Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-725F); Comment Request; Extension, 9499-9501 [2021-03040]
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 29 / Tuesday, February 16, 2021 / Notices
Conservation, and Environmental
Protection Agency Liaisons
• Presentation: Budget Update
• Public Comment Period
• Motions/Approval of February 12,
2020 and March 11, 2020 Meeting
Minutes
• Status of Outstanding
Recommendations
• Alternate DDFO Report
• Committee Reports
• Adjourn
Public Participation: The online
meeting is open to the public. Written
statements may be filed with the Board
either before or after the meeting as
there will not be opportunities for live
public comment during this online
virtual meeting. The Deputy Designated
Federal Officer is empowered to
conduct the meeting in a fashion that
will facilitate the orderly conduct of
business. Individuals wishing to submit
public comments should email them as
directed above.
Minutes: Minutes will be available by
writing or calling Melyssa P. Noe at the
address and telephone number listed
above. Minutes will also be available at
the following website: https://
www.energy.gov/orem/listings/oakridge-site-specific-advisory-boardmeetings.
Signed in Washington, DC, on February 9,
2021.
LaTanya Butler,
Deputy Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 2021–03021 Filed 2–12–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. EL21–24–000]
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
System Energy Resources, Inc.; Notice
of Institution of Section 206
Proceeding and Refund Effective Date
On February 5, 2021, the Commission
issued an order in Docket No. EL21–24–
000, pursuant to section 206 of the
Federal Power Act (FPA), 16 U.S.C.
824e, instituting an investigation into
whether System Energy Resources,
Inc.’s proposed rate decrease is unjust,
unreasonable, unduly discriminatory, or
preferential, or otherwise unlawful and
further decreases may be warranted.
System Energy Resources, Inc., 174
FERC ¶ 61,082 (2021).
The refund effective date in Docket
No. EL21–24–000, established pursuant
to section 206(b) of the FPA, will be the
date of publication of this notice in the
Federal Register.
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Any interested person desiring to be
heard in Docket No. EL21–24–000 must
file a notice of intervention or motion to
intervene, as appropriate, with the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,
in accordance with Rule 214 of the
Commission’s Rules of Practice and
Procedure, 18 CFR 385.214 (2020),
within 21 days of the date of issuance
of the order.
In addition to publishing the full text
of this document in the Federal
Register, the Commission provides all
interested persons an opportunity to
view and/or print the contents of this
document via the internet through the
Commission’s Home Page (https://
www.ferc.gov) using the ‘‘eLibrary’’ link.
Enter the docket number excluding the
last three digits in the docket number
field to access the document. At this
time, the Commission has suspended
access to the Commission’s Public
Reference Room, due to the
proclamation declaring a National
Emergency concerning the Novel
Coronavirus Disease (COVID–19), issued
by the President on March 13, 2020. For
assistance, contact FERC at
FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or call
toll-free, (886) 208–3676 or TYY, (202)
502–8659.
The Commission strongly encourages
electronic filings of comments, protests
and interventions in lieu of paper using
the ‘‘eFile’’ link at https://www.ferc.gov.
In lieu of electronic filing, you may
submit a paper copy. Submissions sent
via the U.S. Postal Service must be
addressed to: Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, 888 First Street NE, Room
1A, Washington, DC 20426.
Submissions sent via any other carrier
must be addressed to: Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, 12225 Wilkins Avenue,
Rockville, Maryland 20852.
Dated: February 9, 2021.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021–03030 Filed 2–12–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. IC21–10–000]
Commission Information Collection
Activities (FERC–725F); Comment
Request; Extension
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission.
AGENCY:
PO 00000
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9499
Notice of information collection
and request for comments.
ACTION:
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 the currently
approved information collection, FERC
725F (Mandatory Reliability Standard
for Nuclear Plant Interface
Coordination).
SUMMARY:
Comments on the collection of
information are due April 19, 2021.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
(identified by Docket No. IC21–10–000)
by either of the following methods:
• eFiling at Commission’s Website:
https://www.ferc.gov.
• U.S. Postal Service Mail: Persons
unable to file electronically may mail
similar pleadings to the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission, Office of the
Secretary, 888 First Street NE,
Washington, DC 20426
• Delivery of filings other than by
eFiling or the U.S. Postal Service should
be delivered to Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission, Office of the
Secretary, 12225 Wilkins Avenue,
Rockville, Maryland 20852.
Instructions: All submissions must be
formatted and filed in accordance with
submission guidelines at: https://
www.ferc.gov. For user assistance,
contact FERC Online Support by email
at ferconlinesupport@ferc.gov, or by
phone at (866) 208–3676 (toll-free).
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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ellen Brown may be reached by email
at DataClearance@FERC.gov, telephone
at (202) 502–8663.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: FERC 725F, Mandatory
Reliability Standard for Nuclear Plant
Interface Coordination.
OMB Control No.: 1902–0249.
Type of Request: Three-year extension
of the FERC–725F information
collection requirements with no changes
to the current reporting requirements.
Abstract: The Commission requires
the information collected by the FERC–
725F to implement the statutory
provisions of section 215 of the Federal
Power Act (FPA) (16 U.S.C. 824o). On
August 8, 2005, the Electricity
Modernization Act of 2005, which is
Title XII, Subtitle A, of the Energy
Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005), was
DATES:
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9500
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 29 / Tuesday, February 16, 2021 / Notices
enacted into law.1 EPAct 2005 added a
new section 215 to the FPA, which
required 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.2
On February 3, 2006, the Commission
issued Order No. 672, implementing
section 215 of the FPA.3 Pursuant to
Order No. 672, the Commission certified
one organization, North American
Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC),
as the ERO. 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 November 19, 2007, NERC filed its
petition for Commission approval of the
Nuclear Plant Interface Coordination
Reliability Standard, designated NUC–
001–1. In Order No. 716, issued October
FERC–725F
New or Modifications to
Existing Agreements
(Reporting).
New or Modifications to
Existing Agreements
(Record Keeping).
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
Total ........................
16, 2008, the Commission approved the
standard while also directing certain
revisions.4 Revised Reliability Standard,
NUC–001–2, was filed with the
Commission by NERC in August 2009
and subsequently approved by the
Commission January 21, 2010.5 On
November 4, 2014, in Docket No. RD14–
13, the Commission approved revised
Reliability Standard NUC–001–3.6 On
February 21, 2020 NERC filed a petition
in Docket No. RD20–4 to revise
Reliability Standard NUC–001–3 to
NUC–0001–4.
The purpose of Reliability Standard
NUC–001–4 is to require ‘‘coordination
between nuclear plant generator
operators and transmission entities for
the purpose of ensuring nuclear plant
safe operation and shutdown.’’ 7 The
Nuclear Reliability Standard applies to
nuclear plant generator operators
(generally nuclear power plant owners
and operators, including licensees) and
‘‘transmission entities,’’ defined in the
Reliability Standard as including a
nuclear plant’s suppliers of off-site
power and related transmission and
Annual
number of
responses per
respondent
Number of
respondents
Total
number of
responses
distribution services. To account for the
variations in nuclear plant design and
grid interconnection characteristics, the
Reliability Standard defines
transmission entities as ‘‘all entities that
are responsible for providing services
related to Nuclear Plant Interface
Requirements (NPIRs),’’ and lists eleven
types of functional entities (heretofore
described as ‘‘transmission entities’’)
that could provide services related to
NPIRs.8
FERC–725F information collection
requirements include establishing and
maintaining interface agreements,
including record retention
requirements. These agreements are not
filed with FERC, but with the
appropriate entities as established by
the Reliability Standard.
Type of Respondent: Nuclear
operators, nuclear plants, transmission
entities
Estimate of Annual Burden: 9 The
Commission estimates the average
annual burden and cost 10 for this
information collection as follows:
Average
burden hrs.
& cost per
response
($) (rounded)
Total annual
burden hrs.
& total annual
cost ($) (rounded)
Cost per
respondent
($) (rounded)
(1) .................................
(2)
(1) * (2) = (3)
(4) .................................
(3) * (4) = (5) ................
(5) ÷ (1)
57 nuclear plants + 114
transmission entities 11.
57 nuclear plants + 114
transmission entities.
2
342
66.67 hrs.; $5,694 ........
22,801 hrs.; $1,947,433
$11,388
2
342
6.67 hrs.; $232 .............
2,281 hrs.; $79,356 ......
464.07
......................................
........................
12 342
......................................
25,082 hrs.; 13
$2,026,789.
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
1 Energy Policy Act of 2005, Public Law 109–58,
Title XII, Subtitle A, 119 Stat. 594, 941 (2005), 16
U.S.C. 824o.
2 16 U.S.C. 824o(e)(3).
3 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).
4 Mandatory Reliability Standard for Nuclear
Plant Interface Coordination, Order No. 716, 125
FERC 61,065, at P 189 & n.90 (2008), order on reh’g,
Order No. 716–A, 126 FERC 61,122 (2009).
5 North American Electric Reliability Corporation,
130 FERC 61,051 (2010). When the revised
Reliability Standard was approved, the Commission
did not go to OMB for approval. It is assumed that
the changes made did not substantively affect the
information collection and therefore a formal
submission to OMB was not needed.
6 The Letter Order is posted at https://
elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/common/OpenNat.asp?
fileID=13675845.
7 See Reliability Standard NUC–001–4 at https://
www.nerc.com/files/NUC-001-4.pdf.
8 The list of functional entities consists of
transmission operators, transmission owners,
transmission planners, transmission service
providers, balancing authorities, reliability
coordinators, planning authorities, distribution
providers, load-serving entities, generator owners,
and generator operators.
9 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. Refer to 5
CFR 1320.3 for additional information.
10 The wage and benefit figures are based on the
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data (at https://
www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics2_22.htm) for May
2019 for Sector 22, Utilities. (The benefits figure is
based on BLS data as of May 2020 https://
www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm).) The
estimated hourly cost (for wages plus benefits) for
reporting requirements is $85.41/hour, based on the
average for an electrical engineer (occupation code
17–2071, $70.19/hour), legal (occupation code 23–
0000, $142.65/hour), and office and administrative
staff (occupation code 43–0000, $43.38/hour). The
estimated hourly cost (wages plus benefits) for
record keeping is $34.79/hour for a file clerk
(occupation code 43–4071).
11 This figure of 120 transmission entities is based
on the assumption that each agreement will be
between 1 nuclear plant and 2 transmission entities
(57 × 2 = 114). However, there is some double
counting in this figure because some transmission
entities may be party to multiple agreements with
multiple nuclear plants. The double counting does
not affect the burden estimate, and the correct
number of unique respondents will be reported to
OMB.
12 The 171 respondents affected by the reporting
requirements are also affected by the recordkeeping
requirements.
13 The reporting requirements have not changed.
The decrease in the number of respondents is due
to: (a) Normal fluctuations in industry (e.g.,
companies merging and splitting, and coming into
and going out of business), and (b) no new
agreements being issued due to the lack of new
nuclear plants being developed.
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 29 / Tuesday, February 16, 2021 / Notices
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: February 9, 2021.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021–03040 Filed 2–12–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
Combined Notice of Filings #1
Take notice that the Commission
received the following electric rate
filings:
Docket Numbers: ER10–2881–037;
ER10–2882–038; ER10–2883–036;
ER10–2884–036; ER16–2509–007;
ER17–2400–008; ER17–2401–008;
ER17–2403–008; ER17–2404–008.
Applicants: Alabama Power
Company, Georgia Power Company,
Mississippi Power Company, Southern
Power Company, Rutherford Farm, LLC,
SP Butler Solar, LLC, SP Decatur
Parkway Solar, LLC, SP Pawpaw Solar,
LLC, SP Sandhills Solar, LLC.
Description: Notice of Non-Material
Change in Status of Alabama Power
Company, et al.
Filed Date: 2/8/21.
Accession Number: 20210208–5170.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 3/1/21.
Docket Numbers: ER20–1683–004.
Applicants: Wabash Valley Power
Association, Inc.
Description: Compliance filing:
Compliance Filing of Amended
Distributed Generation Policy D–11 to
be effective 9/11/2020.
Filed Date: 2/9/21.
Accession Number: 20210209–5020.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 3/2/21.
Docket Numbers: ER21–653–000;
ER21–654–000.
Applicants: Centerfield Cooper Solar,
LLC.
Description: Second Supplement to
December 15, 2020 Centerfield Cooper
Solar, LLC, et al.
Filed Date: 2/5/21.
Accession Number: 20210205–5196.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 2/26/21.
Docket Numbers: ER21–1023–000.
Applicants: Thunderhead Wind
Energy LLC.
Description: Request for Prospective
Tariff Waiver of Thunderhead Wind
Energy LLC.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:04 Feb 12, 2021
Jkt 253001
Filed Date: 2/2/21.
Accession Number: 20210202–5138.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 2/23/21.
Docket Numbers: ER21–1070–000.
Applicants: Upper Missouri G. & T.
Electric Cooperation.
Description: § 205(d) Rate Filing:
Revised Rate Schedules FERC to be
effective 2/9/2021.
Filed Date: 2/8/21.
Accession Number: 20210208–5143.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 3/1/21.
Docket Numbers: ER21–1071–000.
Applicants: Duke Energy Carolinas,
LLC.
Description: § 205(d) Rate Filing:
Wholesale Contract Revisions to Rate
Schedule Nos. 330, 337, and 338 to be
effective 1/1/2021.
Filed Date: 2/8/21.
Accession Number: 20210208–5161.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 3/1/21.
Docket Numbers: ER21–1072–000.
Applicants: PJM Interconnection,
L.L.C.
Description: Tariff Cancellation:
Notice of Cancellation of WMPA, SA
No. 5100; Queue No. AC1–212 to be
effective 2/14/2021.
Filed Date: 2/9/21.
Accession Number: 20210209–5034.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 3/2/21.
Docket Numbers: ER21–1073–000.
Applicants: DATC SLTP, LLC.
Description: Tariff Cancellation:
Cancellation to be effective 3/11/2021.
Filed Date: 2/9/21.
Accession Number: 20210209–5108.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 3/2/21.
Docket Numbers: ER21–1074–000.
Applicants: New York Independent
System Operator, Inc.
Description: § 205(d) Rate Filing: 205:
enhancements to economic planning
process to be effective 4/11/2021.
Filed Date: 2/9/21.
Accession Number: 20210209–5122.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 3/2/21.
Docket Numbers: ER21–1075–000.
Applicants: DATC Midwest Holdings,
LLC.
Description: Tariff Cancellation:
Cancellation to be effective 3/11/2021.
Filed Date: 2/9/21.
Accession Number: 20210209–5131.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 3/2/21.
The filings are accessible in the
Commission’s eLibrary system (https://
elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/search/
fercgensearch.asp) by 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
PO 00000
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9501
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: February 9, 2021.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021–03039 Filed 2–12–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Project No. 1417–277]
Central Nebraska Public Power and
Irrigation District; Notice of Application
Accepted for Filing and Soliciting
Comments, Motions To Intervene, and
Protests
Take notice that the following
hydroelectric application has been filed
with the Commission and is available
for public inspection:
a. Application Type: Amendment of
Project Boundary.
b. Project No: 1417–277.
c. Date Filed: December 31, 2020.
d. Applicant: Central Nebraska Public
Power and Irrigation District.
e. Name of Project: Kingsley Dam
Hydroelectric Project.
f. Location: The project is located on
the North Platte and Platte Rivers in
Garden, Keith, Lincoln, Dawson, and
Gosper counties, in south-central
Nebraska.
g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power
Act, 16 U.S.C. 791a–825r.
h. Applicant Contact: Mike Drain,
Central Nebraska Public Power and
Irrigation District, P.O. Box 740,
Holdrege, Nebraska 68949, (308) 995–
8601 or mdrain@cnppid.com.
i. FERC Contact: Jon Cofrancesco,
(202) 502–8951 or Jon.Cofrancesco@
ferc.gov.
j. Deadline for filing comments,
motions to intervene, and protests:
March 11, 2021.
The Commission strongly encourages
electronic filing. Please file comments,
motions to intervene, and protests using
the Commission’s eFiling system at
https://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/
efiling.asp. Commenters can submit
brief comments up to 6,000 characters,
E:\FR\FM\16FEN1.SGM
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 29 (Tuesday, February 16, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9499-9501]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-03040]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. IC21-10-000]
Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-725F); Comment
Request; Extension
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Notice of 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 the currently approved
information collection, FERC 725F (Mandatory Reliability Standard for
Nuclear Plant Interface Coordination).
DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due April 19,
2021.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments (identified by Docket No. IC21-10-
000) by either of the following methods:
eFiling at Commission's Website: https://www.ferc.gov.
U.S. Postal Service Mail: Persons unable to file
electronically may mail similar pleadings to the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission, Office of the Secretary, 888 First Street NE,
Washington, DC 20426
Delivery of filings other than by eFiling or the U.S.
Postal Service should be delivered to Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, Office of the Secretary, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville,
Maryland 20852.
Instructions: All submissions must be formatted and filed in
accordance with submission guidelines at: https://www.ferc.gov. For user
assistance, contact FERC Online Support by email at
[email protected], or by phone at (866) 208-3676 (toll-free).
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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen Brown may be reached by email at
[email protected], telephone at (202) 502-8663.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: FERC 725F, Mandatory Reliability Standard for Nuclear Plant
Interface Coordination.
OMB Control No.: 1902-0249.
Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC-725F information
collection requirements with no changes to the current reporting
requirements.
Abstract: The Commission requires the information collected by the
FERC-725F to implement the statutory provisions of section 215 of the
Federal Power Act (FPA) (16 U.S.C. 824o). On August 8, 2005, the
Electricity Modernization Act of 2005, which is Title XII, Subtitle A,
of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005), was
[[Page 9500]]
enacted into law.\1\ EPAct 2005 added a new section 215 to the FPA,
which required 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.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Energy Policy Act of 2005, Public Law 109-58, Title XII,
Subtitle A, 119 Stat. 594, 941 (2005), 16 U.S.C. 824o.
\2\ 16 U.S.C. 824o(e)(3).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
On February 3, 2006, the Commission issued Order No. 672,
implementing section 215 of the FPA.\3\ Pursuant to Order No. 672, the
Commission certified one organization, North American Electric
Reliability Corporation (NERC), as the ERO. 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ 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).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
On November 19, 2007, NERC filed its petition for Commission
approval of the Nuclear Plant Interface Coordination Reliability
Standard, designated NUC-001-1. In Order No. 716, issued October 16,
2008, the Commission approved the standard while also directing certain
revisions.\4\ Revised Reliability Standard, NUC-001-2, was filed with
the Commission by NERC in August 2009 and subsequently approved by the
Commission January 21, 2010.\5\ On November 4, 2014, in Docket No.
RD14-13, the Commission approved revised Reliability Standard NUC-001-
3.\6\ On February 21, 2020 NERC filed a petition in Docket No. RD20-4
to revise Reliability Standard NUC-001-3 to NUC-0001-4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ Mandatory Reliability Standard for Nuclear Plant Interface
Coordination, Order No. 716, 125 FERC 61,065, at P 189 & n.90
(2008), order on reh'g, Order No. 716-A, 126 FERC 61,122 (2009).
\5\ North American Electric Reliability Corporation, 130 FERC
61,051 (2010). When the revised Reliability Standard was approved,
the Commission did not go to OMB for approval. It is assumed that
the changes made did not substantively affect the information
collection and therefore a formal submission to OMB was not needed.
\6\ The Letter Order is posted at https://elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/common/OpenNat.asp?fileID=13675845.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The purpose of Reliability Standard NUC-001-4 is to require
``coordination between nuclear plant generator operators and
transmission entities for the purpose of ensuring nuclear plant safe
operation and shutdown.'' \7\ The Nuclear Reliability Standard applies
to nuclear plant generator operators (generally nuclear power plant
owners and operators, including licensees) and ``transmission
entities,'' defined in the Reliability Standard as including a nuclear
plant's suppliers of off-site power and related transmission and
distribution services. To account for the variations in nuclear plant
design and grid interconnection characteristics, the Reliability
Standard defines transmission entities as ``all entities that are
responsible for providing services related to Nuclear Plant Interface
Requirements (NPIRs),'' and lists eleven types of functional entities
(heretofore described as ``transmission entities'') that could provide
services related to NPIRs.\8\
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\7\ See Reliability Standard NUC-001-4 at https://www.nerc.com/files/NUC-001-4.pdf.
\8\ The list of functional entities consists of transmission
operators, transmission owners, transmission planners, transmission
service providers, balancing authorities, reliability coordinators,
planning authorities, distribution providers, load-serving entities,
generator owners, and generator operators.
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FERC-725F information collection requirements include establishing
and maintaining interface agreements, including record retention
requirements. These agreements are not filed with FERC, but with the
appropriate entities as established by the Reliability Standard.
Type of Respondent: Nuclear operators, nuclear plants, transmission
entities
Estimate of Annual Burden: \9\ The Commission estimates the average
annual burden and cost \10\ for this information collection as follows:
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\9\ 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. Refer to
5 CFR 1320.3 for additional information.
\10\ The wage and benefit figures are based on the Bureau of
Labor Statistics (BLS) data (at https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics2_22.htm) for May 2019 for Sector 22, Utilities. (The benefits
figure is based on BLS data as of May 2020 https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm).) The estimated hourly cost (for wages
plus benefits) for reporting requirements is $85.41/hour, based on
the average for an electrical engineer (occupation code 17-2071,
$70.19/hour), legal (occupation code 23-0000, $142.65/hour), and
office and administrative staff (occupation code 43-0000, $43.38/
hour). The estimated hourly cost (wages plus benefits) for record
keeping is $34.79/hour for a file clerk (occupation code 43-4071).
\11\ This figure of 120 transmission entities is based on the
assumption that each agreement will be between 1 nuclear plant and 2
transmission entities (57 x 2 = 114). However, there is some double
counting in this figure because some transmission entities may be
party to multiple agreements with multiple nuclear plants. The
double counting does not affect the burden estimate, and the correct
number of unique respondents will be reported to OMB.
\12\ The 171 respondents affected by the reporting requirements
are also affected by the recordkeeping requirements.
\13\ The reporting requirements have not changed. The decrease
in the number of respondents is due to: (a) Normal fluctuations in
industry (e.g., companies merging and splitting, and coming into and
going out of business), and (b) no new agreements being issued due
to the lack of new nuclear plants being developed.
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Annual number Average burden hrs. Total annual burden
FERC-725F Number of of responses Total number & cost per response hrs. & total annual Cost per respondent ($)
respondents per respondent of responses ($) (rounded) cost ($) (rounded) (rounded)
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(1)................ (2) (1) * (2) = (4)................ (3) * (4) = (5).... (5) / (1)
(3)
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New or Modifications to Existing 57 nuclear plants + 2 342 66.67 hrs.; $5,694. 22,801 hrs.; $11,388
Agreements (Reporting). 114 transmission $1,947,433.
entities \11\.
New or Modifications to Existing 57 nuclear plants + 2 342 6.67 hrs.; $232.... 2,281 hrs.; $79,356 464.07
Agreements (Record Keeping). 114 transmission
entities.
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Total....................... ................... .............. \12\ 342 ................... 25,082 hrs.; \13\ .......................
$2,026,789.
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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 estimate of the burden and
cost of the collection of information, including the validity of
[[Page 9501]]
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: February 9, 2021.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021-03040 Filed 2-12-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P