Department of Energy September 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The annual public meeting of the Federal Interagency Steering Committee on Multimedia Environmental Modeling (ISCMEM) will convene to discuss the latest developments in environmental modeling applications, tools and frameworks as well as new operational initiatives for FY 2014 among the participating agencies. The meeting will be hosted by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (U.S. NRC), one of the participants in the ISCMEM, at its Research Offices at 21 Church Street, Rockville, MD 20850 adjacent to the Rockville METRO Station. The meeting is open to the public and all interested parties may attend.

A 60-day notice and request for comments was published in the Federal Register on July 29, 2013 (78 FR 45518). No comments were received in response to this Notice. This subsequent 30-day notice allows public comment on the final version of the information collection request. WAP was able to confirm, through its annual evaluation, that reducing reporting frequency from quarterly to annually on all new awards would be sufficient to meet the grants management and oversight needs of the program. This reduced the burden from 2,088 hours which was reported in the previous Notice and Request for Comments published on July 29, 2013 (78 FR 45518) to 1160 hours, as reflected below. The Department of Energy (DOE) invites public comment on an extension of a currently approved collection of information that DOE is developing for submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The Department of Energy (DOE) has submitted an information collection request to the OMB for extension under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The information collection requests a three- year extension of its Weatherization Assistance Program, OMB Control Number 1910-5127. The proposed collection will collect information on the status of grantee activities, expenditures, and results, to ensure that program funds are being used appropriately, effectively and expeditiously. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the currently approved 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 pertaining to the approved collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to further enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information being collected; and (d) ways to further minimize the burden regarding the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

This notice announces a meeting of the Environmental Management Site-Specific Advisory Board (EM SSAB) Chairs. The Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463, 86 Stat. 770) requires that public notice of this meeting be announced in the Federal Register.

Pursuant to section 215 of the Federal Power Act, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) approves modifications to four existing Reliability Standards submitted by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), the Commission certified Electric Reliability Organization. Specifically, the Commission approves Reliability Standards FAC-001-1 (Facility Connection Requirements), FAC-003-3 (Transmission Vegetation Management), PRC-004- 2.1a (Analysis and Mitigation of Transmission and Generation Protection System Misoperations), and PRC-005-1.1b (Transmission and Generation Protection System Maintenance and Testing). The modifications improve reliability either by extending applicability of the Reliability Standard to certain generator interconnection facilities, or by clarifying that the existing Reliability Standard is and remains applicable to generator interconnection facilities. The Commission also approves the related Violation Risk Factors and Violation Severity Levels, as well as the implementation plan and effective dates proposed by NERC.

Pursuant to section 215 of the Federal Power Act, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) proposes to approve the following Reliability Standards that were submitted to the Commission for approval by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation, the Commission-certified Electric Reliability Organization: MOD-025-2 (Verification and Data Reporting of Generator Real and Reactive Power Capability and Synchronous Condenser Reactive Power Capability), MOD- 026-1 (Verification of Models and Data for Generator Excitation Control System or Plant Volt/Var Control Functions), MOD-027-1 (Verification of Models and Data for Turbine/Governor and Load Control or Active Power/ Frequency Control Functions), PRC-019-1 (Coordination of Generating Unit or Plant Capabilities, Voltage Regulating Controls, and Protection), and PRC-024-1 (Generator Frequency and Voltage Protective Relay Settings). The proposed generator verification Reliability Standards help ensure that verified data is available for power system planning and operational studies by requiring the verification of generator equipment needed to support Bulk-Power System reliability and enhance coordination of important protection system settings. The Commission proposes to approve, with modifications, the associated implementation plans, violation risk factors and violation severity levels. The Commission also proposes to approve the retirement of existing Reliability Standards MOD-024-1 (Verification of Generator Gross and Net Real Power Capability) and MOD-025-1 (Verification of Generator Gross and Net Reactive Power Capability) prior to the effective date of MOD-025-2.

This action extends the existing Parker-Davis Project (P-DP) firm electric and transmission service formula rates through September 30, 2018. The existing Firm Electric and Transmission Service Rate Schedules PD-F7, PD-FT7, PD-FCT7, and PD-NFT7 were set to expire on September 30, 2013. These firm electric and transmission service rate schedules contain formula rates that are calculated annually using updated financial and sales data.

This notice announces a meeting of the Ultra-Deepwater Advisory Committee. The Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92- 463, 86 Stat. 770) requires that public notice of this meeting be announced in the Federal Register.

This notice announces a combined meeting of the Environmental Monitoring and Remediation Committee, Waste Management Committee, and Waste Isolation Pilot Plant Ad Hoc Committee of the Environmental Management Site-Specific Advisory Board (EM SSAB), Northern New Mexico (known locally as the Northern New Mexico Citizens' Advisory Board [NNMCAB]). The Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463, 86 Stat. 770) requires that public notice of this meeting be announced in the Federal Register.

In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3507(a)(1)(D), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or FERC) is submitting the information collection FERC-725A, Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Bulk Power System, 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. The Commission solicited public comments on the information collection analysis associated with its approval of Reliability Standard EOP-004-2, in an order published in the Federal Register (78 FR 420064, 7/15/2013).\1\ FERC received no comments in response to that solicitation and is making this notation in its submission to OMB.