Reliability Standard for Geomagnetic Disturbance Operations, 3547-3552 [2014-01143]
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 14 / Wednesday, January 22, 2014 / Proposed Rules
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71
Airspace, Incorporation by reference,
Navigation (air).
The Proposed Amendment
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40103, 40113,
40120; E.O. 10854, 24 FR 9565, 3 CFR, 1959–
1963 Comp., p. 389.
Louis, MO; Kirksville, MO; Des Moines, IA;
Sioux Falls, SD; to Aberdeen, SD.
§ 71.1
J–151
[Amended]
2. The incorporation by reference in
14 CFR 71.1 of FAA Order 7400.9X,
Airspace Designations and Reporting
Points, dated August 7, 2013 and
effective September 15, 2013, is
amended as follows:
■
In consideration of the foregoing, the
Federal Aviation Administration
proposes to amend 14 CFR part 71 as
follows:
PART 71—DESIGNATION OF CLASS A,
B, C, D, AND E AIRSPACE AREAS; AIR
TRAFFIC SERVICE ROUTES; AND
REPORTING POINTS
1. The authority citation for part 71
continues to read as follows:
■
Paragraph 2004
Jet Routes
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[FR Doc. 2014–01178 Filed 1–21–14; 8:45 am]
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
18 CFR Part 40
[Docket No. RM14–1–000]
Reliability Standard for Geomagnetic
Disturbance Operations
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING
COMMISSION
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, DOE.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
17 CFR Part 150
SUMMARY:
AGENCY:
RIN 3038–AD82
Aggregation of Positions
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Correction
In proposed rule document 2014–
00496, appearing on pages 2394–2395,
in the issue of Tuesday, January 14,
2014, make the following correction:
On page 2394, in the second column,
the subject heading is corrected to read
as set forth above.
[FR Doc. C1–2014–00496 Filed 1–21–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 1505–01–D
Pursuant to section 215 of the
Federal Power Act, the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission (Commission)
proposes to approve Reliability
Standard EOP–010–1 (Geomagnetic
Disturbance Operations). The North
American Electric Reliability
Corporation, the Commission-certified
Electric Reliability Organization,
submitted the proposed Reliability
Standard for Commission approval in
response to a Commission directive in
Order No. 779. Proposed Reliability
Standard EOP–010–1 is designed to
mitigate the effects of geomagnetic
disturbances on the Bulk-Power System
by requiring responsible entities to
implement Operating Plans and
Operating Procedures or Processes.
DATES: Comments are due March 24,
2014.
Comments, identified by
docket number, may be filed in the
following ways:
ADDRESSES:
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[Amended]
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From Virginia Key, FL; INT Virginia Key 014°
and Treasure, FL, 143° radials; Treasure; INT
Treasure 330° and Ormond Beach, FL, 183°
radials; Ormond Beach; Craig, FL; Alma, GA;
Macon, GA; Atlanta, GA; Nashville, TN; St
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Issued in Washington, DC, on January 15,
2014.
Gary A. Norek,
Manager, Airspace Policy and Regulations
Group.
*
From Cross City, FL; Vulcan, AL;
Farmington, MO; St. Louis, MO; Kirksville,
MO; Omaha, NE; O’Neil, NE; Rapid City, SD;
Billings, MT; INT Billings 266° and
Whitehall, MT, 103° radials; to Whitehall.
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[Amended]
From Waterloo, IA; Kirksville, MO; to St.
Louis, MO.
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Paragraph 2006 United States Area
Navigation Routes
Q–19 Nashville, TN (BNA) to Aberdeen, SD (ABR) [Amended]
Nashville, TN (BNA) VORTAC
(Lat. 36°08′13″ N., long. 86°41′05″
PLESS, IL
Fix
(Lat. 37°48′35″ N., long. 88°57′48″
St. Louis, MO (STL)
VORTAC
(Lat. 38°51′38″ N., long. 90°28′57″
Des Moines, IA
VORTAC
(Lat. 41°26′15″ N., long. 93°38′55″
(DSM)
Sioux Falls, SD
VORTAC
(Lat. 43°38′58″ N., long. 96°46′52″
(FSD)
Aberdeen, SD (ABR)
VOR/DME
(Lat. 45°25′02″ N., long. 98°22′07″
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3547
W.)
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W.)
• Electronic Filing through https://
www.ferc.gov. Documents created
electronically using word processing
software should be filed in native
applications or print-to-PDF format and
not in a scanned format.
• Mail/Hand Delivery: Those unable
to file electronically may mail or handdeliver comments to: Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission, Secretary of the
Commission, 888 First Street NE.,
Washington, DC 20426.
Instructions: For detailed instructions
on submitting comments and additional
information on the rulemaking process,
see the Comment Procedures Section of
this document.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Michael Gandolfo (Technical
Information), Office of Electric
Reliability, Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, 888 First Street NE.,
Washington, DC 20426, Telephone:
(202) 502–6817, Michael.Gandolfo@
ferc.gov.
Matthew Vlissides (Legal Information),
Office of the General Counsel, Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission, 888
First Street NE., Washington, DC
20426, Telephone: (202) 502–8408,
Matthew.Vlissides@ferc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
146 FERC ¶ 61,015
Before Commissioners: Cheryl A. LaFleur,
Acting Chairman; Philip D. Moeller, John
R. Norris, and Tony Clark.
(Issued January 16, 2014)
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 14 / Wednesday, January 22, 2014 / Proposed Rules
1. Pursuant to section 215 of the
Federal Power Act (FPA),1 the
Commission proposes to approve
Reliability Standard EOP–010–1
(Geomagnetic Disturbance Operations).
The North American Electric Reliability
Corporation (NERC), the Commissioncertified Electric Reliability
Organization (ERO), submitted the
proposed Reliability Standard for
Commission approval in response to a
Commission directive in Order No.
779.2 The proposed Reliability Standard
is designed to mitigate the effects of
geomagnetic disturbances (GMDs) on
the Bulk-Power System by requiring
responsible entities to implement
Operating Plans and Operating
Procedures or Processes. The
Commission also proposes to approve
the associated violation risk factors and
violation severity levels,
implementation plan, and effective
dates proposed by NERC.
I. Background
A. Section 215 and Mandatory
Reliability Standards
2. Section 215 of the FPA requires the
Commission to certify an ERO to
develop mandatory and enforceable
Reliability Standards, subject to
Commission review and approval.3
Once approved, the Reliability
Standards may be enforced in the
United States by the ERO, subject to
Commission oversight, or by the
Commission independently.4
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B. Order No. 779
3. In Order No. 779, the Commission
directed NERC, pursuant to FPA section
215(d)(5), to develop and submit for
approval proposed Reliability Standards
that address the impact of GMDs on the
reliable operation of the Bulk-Power
System. The Commission based its
directive on the potentially severe,
wide-spread impact on the reliable
operation of the Bulk-Power System that
can be caused by GMD events and the
absence of existing Reliability Standards
to address GMD events.5
4. The Commission directed NERC to
implement the directive in two stages.
In the first stage, the Commission
directed NERC to submit, within six
months of the effective date of Order
No. 779, one or more Reliability
Standards (First Stage GMD Reliability
1 16
U.S.C. 824o.
Standards for Geomagnetic
Disturbances, Order No. 779, 78 FR 30747 (May 23,
2013), 143 FERC ¶ 61,147, reh’g denied, 144 FERC
¶ 61,113 (2013).
3 16 U.S.C. 824o.
4 Id. 824o(e).
5 Order No. 779, 143 FERC ¶ 61,147 at P 3.
2 Reliability
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Standards) that require owners and
operators of the Bulk-Power System to
develop and implement operational
procedures to mitigate the effects of
GMDs consistent with the reliable
operation of the Bulk-Power System.6
5. In the second stage, the
Commission directed NERC to submit,
within 18 months of the effective date
of Order No. 779, one or more
Reliability Standards (Second Stage
GMD Reliability Standards) that require
owners and operators of the Bulk-Power
System to conduct initial and on-going
assessments of the potential impact of
benchmark GMD events on Bulk-Power
System equipment and the Bulk-Power
System as a whole. Order No. 779
directed that the Second Stage GMD
Reliability Standards must identify
benchmark GMD events that specify
what severity GMD events a responsible
entity must assess for potential impacts
on the Bulk-Power System.7 Order No.
779 explained that, if the assessments
identify potential impacts from
benchmark GMD events, the Reliability
Standards should require owners and
operators to develop and implement a
plan to protect against instability,
uncontrolled separation, or cascading
failures of the Bulk-Power System,
caused by damage to critical or
vulnerable Bulk-Power System
equipment, or otherwise, as a result of
a benchmark GMD event. The
Commission directed that the
development of this plan could not be
limited to considering operational
procedures or enhanced training alone,
but should, subject to the potential
impacts of the benchmark GMD events
identified in the assessments, contain
strategies for protecting against the
potential impact of GMDs based on
factors such as the age, condition,
technical specifications, system
configuration, or location of specific
equipment.8 Order No. 779 observed
that these strategies could, for example,
include automatically blocking
geomagnetically induced currents from
entering the Bulk-Power System,
instituting specification requirements
for new equipment, inventory
management, isolating certain
equipment that is not cost effective to
retrofit, or a combination thereof.
C. NERC Petition
6. On November 13, 2013, NERC
petitioned the Commission to approve
proposed Reliability Standard EOP–
010–1 and its associated violation risk
factors and violation severity levels,
6 Id.
P 2.
7 Id.
8 Id.
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implementation plan, and effective
dates. NERC states that the proposed
Reliability Standard is just, reasonable,
not unduly discriminatory or
preferential, and in the public interest.
Further, NERC maintains that the
proposed Reliability Standard satisfies
the Commission’s directive in Order No.
779 corresponding to the development
and submission of the First Stage GMD
Reliability Standards.
7. NERC states that, consistent with
Order No. 779 and the NERC Functional
Model, proposed Reliability Standard
EOP–010–1 applies to reliability
coordinators and to transmission
operators with a ‘‘Transmission
Operator Area that includes a power
transformer with a high side wyegrounded winding with terminal voltage
greater than 200 kV.’’ 9 NERC explains
that the proposed Reliability Standard
has three requirements: (1) Requirement
R1 addresses coordination by reliability
coordinators within their areas; (2)
Requirement R2 addresses the
dissemination of space weather
information by reliability coordinators
to ensure that entities within a
reliability coordinator area have the
appropriate information necessary to
take action and that the same
information is available to all entities;
and (3) Requirement R3 requires
transmission operators to develop GMD
Operating Procedures or Processes.
8. NERC states that Requirement R1
requires reliability coordinators to
develop, maintain, and implement a
GMD Operating Plan that coordinates
the GMD Operating Procedures or
Operating Processes within the
reliability coordinator area.10 NERC
explains that reliability coordinators are
required to ensure that GMD Operating
Procedures and Operating Processes in
a reliability coordinator area are not in
conflict, but reliability coordinators will
not review the technical aspects of the
GMD Operating Procedures and
Operating Processes.11 Instead, NERC
9 NERC Petition at 8 (‘‘A power transformer with
a ‘high side wye-grounded winding’ refers to a
power transformer with windings on the high
voltage side that are connected in a wye
configuration and have a grounded neutral
connection.’’).
10 Operating Plan, Operating Procedure, and
Operating Process are existing terms defined in the
Glossary of Terms Used in NERC Reliability
Standards. See Glossary of Terms Used in NERC
Reliability Standards (effective November 21, 2013)
at 49–50.
11 NERC explains that ‘‘if Company A submitted
an Operating Procedure proposing to take Line X
out of service under specified GMD conditions, and
Company B submitted an Operating Procedure that
relies on Line X remaining in service in the event
of a GMD—it is the responsibility of the Reliability
Coordinator to identify this conflict.’’ NERC Petition
at 11–12 (emphasis in original). Beyond identifying
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 14 / Wednesday, January 22, 2014 / Proposed Rules
points out that transmission operators
will be responsible for the technical
aspects of their Operating Procedures
and Operating Processes. NERC further
states that Requirement R1 requires
reliability coordinators to describe the
activities that must be undertaken in
order to mitigate the effects of a GMD
event. NERC explains that, pursuant to
Reliability Standard IRO–001–1.1,
reliability coordinators have decisionmaking authority to act and to direct
actions to be taken by transmission
operators, balancing authorities,
generator operators, transmission
service providers, load-serving entities,
and purchasing-selling entities within
their reliability coordinator area to
preserve the reliability of the bulk
electric system.
9. NERC states that Requirement R2
requires reliability coordinators to
disseminate space weather information
to ensure coordination and consistent
awareness in its reliability coordinator
area. NERC maintains that entrusting
this responsibility to reliability
coordinators is appropriate given the
reliability coordinator’s wide-area view.
NERC also explains that Requirement
R2 replaces existing Requirement R3 of
Reliability Standard IRO–005–3.1a,
which currently addresses
dissemination of information regarding
GMD forecasts.12
10. NERC states that Requirement R3
requires transmission operators to
develop GMD Operating Procedures or
Operating Processes to address GMD
events. NERC explains that Requirement
R3 is not prescriptive and allows
entities to tailor their Operating
Procedures or Operating Processes
based on the responsible entity’s
assessment of entity-specific factors,
such as geography, geology, and system
topology. According to NERC,
Requirement R3 requires each
transmission operator to specify: (1)
Steps or tasks that must be conducted to
receive space weather information; (2)
what actions must be taken under what
conditions, and such conditions must be
predetermined; and (3) when and under
what conditions the Operating
Procedure or Operating Process is
exited. NERC maintains that proposed
Reliability Standard EOP–010–1 does
not prescribe specific actions that must
a conflict and requiring its resolution by Company
A and Company B, NERC states that the review is
‘‘not intended to be a review by the Reliability
Coordinator of the technical aspects of the GMD
Operating Procedures or Processes.’’ Id.
12 According to NERC, Reliability Standard IRO–
005–3.1a will be retired once the Commission
approves proposed Reliability Standard IRO–005–4,
which is currently pending before the Commission.
NERC Petition at 13.
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be taken by responsible entities because
‘‘a ‘one-size fits all’ approach to crafting
GMD Reliability Standards would fail to
recognize the important role of
locational differences.’’ 13
II. Discussion
11. Pursuant to FPA section 215(d)(2),
we propose to approve Reliability
Standard EOP–010–1 as just, reasonable,
not unduly discriminatory or
preferential, and in the public interest.
Proposed Reliability Standard EOP–
010–1 addresses the directive in Order
No. 779 that NERC submit one or more
Reliability Standards that require
owners and operators of the Bulk-Power
System to develop and implement
operational procedures to mitigate the
effects of GMDs consistent with the
reliable operation of the Bulk-Power
System.14 As the Commission stated in
Order No. 779, ‘‘operational procedures,
while not a complete solution,
constitute an important first step to
addressing the GMD reliability gap
because they can be implemented
relatively quickly . . . [o]perational
procedures may help alleviate abnormal
system conditions due to transformer
absorption of reactive power during
GMD events, helping to stabilize system
voltage swings, and may potentially
isolate some equipment from being
damaged or misoperated.’’ 15 The
Commission seeks comments from
interested entities on our proposal to
approve proposed Reliability Standard
EOP–010–1.
A. Proposed Reliability Standard
EOP–010–1
12. The Commission proposes to
approve Reliability Standard EOP–010–
1 based on our review of NERC’s
petition and supporting exhibits. We
believe that the proposed Reliability
Standard satisfies the directive in Order
No. 779 that NERC submit one or more
Reliability Standards that require
owners and operators of the Bulk-Power
System to develop and implement
operational procedures to mitigate the
effects of GMDs consistent with the
reliable operation of the Bulk-Power
System. Further, the proposed
Reliability Standard is consistent with
the guidance in Order No. 779 that
NERC develop Reliability Standards
that, rather than require specific
operational procedures, require
13 NERC
Petition at 14.
14 Proposed Reliability Standard EOP–010–1 only
addresses the First Stage GMD Reliability Standards
directed in Order No. 779. The proposed Reliability
Standard does not address the Second Stage GMD
Reliability Standards, which NERC indicates are
under development. NERC Petition at 3.
15 Order No. 779, 143 FERC ¶ 61,147 at P 36.
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3549
responsible entities to develop and
implement entity-specific operational
procedures because owners and
operators of the Bulk-Power System are
most familiar with their own equipment
and system configurations.16 The
proposed Reliability Standard also
requires coordination of operational
procedures and processes, overseen by a
functional entity with a wide-area
perspective (i.e., reliability
coordinators), which is also consistent
with the guidance in Order No. 779.17
13. With respect to the applicability of
proposed Reliability Standard EOP–
010–1, NERC submitted a white paper
explaining the technical justification for
basing the applicability of the proposed
Reliability Standard, with respect to
transmission operators, on the presence
of a power transformer with a high side
wye-grounded winding with terminal
voltage greater than 200 kV in the
transmission operator area.18 NERC also
explains, in a separate white paper, its
proposal regarding the applicability of
the proposed Reliability Standard to
reliability coordinators and
transmission operators only.19 The
White Paper Supporting Functional
Entity Applicability explains that the
reliability coordinator has
‘‘responsibility and authority for reliable
operation within the Reliability
Coordinator Area (RCA) . . . and
includes a wide-area view with
situational awareness of neighboring
RCAs.’’ 20 NERC states that including
reliability coordinators as applicable
entities ‘‘provides the necessary
coordination for planning and real-time
actions.’’ 21 With respect to transmission
operators, NERC explains that ‘‘[l]ike
the [reliability coordinator], the
[transmission operator] has
responsibility and authority for the
reliable operation of the transmission
system within a specified area.’’ 22 In
addition, NERC justifies omitting
balancing authorities and generator
operators from the scope of the
proposed Reliability Standard. NERC
explains that balancing authorities ‘‘can
be expected to address GMD impacts
through use of generation . . . [but] the
[balancing authority] would not initiate
actions unilaterally during a GMD event
and would instead respond to the
direction of the [transmission operator]
16 Id.
P 38.
17 Id.
18 NERC Petition, Exhibit D (White Paper
Supporting Network Applicability) at 1.
19 NERC Petition, Exhibit E (White Paper
Supporting Functional Entity Applicability).
20 Id. at 2.
21 Id.
22 Id.
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 14 / Wednesday, January 22, 2014 / Proposed Rules
and [reliability coordinator].’’ 23 As for
generator operators, NERC states that
some generator operators ‘‘would not
have the technical basis for taking steps
[to mitigate GMDs] on [their] own and
would instead take steps based on the
[reliability coordinator] or [transmission
operator’s] Operating Plans, Processes,
or Procedures.’’ 24 NERC also notes that
generator owners and generator
operators will be considered for
inclusion in the Second Stage GMD
Reliability Standards, ‘‘which will
require applicable entities to conduct
vulnerability assessment and develop
appropriate mitigation strategies . . .
[and that] [s]uch mitigation strategies
could include the development of
Operating Procedures for applicable
[generator owners] and [generator
operators].’’ 25
14. We believe that the applicability
designations in the proposed Reliability
Standard are appropriate, based on the
justifications set forth in the white
papers in Exhibits D and E of NERC’s
petition.
B. Violation Risk Factors and Violation
Severity Levels
15. Each requirement of proposed
Reliability Standard EOP–010–1
includes one violation risk factor and
has an associated set of at least one
violation severity level. The ranges of
penalties for violations will be based on
the sanctions table and supporting
penalty determination process described
in the Commission-approved NERC
Sanction Guidelines, according to the
NERC petition. The Commission
proposes to approve the proposed
violation risk factors and violation
severity levels for the requirements
proposed in Reliability Standard EOP–
010–1as consistent with the
Commission’s established guidelines.26
C. Implementation Plan and Effective
Dates
16. The NERC petition proposes that
Reliability Standard EOP–010–1 become
23 Id.
24 Id.
at 3–4.
at 4.
25 Id.
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26 North American Electric Reliability Corp., 135
FERC ¶ 61,166 (2011).
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effective the ‘‘first day of the first
calendar quarter that is six months after
the date that this standard is approved
by an applicable governmental
authority.’’ 27 However, NERC states that
Requirement R2 of Reliability Standard
EOP–010–1, pertaining to reliability
coordinator dissemination of space
weather information, is meant to replace
existing Requirement R3 of Reliability
Standard IRO–005–3.1a, which includes
similar language. Therefore, to avoid
duplicative requirements being enforced
at the same time, NERC proposes that,
if Reliability Standard EOP–010–1
becomes effective prior to the retirement
of Reliability Standard IRO–005–3.1a,
then Requirement R2 of Reliability
Standard EOP–010–1 will not become
effective until the first day following
retirement of Reliability Standard IRO–
005–3.1a.28 Requirements R1 and R3 of
Reliability Standard EOP–010–1 will
still be effective the first day of the first
calendar quarter that is six months after
the date that the proposed Reliability
Standard is approved by an applicable
governmental authority.29 The
27 NERC Petition, Exhibit B (Implementation
Plan) at 2.
28 We agree with NERC that Reliability Standard
IRO–005–3.1a, Requirement R3, which requires that
‘‘[e]ach Reliability Coordinator shall ensure its
Transmission Operators and Balancing Authorities
are aware of Geo-Magnetic Disturbance (GMD)
forecast information and assist as needed in the
development of any required response plans,’’ and
Requirement R2 of proposed Reliability Standard
EOP–010–1, which requires that ‘‘[e]ach Reliability
Coordinator shall disseminate forecasted and
current space weather information to functional
entities identified as recipients in the Reliability
Coordinator’s GMD Operating Plan,’’ are largely
duplicative in that both requirements require the
dissemination of GMD forecast information, at a
minimum, to applicable transmission operators.
29 Id. On April 16, 2013, NERC submitted a
petition requesting approval of three revised IRO
Reliability Standards and the retirement or revision
of six currently-effective Reliability Standards,
including IRO–005–3.1a (Docket No. RM13–15–
000). On November 21, 2013, the Commission
issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that, inter
alia, proposes to remand the proposed IRO
Reliability Standards and related retirements and
revisions. See Monitoring System Conditions—
Transmission Operations Reliability Standard,
Transmission Operation Reliability Standards,
Interconnection Reliability Operations and
Coordination Reliability Standards, Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking, 78 FR 73112 (Dec. 5, 2013),
145 FERC ¶ 61,158 (2013).
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Commission proposes to accept NERC’s
implementation plan and effective dates
for proposed Reliability Standard EOP–
010–1.
III. Information Collection Statement
17. The Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) regulations require
approval of certain information
collection requirements imposed by
agency rules. Upon approval of a
collection(s) of information, OMB will
assign an OMB control number and an
expiration date. Respondents subject to
the filing requirements of an agency rule
will not be penalized for failing to
respond to these collections of
information unless the collections of
information display a valid OMB
control number. The Paperwork
Reduction Act (PRA) requires each
federal agency to seek and obtain OMB
approval before undertaking a collection
of information directed to ten or more
persons, or contained in a rule of
general applicability.
18. The Commission is submitting
these reporting requirements to OMB for
its review and approval under section
3507(d) of the PRA. Comments are
solicited on the Commission’s need for
this information, whether the
information will have practical utility,
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be
collected, and any suggested methods
for minimizing the respondent’s burden,
including the use of automated
information techniques.
19. The Commission based its
paperwork burden estimates on the
NERC compliance registry as of
November 27, 2013. According to the
registry, there are 16 reliability
coordinators and 183 transmission
operators.
20. The Commission estimates an
increased burden for each requirement,
as dictated in the chart below, for a total
estimated burden of $238,800. The
Commission based the burden estimates
on staff experience, knowledge, and
expertise:
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3551
BURDEN ESTIMATE FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF PROPOSED RELIABILITY STANDARD EOP–010–1
Reliability
standard
number
Type of
respondents
EOP–010–1 (R1)
Reliability Coordinator.
Transmission
Operator.
EOP–010–1 (R3)
Total ...........
...........................
Number of
respondents 30
(1)
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Total annual
burden hours
(1)(2)(3)
Total annual cost 31
1
20
320
$19,200 ($60/hr).
183
1
20
3660
$219,600 ($60/hr).
..............................
..............................
..............................
3980
$238,800.
30 This number was calculated by adding all the
applicable entities while removing double counting
caused by entities registered under multiple
functions.
31The 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) (https://bls.gov/oes/current/naics2_
22.htm). Loaded costs are BLS rates divided by
0.703 and rounded to the nearest dollar (https://
www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm).
14:37 Jan 21, 2014
Average burden
hours per
response
(3)
16
21. The above chart does not include
Reliability Standard EOP–010–1,
Requirement R2 because, as NERC
states, that requirement replaces IRO–
005–3.1a, Requirement R3 and has no
change in overall burden. In addition,
while our burden estimate with respect
to Reliability Standard EOP–010–1,
Requirement R3 assumes that all 183
transmission operators are subject to
that requirement, we note that not all
183 transmission operators are likely to
be subject to Requirement R3 because
that requirement only applies to
transmission operators with a
Transmission Operator Area that
includes a power transformer with a
high side, wye-grounded winding with
terminal voltage greater than 200 kV.
Title: FERC–725S, Mandatory
Reliability Standards: Reliability
Standard EOP–010–1.
Action: Proposed Collection of
Information.
OMB Control No: To be determined.
Respondents: Business or other for
profit, and not for profit institutions.
Frequency of Responses: One-time.
Necessity of the Information: The
proposed Reliability Standard EOP–
010–1, if adopted, would implement the
Congressional mandate of the Energy
Policy Act of 2005 to develop
mandatory and enforceable Reliability
Standards to better ensure the reliability
of the nation’s Bulk-Power System.
Specifically, the proposal would ensure
that responsible entities have Operating
Plans and Operating Procedures or
Processes in place to mitigate the effects
of geomagnetic disturbances on the
Bulk-Power System.
Internal review: The Commission has
reviewed the proposed changes and has
determined that the changes are
VerDate Mar<15>2010
Number of
responses per
respondent
(2)
Jkt 232001
necessary to ensure the reliability and
integrity of the Nation’s Bulk-Power
System.
22. Interested persons may obtain
information on the reporting
requirements by contacting: Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission, 888
First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426
[Attention: Ellen Brown, Office of the
Executive Director, email:
DataClearance@ferc.gov, Phone: (202)
502–8663, fax: (202) 273–0873].
Comments on the requirements of this
rule may also be sent to the Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs,
Office of Management and Budget,
Washington, DC 20503 [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.
Comments submitted to OMB should
include Docket Number RM14–1–000.
IV. Environmental Analysis
23. 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.32 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.33 The
actions proposed here fall within this
categorical exclusion in the
Commission’s regulations.
V. Regulatory Flexibility Act
24. The Regulatory Flexibility Act of
1980 (RFA) 34 generally requires a
description and analysis of proposed
rules that will have significant
32 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).
33 18 CFR 380.4(a)(2)(ii).
34 5 U.S.C. 601–612.
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
economic impact on a substantial
number of small entities.
25. Comparison of the NERC
compliance registry with data submitted
to the Energy Information
Administration on Form EIA–861
indicates that perhaps as many as 34
small entities are registered as
transmission operators and no small
entities are registered as reliability
coordinators. However, the Commission
estimates that there will be no material
change in burden for the 34
transmission operators that qualify as
small entities because they will likely
not be affected by proposed Reliability
Standard EOP–010–1. Proposed
Reliability Standard EOP–010–1 applies
to transmission operators with a
Transmission Operator Area that
includes a power transformer with a
high side, wye-grounded winding with
terminal voltage greater than 200 kV.
Transmission operators with
Transmission Operator Areas that
include a power transformer with a high
side, wye-grounded winding with
terminal voltage greater than 200 kV are
generally large entities serving
substantial geographical areas with
significant energy output.
26. Based on the above, the
Commission certifies that the proposed
Reliability Standard EOP–010–1 will
not have a significant impact on a
substantial number of small entities.
Accordingly, no initial regulatory
flexibility analysis is required. The
Commission seeks comment on the
Commission’s proposed certification.
VI. Comment Procedures
27. The Commission invites interested
persons to submit comments on the
matters and issues proposed in this
notice to be adopted, including any
related matters or alternative proposals
that commenters may wish to discuss.
Comments are due March 24, 2014.
Comments must refer to Docket No.
RM14–1–000, and must include the
commenter’s name, the organization
they represent, if applicable, and their
address in their comments.
E:\FR\FM\22JAP1.SGM
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3552
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 14 / Wednesday, January 22, 2014 / Proposed Rules
28. The Commission encourages
comments to be filed electronically via
the eFiling link on the Commission’s
Web site at https://www.ferc.gov. The
Commission accepts most standard
word processing formats. Documents
created electronically using word
processing software should be filed in
native applications or print-to-PDF
format and not in a scanned format.
Commenters filing electronically do not
need to make a paper filing.
29. Commenters that are not able to
file comments electronically must send
an original of their comments to:
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,
Secretary of the Commission, 888 First
Street NE., Washington, DC 20426.
30. All comments will be placed in
the Commission’s public files and may
be viewed, printed, or downloaded
remotely as described in the Document
Availability section below. Commenters
on this proposal are not required to
serve copies of their comments on other
commenters.
pmangrum on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS-1
VII. Document Availability
31. In addition to publishing the full
text of this document in the Federal
Register, the Commission provides all
interested persons an opportunity to
view and/or print the contents of this
document via the Internet through the
Commission’s Home Page (https://
www.ferc.gov) and in the Commission’s
Public Reference Room during normal
business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Eastern time) at 888 First Street NE.,
Room 2A, Washington, DC 20426.
32. From the Commission’s Home
Page on the Internet, this information is
available on eLibrary. The full text of
this document is available on eLibrary
in PDF and Microsoft Word format for
viewing, printing, and/or downloading.
To access this document in eLibrary,
type the docket number excluding the
last three digits of this document in the
docket number field.
33. User assistance is available for
eLibrary and the Commission’s Web site
during normal business hours from the
Commission’s 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.
By direction of the Commission.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2014–01143 Filed 1–21–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
VerDate Mar<15>2010
14:37 Jan 21, 2014
Jkt 232001
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 165
[Docket Number USCG–2013–1001]
RIN 1625–AA00
Table of Acronyms
Safety Zones, Charleston Sharkfest
Swim; Charleston, SC
Coast Guard, DHS.
Notice of proposed rulemaking.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The Coast Guard proposes to
establish a temporary moving safety
zone on the waters of Charleston
Harbor, in Charleston, South Carolina
during the Charleston Sharkfest Swim
on Sunday, April 27, 2014 from 7:30
a.m. to 8:30 a.m. The Charleston
Sharkfest Swim is a 1500 meter
swimming race. The safety zone is
necessary for the safety of the
swimmers, participant vessels,
spectators, and the general public
during the swim. Persons and vessels
will be prohibited from entering,
transiting through, anchoring in, or
remaining within the safety zone unless
authorized by the Captain of the Port
Charleston or a designated
representative.
SUMMARY:
Comments and related material
must be received by the Coast Guard on
or before February 21, 2014. Requests
for public meetings must be received by
the Coast Guard on or before February
28, 2013.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
identified by docket number using any
one of the following methods:
(1) Federal eRulemaking Portal:
https://www.regulations.gov.
(2) Fax: 202–493–2251.
(3) Mail or Delivery: Docket
Management Facility (M–30), U.S.
Department of Transportation, West
Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140,
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE.,
Washington, DC 20590–0001. Deliveries
accepted between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except federal
holidays. The telephone number is 202–
366–9329.
See the ‘‘Public Participation and
Request for Comments’’ portion of the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section
below for further instructions on
submitting comments. To avoid
duplication, please use only one of
these three methods.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If
you have questions on this proposed
rule, call or email Chief Warrant Officer
Christopher Ruleman, Sector Charleston
DATES:
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 4702
Office of Waterways Management, Coast
Guard; telephone (843) 740–3184, email
Christopher.L.Ruleman@uscg.mil. If you
have questions on viewing or submitting
material to the docket, call Cheryl
Collins, Program Manager, Docket
Operations, telephone (202) 366–9826.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Sfmt 4702
DHS Department of Homeland Security
FR Federal Register
NPRM Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
A. Public Participation and Request for
Comments
We encourage you to participate in
this rulemaking by submitting
comments and related materials. All
comments received will be posted
without change to https://
www.regulations.gov and will include
any personal information you have
provided.
1. Submitting Comments
If you submit a comment, please
include the docket number for this
rulemaking, indicate the specific section
of this document to which each
comment applies, and provide a reason
for each suggestion or recommendation.
You may submit your comments and
material online at https://
www.regulations.gov, or by fax, mail, or
hand delivery, but please use only one
of these means. If you submit a
comment online, it will be considered
received by the Coast Guard when you
successfully transmit the comment. If
you fax, hand deliver, or mail your
comment, it will be considered as
having been received by the Coast
Guard when it is received at the Docket
Management Facility. We recommend
that you include your name and a
mailing address, an email address, or a
telephone number in the body of your
document so that we can contact you if
we have questions regarding your
submission.
To submit your comment online, go to
https://www.regulations.gov, type the
docket number USCG–2013–1001 in the
‘‘SEARCH’’ box and click ‘‘SEARCH.’’
Click on ‘‘Submit a Comment’’ on the
line associated with this rulemaking.
If you submit your comments by mail
or hand delivery, submit them in an
unbound format, no larger than 81⁄2 by
11 inches, suitable for copying and
electronic filing. If you submit
comments by mail and would like to
know that they reached the Facility,
please enclose a stamped, self-addressed
postcard or envelope. We will consider
all comments and material received
during the comment period and may
E:\FR\FM\22JAP1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 14 (Wednesday, January 22, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 3547-3552]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-01143]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
18 CFR Part 40
[Docket No. RM14-1-000]
Reliability Standard for Geomagnetic Disturbance Operations
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, DOE.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 215 of the Federal Power Act, the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) proposes to approve
Reliability Standard EOP-010-1 (Geomagnetic Disturbance Operations).
The North American Electric Reliability Corporation, the Commission-
certified Electric Reliability Organization, submitted the proposed
Reliability Standard for Commission approval in response to a
Commission directive in Order No. 779. Proposed Reliability Standard
EOP-010-1 is designed to mitigate the effects of geomagnetic
disturbances on the Bulk-Power System by requiring responsible entities
to implement Operating Plans and Operating Procedures or Processes.
DATES: Comments are due March 24, 2014.
ADDRESSES: Comments, identified by docket number, may be filed in the
following ways:
Electronic Filing through https://www.ferc.gov. Documents
created electronically using word processing software should be filed
in native applications or print-to-PDF format and not in a scanned
format.
Mail/Hand Delivery: Those unable to file electronically
may mail or hand-deliver comments to: Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, Secretary of the Commission, 888 First Street NE.,
Washington, DC 20426.
Instructions: For detailed instructions on submitting comments and
additional information on the rulemaking process, see the Comment
Procedures Section of this document.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Michael Gandolfo (Technical Information), Office of Electric
Reliability, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street
NE., Washington, DC 20426, Telephone: (202) 502-6817,
Michael.Gandolfo@ferc.gov.
Matthew Vlissides (Legal Information), Office of the General Counsel,
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Washington,
DC 20426, Telephone: (202) 502-8408, Matthew.Vlissides@ferc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
146 FERC ] 61,015
Before Commissioners: Cheryl A. LaFleur, Acting Chairman; Philip D.
Moeller, John R. Norris, and Tony Clark.
(Issued January 16, 2014)
[[Page 3548]]
1. Pursuant to section 215 of the Federal Power Act (FPA),\1\ the
Commission proposes to approve Reliability Standard EOP-010-1
(Geomagnetic Disturbance Operations). The North American Electric
Reliability Corporation (NERC), the Commission-certified Electric
Reliability Organization (ERO), submitted the proposed Reliability
Standard for Commission approval in response to a Commission directive
in Order No. 779.\2\ The proposed Reliability Standard is designed to
mitigate the effects of geomagnetic disturbances (GMDs) on the Bulk-
Power System by requiring responsible entities to implement Operating
Plans and Operating Procedures or Processes. The Commission also
proposes to approve the associated violation risk factors and violation
severity levels, implementation plan, and effective dates proposed by
NERC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ 16 U.S.C. 824o.
\2\ Reliability Standards for Geomagnetic Disturbances, Order
No. 779, 78 FR 30747 (May 23, 2013), 143 FERC ] 61,147, reh'g
denied, 144 FERC ] 61,113 (2013).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
I. Background
A. Section 215 and Mandatory Reliability Standards
2. Section 215 of the FPA requires the Commission to certify an ERO
to develop mandatory and enforceable Reliability Standards, subject to
Commission review and approval.\3\ Once approved, the Reliability
Standards may be enforced in the United States by the ERO, subject to
Commission oversight, or by the Commission independently.\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ 16 U.S.C. 824o.
\4\ Id. 824o(e).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
B. Order No. 779
3. In Order No. 779, the Commission directed NERC, pursuant to FPA
section 215(d)(5), to develop and submit for approval proposed
Reliability Standards that address the impact of GMDs on the reliable
operation of the Bulk-Power System. The Commission based its directive
on the potentially severe, wide-spread impact on the reliable operation
of the Bulk-Power System that can be caused by GMD events and the
absence of existing Reliability Standards to address GMD events.\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ Order No. 779, 143 FERC ] 61,147 at P 3.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. The Commission directed NERC to implement the directive in two
stages. In the first stage, the Commission directed NERC to submit,
within six months of the effective date of Order No. 779, one or more
Reliability Standards (First Stage GMD Reliability Standards) that
require owners and operators of the Bulk-Power System to develop and
implement operational procedures to mitigate the effects of GMDs
consistent with the reliable operation of the Bulk-Power System.\6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\6\ Id. P 2.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. In the second stage, the Commission directed NERC to submit,
within 18 months of the effective date of Order No. 779, one or more
Reliability Standards (Second Stage GMD Reliability Standards) that
require owners and operators of the Bulk-Power System to conduct
initial and on-going assessments of the potential impact of benchmark
GMD events on Bulk-Power System equipment and the Bulk-Power System as
a whole. Order No. 779 directed that the Second Stage GMD Reliability
Standards must identify benchmark GMD events that specify what severity
GMD events a responsible entity must assess for potential impacts on
the Bulk-Power System.\7\ Order No. 779 explained that, if the
assessments identify potential impacts from benchmark GMD events, the
Reliability Standards should require owners and operators to develop
and implement a plan to protect against instability, uncontrolled
separation, or cascading failures of the Bulk-Power System, caused by
damage to critical or vulnerable Bulk-Power System equipment, or
otherwise, as a result of a benchmark GMD event. The Commission
directed that the development of this plan could not be limited to
considering operational procedures or enhanced training alone, but
should, subject to the potential impacts of the benchmark GMD events
identified in the assessments, contain strategies for protecting
against the potential impact of GMDs based on factors such as the age,
condition, technical specifications, system configuration, or location
of specific equipment.\8\ Order No. 779 observed that these strategies
could, for example, include automatically blocking geomagnetically
induced currents from entering the Bulk-Power System, instituting
specification requirements for new equipment, inventory management,
isolating certain equipment that is not cost effective to retrofit, or
a combination thereof.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\7\ Id.
\8\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
C. NERC Petition
6. On November 13, 2013, NERC petitioned the Commission to approve
proposed Reliability Standard EOP-010-1 and its associated violation
risk factors and violation severity levels, implementation plan, and
effective dates. NERC states that the proposed Reliability Standard is
just, reasonable, not unduly discriminatory or preferential, and in the
public interest. Further, NERC maintains that the proposed Reliability
Standard satisfies the Commission's directive in Order No. 779
corresponding to the development and submission of the First Stage GMD
Reliability Standards.
7. NERC states that, consistent with Order No. 779 and the NERC
Functional Model, proposed Reliability Standard EOP-010-1 applies to
reliability coordinators and to transmission operators with a
``Transmission Operator Area that includes a power transformer with a
high side wye-grounded winding with terminal voltage greater than 200
kV.'' \9\ NERC explains that the proposed Reliability Standard has
three requirements: (1) Requirement R1 addresses coordination by
reliability coordinators within their areas; (2) Requirement R2
addresses the dissemination of space weather information by reliability
coordinators to ensure that entities within a reliability coordinator
area have the appropriate information necessary to take action and that
the same information is available to all entities; and (3) Requirement
R3 requires transmission operators to develop GMD Operating Procedures
or Processes.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\9\ NERC Petition at 8 (``A power transformer with a `high side
wye-grounded winding' refers to a power transformer with windings on
the high voltage side that are connected in a wye configuration and
have a grounded neutral connection.'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
8. NERC states that Requirement R1 requires reliability
coordinators to develop, maintain, and implement a GMD Operating Plan
that coordinates the GMD Operating Procedures or Operating Processes
within the reliability coordinator area.\10\ NERC explains that
reliability coordinators are required to ensure that GMD Operating
Procedures and Operating Processes in a reliability coordinator area
are not in conflict, but reliability coordinators will not review the
technical aspects of the GMD Operating Procedures and Operating
Processes.\11\ Instead, NERC
[[Page 3549]]
points out that transmission operators will be responsible for the
technical aspects of their Operating Procedures and Operating
Processes. NERC further states that Requirement R1 requires reliability
coordinators to describe the activities that must be undertaken in
order to mitigate the effects of a GMD event. NERC explains that,
pursuant to Reliability Standard IRO-001-1.1, reliability coordinators
have decision-making authority to act and to direct actions to be taken
by transmission operators, balancing authorities, generator operators,
transmission service providers, load-serving entities, and purchasing-
selling entities within their reliability coordinator area to preserve
the reliability of the bulk electric system.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\10\ Operating Plan, Operating Procedure, and Operating Process
are existing terms defined in the Glossary of Terms Used in NERC
Reliability Standards. See Glossary of Terms Used in NERC
Reliability Standards (effective November 21, 2013) at 49-50.
\11\ NERC explains that ``if Company A submitted an Operating
Procedure proposing to take Line X out of service under specified
GMD conditions, and Company B submitted an Operating Procedure that
relies on Line X remaining in service in the event of a GMD--it is
the responsibility of the Reliability Coordinator to identify this
conflict.'' NERC Petition at 11-12 (emphasis in original). Beyond
identifying a conflict and requiring its resolution by Company A and
Company B, NERC states that the review is ``not intended to be a
review by the Reliability Coordinator of the technical aspects of
the GMD Operating Procedures or Processes.'' Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
9. NERC states that Requirement R2 requires reliability
coordinators to disseminate space weather information to ensure
coordination and consistent awareness in its reliability coordinator
area. NERC maintains that entrusting this responsibility to reliability
coordinators is appropriate given the reliability coordinator's wide-
area view. NERC also explains that Requirement R2 replaces existing
Requirement R3 of Reliability Standard IRO-005-3.1a, which currently
addresses dissemination of information regarding GMD forecasts.\12\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\12\ According to NERC, Reliability Standard IRO-005-3.1a will
be retired once the Commission approves proposed Reliability
Standard IRO-005-4, which is currently pending before the
Commission. NERC Petition at 13.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
10. NERC states that Requirement R3 requires transmission operators
to develop GMD Operating Procedures or Operating Processes to address
GMD events. NERC explains that Requirement R3 is not prescriptive and
allows entities to tailor their Operating Procedures or Operating
Processes based on the responsible entity's assessment of entity-
specific factors, such as geography, geology, and system topology.
According to NERC, Requirement R3 requires each transmission operator
to specify: (1) Steps or tasks that must be conducted to receive space
weather information; (2) what actions must be taken under what
conditions, and such conditions must be predetermined; and (3) when and
under what conditions the Operating Procedure or Operating Process is
exited. NERC maintains that proposed Reliability Standard EOP-010-1
does not prescribe specific actions that must be taken by responsible
entities because ``a `one-size fits all' approach to crafting GMD
Reliability Standards would fail to recognize the important role of
locational differences.'' \13\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\13\ NERC Petition at 14.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
II. Discussion
11. Pursuant to FPA section 215(d)(2), we propose to approve
Reliability Standard EOP-010-1 as just, reasonable, not unduly
discriminatory or preferential, and in the public interest. Proposed
Reliability Standard EOP-010-1 addresses the directive in Order No. 779
that NERC submit one or more Reliability Standards that require owners
and operators of the Bulk-Power System to develop and implement
operational procedures to mitigate the effects of GMDs consistent with
the reliable operation of the Bulk-Power System.\14\ As the Commission
stated in Order No. 779, ``operational procedures, while not a complete
solution, constitute an important first step to addressing the GMD
reliability gap because they can be implemented relatively quickly . .
. [o]perational procedures may help alleviate abnormal system
conditions due to transformer absorption of reactive power during GMD
events, helping to stabilize system voltage swings, and may potentially
isolate some equipment from being damaged or misoperated.'' \15\ The
Commission seeks comments from interested entities on our proposal to
approve proposed Reliability Standard EOP-010-1.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\14\ Proposed Reliability Standard EOP-010-1 only addresses the
First Stage GMD Reliability Standards directed in Order No. 779. The
proposed Reliability Standard does not address the Second Stage GMD
Reliability Standards, which NERC indicates are under development.
NERC Petition at 3.
\15\ Order No. 779, 143 FERC ] 61,147 at P 36.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
A. Proposed Reliability Standard EOP-010-1
12. The Commission proposes to approve Reliability Standard EOP-
010-1 based on our review of NERC's petition and supporting exhibits.
We believe that the proposed Reliability Standard satisfies the
directive in Order No. 779 that NERC submit one or more Reliability
Standards that require owners and operators of the Bulk-Power System to
develop and implement operational procedures to mitigate the effects of
GMDs consistent with the reliable operation of the Bulk-Power System.
Further, the proposed Reliability Standard is consistent with the
guidance in Order No. 779 that NERC develop Reliability Standards that,
rather than require specific operational procedures, require
responsible entities to develop and implement entity-specific
operational procedures because owners and operators of the Bulk-Power
System are most familiar with their own equipment and system
configurations.\16\ The proposed Reliability Standard also requires
coordination of operational procedures and processes, overseen by a
functional entity with a wide-area perspective (i.e., reliability
coordinators), which is also consistent with the guidance in Order No.
779.\17\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\16\ Id. P 38.
\17\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
13. With respect to the applicability of proposed Reliability
Standard EOP-010-1, NERC submitted a white paper explaining the
technical justification for basing the applicability of the proposed
Reliability Standard, with respect to transmission operators, on the
presence of a power transformer with a high side wye-grounded winding
with terminal voltage greater than 200 kV in the transmission operator
area.\18\ NERC also explains, in a separate white paper, its proposal
regarding the applicability of the proposed Reliability Standard to
reliability coordinators and transmission operators only.\19\ The White
Paper Supporting Functional Entity Applicability explains that the
reliability coordinator has ``responsibility and authority for reliable
operation within the Reliability Coordinator Area (RCA) . . . and
includes a wide-area view with situational awareness of neighboring
RCAs.'' \20\ NERC states that including reliability coordinators as
applicable entities ``provides the necessary coordination for planning
and real-time actions.'' \21\ With respect to transmission operators,
NERC explains that ``[l]ike the [reliability coordinator], the
[transmission operator] has responsibility and authority for the
reliable operation of the transmission system within a specified
area.'' \22\ In addition, NERC justifies omitting balancing authorities
and generator operators from the scope of the proposed Reliability
Standard. NERC explains that balancing authorities ``can be expected to
address GMD impacts through use of generation . . . [but] the
[balancing authority] would not initiate actions unilaterally during a
GMD event and would instead respond to the direction of the
[transmission operator]
[[Page 3550]]
and [reliability coordinator].'' \23\ As for generator operators, NERC
states that some generator operators ``would not have the technical
basis for taking steps [to mitigate GMDs] on [their] own and would
instead take steps based on the [reliability coordinator] or
[transmission operator's] Operating Plans, Processes, or Procedures.''
\24\ NERC also notes that generator owners and generator operators will
be considered for inclusion in the Second Stage GMD Reliability
Standards, ``which will require applicable entities to conduct
vulnerability assessment and develop appropriate mitigation strategies
. . . [and that] [s]uch mitigation strategies could include the
development of Operating Procedures for applicable [generator owners]
and [generator operators].'' \25\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\18\ NERC Petition, Exhibit D (White Paper Supporting Network
Applicability) at 1.
\19\ NERC Petition, Exhibit E (White Paper Supporting Functional
Entity Applicability).
\20\ Id. at 2.
\21\ Id.
\22\ Id.
\23\ Id. at 3-4.
\24\ Id. at 4.
\25\ Id.
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14. We believe that the applicability designations in the proposed
Reliability Standard are appropriate, based on the justifications set
forth in the white papers in Exhibits D and E of NERC's petition.
B. Violation Risk Factors and Violation Severity Levels
15. Each requirement of proposed Reliability Standard EOP-010-1
includes one violation risk factor and has an associated set of at
least one violation severity level. The ranges of penalties for
violations will be based on the sanctions table and supporting penalty
determination process described in the Commission-approved NERC
Sanction Guidelines, according to the NERC petition. The Commission
proposes to approve the proposed violation risk factors and violation
severity levels for the requirements proposed in Reliability Standard
EOP-010-1as consistent with the Commission's established
guidelines.\26\
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\26\ North American Electric Reliability Corp., 135 FERC ]
61,166 (2011).
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C. Implementation Plan and Effective Dates
16. The NERC petition proposes that Reliability Standard EOP-010-1
become effective the ``first day of the first calendar quarter that is
six months after the date that this standard is approved by an
applicable governmental authority.'' \27\ However, NERC states that
Requirement R2 of Reliability Standard EOP-010-1, pertaining to
reliability coordinator dissemination of space weather information, is
meant to replace existing Requirement R3 of Reliability Standard IRO-
005-3.1a, which includes similar language. Therefore, to avoid
duplicative requirements being enforced at the same time, NERC proposes
that, if Reliability Standard EOP-010-1 becomes effective prior to the
retirement of Reliability Standard IRO-005-3.1a, then Requirement R2 of
Reliability Standard EOP-010-1 will not become effective until the
first day following retirement of Reliability Standard IRO-005-
3.1a.\28\ Requirements R1 and R3 of Reliability Standard EOP-010-1 will
still be effective the first day of the first calendar quarter that is
six months after the date that the proposed Reliability Standard is
approved by an applicable governmental authority.\29\ The Commission
proposes to accept NERC's implementation plan and effective dates for
proposed Reliability Standard EOP-010-1.
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\27\ NERC Petition, Exhibit B (Implementation Plan) at 2.
\28\ We agree with NERC that Reliability Standard IRO-005-3.1a,
Requirement R3, which requires that ``[e]ach Reliability Coordinator
shall ensure its Transmission Operators and Balancing Authorities
are aware of Geo-Magnetic Disturbance (GMD) forecast information and
assist as needed in the development of any required response
plans,'' and Requirement R2 of proposed Reliability Standard EOP-
010-1, which requires that ``[e]ach Reliability Coordinator shall
disseminate forecasted and current space weather information to
functional entities identified as recipients in the Reliability
Coordinator's GMD Operating Plan,'' are largely duplicative in that
both requirements require the dissemination of GMD forecast
information, at a minimum, to applicable transmission operators.
\29\ Id. On April 16, 2013, NERC submitted a petition requesting
approval of three revised IRO Reliability Standards and the
retirement or revision of six currently-effective Reliability
Standards, including IRO-005-3.1a (Docket No. RM13-15-000). On
November 21, 2013, the Commission issued a Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking that, inter alia, proposes to remand the proposed IRO
Reliability Standards and related retirements and revisions. See
Monitoring System Conditions--Transmission Operations Reliability
Standard, Transmission Operation Reliability Standards,
Interconnection Reliability Operations and Coordination Reliability
Standards, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 78 FR 73112 (Dec. 5,
2013), 145 FERC ] 61,158 (2013).
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III. Information Collection Statement
17. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations require
approval of certain information collection requirements imposed by
agency rules. Upon approval of a collection(s) of information, OMB will
assign an OMB control number and an expiration date. Respondents
subject to the filing requirements of an agency rule will not be
penalized for failing to respond to these collections of information
unless the collections of information display a valid OMB control
number. The Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) requires each federal agency
to seek and obtain OMB approval before undertaking a collection of
information directed to ten or more persons, or contained in a rule of
general applicability.
18. The Commission is submitting these reporting requirements to
OMB for its review and approval under section 3507(d) of the PRA.
Comments are solicited on the Commission's need for this information,
whether the information will have practical utility, ways to enhance
the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected,
and any suggested methods for minimizing the respondent's burden,
including the use of automated information techniques.
19. The Commission based its paperwork burden estimates on the NERC
compliance registry as of November 27, 2013. According to the registry,
there are 16 reliability coordinators and 183 transmission operators.
20. The Commission estimates an increased burden for each
requirement, as dictated in the chart below, for a total estimated
burden of $238,800. The Commission based the burden estimates on staff
experience, knowledge, and expertise:
[[Page 3551]]
Burden Estimate for Implementation of Proposed Reliability Standard EOP-010-1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of Number of Average burden Total annual
Reliability standard number Type of respondents \30\ responses per hours per burden hours Total annual cost \31\
respondents (1) respondent (2) response (3) (1)(2)(3)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EOP-010-1 (R1)............... Reliability 16 1 20 320 $19,200 ($60/hr).
Coordinator.
EOP-010-1 (R3)............... Transmission 183 1 20 3660 $219,600 ($60/hr).
Operator.
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Total.................... ................ ................. ................. ................. 3980 $238,800.
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21. The above chart does not include Reliability Standard EOP-010-
1, Requirement R2 because, as NERC states, that requirement replaces
IRO-005-3.1a, Requirement R3 and has no change in overall burden. In
addition, while our burden estimate with respect to Reliability
Standard EOP-010-1, Requirement R3 assumes that all 183 transmission
operators are subject to that requirement, we note that not all 183
transmission operators are likely to be subject to Requirement R3
because that requirement only applies to transmission operators with a
Transmission Operator Area that includes a power transformer with a
high side, wye-grounded winding with terminal voltage greater than 200
kV.
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\30\ This number was calculated by adding all the applicable
entities while removing double counting caused by entities
registered under multiple functions.
\31\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) (https://bls.gov/oes/current/naics2_22.htm). Loaded costs are BLS rates divided by 0.703 and
rounded to the nearest dollar (https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm).
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Title: FERC-725S, Mandatory Reliability Standards: Reliability
Standard EOP-010-1.
Action: Proposed Collection of Information.
OMB Control No: To be determined.
Respondents: Business or other for profit, and not for profit
institutions.
Frequency of Responses: One-time.
Necessity of the Information: The proposed Reliability Standard
EOP-010-1, if adopted, would implement the Congressional mandate of the
Energy Policy Act of 2005 to develop mandatory and enforceable
Reliability Standards to better ensure the reliability of the nation's
Bulk-Power System. Specifically, the proposal would ensure that
responsible entities have Operating Plans and Operating Procedures or
Processes in place to mitigate the effects of geomagnetic disturbances
on the Bulk-Power System.
Internal review: The Commission has reviewed the proposed changes
and has determined that the changes are necessary to ensure the
reliability and integrity of the Nation's Bulk-Power System.
22. Interested persons may obtain information on the reporting
requirements by contacting: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888
First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426 [Attention: Ellen Brown, Office
of the Executive Director, email: DataClearance@ferc.gov, Phone: (202)
502-8663, fax: (202) 273-0873]. Comments on the requirements of this
rule may also be sent to the Office of Information and Regulatory
Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC 20503
[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. Comments submitted to OMB should include Docket
Number RM14-1-000.
IV. Environmental Analysis
23. 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.\32\ 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.\33\ The actions proposed here
fall within this categorical exclusion in the Commission's regulations.
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\32\ 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).
\33\ 18 CFR 380.4(a)(2)(ii).
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V. Regulatory Flexibility Act
24. The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (RFA) \34\ generally
requires a description and analysis of proposed rules that will have
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.
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\34\ 5 U.S.C. 601-612.
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25. Comparison of the NERC compliance registry with data submitted
to the Energy Information Administration on Form EIA-861 indicates that
perhaps as many as 34 small entities are registered as transmission
operators and no small entities are registered as reliability
coordinators. However, the Commission estimates that there will be no
material change in burden for the 34 transmission operators that
qualify as small entities because they will likely not be affected by
proposed Reliability Standard EOP-010-1. Proposed Reliability Standard
EOP-010-1 applies to transmission operators with a Transmission
Operator Area that includes a power transformer with a high side, wye-
grounded winding with terminal voltage greater than 200 kV.
Transmission operators with Transmission Operator Areas that include a
power transformer with a high side, wye-grounded winding with terminal
voltage greater than 200 kV are generally large entities serving
substantial geographical areas with significant energy output.
26. Based on the above, the Commission certifies that the proposed
Reliability Standard EOP-010-1 will not have a significant impact on a
substantial number of small entities. Accordingly, no initial
regulatory flexibility analysis is required. The Commission seeks
comment on the Commission's proposed certification.
VI. Comment Procedures
27. The Commission invites interested persons to submit comments on
the matters and issues proposed in this notice to be adopted, including
any related matters or alternative proposals that commenters may wish
to discuss. Comments are due March 24, 2014. Comments must refer to
Docket No. RM14-1-000, and must include the commenter's name, the
organization they represent, if applicable, and their address in their
comments.
[[Page 3552]]
28. The Commission encourages comments to be filed electronically
via the eFiling link on the Commission's Web site at https://www.ferc.gov. The Commission accepts most standard word processing
formats. Documents created electronically using word processing
software should be filed in native applications or print-to-PDF format
and not in a scanned format. Commenters filing electronically do not
need to make a paper filing.
29. Commenters that are not able to file comments electronically
must send an original of their comments to: Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, Secretary of the Commission, 888 First Street NE.,
Washington, DC 20426.
30. All comments will be placed in the Commission's public files
and may be viewed, printed, or downloaded remotely as described in the
Document Availability section below. Commenters on this proposal are
not required to serve copies of their comments on other commenters.
VII. Document Availability
31. In addition to publishing the full text of this document in the
Federal Register, the Commission provides all interested persons an
opportunity to view and/or print the contents of this document via the
Internet through the Commission's Home Page (https://www.ferc.gov) and
in the Commission's Public Reference Room during normal business hours
(8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern time) at 888 First Street NE., Room 2A,
Washington, DC 20426.
32. From the Commission's Home Page on the Internet, this
information is available on eLibrary. The full text of this document is
available on eLibrary in PDF and Microsoft Word format for viewing,
printing, and/or downloading. To access this document in eLibrary, type
the docket number excluding the last three digits of this document in
the docket number field.
33. User assistance is available for eLibrary and the Commission's
Web site during normal business hours from the Commission's 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.
By direction of the Commission.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2014-01143 Filed 1-21-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
