Proposed Agency Information Collection, 46664-46666 [2016-16899]

Download as PDF 46664 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 137 / Monday, July 18, 2016 / Notices clicking on the links or querying the docket number. Any person desiring to intervene or protest in any of the above proceedings must file in accordance with Rules 211 and 214 of the Commission’s Regulations (18 CFR 385.211 and 385.214) on or before 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on the specified comment date. Protests may be considered, but intervention is necessary to become a party to the proceeding. eFiling is encouraged. More detailed information relating to filing requirements, interventions, protests, service, and qualifying facilities filings can be found at: https://www.ferc.gov/ docs-filing/efiling/filing-req.pdf. For other information, call (866) 208–3676 (toll free). For TTY, call (202) 502–8659. Dated: July 12, 2016. Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr., Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2016–16878 Filed 7–15–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Combined Notice of Filings Take notice that the Commission has received the following Natural Gas Pipeline Rate and Refund Report filings: asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Filings Instituting Proceedings Docket Numbers: CP16–469–000. Applicants: ANR Storage Company. Description: Abbreviated Application of ANR Storage Company for Approval to Abandon Individually Certificated Part 157 Service and Provide Part 284 Service. Filed Date: 6/16/16. Accession Number: 20160616–5109. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 7/15/16. Docket Numbers: RP16–1082–000. Applicants: Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC. Description: Petition for Approval of Settlement of Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC. Filed Date: 6/30/16. Accession Number: 20160630–5425. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 7/12/16. Docket Numbers: RP16–1083–000. Applicants: MIGC LLC. Description: Annual Fuel Retention Percentage Tracker of MIGC LLC. Filed Date: 7/1/16. Accession Number: 20160701–5344. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 7/13/16. Any person desiring to intervene or protest in any of the above proceedings must file in accordance with Rules 211 VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:52 Jul 15, 2016 Jkt 238001 and 214 of the Commission’s Regulations (18 CFR 385.211 and § 385.214) on or before 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on the specified comment date. Protests may be considered, but intervention is necessary to become a party to the proceeding. Dated: July 12, 2016. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2016–16894 Filed 7–15–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P Filings in Existing Proceedings DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Docket Numbers: RP01–382–026. Applicants: Northern Natural Gas Company. Description: Northern Natural Gas Company submits Carlton Reimbursement Report. Filed Date: 6/1/16. Accession Number: 20160601–5395. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 6/18/16. Any person desiring to protest in any of the above proceedings must file in accordance with Rule 211 of the Commission’s Regulations (18 CFR 385.211) on or before 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on the specified comment date. The filings are accessible in the Commission’s eLibrary system by clicking on the links or querying the docket number. eFiling is encouraged. More detailed information relating to filing requirements, interventions, protests, service, and qualifying facilities filings can be found at: https://www.ferc.gov/ docs-filing/efiling/filing-req.pdf. For other information, call (866) 208–3676 (toll free). For TTY, call (202) 502–8659. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. EL16–96–000] PJM Interconnection, L.L.C.; Notice of Institution of Section 206 Proceeding and Refund Effective Date On July 11, 2016, the Commission issued an order in Docket No. EL16–96– 000, pursuant to section 206 of the Federal Power Act (FPA), 16 U.S.C. 824e (2012), instituting an investigation into the justness and reasonableness of certain aspects of PJM Interconnection, L.L.C.’s Amended and Restated Operating Agreement. PJM Interconnection, L.L.C., 156 FERC ¶ 61,030 (2016). The refund effective date in Docket No. EL16–96–000, established pursuant to section 206(b) of the FPA, will be the date of publication of this notice in the Federal Register. Dated: July 12, 2016. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2016–16895 Filed 7–15–16; 8:45 am] Dated: July 11, 2016. Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr., Deputy Secretary. BILLING CODE 6717–01–P [FR Doc. 2016–16879 Filed 7–15–16; 8:45 am] DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY BILLING CODE 6717–01–P Federal Energy Regulatory Commission DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY [Docket No. RD16–4–000] Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Proposed Agency Information Collection Panda Liberty LLC; Notice of Institution of Section 206 Proceeding and Refund Effective Date On July 12, 2016, the Commission issued an order in Docket No. EL16–90– 000, pursuant to section 206 of the Federal Power Act (FPA), 16 U.S.C. 824e (2012), instituting an investigation into the justness and reasonableness of Panda Liberty LLC’s proposed reactive power rate schedule. Panda Liberty LLC, 156 FERC ¶ 61,033 (2016). The refund effective date in Docket No. EL16–90–000, established pursuant to section 206(b) of the FPA, will be the date of publication of this notice in the Federal Register. PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, DOE. ACTION: Notice and request for comments. AGENCY: [Docket No. EL16–90–000] The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) invites public comment in Docket No. RD16–4–000 on a proposed change to a collection of information (FERC–725M, Mandatory Reliability Standards: Generator Requirements at the Transmission Interface) that the Commission is developing for submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The Commission previously issued a Notice in the Federal Register (81 FR 26543, May 3, 2016) requesting public SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\18JYN1.SGM 18JYN1 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 137 / Monday, July 18, 2016 / Notices comments. The Commission received no comments and is making this notation in the submittals to OMB. DATES: Comments regarding the proposed information collections must be received on or before August 17, 2016. ADDRESSES: Comments filed with OMB, identified by the OMB Control No. 1902–0263, should be sent via email to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at: oira_submission@omb.gov, Attention: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Desk Officer. A copy of the comments should also be sent to the Commission, in Docket No. RD16–4–000, by either of the following methods: • eFiling at Commission’s Web site: https://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/ efiling.asp. • Mail/Hand Delivery/Courier: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Secretary of the Commission, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426. Instructions: All submissions must be formatted and filed in accordance with submission guidelines at: https:// www.ferc.gov/help/submissionguide.asp. For user assistance, contact FERC Online Support by email at ferconlinesupport@ferc.gov, or by phone at: (866) 208–3676 (toll-free), or (202) 502–8659 for TTY. Docket: Users interested in receiving automatic notification of activity in this docket or in viewing/downloading comments and issuances in this docket may do so at https://www.ferc.gov/docsfiling/docs-filing.asp. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen Brown may be reached by email at DataClearance@FERC.gov, telephone at (202) 502–8663, and fax at (202) 273– 0873. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commission will submit the reporting and recordkeeping requirements of proposed Reliability Standard FAC– 003–4 (Transmission Vegetation Management) to OMB for review. Proposed Reliability Standard FAC– 003–4 1 replaces the requirements from the previous version of the Reliability Standard (FAC–003–3 2), which is approved under FERC–725M (Mandatory Reliability Standards: asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 1 The Reliability Standard was approved in a Delegated Order issued on 4/26/2016 (posted at https://elibrary-backup.ferc.gov/idmws/common/ opennat.asp?fileID=14218839). 2 Reliability Standard FAC–003–3 was approved in Order No. 785 in Docket No. RM12–16–000. Revisions to Reliability Standard for Transmission Vegetation Management, Order No. 777, 142 FERC ¶ 61,208 (2013). The associated reporting and recordkeeping requirements in FAC–003–3 were approved by OMB on Dec. 17, 2013, under FERC– 725M. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:52 Jul 15, 2016 Jkt 238001 Generator Requirements at the Transmission Interface, OMB Control No. 1902–0263). Type of Request: Three-year approval of the revised FERC–725M information collection requirements with the stated changes to the current reporting and record retention requirements. Abstract: The Commission requires the information collected by the FERC– 725M to implement the statutory provisions of section 215 of the Federal Power Act (FPA).3 On August 8, 2005, Congress enacted into law the Electricity Modernization Act of 2005, which is title XII, subtitle A, of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005).4 EPAct 2005 added a new section 215 to the FPA, which requires a Commission-certified Electric Reliability Organization (ERO) to develop mandatory and enforceable Reliability Standards, which are subject to Commission review and approval. Once approved, the Reliability Standards may be enforced by the ERO subject to Commission oversight, or the Commission can independently enforce Reliability Standards.5 On February 3, 2006, the Commission issued Order No. 672, implementing section 215 of the FPA.6 Pursuant to Order No. 672, the Commission certified one organization, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), as the ERO.7 The Reliability Standards developed by the ERO and approved by the Commission apply to users, owners and operators of the Bulk-Power System as set forth in each Reliability Standard. On March 14, 2016, NERC filed a petition for Commission approval of proposed Reliability Standard FAC– 003–4 (Transmission Vegetation Management). NERC states in its petition that proposed Reliability Standard FAC–003–4 reflects revisions to the current Minimum Vegetation Clearance Distances (MVCDs) in Reliability Standard FAC–003–3 based on additional testing regarding the appropriate gap factor to be used to calculate clearance distances for vegetation. NERC explains that in U.S.C. 824o (2012). Policy Act of 2005, Public Law 109–58, title XII, subtitle A, 119 Stat. 594, 941 (codified at 16 U.S.C. 824o). 5 16 U.S.C. 824o(e)(3). 6 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). 7 North American Electric Reliability Corp., 116 FERC ¶ 61,062, order on reh’g and compliance, 117 FERC ¶ 61,126 (2006), order on compliance, 118 FERC ¶ 61,190, order on reh’g, 119 FERC ¶ 61,046 (2007), aff’d sub nom. Alcoa Inc. v. FERC, 564 F.3d 1342 (D.C. Cir. 2009). PO 00000 3 16 4 Energy Frm 00026 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 46665 response to the Commission’s directive as part of its approval of an earlier version of the Reliability Standard, FAC–003–2, NERC contracted with the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) to conduct this testing.8 As NERC notes, when the Commission approved Reliability Standard FAC–003–2, the Commission stated that ‘‘it is important that NERC develop empirical evidence that either confirms assumptions used in calculating the MVCD values based on the Gallet equation, or gives reason to revisit the Reliability Standard.’’ 9 NERC states in its petition that preliminary testing conducted by EPRI indicated that the gap factor used to calculate MVCDs should be adjusted. NERC further explains that proposed Reliability Standard FAC–003–4 proposes higher and more conservative MVCD values, and therefore maintains that these revisions will ‘‘enhance reliability and provide additional confidence by applying a more conservative approach to determining the vegetation clearing distances.’’ 10 NERC states that the revised clearances as reflected in Table 2 were moved into the text of the proposed Reliability Standard, and that MVCD values were added for elevations up to 15,000 feet, but that no other substantive changes were made to the currently-effective Reliability Standard FAC–003–3.11 Type of Respondents: Transmission Owner (TO) and Generator Owner (GO) Estimate of Annual Burden: 12 The burden and cost estimates below are based on the number of transmission owners and generator owners as reflected in NERC’s registry (i.e., updated since the Commission’s approval of earlier versions of FAC– 003). Transmission owners and applicable generator owners have a onetime burden to review and modify existing documentation, plans and procedures, as well as an ongoing burden to retain records. Our estimate of the number of respondents affected is based on the NERC Compliance Registry as of February 25, 2016. According to the Compliance Registry, NERC has registered 320 transmission owners and 940 generator owners within the United States, and we estimate that 8 NERC Petition at 7 (citing Order No. 777, 142 FERC ¶ 61,208 (2013)). 9 Order No. 777, 142 FERC ¶ 61,208 at P 3. 10 NERC Petition at 3. 11 Id. at 12, and n. 37 (describing certain nonsubstantive edits to the standard and implementation plan as compared to the currentlyeffective version of the standard). 12 The Commission defines ‘‘burden’’ as the total time, effort, or financial resources expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, or disclose or provide information to or for a federal agency. For further information, refer to 5 CFR 1320.3. E:\FR\FM\18JYN1.SGM 18JYN1 46666 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 137 / Monday, July 18, 2016 / Notices approximately 10 percent (or 94) of the registered generator owners have interconnection facilities that meet the requirements for applicability under the new standard. The estimated annual burden and cost of the new standard follow.13 FERC–725M—CHANGES DUE TO FAC–003–4 IN DOCKET NO. RD16–4–000 Number of respondents 15 Number of responses per respondent Total number of responses Average burden hours and cost per response (2) (1)*(2)=(3) (4) (3)*(4)=(5) Strategies, documentation, processes, & procedures (M3) [one-time]. Record Retention (Compliance 1.2) [ongoing]. Total Net Change, due to RD16–4. 414 1 414 4 hrs.; $248.64 ............ 1,656 hrs.; $102,936.96 [@$62.16/hr.]. 414 1 414 1 hr.; $31.76 ................ 414 hrs.; $13,148.64 [@$31.76/hr.]. ........................ ........................ ........................ ..................................... 2,070 hrs.; $116,085.60 16. Comments: Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency’s estimates of the burden and cost of the collections of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information collection; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Dated: July 11, 2016. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2016–16899 Filed 7–15–16; 8:45 am] asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Jkt 238001 ........................ Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket Nos. CP16–3–000 and CP16–3–001] [Project No. 12965–002] Wickiup Hydro Group, LLC; Notice of Schedule Change On June 27, 2016, the Commission issued a ‘‘Notice of Teleconference to Discuss Endangered Species Act Consultation’’ for the Wickiup Dam Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 12965. This teleconference has been rescheduled due to unforeseen scheduling conflicts to August 1, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time (4:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time). Please email Karen Sughrue at karen.sughrue@ ferc.gov to RSVP. BILLING CODE 6717–01–P 17:52 Jul 15, 2016 31.76 DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY [FR Doc. 2016–16898 Filed 7–15–16; 8:45 am] 13 The estimates for cost per hour (for salary plus benefits) are derived from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics’ figures for May 2015 (at https:// www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics2_22.htm#11-0000 and benefits [updated March 10, 2016] at https:// www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm), as follows: • $62.16/hour for salary plus benefits [based on the average for an electrical engineer (code 17– 2071, at $64.20/hour), a first-line supervisor of forestry workers (code 45–1011, at $33.34/hour), and a manager (code 11–0000, at $88.94/hour)] • $31.76/hour, salary plus benefits for an information and record clerk (code 43–4000). $248.64 DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Dated: July 11, 2016. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. BILLING CODE 6717–01–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 Total annual cost per respondent ($) Total annual burden hours and cost (1) Requirements/measures 14 14 The Order in Docket No. RD16–4 does not modify the following requirements. However, due to normal fluctuations in industry, the number of respondents (TOs and GOs), in the submittal to OMB will be updated as follows. • The Quarterly Reporting (Compliance 1.4) is required of 102 respondents (94 GOs and 8 Regional Entities), rather than 96 respondents. • The requirements for Annual Vegetation Inspection Document (M6), annual vegetation work plan (M7), evidence of management of vegetation (M1 and M2), confirmed vegetation condition (M4), and corrective action (M5) are required of 94 respondents (rather than 88). PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Texas Eastern Transmission, LP; Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review of the Access South, Adair Southwest, and Lebanon Extension Projects On October 8, 2015, Texas Eastern Transmission, LP (Texas Eastern) filed an application requesting a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity pursuant to Section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act to construct, operate, and maintain pipeline loops, install additional compression, and allow for reverse flow capabilities. The proposed projects, known as Access South, Adair Southwest, and the Lebanon Extension Projects would enable Texas Eastern to transport up to an additional 622,000 dekatherms per day of natural gas on its mainline system from Uniontown, Pennsylvania to points in Ohio, Kentucky, and Mississippi. On October 22, 2015, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or FERC) issued its Notice of Application for the projects. Among 15 We estimate a total of 414 respondents (320 TOs and 94 GOs) are affected. 16 This is the estimate for Year 1 (including onetime implementation cost plus ongoing record retention costs). In subsequent years, only the record retention costs ($13,148.64, annual total for all respondents) will continue. For the submittal to OMB (available in reginfo.gov), the one-time implementation burden and cost (which will be completed in Year 1) will be averaged over Years 1–3. E:\FR\FM\18JYN1.SGM 18JYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 137 (Monday, July 18, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46664-46666]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-16899]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. RD16-4-000]

Proposed Agency Information Collection

AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, DOE.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) invites
public comment in Docket No. RD16-4-000 on a proposed change to a
collection of information (FERC-725M, Mandatory Reliability Standards:
Generator Requirements at the Transmission Interface) that the
Commission is developing for submission to the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The
Commission previously issued a Notice in the Federal Register (81 FR
26543, May 3, 2016) requesting public

[[Page 46665]]

comments. The Commission received no comments and is making this
notation in the submittals to OMB.

DATES: Comments regarding the proposed information collections must be
received on or before August 17, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Comments filed with OMB, identified by the OMB Control No.
1902-0263, should be sent via email to the Office of Information and
Regulatory Affairs at: oira_submission@omb.gov, Attention: Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission Desk Officer.
A copy of the comments should also be sent to the Commission, in
Docket No. RD16-4-000, by either of the following methods:
eFiling at Commission's Web site: https://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling.asp.
Mail/Hand Delivery/Courier: Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, Secretary of the Commission, 888 First Street NE.,
Washington, DC 20426.
Instructions: All submissions must be formatted and filed in
accordance with submission guidelines at: https://www.ferc.gov/help/submission-guide.asp. For user assistance, contact FERC Online Support
by email at ferconlinesupport@ferc.gov, or by phone at: (866) 208-3676
(toll-free), or (202) 502-8659 for TTY.
Docket: Users interested in receiving automatic notification of
activity in this docket or in viewing/downloading comments and
issuances in this docket may do so at https://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/docs-filing.asp.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen Brown may be reached by email at
DataClearance@FERC.gov, telephone at (202) 502-8663, and fax at (202)
273-0873.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commission will submit the reporting and
recordkeeping requirements of proposed Reliability Standard FAC-003-4
(Transmission Vegetation Management) to OMB for review. Proposed
Reliability Standard FAC-003-4 \1\ replaces the requirements from the
previous version of the Reliability Standard (FAC-003-3 \2\), which is
approved under FERC-725M (Mandatory Reliability Standards: Generator
Requirements at the Transmission Interface, OMB Control No. 1902-0263).
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\1\ The Reliability Standard was approved in a Delegated Order
issued on 4/26/2016 (posted at https://elibrary-backup.ferc.gov/idmws/common/opennat.asp?fileID=14218839).
\2\ Reliability Standard FAC-003-3 was approved in Order No. 785
in Docket No. RM12-16-000. Revisions to Reliability Standard for
Transmission Vegetation Management, Order No. 777, 142 FERC ] 61,208
(2013). The associated reporting and recordkeeping requirements in
FAC-003-3 were approved by OMB on Dec. 17, 2013, under FERC-725M.
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Type of Request: Three-year approval of the revised FERC-725M
information collection requirements with the stated changes to the
current reporting and record retention requirements.
Abstract: The Commission requires the information collected by the
FERC-725M to implement the statutory provisions of section 215 of the
Federal Power Act (FPA).\3\ On August 8, 2005, Congress enacted into
law the Electricity Modernization Act of 2005, which is title XII,
subtitle A, of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005).\4\ EPAct
2005 added a new section 215 to the FPA, which requires a Commission-
certified Electric Reliability Organization (ERO) to develop mandatory
and enforceable Reliability Standards, which are subject to Commission
review and approval. Once approved, the Reliability Standards may be
enforced by the ERO subject to Commission oversight, or the Commission
can independently enforce Reliability Standards.\5\
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\3\ 16 U.S.C. 824o (2012).
\4\ Energy Policy Act of 2005, Public Law 109-58, title XII,
subtitle A, 119 Stat. 594, 941 (codified at 16 U.S.C. 824o).
\5\ 16 U.S.C. 824o(e)(3).
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On February 3, 2006, the Commission issued Order No. 672,
implementing section 215 of the FPA.\6\ Pursuant to Order No. 672, the
Commission certified one organization, the North American Electric
Reliability Corporation (NERC), as the ERO.\7\ The Reliability
Standards developed by the ERO and approved by the Commission apply to
users, owners and operators of the Bulk-Power System as set forth in
each Reliability Standard.
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\6\ 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).
\7\ North American Electric Reliability Corp., 116 FERC ]
61,062, order on reh'g and compliance, 117 FERC ] 61,126 (2006),
order on compliance, 118 FERC ] 61,190, order on reh'g, 119 FERC ]
61,046 (2007), aff'd sub nom. Alcoa Inc. v. FERC, 564 F.3d 1342
(D.C. Cir. 2009).
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On March 14, 2016, NERC filed a petition for Commission approval of
proposed Reliability Standard FAC-003-4 (Transmission Vegetation
Management). NERC states in its petition that proposed Reliability
Standard FAC-003-4 reflects revisions to the current Minimum Vegetation
Clearance Distances (MVCDs) in Reliability Standard FAC-003-3 based on
additional testing regarding the appropriate gap factor to be used to
calculate clearance distances for vegetation. NERC explains that in
response to the Commission's directive as part of its approval of an
earlier version of the Reliability Standard, FAC-003-2, NERC contracted
with the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) to conduct this
testing.\8\ As NERC notes, when the Commission approved Reliability
Standard FAC-003-2, the Commission stated that ``it is important that
NERC develop empirical evidence that either confirms assumptions used
in calculating the MVCD values based on the Gallet equation, or gives
reason to revisit the Reliability Standard.'' \9\
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\8\ NERC Petition at 7 (citing Order No. 777, 142 FERC ] 61,208
(2013)).
\9\ Order No. 777, 142 FERC ] 61,208 at P 3.
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NERC states in its petition that preliminary testing conducted by
EPRI indicated that the gap factor used to calculate MVCDs should be
adjusted. NERC further explains that proposed Reliability Standard FAC-
003-4 proposes higher and more conservative MVCD values, and therefore
maintains that these revisions will ``enhance reliability and provide
additional confidence by applying a more conservative approach to
determining the vegetation clearing distances.'' \10\ NERC states that
the revised clearances as reflected in Table 2 were moved into the text
of the proposed Reliability Standard, and that MVCD values were added
for elevations up to 15,000 feet, but that no other substantive changes
were made to the currently-effective Reliability Standard FAC-003-
3.\11\
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\10\ NERC Petition at 3.
\11\ Id. at 12, and n. 37 (describing certain non-substantive
edits to the standard and implementation plan as compared to the
currently-effective version of the standard).
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Type of Respondents: Transmission Owner (TO) and Generator Owner
(GO)
Estimate of Annual Burden: \12\ The burden and cost estimates below
are based on the number of transmission owners and generator owners as
reflected in NERC's registry (i.e., updated since the Commission's
approval of earlier versions of FAC-003). Transmission owners and
applicable generator owners have a one-time burden to review and modify
existing documentation, plans and procedures, as well as an ongoing
burden to retain records. Our estimate of the number of respondents
affected is based on the NERC Compliance Registry as of February 25,
2016. According to the Compliance Registry, NERC has registered 320
transmission owners and 940 generator owners within the United States,
and we estimate that

[[Page 46666]]

approximately 10 percent (or 94) of the registered generator owners
have interconnection facilities that meet the requirements for
applicability under the new standard. The estimated annual burden and
cost of the new standard follow.\13\
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\12\ The Commission defines ``burden'' as the total time,
effort, or financial resources expended by persons to generate,
maintain, retain, or disclose or provide information to or for a
federal agency. For further information, refer to 5 CFR 1320.3.
\13\ The estimates for cost per hour (for salary plus benefits)
are derived from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics' figures for May
2015 (at https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics2_22.htm#11-0000 and
benefits [updated March 10, 2016] at https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm), as follows:
$62.16/hour for salary plus benefits [based on the
average for an electrical engineer (code 17-2071, at $64.20/hour), a
first-line supervisor of forestry workers (code 45-1011, at $33.34/
hour), and a manager (code 11-0000, at $88.94/hour)]
$31.76/hour, salary plus benefits for an information
and record clerk (code 43-4000).

FERC-725M--Changes Due to FAC-003-4 in Docket No. RD16-4-000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total annual
Number of Number of Total number Average burden hours and Total annual burden cost per
Requirements/measures \14\ respondents responses per of responses cost per response hours and cost respondent
\15\ respondent ($)
(1) (2) (1)*(2)=(3) (4)..................... (3)*(4)=(5)............
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strategies, documentation, processes, 414 1 414 4 hrs.; $248.64......... 1,656 hrs.; $102,936.96 $248.64
& procedures (M3) [one-time]. [@$62.16/hr.].
Record Retention (Compliance 1.2) 414 1 414 1 hr.; $31.76........... 414 hrs.; $13,148.64 31.76
[ongoing]. [@$31.76/hr.].
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Total Net Change, due to RD16-4.. .............. .............. .............. ........................ 2,070 hrs.; $116,085.60 ..............
\16\.
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Comments: Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the collection of
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of
the Commission, including whether the information will have practical
utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimates of the burden and
cost of the collections of information, including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality,
utility and clarity of the information collection; and (4) ways to
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are
to respond, including the use of automated collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
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\14\ The Order in Docket No. RD16-4 does not modify the
following requirements. However, due to normal fluctuations in
industry, the number of respondents (TOs and GOs), in the submittal
to OMB will be updated as follows.
The Quarterly Reporting (Compliance 1.4) is required of
102 respondents (94 GOs and 8 Regional Entities), rather than 96
respondents.
The requirements for Annual Vegetation Inspection
Document (M6), annual vegetation work plan (M7), evidence of
management of vegetation (M1 and M2), confirmed vegetation condition
(M4), and corrective action (M5) are required of 94 respondents
(rather than 88).
\15\ We estimate a total of 414 respondents (320 TOs and 94 GOs)
are affected.
\16\ This is the estimate for Year 1 (including one-time
implementation cost plus ongoing record retention costs). In
subsequent years, only the record retention costs ($13,148.64,
annual total for all respondents) will continue.
For the submittal to OMB (available in reginfo.gov), the one-
time implementation burden and cost (which will be completed in Year
1) will be averaged over Years 1-3.

Dated: July 11, 2016.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-16899 Filed 7-15-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P

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