Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-725E); Comment Request; Revision, 33925-33927 [2018-15325]
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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 138 / Wednesday, July 18, 2018 / Notices
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, Department of Energy.
ACTION: Comment request.
AGENCY:
In compliance with the
requirements of the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995, the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission
(Commission or FERC) is submitting its
information collection FERC–725E
(Mandatory Reliability Standards for the
Western Electric Coordinating Council)
to the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) for review of the information
collection requirements. Any interested
person may file comments directly with
OMB and should address a copy of
those comments to the Commission as
explained below. On May 11, 2018, the
Commission previously issued a Notice
in the Federal Register requesting
public comments. The Commission
received no comments on the FERC–
725E and is making this notation in its
submittal to OMB.
DATES: Comments on the collection of
information are due by August 17, 2018.
ADDRESSES: Comments filed with OMB,
identified by the OMB Control No.
1902–0246, should be sent via email to
the Office of Information and Regulatory
Affairs: oira_submission@omb.gov.
Attention: Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission Desk Officer. The Desk
Officer may also be reached via
telephone at 202–395–0710.
A copy of the comments should also
be sent to the Commission, in 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.
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SUMMARY:
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33925
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, by
telephone at (202) 502–8663, and by 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
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
(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
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).
2 BAL–004–WECC–3 Petition, page 1.
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).
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).
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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 138 / Wednesday, July 18, 2018 / Notices
(‘‘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
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
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 per
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
(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.
Recordkeeping Requirements (Annually):
Generator Operators.
Transmission
Operators applicable to
standard
VAR–002.
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Total Reduction.
228
1
228
10 hr.; $769.90 ........
86
4
344
10 hr.; $769.90 ........
228
1
228
1 hr.; $31.19 ............
86
1
86
4 hr.; $124.76 ..........
........................
........................
886
..................................
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
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
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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 The Commission defines burden as the total
time, effort, or financial resources expended by
persons to generate, maintain, retain, or disclose or
provide information to or for a Federal agency. For
further explanation of what is included in the
information collection burden, reference 5 Code of
Federal Regulations 1320.3.
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2,280 hr.; $175,537
(reduction).
3,440 hr.; $264,846
(reduction).
$770 (reduction).
228 hr.; $7,111 (reduction).
344 hr.; $10,729 (reduction).
$31 (reduction).
$3,080 (reduction).
$125 (reduction).
6,292 hr.; $458,223
(reduction).
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
($76.99) is an average of the cost of a manager and
engineer. The hourly cost for recordkeeping
requirements uses the cost of a file clerk.
E:\FR\FM\18JYN1.SGM
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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 138 / Wednesday, July 18, 2018 / Notices
Estimate of Changes to Burden Due to
Docket No. RD18–3: The Commission
estimates the reduction in the annual
public reporting burden for the FERC–
725E (due to the retirement of regional
33927
Reliability Standard PRC–004–WECC–2)
as follows: 11 12
FERC–725E, MANDATORY RELIABILITY STANDARDS FOR THE WESTERN ELECTRIC COORDINATING COUNCIL, REDUCTIONS
DUE TO DOCKET NO. RD18–3–000
Number of
respondents
Annual
number of
responses per
respondents
Annual
number of
response
Average burden
hours and cost per
response
($)
Total annual burden
hours and total
annual cost
($)
Cost per respondent
($)
(1)
Entity
(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
operate qualified transfer
paths.
Recordkeeping Requirements (Annually):
Transmission
Owners that
operate qualified transfer
paths.
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Total Reduction.
5
2
10
40 hr.; $3,079.60 .....
400 hr.; $30,796 (reduction).
$6,159 (reduction).
5
1
5
6 hr.; $187.14 ..........
30 hr.; $936 (reduction).
$187 (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 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: July 12, 2018.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
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.
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[FR Doc. 2018–15325 Filed 7–17–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket Nos. CP18–512–000; CP18–513–
000; PF15–26–000]
Notice of Application: Corpus Christi
Liquefaction Stage III, LLC; Corpus
Christi Liquefaction, LLC; Cheniere
Corpus Christi Pipeline, LP
Take notice that on June 28, 2018,
Corpus Christi Liquefaction Stage III,
LLC (CCL Stage III) filed an application
under section 3(a) of the Natural Gas
Act (NGA) and parts 153 and 380 of the
Commission’s regulations for
authorization to site, construct, and
operate an expansion of the Corpus
Christi Liquefaction Project, previously
approved by the Commission in Docket
No. CP12–507–000. The proposed
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expansion project consists of the
addition of seven midscale liquefaction
trains and one liquefied natural gas
(LNG) storage tank (Stage 3 LNG
Facilities). Corpus Christi Liquefaction,
LLC (CCL) is currently constructing the
liquefaction project, and would provide
interconnects between the liquefaction
project and the Stage 3 LNG Facilities,
as well as control building
modifications to accommodate the Stage
3 LNG Facilities.
In addition, pursuant to section 7(c) of
the NGA, and in accordance with parts
157 and 380 of the Commission’s
regulations, Cheniere Corpus Christi
Pipeline, LP (CCPL) filed an application
for authorization to construct, own,
operate, and maintain new interstate
natural gas pipeline, compression, and
related facilities in San Patricio County,
Texas (Stage 3 Pipeline). The Stage 3
Pipeline, which would be
approximately 21 miles long and 42
inches in diameter, would originate at
CCPL’s Sinton Compressor Station and
generally run parallel to CCPL’s existing
48-inch-diameter interstate natural gas
pipeline (Corpus Christi Pipeline)
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\18JYN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 138 (Wednesday, July 18, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33925-33927]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-15325]
[[Page 33925]]
=======================================================================
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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, Department of Energy.
ACTION: Comment request.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or
FERC) is submitting its information collection FERC-725E (Mandatory
Reliability Standards for the Western Electric Coordinating Council) to
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review of the information
collection requirements. Any interested person may file comments
directly with OMB and should address a copy of those comments to the
Commission as explained below. On May 11, 2018, the Commission
previously issued a Notice in the Federal Register requesting public
comments. The Commission received no comments on the FERC-725E and is
making this notation in its submittal to OMB.
DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due by August 17,
2018.
ADDRESSES: Comments filed with OMB, identified by the OMB Control No.
1902-0246, should be sent via email to the Office of Information and
Regulatory Affairs: [email protected]. Attention: Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission Desk Officer. The Desk Officer may also be
reached via telephone at 202-395-0710.
A copy of the comments should also be sent to the Commission, in
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], by telephone at (202) 502-8663, and by 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
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
[[Page 33926]]
(``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\ The Commission defines burden as the total time, effort, or
financial resources expended by persons to generate, maintain,
retain, or disclose or provide information to or for a Federal
agency. For further explanation of what is included in the
information collection burden, reference 5 Code of Federal
Regulations 1320.3.
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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 ($76.99) is an
average of the cost of a manager and engineer. The hourly cost for
recordkeeping requirements uses the cost of a file clerk.
FERC-725E, Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Western Electric Coordinating Council, Reductions Due to Docket No. RD18-1-000
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Annual number Total annual
Number of of responses Annual number Average burden burden hours and
Entity respondents per of responses hours and cost per total annual cost Cost per respondent ($)
respondents response ($) ($)
(1) (2) (1) * (2) = (4)................ (3) * (4) = (5)... (5) / (1) = (6)
(3)
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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.; $770 (reduction).
$175,537
(reduction).
Transmission Operators 86 4 344 10 hr.; $769.90.... 3,440 hr.; $3,080 (reduction).
applicable to standard VAR- $264,846
002. (reduction).
Recordkeeping Requirements
(Annually):
Generator Operators......... 228 1 228 1 hr.; $31.19...... 228 hr.; $7,111 $31 (reduction).
(reduction).
Transmission Operators 86 1 86 4 hr.; $124.76..... 344 hr.; $10,729 $125 (reduction).
applicable to standard VAR- (reduction).
002.
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Total Reduction......... .............. .............. 886 ................... 6,292 hr.;
$458,223
(reduction).
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[[Page 33927]]
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 ($76.99) is an
average of the cost of a manager and engineer. The hourly cost for
recordkeeping requirements uses the cost of a file clerk.
FERC-725E, Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Western Electric Coordinating Council, Reductions Due to Docket No. RD18-3-000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual number Total annual
Number of of responses Annual number Average burden burden hours and
Entity respondents per of response hours and cost per total annual cost Cost per respondent ($)
respondents response ($) ($)
(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 5 2 10 40 hr.; $3,079.60.. 400 hr.; $30,796 $6,159 (reduction).
operate qualified transfer (reduction).
paths.
Recordkeeping Requirements
(Annually):
Transmission Owners that 5 1 5 6 hr.; $187.14..... 30 hr.; $936 $187 (reduction).
operate qualified transfer (reduction).
paths.
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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: July 12, 2018.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-15325 Filed 7-17-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
