment B to the Final Rule.

II. Discussion

A. Retirement of Requirements

NOPR Proposal
    14. In the NOPR, the Commission proposed to approve the retirement 
of the 34 requirements within 19 Reliability Standards identified by 
NERC. In the NOPR, for each of the 34 requirements, the Commission 
provided NERC's rationale supporting retirement, and the Commission's 
explanation for proposing to approve the retirement.\21\
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    \21\ See NOPR, 143 FERC ] 61,251 at PP 17-83.
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Comments
    15. Commenters unanimously support approval of the NOPR proposal. 
Trade Associations, CEA and ITC concur that the retirement of the 34 
requirements will have little to no effect on reliability. NRECA, ISO/
RTO Council, CEA and ITC support continuance of the ``P 81'' process as 
a high priority going forward and the identification of additional 
candidate requirements for retirement or streamlining.
    16. ISO/RTO Council comments that, while the criteria used by NERC 
to identify candidate requirements for retirement are appropriate, 
additional criteria would ensure that streamlining of the Reliability 
Standards will continue.

[[Page 73427]]

Commission Determination
    17. Pursuant to section 215 of the FPA, we approve the retirement 
of the 34 requirements within 19 Reliability Standards identified by 
NERC as just, reasonable, not unduly discriminatory or preferential, 
and in the public interest. Likewise, we approve the implementation 
plan and effective date set forth in NERC's petition.
    18. In the March 2012 Order, the Commission explained that ``some 
current requirements likely provide little protection for Bulk-Power 
System reliability or may be redundant. The Commission is interested in 
obtaining views on whether such requirements could be removed from the 
Reliability Standards with little effect on reliability and an increase 
in efficiency of the ERO compliance program.'' \22\ In general, we 
conclude that the requirements identified by NERC for retirement 
satisfy the expectations set forth in the March 2012 Order; namely, the 
requirements proposed for retirement either: (1) Provide little 
protection for Bulk-Power System reliability or (2) are redundant with 
other aspects of the Reliability Standards.\23\
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    \22\ March 2012 Order, 138 FERC ] 61,193 at P 81.
    \23\ Further, we adopt the rationale for the retirement of each 
requirement as set forth in the NOPR, 143 FERC ] 61,251 at PP 17-83.
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    19. We agree with NERC that the elimination of certain requirements 
that pertain to information collection or documentation will not result 
in a reliability gap. No commenter disputes NERC's rationale. Section 
400 and Appendix 4C (Uniform Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement 
Program) of the NERC Rules of Procedure provide NERC and the Regional 
Entities the authority to enforce reporting obligations necessary to 
support reliability.\24\ This authority, used in the appropriate 
manner, justifies retiring certain documentation-related requirements 
that provide limited, if any, support for reliability. The retirement 
of such requirements should enhance the efficiency of the ERO 
compliance program, as well as the efficiency of individual registered 
entity compliance programs.
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    \24\ See North American Electric Reliability Corp., 141 FERC ] 
61,241 at P 82.
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    20. We agree with commenters that NERC should continue the process 
of identifying additional Reliability Standards and requirements as 
candidates for retirement or streamlining. We support NERC's continuing 
efforts in this regard. Efficiencies can be gained from further 
consolidation or retirement of some requirements or components of 
requirements that are justified based on technical analysis of either 
existing requirements, new proposed requirements or modifications. Such 
analyses would take into account the interrelationship between 
standards and among categories of standards, in order to determine that 
when retirements or consolidations are made the reliability benefits of 
the currently effective requirements would be preserved.
    21. With regard to ISO/RTO Council's comment, we will not direct 
NERC to develop additional criteria for identifying candidate 
requirements for retirement. ISO/RTO Council does not identify any 
specific concern or defect regarding the criteria applied by NERC.\25\ 
ISO/RTO Council may raise its proposal directly with NERC if it so 
chooses.
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    \25\ Moreover, while NERC provided the criteria in the February 
2013 petition, NERC also made clear that the criteria were provided 
only for informational purposes. See NERC Petition at 4.
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B. Outstanding Directives

NOPR Proposal
    22. In the NOPR, the Commission proposed to withdraw 41 outstanding 
Commission directives that NERC develop modifications to Reliability 
Standards. Attachment A of the NOPR identified the 41 Commission 
directives, the source (i.e., Final Rule) of the directive, and a 
justification for the proposed withdrawal.\26\ The Commission explained 
that it applied the following three criteria in identifying outstanding 
directives for withdrawal: (1) The reliability concern underlying the 
outstanding directive has been addressed in some manner, rendering the 
directive stale; (2) the outstanding directive provides general 
guidance for standards development rather than a specific directive; 
and (3) the outstanding directive is redundant with another 
directive.\27\ The Commission stated that each of the 41 outstanding 
directives identified in Attachment A of the NOPR satisfies one or more 
of the criteria.
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    \26\ The same table is provided as Attachment A to the Final 
Rule. Each directive identified in Attachment A includes a ``NERC 
Reference Number.'' Commission staff and NERC staff have developed a 
common approach to identifying and tracking outstanding Commission 
directives. The NERC Reference Numbers reflect this joint tracking 
process.
    \27\ NOPR, 143 FERC ] 61,251 at P 86.
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Comments
    23. NERC and all other commenters support the withdrawal of the 41 
outstanding Commission directives.
    24. Trade Associations recommend that the Commission consider 
alternative criteria for the withdrawal of outstanding directives to 
more closely align the criteria with those developed by NERC for 
retirement of Reliability Standard requirements. According to Trade 
Associations, ``simple logic suggests that the basis for retirement of 
requirements and withdrawal of Commission reliability directives should 
be consistent, if not uniform.'' \28\
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    \28\ Trade Associations Comments at 7.
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Commission Determination
    25. We find that it is appropriate to withdraw the 41 directives 
requiring that NERC develop modifications to Reliability Standards. As 
explained in the NOPR, the withdrawal of the identified directives 
should result in more efficient use of NERC's and the Commission's 
resources and reduce unnecessary burdens, without impacting the 
reliable operation of the Bulk-Power System.\29\ All commenters agree 
with the withdrawal of the 41 directives and the resulting 
efficiencies. Accordingly, we withdraw the 41 directives requiring that 
NERC develop modifications to Reliability Standards, identified in 
Attachment A of the Final Rule.
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    \29\ See NOPR, 143 FERC ] 61,251 at PP 85-87.
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    26. We are not persuaded by Trade Associations' comments that there 
is a need to more closely align the criteria applied by the Commission 
in determining whether to withdraw an outstanding reliability directive 
with those criteria developed by NERC for retirement of Reliability 
Standard requirements. Unlike the NERC review of Reliability Standard 
requirements, without precluding possible future Commission action, we 
have no plans for ongoing review of outstanding Commission reliability 
directives. We have reviewed the catalogue of outstanding reliability 
directives and have taken appropriate action in this proceeding. 
Further, while Trade Associations assert that such convergence of 
criteria is ``logical,'' we do not believe that the retirement of 
Reliability Standards requirements and withdrawal of a Commission 
directive is an apples-to-apples comparison that necessitates the 
suggested ``alignment.''

III. Information Collection Statement

    27. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations require 
that OMB approve certain reporting and recordkeeping (collections of 
information) imposed by an agency.\30\ Upon approval of a collection(s) 
of information, OMB will assign an OMB control number and expiration 
date. Respondents subject to the filing

[[Page 73428]]

requirements of this rule will not be penalized for failing to respond 
to these collection(s) of information unless the collections of 
information display a valid OMB control number.
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    \30\ 5 CFR 1320.11.
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    28. The Commission is submitting these revisions to the reporting 
and recordkeeping requirements to OMB for its review and approval under 
section 3507(d) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.\31\ The 
Commission solicited comments on the need for and the purpose of the 
information contained in NERC's February 2013 petition and the 
corresponding burdens to implement NERC's proposed retirement of 34 
requirements within 19 Reliability Standards. The Commission received 
comments generally supporting the efficiency gains and reductions in 
burden resulting from the retirement of specific requirements, which we 
address in the Final Rule. However, the Commission did not receive 
comments on the reporting estimates. The Final Rule approves the 
retirement of the 34 requirements within 19 Reliability Standards and, 
in addition, the withdrawal of 41 Commission directives that NERC 
develop modifications to Reliability Standards.
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    \31\ 44 U.S.C. 3507(d).
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    29. Public Reporting Burden: The estimate below for the number of 
respondents is based on the NERC Compliance Registry as of April 30, 
2013.\32\ According to the registry, there are 132 balancing 
authorities (BA), 544 distribution providers (DP), 898 generator owners 
(GO), 859 generator operators (GOP), 56 interchange authorities (IA), 
515 load serving entities (LSE), 80 planning authorities/planning 
coordinators (PA or PC), 677 purchasing selling entities (PSE), 21 
reliability coordinators (RC), 346 transmission owners (TO), 185 
transmission operators (TOP), 185 transmission planners (TP), and 93 
transmission service providers (TSP).
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    \32\ The estimates for the retired CIP requirements are based on 
February 28, 2013 registry data in order to provide consistency with 
burden estimates provided in the Commission's recent CIP version 5 
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in Docket No. RM13-5-000.
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    30. The Commission estimates that the burden will be reduced for 
each requirement as detailed in the chart below, for a total estimated 
annual reduction in burden cost of $518,220. The Commission based the 
burden reduction estimates on staff experience, knowledge, and 
expertise.

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                                                                     Estimated
                                                                      average        Estimated       Estimated
 Standard, requirement number,       Type of         Number of     reduction in    total annual    total annual
  and FERC Collection Number       respondents      respondents    burden hours    reduction in    reduction in
                                                       \33\       per respondent    burden (in         cost
                                                                     per year         hours)
                                                             [A]             [B]         [A x B]   [A x B x $60/
                                                                                                      hour \34\]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EOP-005-2, R3.1 (FERC-725A)...  TOP.............             185               1             185         $11,100
FAC-008-3, R4 (FERC-725A).....  TO, GO..........           1,151               1           1,151          69,060
FAC-008-3, R5 (FERC-725A).....  TO, GO..........           1,151               1           1,151          69,060
FAC-010-2.1, R5 (FERC-725D)...  PA..............              80              20           1,600          96,000
FAC-011-2, R5 (FERC-725D).....  RC..............              21              20             420          25,200
FAC-013-2, R3 (FERC-725A).....  PC..............              80               8             640          38,400
INT-007-1, R1.2 (FERC-725A)...  IA..............              56              20           1,120          67,200
IRO-016-1, R2 (FERC-725A).....  RC..............              21              20             420          25,200
CIP-003-3, -4, R1.2 (FERC-      RC, BA, IA, TSP,             325               1             325          19,500
 725B).                          TO, TOP, GO,
                                 GOP,LSE.
CIP-003-3, -4, R3, R3.1, R3.2,  RC, BA, IA, TSP,             325               1             325          19,500
 R3.3 (FERC-725B).               TO, TOP, GO,
                                 GOP,LSE.
CIP-005-3, -4, R2.6 (FERC-      RC, BA, IA, TSP,             325               4            1300          78,000
 725B).                          TO, TOP, GO,
                                 GOP,LSE.
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.....................  ................  ..............  ..............           8,637         518,220
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    31. The above chart does not include BAL-005-0.2b, Requirement R2; 
CIP-003-3, -4, Requirement R4.2; CIP-007-3, -4, Requirement R7.3; FAC-
002-1, Requirement R2; PRC-010-0, Requirement R2; PRC-022-1, 
Requirement R2; and VAR-001-2, Requirement R5 because those 
requirements were found redundant with other requirements.\35\ Since 
the action required within them is required elsewhere, there is no 
change in the overall burden in retiring these requirements. Likewise, 
NUC-001-2, Requirement R9.1; NUC-001-2, Requirement R9.1.1; NUC-001-2, 
Requirement R9.1.2; NUC-001-2, Requirement R9.1.3; and NUC-001-2, 
Requirement R9.1.4 are not included because these requirements require 
that the applicable entities include ``boiler plate'' language into 
their agreements that is normally included in all legal contracts.\36\ 
Since this action will be taken regardless if it is required by a 
Reliability Standard, there is no reduction in burden.
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    \33\ This number was calculated by adding all the applicable 
entities while removing double counting caused by entities 
registered under multiple functions.
    \34\ The estimated hourly loaded cost (salary plus benefits) for 
an engineer is assumed to be $60/hour, based on salaries as reported 
by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) (http://bls.gov/oes/current/naics2_22.htm). Loaded costs are BLS rates divided by 0.703 and 
rounded to the nearest dollar (http://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm).
    \35\ The reporting requirements in these standards are part of 
the FERC-725A information collection.
    \36\ The reporting requirements in this standard are part of the 
FERC-725F information collection.
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    Titles: FERC-725A, Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Bulk 
Power System; FERC-725B, Mandatory Reliability Standards for Critical 
Infrastructure Protection; FERC-725D, Facilities, Design, Connections, 
and Maintenance Reliability Standards; and FERC-725F, Mandatory 
Reliability Standards for Nuclear Plant Interface Coordination.
    Action: Revisions to Collections of Information.
    OMB Control Nos: 1902-0244, 1902-0248, 1902-0247, and 1902-0249.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit, and not-for-profit 
institutions.
    Frequency of Responses: On occasion.

[[Page 73429]]

    Necessity of the Information: This proceeding approves the 
retirement of the 34 requirements within 19 Reliability Standards 
identified by NERC. The retirements either: (1) Provide little 
protection for Bulk-Power System reliability or (2) are redundant with 
other aspects of the Reliability Standards. In addition, we withdraw 
the 41 Commission directives listed in Attachment A in the interest of 
enhancing the efficiency of the ERO standard development and compliance 
programs, as well as the efficiency of individual registered entity 
compliance programs.
    Internal review: The Commission has reviewed NERC's proposal and 
determined that the 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 retired information 
requirements.
    32. 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: DataClearance@ferc.gov, phone: 
(202) 502-8663, fax: (202) 273-0873].
    33. Comments concerning the information collections and the 
associated burden estimates should be sent to the Commission in this 
docket and 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: oira_submission@omb.eop.gov. Please 
indicate the OMB Control Numbers and Docket No. RM13-8-000 in your 
submittal.

IV. Environmental Analysis

    34. 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.\37\ 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.\38\ The actions proposed here 
fall within this categorical exclusion in the Commission's regulations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \37\ Regulations Implementing the National Environmental Policy 
Act, Order No. 486 52 FR 47897 (Dec. 17, 1987), FERC Stats. & Regs. 
Regulations Preambles 1986-1990 ] 30,783 (1987).
    \38\ 18 CFR 380.4(a)(2)(ii) (2013).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

V. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    35. The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (RFA) \39\ generally 
requires a description and analysis of final rules that will have 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. 
The RFA mandates consideration of regulatory alternatives that 
accomplish the stated objectives of a proposed rule and that minimize 
any significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities. The Small Business Administration's Office of Size Standards 
develops the numerical definition of a small business.\40\ The Small 
Business Administration has established a size standard for electric 
utilities, stating that a firm is small if, including its affiliates, 
it is primarily engaged in the transmission, generation and/or 
distribution of electric energy for sale and its total electric output 
for the preceding twelve months did not exceed four million megawatt 
hours.\41\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \39\ 5 U.S.C. 601-612.
    \40\ 13 CFR 121.101.
    \41\ 13 CFR 121.201, Sector 22, Utilities & n.1.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    36. The Commission estimates the total reduction in burden for all 
small entities to be $32,460. The Commission estimates that small 
planning authorities/planning coordinators will see a reduction of 
$1,680 per entity per year, greater than for other types of affected 
small entities.\42\ The Commission does not consider a reduction of 
$1,680 per year to be a significant economic impact. The Commission 
believes that, in addition to the estimated economic impact, the 
proposed retirement of the 34 requirements of mandatory Reliability 
Standards will provide small entities with relief from having to track 
compliance with these provisions and preparing to show compliance in 
response to a potential compliance audit by a Regional Entity or other 
regulator.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \42\ The burden reduction for planning authorities/planning 
coordinators is based on the retirement of FAC-010-2.1, Requirement 
R5 and FAC-013-2, Requirement R3. Based on the NERC Compliance 
Registry and Energy Information Administration Form EIA-861 data, 
the Commission estimates that 5 out of the 80 planning authorities/
planning coordinators meet the definition of a small entity.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    37. Based on the above, the Commission certifies that the changes 
to the Reliability Standards will not have a significant impact on a 
substantial number of small entities. Accordingly, no regulatory 
flexibility analysis is required.

VI. Document Availability

    38. 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 FERC's Home Page (http://www.ferc.gov) and in FERC'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.
    39. From FERC'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.
    40. User assistance is available for eLibrary and the FERC's Web 
site during normal business hours from FERC Online Support at (202) 
502-6652 (toll free at 1-866-208-3676) or email at 
ferconlinesupport@ferc.gov, or the Public Reference Room at (202) 502-
8371, TTY (202) 502-8659. Email the Public Reference Room at 
public.referenceroom@ferc.gov.

VII. Effective Date and Congressional Notification

    41. These regulations are effective January 21, 2014. The 
Commission has determined that, with the concurrence of the 
Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs of 
OMB, this rule is not a ``major rule'' as defined in section 351 of the 
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996.

    By the Commission.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.

    Note:  Attachment A will not appear in the Code of Federal 
Regulations.

Attachment A

Withdrawn Commission Directives

[[Page 73430]]

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     No.                 Standard              Order No.        Para           Directive         Justification
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Group A--The reliability concern underlying the outstanding directive has been addressed in some manner,
                                          rendering the directive stale
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1...........  BAL-006.......................          693  P 428          ``Add measures      NERC replaced
                                                                           concerning the      levels of non-
                                                                           accumulation of     compliance with
                                                                           large inadvertent   violation
                                                                           interchange         severity levels
                                                                           balances and        (VSLs). NERC has
                                                                           levels of non-      designated VSLs
                                                                           compliance.''       for BAL-006.
                                                                           (NERC Reference
                                                                           No. 10036).
2...........  EOP-001.......................          693  P 565          ``The Commission    The VSLs listed in
                                                                           agrees with ISO-    EOP-001-2.1b and
                                                                           NE that the         the Reliability
                                                                           Reliability         Standard Audit
                                                                           Standard should     Worksheet for EOP-
                                                                           be clarified to     001 require
                                                                           indicate that the   evidence of this
                                                                           actual emergency    consideration.
                                                                           plan elements,
                                                                           and not the ``for
                                                                           consideration''
                                                                           elements of
                                                                           Attachment 1,
                                                                           should be the
                                                                           basis for
                                                                           compliance.
                                                                           However, all of
                                                                           the elements
                                                                           should be
                                                                           considered when
                                                                           the emergency
                                                                           plan is put
                                                                           together.'' (NERC
                                                                           Reference No.
                                                                           10065).
3...........  INT-004.......................          693  P 843          ``Consider adding   NERC replaced
                                                                           levels of non-      levels of non-
                                                                           compliance to the   compliance with
                                                                           standard.'' (NERC   VSLs. VSLs for
                                                                           Reference No.       INT-004 have been
                                                                           10134).             developed and
                                                                                               approved by the
                                                                                               Commission.
4...........  INT-005.......................          693  P 848          ``Consider adding   NERC replaced
                                                                           levels of non-      levels of non-
                                                                           compliance to the   compliance with
                                                                           standard.'' (NERC   VSLs. VSLs for
                                                                           Reference No.       INT-005 have been
                                                                           10135).             developed and
                                                                                               approved by the
                                                                                               Commission.
5...........  MOD-010 through MOD-025.......          693  P 1147         ``Direct the ERO    The concern
                                                                           to use its          underlying the
                                                                           authority           directive has
                                                                           pursuant to Sec.    been addressed
                                                                            39.2(d) of our     through section
                                                                           regulations to      1600 (Requests
                                                                           require users,      for Data or
                                                                           owners and          Information) of
                                                                           operators to        NERC's Rules of
                                                                           provide to the      Procedure. The
                                                                           Regional Entity     Commission
                                                                           the information     approved Section
                                                                           related to data     1600 of NERC's
                                                                           gathering, data     Rules on February
                                                                           maintenance,        21, 2008.
                                                                           reliability
                                                                           assessments and
                                                                           other process-
                                                                           type functions.''
                                                                           (NERC Reference
                                                                           No. 10266).
6...........  MOD-010.......................          693  P 1152         ``Address critical  This directive is
                                                                           energy              no longer
                                                                           infrastructure      necessary in
                                                                           confidentiality     light of section
                                                                           issues as part of   1500
                                                                           the standard        (Confidential
                                                                           development         Information) of
                                                                           process.'' (NERC    NERC's Rules of
                                                                           Reference No.       Procedure
                                                                           10268).             addressing
                                                                                               treatment of
                                                                                               confidential
                                                                                               information.
7...........  MOD-010.......................          693  P 1163         ``Direct the ERO    The concern
                                                                           to develop a Work   underlying the
                                                                           Plan that will      directive has
                                                                           facilitate          been addressed
                                                                           ongoing             through NERC's
                                                                           collection of the   Reliability
                                                                           steady-state        Standards
                                                                           modeling and        Development Plan:
                                                                           simulation data     2013-2015. This
                                                                           specified in MOD-   plan was provided
                                                                           011-0.'' (NERC      to the Commission
                                                                           Reference No.       in an
                                                                           10270).             informational
                                                                                               filing on
                                                                                               December 31,
                                                                                               2012. It contains
                                                                                               an action plan to
                                                                                               merge, upgrade,
                                                                                               and expand
                                                                                               existing
                                                                                               requirements in
                                                                                               the modeling data
                                                                                               (MOD-010 through
                                                                                               MOD-015) and
                                                                                               demand data (MOD-
                                                                                               016 through MOD-
                                                                                               021) Reliability
                                                                                               Standards.
8...........  PRC-017.......................          693  P 1546         ``Require           Requirement R2 of
                                                                           documentation       PRC-017 already
                                                                           identified in       requires affected
                                                                           Requirement R2 be   entities to
                                                                           routinely           provide
                                                                           provided to NERC    documentation of
                                                                           or the regional     the special
                                                                           entity that         protection system
                                                                           includes a          program and its
                                                                           requirement that    implementation to
                                                                           documentation       the appropriate
                                                                           identified in       Regional
                                                                           Requirement R2      Reliability
                                                                           shall be            Organization and
                                                                           routinely           NERC within 30
                                                                           provided to the     calendar days of
                                                                           ERO.'' (NERC        a request. If
                                                                           Reference No.       either the
                                                                           10363).             Regional Entity
                                                                                               or NERC determine
                                                                                               that they need
                                                                                               and will use the
                                                                                               information on a
                                                                                               regular schedule,
                                                                                               they have the
                                                                                               authority to
                                                                                               establish a
                                                                                               schedule under
                                                                                               the current
                                                                                               requirement.
9...........  Glossary......................          693  P 1895         ``Modification to   The concern
                                                                           the glossary that   underlying the
                                                                           enhances the        directive has
                                                                           definition of       been addressed
                                                                           ``generator         through the NERC
                                                                           operator'' to       registration
                                                                           reflect concerns    process. See
                                                                           of the commenters   Order No. 693 at
                                                                           [``to include       P 145.
                                                                           aspects unique to
                                                                           ISOs, RTOs and
                                                                           pooled resource
                                                                           organizations''].
                                                                           '' (NERC
                                                                           Reference No.
                                                                           10005).

[[Page 73431]]

 
10..........  Glossary......................          693  P 1895         ``Modification to   The concern
                                                                           the glossary that   underlying the
                                                                           enhances the        directive has
                                                                           definition of       been addressed
                                                                           ``transmission      through the NERC
                                                                           operator'' to       registration
                                                                           reflect concerns    process. See
                                                                           of the commenters   Order No. 693 at
                                                                           [``to include       P 145.
                                                                           aspects unique to
                                                                           ISOs, RTOs and
                                                                           pooled resource
                                                                           organizations''].
                                                                           '' (NERC
                                                                           Reference No.
                                                                           10006).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Group B--The outstanding directive provides general guidance for standards development rather than a specific
                                                    directive
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11..........  BAL-005.......................          693  P 406          ``The Commission    This paragraph is
                                                                           understands that    not a directive
                                                                           it may be           to change or
                                                                           technically         modify a
                                                                           possible for DSM    standard.
                                                                           to meet
                                                                           equivalent
                                                                           requirements as
                                                                           conventional
                                                                           generators and
                                                                           expects the
                                                                           Reliability
                                                                           Standards
                                                                           development
                                                                           process to
                                                                           provide the
                                                                           qualifications
                                                                           they must meet to
                                                                           participate.''
                                                                           (NERC Reference
                                                                           No. 10033).
12..........  BAL-006.......................          693  P 438          ``Examine the WECC  This paragraph is
                                                                           time error          not a directive
                                                                           correction          to change or
                                                                           procedure as a      modify a
                                                                           possible guide .    standard.
                                                                           . . the
                                                                           Commission asks
                                                                           the ERO, when
                                                                           filing the new
                                                                           Reliability
                                                                           Standard, to
                                                                           explain how the
                                                                           new Reliability
                                                                           Standard
                                                                           satisfies the
                                                                           Commission's
                                                                           concerns.'' (NERC
                                                                           Reference No.
                                                                           10037).
13..........  COM-001.......................          693  P 507          ``Although we       This paragraph is
                                                                           direct that the     not a directive
                                                                           regional            to change or
                                                                           reliability         modify a
                                                                           organization        standard.
                                                                           should not be the
                                                                           compliance
                                                                           monitor for
                                                                           NERCNet, we leave
                                                                           it to the ERO to
                                                                           determine whether
                                                                           it is the
                                                                           appropriate
                                                                           compliance
                                                                           monitor or if
                                                                           compliance should
                                                                           be monitored by
                                                                           the Regional
                                                                           Entities for
                                                                           NERCNet User
                                                                           Organizations.''
                                                                           (NERC Reference
                                                                           No. 10051).
14..........  MOD-001.......................          729  P 20           ``We encourage the  This paragraph is
                                                                           ERO to consider     not a directive
                                                                           Midwest ISO's and   to change or
                                                                           Entegra's           modify a
                                                                           comments when       standard.
                                                                           developing other
                                                                           modifications to
                                                                           the MOD
                                                                           Reliability
                                                                           Standards
                                                                           pursuant to the
                                                                           EROs Reliability
                                                                           Standards
                                                                           development
                                                                           procedure.'' [See
                                                                           also P 198-199]
                                                                           (NERC Reference
                                                                           No. 10216).
15..........  MOD -001, -004, -008, -028, -           729  P 160          ``In developing     This paragraph is
               029, -030.                                                  the modifications   not a directive
                                                                           to the MOD          to change or
                                                                           Reliability         modify a
                                                                           Standards           standard.
                                                                           directed in this
                                                                           Final Rule, the
                                                                           ERO should
                                                                           consider
                                                                           generator
                                                                           nameplate ratings
                                                                           and transmission
                                                                           line ratings
                                                                           including the
                                                                           comments raised
                                                                           by Entegra and
                                                                           ISO/RTO
                                                                           Council.'' [Also
                                                                           see P 154] (NERC
                                                                           Reference No.
                                                                           10207).
16..........  MOD-001.......................          729  P 179          ``The Commission    This paragraph is
                                                                           directs the ERO     not a directive
                                                                           to consider         to change or
                                                                           Entegra's request   modify a
                                                                           regarding more      standard.
                                                                           frequent updates
                                                                           for constrained
                                                                           facilities
                                                                           through its
                                                                           Reliability
                                                                           Standards
                                                                           development
                                                                           process.'' (see
                                                                           Order No. 729 at
                                                                           P 177 for
                                                                           Entegra's
                                                                           comments). (NERC
                                                                           Reference No.
                                                                           10211).
17..........  MOD-028.......................          729  P 231          ``The Commission    This paragraph
                                                                           directs the ERO     clarifies the
                                                                           to develop a        Commission's
                                                                           modification sub-   understanding of
                                                                           requirement R2.2    the phrase
                                                                           pursuant to its     ``adjacent and
                                                                           Reliability         beyond
                                                                           Standards           Reliability
                                                                           development         Coordination
                                                                           process to          area.'' Since the
                                                                           clarify the         Commission's
                                                                           phrase `adjacent    understanding of
                                                                           and beyond          the language is
                                                                           Reliability         clearly
                                                                           Coordination        expressed, and
                                                                           areas.''' (NERC     the matter has
                                                                           Reference No.       little impact on
                                                                           10219).             reliability,
                                                                                               there is no
                                                                                               reason to go
                                                                                               forward with the
                                                                                               directive.

[[Page 73432]]

 
18..........  MOD-028.......................          729  P 234          ``The Commission    This paragraph is
                                                                           agrees that a       not a directive
                                                                           graduated time      to change or
                                                                           frame for           modify a
                                                                           reposting could     standard.
                                                                           be reasonable in
                                                                           some situations.
                                                                           Accordingly, the
                                                                           ERO should
                                                                           consider this
                                                                           suggestion when
                                                                           making future
                                                                           modifications to
                                                                           the Reliability
                                                                           Standards.''
                                                                           (NERC Reference
                                                                           No. 10220).
19..........  MOD-029.......................          729  P 246          ``The ERO should    This paragraph is
                                                                           consider Puget      not a directive
                                                                           Sound's concerns    to change or
                                                                           on this issue       modify a
                                                                           when making         standard.
                                                                           future
                                                                           modifications to
                                                                           the Reliability
                                                                           Standards.'' [See
                                                                           also P 245] (NERC
                                                                           Reference No.
                                                                           10222).
20..........  MOD-030.......................          729  P 269          ``The Commission    This paragraph is
                                                                           also directs the    not a directive
                                                                           ERO to make         to change or
                                                                           explicit such       modify a
                                                                           [effective date]    standard.
                                                                           detail in any
                                                                           future version of
                                                                           this or any other
                                                                           Reliability
                                                                           Standard.'' (NERC
                                                                           Reference No.
                                                                           10223).
21..........  MOD-024.......................          693  P 1310         ``Similarly, we     This paragraph is
                                                                           respond to          not a directive
                                                                           Constellation       to change or
                                                                           that any            modify a
                                                                           modification of     standard.
                                                                           the Levels of Non-
                                                                           Compliance in
                                                                           this Reliability
                                                                           Standard should
                                                                           be reviewed in
                                                                           the ERO
                                                                           Reliability
                                                                           Standards
                                                                           development
                                                                           process.'' (NERC
                                                                           Reference No.
                                                                           10318).
22..........  PER-002.......................          693  P 1375         ``Training          This paragraph is
                                                                           programs for        not a directive
                                                                           operations          to change or
                                                                           planning and        modify a
                                                                           operations          standard.
                                                                           support staff
                                                                           must be tailored
                                                                           to the needs of
                                                                           the function, the
                                                                           tasks performed
                                                                           and personnel
                                                                           involved.'' (NERC
                                                                           Reference No.
                                                                           10329).
23..........  VAR-001.......................          693  P 1863         ``The Commission    This paragraph is
                                                                           expects that the    not a directive
                                                                           appropriate power   to change or
                                                                           factor range        modify a
                                                                           developed for the   standard.
                                                                           interface between
                                                                           the bulk electric
                                                                           system and the
                                                                           load-serving
                                                                           entity from VAR-
                                                                           001-1 would be
                                                                           used as an input
                                                                           to the
                                                                           transmission and
                                                                           operations
                                                                           planning
                                                                           Reliability
                                                                           Standards.''
                                                                           (NERC Reference
                                                                           No. 10441).
24..........  VAR-001.......................          693  P 1869         ``We recognize      This paragraph is
                                                                           that our proposed   not a directive
                                                                           modification does   to change or
                                                                           not identify what   modify a
                                                                           definitive          standard.
                                                                           requirements the
                                                                           Reliability
                                                                           Standard should
                                                                           use for
                                                                           established
                                                                           limits and
                                                                           sufficient
                                                                           reactive
                                                                           resources.''
                                                                           (NERC Reference
                                                                           No. 10434).
25..........  TPL and FAC series............          705  P 49           ``Direct that any   This paragraph
                                                                           revised TPL         provides guidance
                                                                           Reliability         on an ongoing
                                                                           Standards must      implementation
                                                                           reflect             issue and is not
                                                                           consistency in      a directive to
                                                                           the lists of        change or modify
                                                                           contingencies.''    a standard.
                                                                           (NERC Reference
                                                                           No. 10601).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     Group C--The outstanding directive is redundant with another directive
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
26..........  MOD-012.......................          693  P 1177         ``Direct the ERO    This directive is
                                                                           to use its          redundant with
                                                                           authority           the directive in
                                                                           pursuant to Sec.    paragraph 1147,
                                                                            39.2(d) of our     which has already
                                                                           regulations to      been addressed
                                                                           require users,      and is reflected
                                                                           owners, and         in section A
                                                                           operators to        above.
                                                                           provide to the
                                                                           Regional Entities
                                                                           the information
                                                                           related to data
                                                                           gathering, data
                                                                           maintenance,
                                                                           reliability
                                                                           assessments and
                                                                           other process
                                                                           type functions.''
                                                                           (NERC Reference
                                                                           No. 10275).
27..........  MOD-012.......................          693  P 1177         ``Develop a Work    This directive is
                                                                           Plan and submit a   redundant with
                                                                           compliance filing   the directive in
                                                                           that will           paragraph 1163,
                                                                           facilitate          which has already
                                                                           ongoing             been addressed
                                                                           collection of the   and is reflected
                                                                           dynamics system     in section A
                                                                           modeling and        above.
                                                                           simulation
                                                                           data.'' (NERC
                                                                           Reference No.
                                                                           10279).
28..........  MOD-012.......................          693  P 1181         ``Direct the ERO    This directive is
                                                                           to address          redundant with
                                                                           confidentiality     the directive in
                                                                           issues and modify   paragraph 1152,
                                                                           the standard as     which has already
                                                                           necessary through   been addressed
                                                                           its Reliability     and is reflected
                                                                           Standards           in section A
                                                                           development         above.
                                                                           process.'' (NERC
                                                                           Reference No.
                                                                           10277).

[[Page 73433]]

 
29..........  MOD-013.......................          693  P 1200         ``Direct the ERO    This directive is
                                                                           to develop a Work   redundant with
                                                                           Plan that will      the directive in
                                                                           facilitate          paragraph 1163,
                                                                           ongoing             which has already
                                                                           collection of the   been addressed
                                                                           dynamics system     and is reflected
                                                                           modeling and        in section A
                                                                           simulation data     above.
                                                                           specified in MOD-
                                                                           013-1, and submit
                                                                           a compliance
                                                                           filing containing
                                                                           this Work Plan to
                                                                           the Commission.''
                                                                           (NERC Reference
                                                                           No. 10283).
30..........  MOD-014.......................          693  P 1212         ``Direct the ERO    This directive is
                                                                           to use its          redundant with
                                                                           authority           the directive in
                                                                           pursuant to Sec.    paragraph 1147,
                                                                            39.2(d) of our     which has already
                                                                           regulations to      been addressed
                                                                           require users,      and is reflected
                                                                           owners and          in section A
                                                                           operators to        above.
                                                                           provide the
                                                                           validated models
                                                                           to regional
                                                                           reliability
                                                                           organizations.''
                                                                           (NERC Reference
                                                                           No. 10288).
31..........  MOD-014.......................          693  P 1212         ``Direct the ERO    This directive is
                                                                           to develop a Work   redundant with
                                                                           Plan that will      the directive in
                                                                           facilitate          paragraph 1163,
                                                                           ongoing             which has already
                                                                           validation of       been addressed
                                                                           steady-state        and is reflected
                                                                           models and submit   in section A
                                                                           a compliance        above.
                                                                           filing containing
                                                                           the Work Plan
                                                                           with the
                                                                           Commission.''
                                                                           (NERC Reference
                                                                           No. 10289).
32..........  MOD-015.......................          693  P 1221         ``Direct the ERO    This directive is
                                                                           to use its          redundant with
                                                                           authority           the directive in
                                                                           pursuant to Sec.    paragraph 1147,
                                                                            39.2(d) of our     which has already
                                                                           regulations to      been addressed
                                                                           require users,      and is reflected
                                                                           owners and          in section A
                                                                           operators to        above.
                                                                           provide to the
                                                                           Regional Entity
                                                                           the validated
                                                                           dynamics system
                                                                           models while MOD-
                                                                           015-0 is being
                                                                           modified.'' (NERC
                                                                           Reference No.
                                                                           10291).
33..........  MOD-015.......................          693  P 1221         ``Require the ERO   This directive is
                                                                           to develop a Work   redundant with
                                                                           Plan that will      the directive in
                                                                           enable continual    paragraph 1163,
                                                                           validation of       which has already
                                                                           dynamics system     been addressed
                                                                           models and submit   and is reflected
                                                                           a compliance        in section A
                                                                           filing with the     above.
                                                                           Commission.''
                                                                           (NERC Reference
                                                                           No. 10292).
34..........  MOD-017.......................          693  P 1247         ``Provide a Work    This directive is
                                                                           Plan and            redundant with
                                                                           compliance filing   the directive in
                                                                           regarding the       paragraph 1163,
                                                                           collection of       which has already
                                                                           information         been addressed
                                                                           specified under     and is reflected
                                                                           standards that      in section A
                                                                           are deferred, in    above.
                                                                           this instance,
                                                                           data on the
                                                                           accuracy, error
                                                                           and bias of the
                                                                           forecast.'' (NERC
                                                                           Reference
                                                                           No.10299).
35..........  MOD-018.......................          693  P 1264         ``Require the ERO   This directive is
                                                                           to provide a Work   redundant with
                                                                           Plan and            the directive in
                                                                           compliance filing   paragraph 1163,
                                                                           regarding           which has already
                                                                           collection of       been addressed
                                                                           information         and is reflected
                                                                           specified under     in section A
                                                                           standards that      above.
                                                                           are deferred, and
                                                                           believe there
                                                                           should be no
                                                                           difficulties
                                                                           complying with
                                                                           this Reliability
                                                                           Standard.'' (NERC
                                                                           Reference No.
                                                                           10303).
36..........  MOD-019.......................          693  P 1275         ``Direct the ERO    This directive is
                                                                           to use its          redundant with
                                                                           authority           the directive in
                                                                           pursuant to Sec.    paragraph 1147,
                                                                            39.2(d) of our     which has already
                                                                           regulations to      been addressed
                                                                           require users,      and is reflected
                                                                           owners and          in section A
                                                                           operators to        above.
                                                                           provide to the
                                                                           Regional Entity
                                                                           information
                                                                           related to
                                                                           forecasts of
                                                                           interruptible
                                                                           demands and
                                                                           direct control
                                                                           load
                                                                           management.''
                                                                           (NERC Reference
                                                                           No. 10305).
37..........  MOD-021.......................          693  1297           ``Direct the ERO    This directive is
                                                                           to provide a Work   redundant with
                                                                           Plan and            the directive in
                                                                           compliance filing   paragraph 1163,
                                                                           regarding           which has already
                                                                           collection of       been addressed
                                                                           information         and is reflected
                                                                           specified under     in section A
                                                                           related standards   above.
                                                                           that are
                                                                           deferred, and
                                                                           believe there
                                                                           should be no
                                                                           difficulty
                                                                           complying with
                                                                           this Reliability
                                                                           Standard.'' (NERC
                                                                           Reference No.
                                                                           10309).
38..........  MOD-021.......................          693  P 1297         ``Direct the ERO    This directive is
                                                                           to use its          redundant with
                                                                           authority           the directive in
                                                                           pursuant to Sec.    paragraph 1147,
                                                                            39.2(d) of our     which has already
                                                                           regulations to      been addressed
                                                                           require users,      and is reflected
                                                                           owners and          in section A
                                                                           operators to        above.
                                                                           provide to the
                                                                           Regional Entity
                                                                           the information
                                                                           required by this
                                                                           Reliability
                                                                           Standard.'' (NERC
                                                                           Reference No.
                                                                           10313).

[[Page 73434]]

 
39..........  MOD-024.......................          693  P 1308         ``In order to       This directive is
                                                                           continue            redundant with
                                                                           verifying and       the directive in
                                                                           reporting gross     paragraph 1147,
                                                                           and net real        which has already
                                                                           power generating    been addressed
                                                                           capability needed   and is reflected
                                                                           for reliability     in section A
                                                                           assessment and      above.
                                                                           future plans, we
                                                                           direct the ERO to
                                                                           develop a Work
                                                                           Plan and submit a
                                                                           compliance
                                                                           filing.'' (NERC
                                                                           Reference No.
                                                                           10317).
40..........  MOD-024.......................          693  P 1312         ``Direct the ERO    This directive is
                                                                           to use its          redundant with
                                                                           authority           the directive in
                                                                           pursuant to Sec.    paragraph 1147,
                                                                            39.2(d) of our     which has already
                                                                           regulations to      been addressed
                                                                           require users,      and is reflected
                                                                           owners and          in section A
                                                                           operators to        above.
                                                                           provide this
                                                                           information.''
                                                                           (NERC Reference
                                                                           No. 10314).
41..........  MOD-025.......................          693  P 1320         ``In order to       This directive is
                                                                           continue            redundant with
                                                                           verifying and       the directive in
                                                                           reporting gross     paragraph 1147,
                                                                           and net reactive    which has already
                                                                           power generating    been addressed
                                                                           capability needed   and is reflected
                                                                           for reliability     in section A
                                                                           assessment and      above.
                                                                           future plans, we
                                                                           direct the ERO to
                                                                           develop a Work
                                                                           Plan as defined
                                                                           in the Common
                                                                           Issues section.''
                                                                           (NERC Reference
                                                                           No. 10321).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Note:  Attachment B will not appear in the Code of Federal 
Regulations.

Attachment B

Commenters on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

The American Public Power Association, Edison Electric Institute, 
Electricity Consumers Resource Council, Electric Power Supply 
Association, Large Public Power Council, and Transmission Access Policy 
Group (collectively, Trade Associations)
Canadian Electricity Association (CEA)
Dominion Resources Services, Inc., on behalf of Virginia Electric and 
Power Company, doing business as Dominion Virginia Power; Dominion 
Nuclear Connecticut, Inc.; Dominion Energy Brayton Point, LLC; Dominion 
Energy Manchester Street, Inc.; Elwood Energy, LLC; Kincaid Generation, 
LLC; and Fairless Energy, LLC
International Transmission Company d/b/a ITCTransmission, Michigan 
Electric Transmission Company, LLC, ITC Midwest LLC and ITC Great 
Plains, LLC (ITC)
ISO/RTO Council
National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA)
North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC)

[FR Doc. 2013-28516 Filed 12-5-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P