Department of Energy June 28, 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of Energy (DOE), pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, intends to extend, for three years, an information collection request with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the extended collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Pursuant to section 215 of the Federal Power Act, the Commission proposes to approve the retirement of 34 requirements within 19 Reliability Standards identified by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), the Commission-certified Electric Reliability Organization. The requirements proposed for retirement either: Provide little protection for Bulk-Power System reliability or are redundant with other aspects of the Reliability Standards. In addition, the Commission proposes to withdraw 41 outstanding Commission directives that NERC develop modifications to Reliability Standards. The Commission believes that the identified outstanding directives have either been addressed in some other manner, are redundant with another directive or provide general guidance as opposed to a specific directive and, therefore, that withdrawal of these outstanding directives will have little impact the reliability of the Bulk-Power System. This proposal is part of the Commission's ongoing effort to review its requirements and reduce unnecessary burdens by eliminating requirements that are not necessary to the performance of the Commission's regulatory responsibilities.