Commission Information Collection Activities; (FERC-725E); Comment Request; Revision, 22051-22053 [2018-10006]
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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 92 / Friday, May 11, 2018 / Notices
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: May 4, 2018.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018–10001 Filed 5–10–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. EL18–143–000]
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
Notice of Complaint: Public Service
Electric and Gas Company v.
Consolidated Edison Company of New
York, Inc.
Take notice that on May 3, 2018,
pursuant to sections 206, 306, and 309
of the Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C.
824e, 825e, and 825h and Rule 206 of
the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission’s (Commission) Rules of
Practice and Procedure, 18 CFR 385.206,
Public Service Electric and Gas
Company (Complainant) filed a formal
complaint against Consolidated Edison
Company of New York, Inc.
(Respondent) alleging that Respondent
is preventing the removal of dielectric
fluid that recently leaked from electric
transmission facilities known as the B
and C lines that Complainant and
Respondent co-own. Complainant
asserts that good utility practice requires
the removal of the dielectric fluid and
retirement of the B and C lines as
currently constructed, as more fully
explained in the complaint.
Complainant certifies that copies of
the complaint were served on contacts
for the Respondent, the New York
Public Service Commission, and the
New Jersey Board of Public Utilities.
Any person desiring to intervene or to
protest this filing must file in
accordance with Rules 211 and 214 of
the Commission’s Rules of Practice and
Procedure (18 CFR 385.211 and
385.214). Protests will be considered by
the Commission in determining the
appropriate action to be taken, but will
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19:21 May 10, 2018
Jkt 244001
not serve to make protestants parties to
the proceeding. Any person wishing to
become a party must file a notice of
intervention or motion to intervene, as
appropriate. The Respondents’ answer
and all interventions, or protests must
be filed on or before the comment date.
The Respondents’ answer, motions to
intervene, and protests must be served
on the Complainant.
The Commission encourages
electronic submission of protests and
interventions in lieu of paper using the
‘‘eFiling’’ link at https://www.ferc.gov.
Persons unable to file electronically
should submit an original and 5 copies
of the protest or intervention to the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,
888 First Street NE, Washington, DC
20426.
This filing is accessible on-line at
https://www.ferc.gov, using the
‘‘eLibrary’’ link and is available for
review in the Commission’s Public
Reference Room in Washington, DC.
There is an ‘‘eSubscription’’ link on the
website that enables subscribers to
receive email notification when a
document is added to a subscribed
docket(s). For assistance with any FERC
Online service, please email
FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov, or call
(866) 208–3676 (toll free). For TTY, call
(202) 502–8659.
Comment Date: 5:00 p.m. Eastern
Time on May 23, 2018.
Dated: May 4, 2018.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018–10005 Filed 5–10–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket Nos. RD18–1–000, RD18–2–000,
RD18–3–000 and RD18–5–000]
Commission Information Collection
Activities; (FERC–725E); Comment
Request; Revision
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission.
ACTION: Notice of revised information
collection and request for comments.
AGENCY:
In compliance with the
requirements of the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995, the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission
(Commission or FERC) is soliciting
public comment on revisions to the
information collection, FERC–725E
(Mandatory Reliability Standards for the
Western Electric Coordinating Council),
in Docket Nos. RD18–1–000, RD18–2–
SUMMARY:
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Sfmt 4703
22051
000, RD18–3–000, and RD18–5–000 and
will be submitting FERC–725E to the
Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) for review of the information
collection requirements.
DATES: Comments on the collection of
information are due July 10, 2018.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
identified by Docket Nos. RD18–1–000,
RD18–2–000, RD18–3–000, and RD18–
5–000 by either of the following
methods:
• eFiling at Commission’s Website:
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:
Title: FERC–725E, Mandatory
Reliability Standards for the Western
Electric Coordinating Council.
OMB Control No.: 1902–0246.
Type of Request: Revision to FERC–
725E information collection
requirements, as discussed in Docket
Nos. RD18–1–000 and RD18–3–000.
Abstract: The North American
Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC)
and Western Electricity Coordinating
Council (WECC) filed four joint
petitions to modify/retire WECC
regional Reliability Standards.
On March 8 2018, NERC and WECC
filed a joint petition in Docket No.
RD18–2–000 1 requesting Commission
approval of:
• Regional Reliability Standard BAL–
004–WECC–3 (Automatic Time Error
Correction), and
• the retirement of existing regional
Reliability Standard BAL–004–WECC–2.
The petition states: ‘‘Regional
Reliability Standard BAL–004–WECC–3
1 The joint petition and exhibits are posted in the
Commission’s eLibrary system in Docket No. RD18–
2–000 (BAL–004–WECC–3 Petition).
E:\FR\FM\11MYN1.SGM
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22052
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 92 / Friday, May 11, 2018 / Notices
seeks to maintain Interconnection
frequency and to ensure that Time Error
Corrections and Primary Inadvertent
Interchange (‘‘PII’’) payback are
effectively conducted in a manner that
does not adversely affect the reliability
of the [Western] Interconnection.’’ 2 The
proposed modifications to the standard
focus on the entities using a common
tool. All other proposed changes are for
clarification. The Commission is not
changing the reporting requirements,
nor is it modifying the burden, cost or
respondents with this collection, and
sees this as a non-material or nonsubstantive change to a currently
approved collection.
On March 16, 2018, NERC and WECC
filed a joint petition in Docket No.
RD18–5–000 3 requesting Commission
approval of:
• Regional Reliability Standard FAC–
501–WECC–2 (Transmission
Maintenance), and
• the retirement of existing regional
Reliability Standard FAC–501–WECC–1.
The petition states: ‘‘The purpose of
FAC–501–WECC–2 is to ensure the
Transmission Owner of a transmission
path identified in the table titled ‘‘Major
WECC Transfer Paths in the Bulk
Electric System’’ (‘‘WECC Transfer Path
Table’’ or ‘‘Table’’), including associated
facilities, has a Transmission
Maintenance and Inspection Plan
(‘‘TMIP’’) and performs and documents
maintenance and inspection activities in
accordance with the TMIP.’’ The
modifications to the existing standard
are for clarification of the transmission
owner’s obligations and to directly
incorporate the list of applicable
transmission paths. This list is currently
posted on the WECC website and has
not changed. The Commission is not
changing reporting requirements nor is
it modifying the burden, cost or
respondents with this collection, and
sees this as a non-material or nonsubstantive change to a currently
approved collection.
The Commission’s request to OMB
will reflect the following:
• Elimination of the burden
associated with regional Reliability
Standard VAR–002–WECC–2
2 BAL–004–WECC–3
Petition, page 1.
joint petition and exhibits are posted in the
Commission’s eLibrary system in Docket No. RD18–
5–000 (FAC–501–WECC–2 Petition).
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
3 The
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19:21 May 10, 2018
Jkt 244001
(Automatic Voltage Regulators), which
is proposed for retirement (addressed in
Docket No. RD18–1 and discussed
below); 4
• elimination of the burden
associated with regional Reliability
Standard PRC–004–WECC–2 (Protection
System and Remedial Action Scheme
Misoperation), which is proposed for
retirement (addressed in Docket No.
RD18–3 and discussed below) 5
• non-material or non-substantive
changes (discussed above) in Docket
Nos. RD18–2 and RD18–5.
On March 7, 2018, NERC and WECC
filed a joint petition in Docket No.
RD18–1–000 requesting Commission
approval to retire the WECC regional
Reliability Standard VAR–002–WECC–2
(Automatic Voltage Regulators).
According to the petition, the purpose
of the proposed retirement is based on
WECC’s experience with regional
Reliability Standard VAR–002–WECC–2
which has shown that the reliabilityrelated issues addressed in the regional
standard are adequately addressed by
the continent-wide voltage and reactive
(‘‘VAR’’) Reliability Standards 6 and that
retention of the regional standard would
not provide additional benefits for
reliability.
On March 9, 2018, NERC and WECC
filed a joint petition in Docket No.
RD18–3–000 requesting Commission
approval to retire the WECC regional
Reliability Standard PRC–004–WECC–2
(Protection System and Remedial Action
Scheme Misoperation). The purpose of
the proposed retirement is based on
NERC and WECC’s belief that since the
initial development of this regional
standard, other continent-wide
Reliability Standards 7 have been
4 The joint petition and exhibits are posted in the
Commission’s eLibrary system in Docket No. RD18–
1–000 (VAR–002–WECC–2 Petition).
5 The joint petition and exhibits are posted in the
Commission’s eLibrary system in Docket No. RD18–
3–000 (WECC PRC–004–WECC–2 Retirement
Petition).
6 The burdens related to continent-wide
Reliability Standards VAR–001–4.2 (Voltage and
Reactive Control) and VAR–002–4.1 (Generator
Operation for Maintenance Network Voltage
Schedules) are included in FERC–725A (Mandatory
Reliability Standards for the Bulk-Power System,
OMB Control No. 1902–0244).
7 The burdens related to continent-wide
Reliability Standards mentioned in the petition:
FAC–003–4 (Transmission Vegetation Management)
are included in FERC–725M (Mandatory Reliability
PO 00000
Frm 00056
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Sfmt 4703
developed that have made the
requirements of this regional Reliability
Standard redundant and no longer
necessary for reliability in the Western
Interconnection.
Type of Respondents: Transmission
owners, transmission operators,
generator operators, and generator
owners.
Estimate of Annual Burden: 8 Details
follow on the changes in Docket Nos.
RD18–1–000 and RD18–3–000 which
will be submitted to OMB for approval
in a consolidated package under FERC–
725E.
Estimate of Changes to Burden Due to
Docket No. RD18–1: The Commission
estimates the reduction in the annual
public reporting burden for the FERC–
725E (due to the retirement of regional
Reliability Standard VAR–002–WECC–
2) as follows: 9 10
Standards for the Bulk-Power System, OMB Control
No. 1902–0263); PRC–001–1.1(ii) (System
Protection Coordination) are included in FERC–
725A (Mandatory Reliability Standards for the
Bulk-Power System, OMB Control No. 1902–0244);
PRC–004–5(i) (Protection System Misoperation
Identification and Correction), PRC–005–6
(Protection System, Automatic Reclosing, and
Sudden Pressure Relaying Maintenance), PRC–012–
2 (Remedial Action Schemes) are included in
FERC–725G (Mandatory Reliability Standards for
the Bulk-Power System: PRC Standards, OMB
Control No. 1902–0252); PRC–016–1 (Remedial
Action Scheme Misoperations), PRC–017–1
(Remedial Action Scheme Maintenance and
Testing), TOP–001–3 (Transmission Operations)
and TOP–003–3 (Operational Reliability Data) are
included in FERC–725A (Mandatory Reliability
Standards for the Bulk-Power System, OMB Control
No. 1902–0244).
8 Burden is defined as the total time, effort, or
financial resources expended by persons to
generate, maintain, retain, or disclose or provide
information to or for a Federal agency. For further
explanation of what is included in the information
collection burden, refer to 5 Code of Federal
Regulations 1320.3.
9 The reductions in burden and cost shown in the
table are the same figures as those in the current
OMB-approved inventory for the reporting and
recordkeeping requirements that are now being
retired.
10 The hourly cost (for salary plus benefits) uses
the figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics for
three positions involved in the reporting and
recordkeeping requirements. These figures include
salary (https://bls.gov/oes/current/naics2_22.htm)
and benefits (https://www.bls.gov/news.release/
ecec.nr0.htm) and are: Manager: $89.07/hour,
Engineer: $64.91/hour, and File Clerk: $31.19/hour.
The hourly cost for the reporting requirements
($76.99) is an average of the cost of a manager and
engineer. The hourly cost for recordkeeping
requirements uses the cost of a file clerk.
E:\FR\FM\11MYN1.SGM
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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 92 / Friday, May 11, 2018 / Notices
22053
FERC–725E, MANDATORY RELIABILITY STANDARDS FOR THE WESTERN ELECTRIC COORDINATING COUNCIL, REDUCTIONS
DUE TO DOCKET NO. RD18–1–000
Number of
respondents
Annual
number of
responses
Average burden
hours and cost per
response
($)
Total annual burden hours and
total annual cost
($)
Cost per
respondent
($)
(1)
Entity
Annual
number of
responses
per
respondent
(2)
(1) * (2) = (3)
(4)
(3) * (4) = (5)
(5) ÷ (1) = (6)
Retirement of Regional Reliability Standard VAR–002–WECC–2 and Associated Reductions
Reporting Requirements (Annually)
Generator Operators .................................
Transmission Operators applicable to
standard VAR–002.
228
86
1
4
228
344
10 hr.; $769.90 .....
10 hr.; $769.90 .....
2,280 hr.; $175,537 (reduction)
3,440 hr.; $264,846 (reduction)
$770 (reduction).
$3,080 (reduction).
$31 (reduction).
$125 (reduction).
Recordkeeping Requirements (Annually)
Generator Operators .................................
Transmission Operators applicable to
standard VAR–002.
228
86
1
1
228
86
1 hr.; $31.19 .........
4 hr.; $124.76 .......
228 hr.; $7,111 (reduction) ......
344 hr.; $10,729 (reduction) ....
Total Reduction ..................................
....................
....................
886
...............................
6,292 hr.; $458,223 (reduction)
public reporting burden for the FERC–
725E (due to the retirement of regional
Estimate of Changes to Burden Due to
Docket No. RD18–3: The Commission
estimates the reduction in the annual
Reliability Standard PRC–004–WECC–2)
as follows: 11 12
FERC–725E, MANDATORY RELIABILITY STANDARDS FOR THE WESTERN ELECTRIC COORDINATING COUNCIL, REDUCTIONS
DUE TO DOCKET NO. RD18–3–000
Number of
respondents
Annual
number of
responses
Average burden
hours and cost per
response
($)
Total annualburden
hours and total annual cost
($)
Cost per
respondent
($)
(1)
Entity
Annual
number of
responses
per
respondent
(2)
(1) * (2) = (3)
(4)
(3) * (4) = (5)
(5) ÷ (1) = (6)
Retirement of Regional Reliability Standard PRC–004–WECC–2 and Associated Reductions
Reporting Requirements (Annually)
Transmission Owners that
qualified transfer paths.
operate
5
2
10
40 hr.; $3,079.60 ..
400 hr.; $30,796 (reduction) ........
$6,159 (reduction).
$187 (reduction).
Recordkeeping Requirements (Annually)
Transmission Owners that
qualified transfer paths.
operate
5
1
5
6 hr.; $187.14 .......
30 hr.; $936 (reduction) ...............
Total Reduction ..............................
....................
....................
15
...............................
430 hr.; $31,732 (reduction).
Total Reduction in Burden for FERC–
725E, for Submittal to OMB. The total
reduction in burden due to the proposed
retirements of regional Reliability
Standards VAR–002–WECC–2 and PRC–
004–WECC–2 is detailed below:
• Total Reduction of Burden Cost:
$489,955.
Comments: Comments are invited on:
(1) Whether the collection of
information is necessary for the proper
performance of the functions of the
Commission, including whether the
information will have practical utility;
(2) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate
of the burden and cost of the collection
of information, including the validity of
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
11 The reductions in burden and cost shown in
the table are the same figures as those in the current
OMB-approved inventory for the reporting and
recordkeeping requirements, now being retired.
12 The hourly cost (for salary plus benefits) uses
the figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics for
three positions involved in the reporting and
recordkeeping requirements. These figures include
salary (https://bls.gov/oes/current/naics2_22.htm)
and benefits (https://www.bls.gov/news.release/
ecec.nr0.htm) and are: Manager: $89.07/hour,
Engineer: $64.91/hour, and File Clerk: $31.19/hour.
• Total Reduction of Annual
Responses: 901.
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
• Total Reduction of Burden Hours:
6,722.
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20:23 May 10, 2018
Jkt 244001
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the collection of information on those
who are to respond, including the use
of automated collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
Dated: May 4, 2018.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018–10006 Filed 5–10–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
The hourly cost for the reporting requirements
($76.99) is an average of the cost of a manager and
engineer. The hourly cost for recordkeeping
requirements uses the cost of a file clerk.
E:\FR\FM\11MYN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 92 (Friday, May 11, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22051-22053]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-10006]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket Nos. RD18-1-000, RD18-2-000, RD18-3-000 and RD18-5-000]
Commission Information Collection Activities; (FERC-725E);
Comment Request; Revision
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Notice of revised information collection and request for
comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or
FERC) is soliciting public comment on revisions to the information
collection, FERC-725E (Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Western
Electric Coordinating Council), in Docket Nos. RD18-1-000, RD18-2-000,
RD18-3-000, and RD18-5-000 and will be submitting FERC-725E to the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review of the information
collection requirements.
DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due July 10, 2018.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by Docket Nos. RD18-1-
000, RD18-2-000, RD18-3-000, and RD18-5-000 by either of the following
methods:
eFiling at Commission's Website: 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 [email protected], 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
[email protected], telephone at (202) 502-8663, and fax at (202)
273-0873.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: FERC-725E, Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Western
Electric Coordinating Council.
OMB Control No.: 1902-0246.
Type of Request: Revision to FERC-725E information collection
requirements, as discussed in Docket Nos. RD18-1-000 and RD18-3-000.
Abstract: The North American Electric Reliability Corporation
(NERC) and Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) filed four
joint petitions to modify/retire WECC regional Reliability Standards.
On March 8 2018, NERC and WECC filed a joint petition in Docket No.
RD18-2-000 \1\ requesting Commission approval of:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The joint petition and exhibits are posted in the
Commission's eLibrary system in Docket No. RD18-2-000 (BAL-004-WECC-
3 Petition).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regional Reliability Standard BAL-004-WECC-3 (Automatic
Time Error Correction), and
the retirement of existing regional Reliability Standard
BAL-004-WECC-2.
The petition states: ``Regional Reliability Standard BAL-004-WECC-3
[[Page 22052]]
seeks to maintain Interconnection frequency and to ensure that Time
Error Corrections and Primary Inadvertent Interchange (``PII'') payback
are effectively conducted in a manner that does not adversely affect
the reliability of the [Western] Interconnection.'' \2\ The proposed
modifications to the standard focus on the entities using a common
tool. All other proposed changes are for clarification. The Commission
is not changing the reporting requirements, nor is it modifying the
burden, cost or respondents with this collection, and sees this as a
non-material or non-substantive change to a currently approved
collection.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ BAL-004-WECC-3 Petition, page 1.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
On March 16, 2018, NERC and WECC filed a joint petition in Docket
No. RD18-5-000 \3\ requesting Commission approval of:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ The joint petition and exhibits are posted in the
Commission's eLibrary system in Docket No. RD18-5-000 (FAC-501-WECC-
2 Petition).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regional Reliability Standard FAC-501-WECC-2 (Transmission
Maintenance), and
the retirement of existing regional Reliability Standard
FAC-501-WECC-1.
The petition states: ``The purpose of FAC-501-WECC-2 is to ensure
the Transmission Owner of a transmission path identified in the table
titled ``Major WECC Transfer Paths in the Bulk Electric System''
(``WECC Transfer Path Table'' or ``Table''), including associated
facilities, has a Transmission Maintenance and Inspection Plan
(``TMIP'') and performs and documents maintenance and inspection
activities in accordance with the TMIP.'' The modifications to the
existing standard are for clarification of the transmission owner's
obligations and to directly incorporate the list of applicable
transmission paths. This list is currently posted on the WECC website
and has not changed. The Commission is not changing reporting
requirements nor is it modifying the burden, cost or respondents with
this collection, and sees this as a non-material or non-substantive
change to a currently approved collection.
The Commission's request to OMB will reflect the following:
Elimination of the burden associated with regional
Reliability Standard VAR-002-WECC-2 (Automatic Voltage Regulators),
which is proposed for retirement (addressed in Docket No. RD18-1 and
discussed below); \4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ The joint petition and exhibits are posted in the
Commission's eLibrary system in Docket No. RD18-1-000 (VAR-002-WECC-
2 Petition).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
elimination of the burden associated with regional
Reliability Standard PRC-004-WECC-2 (Protection System and Remedial
Action Scheme Misoperation), which is proposed for retirement
(addressed in Docket No. RD18-3 and discussed below) \5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ The joint petition and exhibits are posted in the
Commission's eLibrary system in Docket No. RD18-3-000 (WECC PRC-004-
WECC-2 Retirement Petition).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
non-material or non-substantive changes (discussed above)
in Docket Nos. RD18-2 and RD18-5.
On March 7, 2018, NERC and WECC filed a joint petition in Docket
No. RD18-1-000 requesting Commission approval to retire the WECC
regional Reliability Standard VAR-002-WECC-2 (Automatic Voltage
Regulators). According to the petition, the purpose of the proposed
retirement is based on WECC's experience with regional Reliability
Standard VAR-002-WECC-2 which has shown that the reliability-related
issues addressed in the regional standard are adequately addressed by
the continent-wide voltage and reactive (``VAR'') Reliability Standards
\6\ and that retention of the regional standard would not provide
additional benefits for reliability.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\6\ The burdens related to continent-wide Reliability Standards
VAR-001-4.2 (Voltage and Reactive Control) and VAR-002-4.1
(Generator Operation for Maintenance Network Voltage Schedules) are
included in FERC-725A (Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Bulk-
Power System, OMB Control No. 1902-0244).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
On March 9, 2018, NERC and WECC filed a joint petition in Docket
No. RD18-3-000 requesting Commission approval to retire the WECC
regional Reliability Standard PRC-004-WECC-2 (Protection System and
Remedial Action Scheme Misoperation). The purpose of the proposed
retirement is based on NERC and WECC's belief that since the initial
development of this regional standard, other continent-wide Reliability
Standards \7\ have been developed that have made the requirements of
this regional Reliability Standard redundant and no longer necessary
for reliability in the Western Interconnection.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\7\ The burdens related to continent-wide Reliability Standards
mentioned in the petition: FAC-003-4 (Transmission Vegetation
Management) are included in FERC-725M (Mandatory Reliability
Standards for the Bulk-Power System, OMB Control No. 1902-0263);
PRC-001-1.1(ii) (System Protection Coordination) are included in
FERC-725A (Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Bulk-Power
System, OMB Control No. 1902-0244); PRC-004-5(i) (Protection System
Misoperation Identification and Correction), PRC-005-6 (Protection
System, Automatic Reclosing, and Sudden Pressure Relaying
Maintenance), PRC-012-2 (Remedial Action Schemes) are included in
FERC-725G (Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Bulk-Power
System: PRC Standards, OMB Control No. 1902-0252); PRC-016-1
(Remedial Action Scheme Misoperations), PRC-017-1 (Remedial Action
Scheme Maintenance and Testing), TOP-001-3 (Transmission Operations)
and TOP-003-3 (Operational Reliability Data) are included in FERC-
725A (Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Bulk-Power System, OMB
Control No. 1902-0244).
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Type of Respondents: Transmission owners, transmission operators,
generator operators, and generator owners.
Estimate of Annual Burden: \8\ Details follow on the changes in
Docket Nos. RD18-1-000 and RD18-3-000 which will be submitted to OMB
for approval in a consolidated package under FERC-725E.
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\8\ Burden is defined as the total time, effort, or financial
resources expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, or
disclose or provide information to or for a Federal agency. For
further explanation of what is included in the information
collection burden, refer to 5 Code of Federal Regulations 1320.3.
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Estimate of Changes to Burden Due to Docket No. RD18-1: The
Commission estimates the reduction in the annual public reporting
burden for the FERC-725E (due to the retirement of regional Reliability
Standard VAR-002-WECC-2) as follows: 9 10
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\9\ The reductions in burden and cost shown in the table are the
same figures as those in the current OMB-approved inventory for the
reporting and recordkeeping requirements that are now being retired.
\10\ The hourly cost (for salary plus benefits) uses the figures
from the Bureau of Labor Statistics for three positions involved in
the reporting and recordkeeping requirements. These figures include
salary (https://bls.gov/oes/current/naics2_22.htm) and benefits
(https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm) and are: Manager:
$89.07/hour, Engineer: $64.91/hour, and File Clerk: $31.19/hour.
The hourly cost for the reporting requirements ($76.99) is an
average of the cost of a manager and engineer. The hourly cost for
recordkeeping requirements uses the cost of a file clerk.aaaa
[[Page 22053]]
FERC-725E, Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Western Electric Coordinating Council, Reductions Due to Docket No. RD18-1-000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual
number of Total annual burden
Entity Number of responses Annual number Average burden hours and hours and total Cost per respondent ($)
respondents per of responses cost per response ($) annual cost ($)
respondent
(1) (2) (1) * (2) = (4)...................... (3) * (4) = (5)..... (5) / (1) = (6)
(3)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Retirement of Regional Reliability Standard VAR-002-WECC-2 and Associated Reductions
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reporting Requirements (Annually)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Generator Operators............... 228 1 228 10 hr.; $769.90.......... 2,280 hr.; $175,537 $770 (reduction).
(reduction).
Transmission Operators applicable 86 4 344 10 hr.; $769.90.......... 3,440 hr.; $264,846 $3,080 (reduction).
to standard VAR-002. (reduction).
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Recordkeeping Requirements (Annually)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Generator Operators............... 228 1 228 1 hr.; $31.19............ 228 hr.; $7,111 $31 (reduction).
(reduction).
Transmission Operators applicable 86 1 86 4 hr.; $124.76........... 344 hr.; $10,729 $125 (reduction).
to standard VAR-002. (reduction).
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Total Reduction............... ........... ........... 886 ......................... 6,292 hr.; $458,223 .........................
(reduction).
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Estimate of Changes to Burden Due to Docket No. RD18-3: The
Commission estimates the reduction in the annual public reporting
burden for the FERC-725E (due to the retirement of regional Reliability
Standard PRC-004-WECC-2) as follows: 11 12
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\11\ The reductions in burden and cost shown in the table are
the same figures as those in the current OMB-approved inventory for
the reporting and recordkeeping requirements, now being retired.
\12\ The hourly cost (for salary plus benefits) uses the figures
from the Bureau of Labor Statistics for three positions involved in
the reporting and recordkeeping requirements. These figures include
salary (https://bls.gov/oes/current/naics2_22.htm) and benefits
(https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm) and are: Manager:
$89.07/hour, Engineer: $64.91/hour, and File Clerk: $31.19/hour.
The hourly cost for the reporting requirements ($76.99) is an
average of the cost of a manager and engineer. The hourly cost for
recordkeeping requirements uses the cost of a file clerk.
FERC-725E, Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Western Electric Coordinating Council, Reductions Due to Docket No. RD18-3-000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual
number of Total annualburden
Entity Number of responses Annual number Average burden hours and hours and total Cost per respondent ($)
respondents per of responses cost per response ($) annual cost ($)
respondent
(1) (2) (1) * (2) = (4)...................... (3) * (4) = (5)..... (5) / (1) = (6)
(3)
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Retirement of Regional Reliability Standard PRC-004-WECC-2 and Associated Reductions
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reporting Requirements (Annually)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Transmission Owners that operate 5 2 10 40 hr.; $3,079.60........ 400 hr.; $30,796 $6,159 (reduction).
qualified transfer paths. (reduction).
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Recordkeeping Requirements (Annually)
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Transmission Owners that operate 5 1 5 6 hr.; $187.14........... 30 hr.; $936 $187 (reduction).
qualified transfer paths. (reduction).
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Total Reduction............... ........... ........... 15 ......................... 430 hr.; $31,732 .........................
(reduction).
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Total Reduction in Burden for FERC-725E, for Submittal to OMB. The
total reduction in burden due to the proposed retirements of regional
Reliability Standards VAR-002-WECC-2 and PRC-004-WECC-2 is detailed
below:
Total Reduction of Annual Responses: 901.
Total Reduction of Burden Hours: 6,722.
Total Reduction of Burden Cost: $489,955.
Comments: Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the collection of
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of
the Commission, including whether the information will have practical
utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden and
cost of the collection of information, including the validity of 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: May 4, 2018.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-10006 Filed 5-10-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
