[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 235 (Friday, December 6, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 73424-73434]
[FR Doc No: 2013-28516]

=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

18 CFR Part 40

[Docket No. RM13-8-000; Order No. 788]

Retirement of Requirements in Reliability Standards

AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, DOE.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 215 of the Federal Power Act, the
Commission approves 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 approved 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 withdraws 41 Commission directives that NERC
develop modifications to Reliability Standards. This rule 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.

DATES: Effective Date: This rule will become effective January 21,
2014.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kevin Ryan (Legal Information), Office of the General Counsel, Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC
20426, Telephone:<PHONE_NUMBER>

Michael Gandolfo (Technical Information), Office of Electric
Reliability, Division of Reliability Standards and Security, Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC
20426, Telephone:<PHONE_NUMBER>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
145 FERC ] 61,147
Before Commissioners: Jon Wellinghoff, Chairman; Philip D. Moeller,
John R. Norris, Cheryl A. LaFleur, and Tony Clark.

Final Rule

(Issued November 21, 2013)

    1. Pursuant to section 215(d) of the Federal Power Act (FPA),\1\
the Commission approves the retirement of 34 requirements within 19
Reliability Standards identified by the North American Electric
Reliability Corporation (NERC), the Commission-certified Electric
Reliability Organization (ERO). The retirement of these provisions meet
the benchmarks set forth in the Commission's March 15, 2012 order that
requirements proposed for retirement either: (1) Provide little
protection for Bulk-Power System reliability or (2) are redundant with
other aspects of the Reliability Standards.\2\ Consistent with the
Commission's proposal in the March 2012 Order, we conclude that the
requirements approved for retirement can ``be removed from the
Reliability Standards with little effect on reliability and an increase
in efficiency of the ERO compliance program.'' \3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ 16 U.S.C. 824o(d) (2006).
    \2\ See North American Electric Reliability Corp., 138 FERC ]
61,193, at P 81 (March 2012 Order), order on reh'g and
clarification, 139 FERC ] 61,168 (2012).
    \3\ Id. P 81.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    2. In addition, in this Final Rule, we withdraw 41 directives that
NERC develop modifications to Reliability Standards.\4\ In Order No.
693 and subsequent final rules, the Commission has identified various
issues and directed NERC to develop modifications to the Reliability
Standards or take other action to address those issues.\5\ While NERC
has addressed many of these directives, over 150 directives remain
outstanding. The withdrawal of these directives will enhance the
efficiency of the Reliability Standards development process, with
little or no impact on Bulk-Power System reliability.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ The 41 withdrawn directives are listed in Attachment A to
this Final Rule.
    \5\ Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Bulk-Power System,
Order No. 693, FERC Stats. & Regs. ] 31,242, order on reh'g, Order
No. 693-A, 120 FERC ] 61,053 (2007). See also Mandatory Reliability
Standards for the Calculation of Available Transfer Capability,
Capacity Benefit Margins, Transmission Reliability Margins, Total
Transfer Capability, and Existing Transmission Commitments and
Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Bulk-Power System, Order No.
729, 129 FERC ] 61,155 (2009), order on clarification, Order No.
729-A, 131 FERC ] 61,109 (2010), order on reh'g and reconsideration,
Order No. 729-B, 132 FERC ] 61,027 (2010).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    3. Pursuant to Executive Order 13579, the Commission issued a plan
to identify regulations that warrant repeal or modification, or
strengthening, complementing, or modernizing where necessary or
appropriate.\6\ In the Plan, the Commission also stated that it
voluntarily and routinely, albeit informally, reviews its regulations
to ensure that they achieve their intended purpose and do not impose
undue burdens on regulated entities or unnecessary costs on those
entities or their customers. The action in this Final Rule is a 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ Plan for Retrospective Analysis of Existing Rules, Docket
No. AD12-6-000 (Nov. 8, 2011). Executive Order 13579 requests that
independent agencies issue public plans for periodic retrospective
analysis of their existing ``significant regulations.''
Retrospective analysis should identify ``significant regulations''
that may be outmoded, ineffective, insufficient, or excessively
burdensome, and to modify, streamline, expand, or repeal them in
order to achieve the agency's regulatory objective.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

I. Background

A. Section 215 of the FPA

    4. Section 215 of the FPA requires the Commission-certified ERO to
develop mandatory and enforceable Reliability Standards, subject to
Commission review and approval. Once approved, the Reliability
Standards may be enforced in the United States by the ERO subject to
Commission oversight or by the Commission independently.\7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ See 16 U.S.C. 824o(e)(3).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pursuant to the requirements of FPA section 215, the Commission
established a process to select and certify an ERO \8\ and,
subsequently, certified NERC as the ERO.\9\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ 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).
    \9\ North American Electric Reliability Corp., 116 FERC ]
61,062, order on reh'g and compliance, 117 FERC ] 61,126 (2006),
aff'd sub nom. Alcoa Inc. v. FERC, 564 F.3d 1342 (D.C. Cir. 2009).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

B. March 2012 Order

    5. In the March 2012 Order, the Commission accepted, with
conditions, NERC's ``Find, Fix, Track and Report'' (FFT) initiative.
The FFT process, inter alia, provides NERC and the Regional Entities
the flexibility to address lower-risk possible violations through an
FFT informational filing as opposed to issuing and filing a Notice of
Penalty. In addition, the Commission raised the prospect of revising or
removing requirements of Reliability Standards that ``provide little
protection for Bulk-Power System reliability or may be redundant.''
\10\ Specifically, the Commission stated:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \10\ March 2012 Order, 138 FERC ] 61,193 at P 81.

. . . NERC's FFT initiative is predicated on the view that many
violations of requirements currently included in Reliability
Standards pose lesser risk to the Bulk-Power System. If so, some
current requirements likely provide little protection for Bulk-Power
System reliability or may be redundant. The Commission is interested
in obtaining views on whether such requirements could be removed
from the Reliability Standards with little effect on reliability and
an increase in efficiency of the ERO compliance program. If NERC
believes that specific Reliability Standards or specific
requirements within certain Standards should be revised or removed,
we invite NERC to make specific proposals to the Commission
identifying the Standards or requirements and setting forth in
detail the technical basis for its belief. In addition, or in the
alternative, we invite NERC, the Regional Entities and other
interested entities to propose appropriate mechanisms to identify
and remove from the Commission-approved Reliability Standards
unnecessary or redundant requirements.\11\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \11\ Id.

In response, NERC initiated a review, referred to as the ``P 81
project,'' to identify requirements that could be removed from
Reliability Standards without impacting the reliability of the Bulk-
Power System.

C. NERC Petition

    6. In a February 28, 2013 petition, NERC requested Commission
approval of the retirement of 34 requirements within 19 Reliability
Standards. According to NERC, the 34 requirements proposed for
retirement ``are redundant or otherwise unnecessary'' and that
``violations of these requirements . . . pose a lesser risk to the
reliability of the Bulk-Power System.'' \12\ NERC stated that the
proposed retirement of the 34 requirements ``will allow industry
stakeholders to focus their resources appropriately on reliability
risks and will increase the efficiency of the ERO compliance program.''
\13\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \12\ Petition at 2.
    \13\ Id.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    7. NERC explained that the ``P 81 Team'' developed three criteria
for its review:
    (1) Criterion A: An overarching criteria designed to determine that
there is no reliability gap created by the proposed retirement; (2)
Criterion B: Consists of seven separate identifying criteria designed
to recognize requirements appropriate for retirement (administrative;
data collection/data retention; documentation; reporting; periodic
updates; commercial or business practice; and redundant); and (3)
Criterion C: Consists of seven separate questions designed to assist
the P 81 Team in making an informed decision regarding whether
requirements are appropriate to propose for retirement.\14\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \14\ Id. at 4. See also id. n. 8 (setting forth the seven
questions of Criterion C).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    8. NERC explained that the project team focused on the
identification of ``lower-level facilitating requirements that are
either redundant with other requirements or where evidence retention is
burdensome and the requirement is unnecessary'' because the reliability
goal is achieved through other standards or mechanisms.\15\ According
to NERC, the proposed retirement of documentation requirements will not
create a gap in reliability because ``NERC and the Regional Entities
can enforce reporting obligations pursuant to section 400 of NERC's
Rules of Procedure and Appendix 4C to ensure that necessary data
continues to be submitted for compliance and enforcement purposes.''
\16\ NERC asserts that, although the P 81 project proposes to retire
requirements associated with data retention or documentation, ``the
simple fact that a requirement includes a data retention or
documentation element does not signify that it should be considered for
retirement or is otherwise inappropriately designated as a
requirement.'' \17\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \15\ Id. at 7.
    \16\ Id. at 8 (citing North American Electric Reliability Corp.,
141 FERC ] 61,241, at P 82 (2012) (approving proposed revisions to
NERC's Rules of Procedure)).
    \17\ Id. at 9 (emphasis in original).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    9. Based on this approach, NERC identified the following 34
requirements within 19 Reliability Standards for potential retirement:

 BAL-005-0.2b, Requirement R2--Automatic Generation Control
 CIP-003-3, -4, Requirement R1.2--Cyber Security--Security
Management Controls \18\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \18\ NERC explains that although only eight requirements in the
Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) body of Reliability
Standards are proposed for retirement, NERC proposes the retirement
of those eight requirements in both CIP versions 3 and 4. Therefore,
the total number of CIP requirements proposed for retirement is
sixteen.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

 CIP-003-3, -4, Requirements R3, R3.1, R3.2, and R3.3--Cyber
Security--Security Management Controls
 CIP-003-3, -4, Requirement R4.2--Cyber Security--Security
Management Controls
 CIP-005-3a, -4a, Requirement R2.6--Cyber Security--Electronic
Security Perimeter(s)
 CIP-007-3, -4, Requirement R7.3--Cyber Security--Systems
Security Management
 EOP-005-2, Requirement R3.1--System Restoration From
Blackstart Services
 FAC-002-1, Requirement R2--Coordination of Plans for New
Facilities
 FAC-008-3, Requirements R4 and R5--Facility Ratings
 FAC-010-2.1, Requirement R5--System Operating Limits
Methodology for the Planning Horizon
 FAC-011-2.1, Requirement R5--System Operating Limits
Methodology for the Operations Horizon
 FAC-013-2, Requirement R3--Assessment of Transfer Capability
for the Near-term Transmission Planning Horizon
 INT-007-1, Requirement R1.2--Interchange Confirmation
 IRO-016-1, Requirement R2--Coordination of Real-Time
Activities Between Reliability Coordinators
 NUC-001-2, Requirements R9.1, R9.1.1, R9.1.2, R9.1.3, and
R1.9.4--Nuclear Plant Interface Coordination
 PRC-010-0, Requirement R2--Assessment of the Design and
Effectiveness of UVLS Programs
 PRC-022-1, Requirement R2--Under-Voltage Load Shedding Program
Performance
 VAR-001-2, Requirement R5--Voltage and Reactive Control

    10. NERC also requested that the Commission approve the
implementation plan, provided as Exhibit C to NERC's petition, which
provided that the identified requirements will be retired immediately
upon Commission approval.
    11. NERC stated that it will apply the ``concepts'' from the P 81
project to improve the drafting of Reliability Standards going forward.
Specifically, NERC explained that Reliability Standards development
projects ``will involve stronger examination for duplication of
requirements across the NERC body of Reliability Standards and the
technical basis and necessity for each and every requirement will
continue to be evaluated.'' \19\ According to NERC, requirements that
were proposed and ultimately not included in the immediate filing will
be mapped for consideration in future standards projects.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \19\ Petition at 9.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

D. Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

    12. On June 20, 2013, the Commission issued a Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking (NOPR) proposing to approve the retirement of the 34
requirements within 19 Reliability Standards, consistent with NERC's
petition.\20\ In addition, the Commission proposed to withdraw 41
outstanding Commission directives that NERC develop modifications to
Reliability Standards.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \20\ Electric Reliability Organization Proposal To Retire
Requirements in Reliability Standards, Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking, 78 FR 38,851 (June 28, 2013), 143 FERC ] 61,251 (2013)
(NOPR), errata, 78 FR 41,339 (July 10, 2013).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    13. Comments on the NOPR were due by August 27, 2013. Seven
entities filed comments, identified in Attachment B to the Final Rule.

II. Discussion

A. Retirement of Requirements

NOPR Proposal
    14. In the NOPR, the Commission proposed to approve the retirement
of the 34 requirements within 19 Reliability Standards identified by
NERC. In the NOPR, for each of the 34 requirements, the Commission
provided NERC's rationale supporting retirement, and the Commission's
explanation for proposing to approve the retirement.\21\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \21\ See NOPR, 143 FERC ] 61,251 at PP 17-83.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Comments
    15. Commenters unanimously support approval of the NOPR proposal.
Trade Associations, CEA and ITC concur that the retirement of the 34
requirements will have little to no effect on reliability. NRECA, ISO/
RTO Council, CEA and ITC support continuance of the ``P 81'' process as
a high priority going forward and the identification of additional
candidate requirements for retirement or streamlining.
    16. ISO/RTO Council comments that, while the criteria used by NERC
to identify candidate requirements for retirement are appropriate,
additional criteria would ensure that streamlining of the Reliability
Standards will continue.

Commission Determination
    17. Pursuant to section 215 of the FPA, we approve the retirement
of the 34 requirements within 19 Reliability Standards identified by
NERC as just, reasonable, not unduly discriminatory or preferential,
and in the public interest. Likewise, we approve the implementation
plan and effective date set forth in NERC's petition.
    18. In the March 2012 Order, the Commission explained that ``some
current requirements likely provide little protection for Bulk-Power
System reliability or may be redundant. The Commission is interested in
obtaining views on whether such requirements could be removed from the
Reliability Standards with little effect on reliability and an increase
in efficiency of the ERO compliance program.'' \22\ In general, we
conclude that the requirements identified by NERC for retirement
satisfy the expectations set forth in the March 2012 Order; namely, the
requirements proposed for retirement either: (1) Provide little
protection for Bulk-Power System reliability or (2) are redundant with
other aspects of the Reliability Standards.\23\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \22\ March 2012 Order, 138 FERC ] 61,193 at P 81.
    \23\ Further, we adopt the rationale for the retirement of each
requirement as set forth in the NOPR, 143 FERC ] 61,251 at PP 17-83.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    19. We agree with NERC that the elimination of certain requirements
that pertain to information collection or documentation will not result
in a reliability gap. No commenter disputes NERC's rationale. Section
400 and Appendix 4C (Uniform Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement
Program) of the NERC Rules of Procedure provide NERC and the Regional
Entities the authority to enforce reporting obligations necessary to
support reliability.\24\ This authority, used in the appropriate
manner, justifies retiring certain documentation-related requirements
that provide limited, if any, support for reliability. The retirement
of such requirements should enhance the efficiency of the ERO
compliance program, as well as the efficiency of individual registered
entity compliance programs.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \24\ See North American Electric Reliability Corp., 141 FERC ]
61,241 at P 82.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    20. We agree with commenters that NERC should continue the process
of identifying additional Reliability Standards and requirements as
candidates for retirement or streamlining. We support NERC's continuing
efforts in this regard. Efficiencies can be gained from further
consolidation or retirement of some requirements or components of
requirements that are justified based on technical analysis of either
existing requirements, new proposed requirements or modifications. Such
analyses would take into account the interrelationship between
standards and among categories of standards, in order to determine that
when retirements or consolidations are made the reliability benefits of
the currently effective requirements would be preserved.
    21. With regard to ISO/RTO Council's comment, we will not direct
NERC to develop additional criteria for identifying candidate
requirements for retirement. ISO/RTO Council does not identify any
specific concern or defect regarding the criteria applied by NERC.\25\
ISO/RTO Council may raise its proposal directly with NERC if it so
chooses.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \25\ Moreover, while NERC provided the criteria in the February
2013 petition, NERC also made clear that the criteria were provided
only for informational purposes. See NERC Petition at 4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

B. Outstanding Directives

NOPR Proposal
    22. In the NOPR, the Commission proposed to withdraw 41 outstanding
Commission directives that NERC develop modifications to Reliability
Standards. Attachment A of the NOPR identified the 41 Commission
directives, the source (i.e., Final Rule) of the directive, and a
justification for the proposed withdrawal.\26\ The Commission explained
that it applied the following three criteria in identifying outstanding
directives for withdrawal: (1) The reliability concern underlying the
outstanding directive has been addressed in some manner, rendering the
directive stale; (2) the outstanding directive provides general
guidance for standards development rather than a specific directive;
and (3) the outstanding directive is redundant with another
directive.\27\ The Commission stated that each of the 41 outstanding
directives identified in Attachment A of the NOPR satisfies one or more
of the criteria.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \26\ The same table is provided as Attachment A to the Final
Rule. Each directive identified in Attachment A includes a ``NERC
Reference Number.'' Commission staff and NERC staff have developed a
common approach to identifying and tracking outstanding Commission
directives. The NERC Reference Numbers reflect this joint tracking
process.
    \27\ NOPR, 143 FERC ] 61,251 at P 86.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Comments
    23. NERC and all other commenters support the withdrawal of the 41
outstanding Commission directives.
    24. Trade Associations recommend that the Commission consider
alternative criteria for the withdrawal of outstanding directives to
more closely align the criteria with those developed by NERC for
retirement of Reliability Standard requirements. According to Trade
Associations, ``simple logic suggests that the basis for retirement of
requirements and withdrawal of Commission reliability directives should
be consistent, if not uniform.'' \28\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \28\ Trade Associations Comments at 7.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Commission Determination
    25. We find that it is appropriate to withdraw the 41 directives
requiring that NERC develop modifications to Reliability Standards. As
explained in the NOPR, the withdrawal of the identified directives
should result in more efficient use of NERC's and the Commission's
resources and reduce unnecessary burdens, without impacting the
reliable operation of the Bulk-Power System.\29\ All commenters agree
with the withdrawal of the 41 directives and the resulting
efficiencies. Accordingly, we withdraw the 41 directives requiring that
NERC develop modifications to Reliability Standards, identified in
Attachment A of the Final Rule.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \29\ See NOPR, 143 FERC ] 61,251 at PP 85-87.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    26. We are not persuaded by Trade Associations' comments that there
is a need to more closely align the criteria applied by the Commission
in determining whether to withdraw an outstanding reliability directive
with those criteria developed by NERC for retirement of Reliability
Standard requirements. Unlike the NERC review of Reliability Standard
requirements, without precluding possible future Commission action, we
have no plans for ongoing review of outstanding Commission reliability
directives. We have reviewed the catalogue of outstanding reliability
directives and have taken appropriate action in this proceeding.
Further, while Trade Associations assert that such convergence of
criteria is ``logical,'' we do not believe that the retirement of
Reliability Standards requirements and withdrawal of a Commission
directive is an apples-to-apples comparison that necessitates the
suggested ``alignment.''

III. Information Collection Statement

    27. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations require
that OMB approve certain reporting and recordkeeping (collections of
information) imposed by an agency.\30\ Upon approval of a collection(s)
of information, OMB will assign an OMB control number and expiration
date. Respondents subject to the filing

requirements of this rule will not be penalized for failing to respond
to these collection(s) of information unless the collections of
information display a valid OMB control number.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \30\ 5 CFR 1320.11.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    28. The Commission is submitting these revisions to the reporting
and recordkeeping requirements to OMB for its review and approval under
section 3507(d) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.\31\ The
Commission solicited comments on the need for and the purpose of the
information contained in NERC's February 2013 petition and the
corresponding burdens to implement NERC's proposed retirement of 34
requirements within 19 Reliability Standards. The Commission received
comments generally supporting the efficiency gains and reductions in
burden resulting from the retirement of specific requirements, which we
address in the Final Rule. However, the Commission did not receive
comments on the reporting estimates. The Final Rule approves the
retirement of the 34 requirements within 19 Reliability Standards and,
in addition, the withdrawal of 41 Commission directives that NERC
develop modifications to Reliability Standards.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \31\ 44 U.S.C. 3507(d).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    29. Public Reporting Burden: The estimate below for the number of
respondents is based on the NERC Compliance Registry as of April 30,
2013.\32\ According to the registry, there are 132 balancing
authorities (BA), 544 distribution providers (DP), 898 generator owners
(GO), 859 generator operators (GOP), 56 interchange authorities (IA),
515 load serving entities (LSE), 80 planning authorities/planning
coordinators (PA or PC), 677 purchasing selling entities (PSE), 21
reliability coordinators (RC), 346 transmission owners (TO), 185
transmission operators (TOP), 185 transmission planners (TP), and 93
transmission service providers (TSP).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \32\ The estimates for the retired CIP requirements are based on
February 28, 2013 registry data in order to provide consistency with
burden estimates provided in the Commission's recent CIP version 5
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in Docket No. RM13-5-000.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    30. The Commission estimates that the burden will be reduced for
each requirement as detailed in the chart below, for a total estimated
annual reduction in burden cost of $518,220. The Commission based the
burden reduction estimates on staff experience, knowledge, and
expertise.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     Estimated
                                                                      average        Estimated       Estimated
 Standard, requirement number,       Type of         Number of     reduction in    total annual    total annual
  and FERC Collection Number       respondents      respondents    burden hours    reduction in    reduction in
                                                       \33\       per respondent    burden (in         cost
                                                                     per year         hours)
                                                             [A]             [B]         [A x B]   [A x B x $60/
                                                                                hour \34\]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EOP-005-2, R3.1 (FERC-725A)...  TOP.............             185               1             185         $11,100
FAC-008-3, R4 (FERC-725A).....  TO, GO..........           1,151               1           1,151          69,060
FAC-008-3, R5 (FERC-725A).....  TO, GO..........           1,151               1           1,151          69,060
FAC-010-2.1, R5 (FERC-725D)...  PA..............              80              20           1,600          96,000
FAC-011-2, R5 (FERC-725D).....  RC..............              21              20             420          25,200
FAC-013-2, R3 (FERC-725A).....  PC..............              80               8             640          38,400
INT-007-1, R1.2 (FERC-725A)...  IA..............              56              20           1,120          67,200
IRO-016-1, R2 (FERC-725A).....  RC..............              21              20             420          25,200
CIP-003-3, -4, R1.2 (FERC-      RC, BA, IA, TSP,             325               1             325          19,500
 725B).                          TO, TOP, GO,
                                 GOP,LSE.
CIP-003-3, -4, R3, R3.1, R3.2,  RC, BA, IA, TSP,             325               1             325          19,500
 R3.3 (FERC-725B).               TO, TOP, GO,
                                 GOP,LSE.
CIP-005-3, -4, R2.6 (FERC-      RC, BA, IA, TSP,             325               4            1300          78,000
 725B).                          TO, TOP, GO,
                                 GOP,LSE.
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.....................  ................  ..............  ..............           8,637         518,220
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    31. The above chart does not include BAL-005-0.2b, Requirement R2;
CIP-003-3, -4, Requirement R4.2; CIP-007-3, -4, Requirement R7.3; FAC-
002-1, Requirement R2; PRC-010-0, Requirement R2; PRC-022-1,
Requirement R2; and VAR-001-2, Requirement R5 because those
requirements were found redundant with other requirements.\35\ Since
the action required within them is required elsewhere, there is no
change in the overall burden in retiring these requirements. Likewise,
NUC-001-2, Requirement R9.1; NUC-001-2, Requirement R9.1.1; NUC-001-2,
Requirement R9.1.2; NUC-001-2, Requirement R9.1.3; and NUC-001-2,
Requirement R9.1.4 are not included because these requirements require
that the applicable entities include ``boiler plate'' language into
their agreements that is normally included in all legal contracts.\36\
Since this action will be taken regardless if it is required by a
Reliability Standard, there is no reduction in burden.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \33\ This number was calculated by adding all the applicable
entities while removing double counting caused by entities
registered under multiple functions.
    \34\ The estimated hourly loaded cost (salary plus benefits) for
an engineer is assumed to be $60/hour, based on salaries as reported
by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) (http://bls.gov/oes/current/naics2_22.htm). Loaded costs are BLS rates divided by 0.703 and
rounded to the nearest dollar (http://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm).
    \35\ The reporting requirements in these standards are part of
the FERC-725A information collection.
    \36\ The reporting requirements in this standard are part of the
FERC-725F information collection.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Titles: FERC-725A, Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Bulk
Power System; FERC-725B, Mandatory Reliability Standards for Critical
Infrastructure Protection; FERC-725D, Facilities, Design, Connections,
and Maintenance Reliability Standards; and FERC-725F, Mandatory
Reliability Standards for Nuclear Plant Interface Coordination.
    Action: Revisions to Collections of Information.
    OMB Control Nos: 1902-0244, 1902-0248, 1902-0247, and 1902-0249.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit, and not-for-profit
institutions.
    Frequency of Responses: On occasion.

    Necessity of the Information: This proceeding approves the
retirement of the 34 requirements within 19 Reliability Standards
identified by NERC. The retirements either: (1) Provide little
protection for Bulk-Power System reliability or (2) are redundant with
other aspects of the Reliability Standards. In addition, we withdraw
the 41 Commission directives listed in Attachment A in the interest of
enhancing the efficiency of the ERO standard development and compliance
programs, as well as the efficiency of individual registered entity
compliance programs.
    Internal review: The Commission has reviewed NERC's proposal and
determined that the action is necessary to implement section 215 of the
FPA. The Commission has assured itself, by means of its internal
review, that there is specific, objective support for the burden
reduction estimates associated with the retired information
requirements.
    32. Interested persons may obtain information on the reporting
requirements by contacting the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,
Office of the Executive Director, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC
20426 [Attention: Ellen Brown, email<EMAIL_ADDRESS>phone:
(202) 502-8663, fax:<PHONE_NUMBER>].
    33. Comments concerning the information collections and the
associated burden estimates should be sent to the Commission in this
docket and to the Office of Management and Budget, Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs [Attention: Desk Officer for the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission]. For security reasons, comments
should be sent by email to OMB at<EMAIL_ADDRESS>Please
indicate the OMB Control Numbers and Docket No. RM13-8-000 in your
submittal.

IV. Environmental Analysis

    34. The Commission is required to prepare an Environmental
Assessment or an Environmental Impact Statement for any action that may
have a significant adverse effect on the human environment.\37\ The
Commission has categorically excluded certain actions from this
requirement as not having a significant effect on the human
environment. Included in the exclusion are rules that are clarifying,
corrective, or procedural or that do not substantially change the
effect of the regulations being amended.\38\ The actions proposed here
fall within this categorical exclusion in the Commission's regulations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \37\ Regulations Implementing the National Environmental Policy
Act, Order No. 486 52 FR 47897 (Dec. 17, 1987), FERC Stats. & Regs.
Regulations Preambles 1986-1990 ] 30,783 (1987).
    \38\ 18 CFR 380.4(a)(2)(ii) (2013).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

V. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    35. The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (RFA) \39\ generally
requires a description and analysis of final rules that will have
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.
The RFA mandates consideration of regulatory alternatives that
accomplish the stated objectives of a proposed rule and that minimize
any significant economic impact on a substantial number of small
entities. The Small Business Administration's Office of Size Standards
develops the numerical definition of a small business.\40\ The Small
Business Administration has established a size standard for electric
utilities, stating that a firm is small if, including its affiliates,
it is primarily engaged in the transmission, generation and/or
distribution of electric energy for sale and its total electric output
for the preceding twelve months did not exceed four million megawatt
hours.\41\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \39\ 5 U.S.C. 601-612.
    \40\ 13 CFR 121.101.
    \41\ 13 CFR 121.201, Sector 22, Utilities & n.1.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    36. The Commission estimates the total reduction in burden for all
small entities to be $32,460. The Commission estimates that small
planning authorities/planning coordinators will see a reduction of
$1,680 per entity per year, greater than for other types of affected
small entities.\42\ The Commission does not consider a reduction of
$1,680 per year to be a significant economic impact. The Commission
believes that, in addition to the estimated economic impact, the
proposed retirement of the 34 requirements of mandatory Reliability
Standards will provide small entities with relief from having to track
compliance with these provisions and preparing to show compliance in
response to a potential compliance audit by a Regional Entity or other
regulator.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \42\ The burden reduction for planning authorities/planning
coordinators is based on the retirement of FAC-010-2.1, Requirement
R5 and FAC-013-2, Requirement R3. Based on the NERC Compliance
Registry and Energy Information Administration Form EIA-861 data,
the Commission estimates that 5 out of the 80 planning authorities/
planning coordinators meet the definition of a small entity.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    37. Based on the above, the Commission certifies that the changes
to the Reliability Standards will not have a significant impact on a
substantial number of small entities. Accordingly, no regulatory
flexibility analysis is required.

VI. Document Availability

    38. 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 FERC's Home Page (http://www.ferc.gov) and in FERC's
Public Reference Room during normal business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5:00
p.m. Eastern time) at 888 First Street NE., Room 2A, Washington DC
20426.
    39. From FERC's Home Page on the Internet, this information is
available on eLibrary. The full text of this document is available on
eLibrary in PDF and Microsoft Word format for viewing, printing, and/or
downloading. To access this document in eLibrary, type the docket
number excluding the last three digits of this document in the docket
number field.
    40. User assistance is available for eLibrary and the FERC's Web
site during normal business hours from FERC Online Support at (202)
502-6652 (toll free at 1-866-208-3676) or email at
<EMAIL_ADDRESS>or the Public Reference Room at (202) 502-
8371, TTY<PHONE_NUMBER>. Email the Public Reference Room at
<EMAIL_ADDRESS>
VII. Effective Date and Congressional Notification

    41. These regulations are effective January 21, 2014. The
Commission has determined that, with the concurrence of the
Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs of
OMB, this rule is not a ``major rule'' as defined in section 351 of the
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996.

    By the Commission.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.

    Note:  Attachment A will not appear in the Code of Federal
Regulations.

Attachment A

Withdrawn Commission Directives

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     No.                 Standard              Order No.        Para           Directive         Justification
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Group A--The reliability concern underlying the outstanding directive has been addressed in some manner,
                                          rendering the directive stale
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1...........  BAL-006.......................          693  P 428          ``Add measures      NERC replaced
                                                                           concerning the      levels of non-
                                                                           accumulation of     compliance with
                                                                           large inadvertent   violation
                                                                           interchange         severity levels
                                                                           balances and        (VSLs). NERC has
                                                                           levels of non-      designated VSLs
                                                                           compliance.''       for BAL-006.
                                                                           (NERC Reference
                                                                           No. 10036).
2...........  EOP-001.......................          693  P 565          ``The Commission    The VSLs listed in
                                                                           agrees with ISO-    EOP-001-2.1b and
                                                                           NE that the         the Reliability
                                                                           Reliability         Standard Audit
                                                                           Standard should     Worksheet for EOP-
                                                                           be clarified to     001 require
                                                                           indicate that the   evidence of this
                                                                           actual emergency    consideration.
                                                                           plan elements,
                                                                           and not the ``for
                                                                           consideration''
                                                                           elements of
                                                                           Attachment 1,
                                                                           should be the
                                                                           basis for
                                                                           compliance.
                                                                           However, all of
                                                                           the elements
                                                                           should be
                                                                           considered when
                                                                           the emergency
                                                                           plan is put
                                                                           together.'' (NERC
                                                                           Reference No.
                                                                           10065).
3...........  INT-004.......................          693  P 843          ``Consider adding   NERC replaced
                                                                           levels of non-      levels of non-
                                                                           compliance to the   compliance with
                                                                           standard.'' (NERC   VSLs. VSLs for
                                                                           Reference No.       INT-004 have been
                                                                           10134).             developed and
                                                                                approved by the
                                                                                Commission.
4...........  INT-005.......................          693  P 848          ``Consider adding   NERC replaced
                                                                           levels of non-      levels of non-
                                                                           compliance to the   compliance with
                                                                           standard.'' (NERC   VSLs. VSLs for
                                                                           Reference No.       INT-005 have been
                                                                           10135).             developed and
                                                                                approved by the
                                                                                Commission.
5...........  MOD-010 through MOD-025.......          693  P 1147         ``Direct the ERO    The concern
                                                                           to use its          underlying the
                                                                           authority           directive has
                                                                           pursuant to Sec.    been addressed
                                                                            39.2(d) of our     through section
                                                                           regulations to      1600 (Requests
                                                                           require users,      for Data or
                                                                           owners and          Information) of
                                                                           operators to        NERC's Rules of
                                                                           provide to the      Procedure. The
                                                                           Regional Entity     Commission
                                                                           the information     approved Section
                                                                           related to data     1600 of NERC's
                                                                           gathering, data     Rules on February
                                                                           maintenance,        21, 2008.
                                                                           reliability
                                                                           assessments and
                                                                           other process-
                                                                           type functions.''
                                                                           (NERC Reference
                                                                           No. 10266).
6...........  MOD-010.......................          693  P 1152         ``Address critical  This directive is
                                                                           energy              no longer
                                                                           infrastructure      necessary in
                                                                           confidentiality     light of section
                                                                           issues as part of   1500
                                                                           the standard        (Confidential
                                                                           development         Information) of
                                                                           process.'' (NERC    NERC's Rules of
                                                                           Reference No.       Procedure
                                                                           10268).             addressing
                                                                                treatment of
                                                                                confidential
                                                                                information.
7...........  MOD-010.......................          693  P 1163         ``Direct the ERO    The concern
                                                                           to develop a Work   underlying the
                                                                           Plan that will      directive has
                                                                           facilitate          been addressed
                                                                           ongoing             through NERC's
                                                                           collection of the   Reliability
                                                                           steady-state        Standards
                                                                           modeling and        Development Plan:
                                                                           simulation data     2013-2015. This
                                                                           specified in MOD-   plan was provided
                                                                           011-0.'' (NERC      to the Commission
                                                                           Reference No.       in an
                                                                           10270).             informational
                                                                                filing on
                                                                                December 31,
                                                                                2012. It contains
                                                                                an action plan to
                                                                                merge, upgrade,
                                                                                and expand
                                                                                existing
                                                                                requirements in
                                                                                the modeling data
                                                                                (MOD-010 through
                                                                                MOD-015) and
                                                                                demand data (MOD-
                                                                                016 through MOD-
                                                                                021) Reliability
                                                                                Standards.
8...........  PRC-017.......................          693  P 1546         ``Require           Requirement R2 of
                                                                           documentation       PRC-017 already
                                                                           identified in       requires affected
                                                                           Requirement R2 be   entities to
                                                                           routinely           provide
                                                                           provided to NERC    documentation of
                                                                           or the regional     the special
                                                                           entity that         protection system
                                                                           includes a          program and its
                                                                           requirement that    implementation to
                                                                           documentation       the appropriate
                                                                           identified in       Regional
                                                                           Requirement R2      Reliability
                                                                           shall be            Organization and
                                                                           routinely           NERC within 30
                                                                           provided to the     calendar days of
                                                                           ERO.'' (NERC        a request. If
                                                                           Reference No.       either the
                                                                           10363).             Regional Entity
                                                                                or NERC determine
                                                                                that they need
                                                                                and will use the
                                                                                information on a
                                                                                regular schedule,
                                                                                they have the
                                                                                authority to
                                                                                establish a
                                                                                schedule under
                                                                                the current
                                                                                requirement.
9...........  Glossary......................          693  P 1895         ``Modification to   The concern
                                                                           the glossary that   underlying the
                                                                           enhances the        directive has
                                                                           definition of       been addressed
                                                                           ``generator         through the NERC
                                                                           operator'' to       registration
                                                                           reflect concerns    process. See
                                                                           of the commenters   Order No. 693 at
                                                                           [``to include       P 145.
                                                                           aspects unique to
                                                                           ISOs, RTOs and
                                                                           pooled resource
                                                                           organizations''].
                                                                           '' (NERC
                                                                           Reference No.
                                                                           10005).

10..........  Glossary......................          693  P 1895         ``Modification to   The concern
                                                                           the glossary that   underlying the
                                                                           enhances the        directive has
                                                                           definition of       been addressed
                                                                           ``transmission      through the NERC
                                                                           operator'' to       registration
                                                                           reflect concerns    process. See
                                                                           of the commenters   Order No. 693 at
                                                                           [``to include       P 145.
                                                                           aspects unique to
                                                                           ISOs, RTOs and
                                                                           pooled resource
                                                                           organizations''].
                                                                           '' (NERC
                                                                           Reference No.
                                                                           10006).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Group B--The outstanding directive provides general guidance for standards development rather than a specific
                                                    directive
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11..........  BAL-005.......................          693  P 406          ``The Commission    This paragraph is
                                                                           understands that    not a directive
                                                                           it may be           to change or
                                                                           technically         modify a
                                                                           possible for DSM    standard.
                                                                           to meet
                                                                           equivalent
                                                                           requirements as
                                                                           conventional
                                                                           generators and
                                                                           expects the
                                                                           Reliability
                                                                           Standards
                                                                           development
                                                                           process to
                                                                           provide the
                                                                           qualifications
                                                                           they must meet to
                                                                           participate.''
                                                                           (NERC Reference
                                                                           No. 10033).
12..........  BAL-006.......................          693  P 438          ``Examine the WECC  This paragraph is
                                                                           time error          not a directive
                                                                           correction          to change or
                                                                           procedure as a      modify a
                                                                           possible guide .    standard.
                                                                           . . the
                                                                           Commission asks
                                                                           the ERO, when
                                                                           filing the new
                                                                           Reliability
                                                                           Standard, to
                                                                           explain how the
                                                                           new Reliability
                                                                           Standard
                                                                           satisfies the
                                                                           Commission's
                                                                           concerns.'' (NERC
                                                                           Reference No.
                                                                           10037).
13..........  COM-001.......................          693  P 507          ``Although we       This paragraph is
                                                                           direct that the     not a directive
                                                                           regional            to change or
                                                                           reliability         modify a
                                                                           organization        standard.
                                                                           should not be the
                                                                           compliance
                                                                           monitor for
                                                                           NERCNet, we leave
                                                                           it to the ERO to
                                                                           determine whether
                                                                           it is the
                                                                           appropriate
                                                                           compliance
                                                                           monitor or if
                                                                           compliance should
                                                                           be monitored by
                                                                           the Regional
                                                                           Entities for
                                                                           NERCNet User
                                                                           Organizations.''
                                                                           (NERC Reference
                                                                           No. 10051).
14..........  MOD-001.......................          729  P 20           ``We encourage the  This paragraph is
                                                                           ERO to consider     not a directive
                                                                           Midwest ISO's and   to change or
                                                                           Entegra's           modify a
                                                                           comments when       standard.
                                                                           developing other
                                                                           modifications to
                                                                           the MOD
                                                                           Reliability
                                                                           Standards
                                                                           pursuant to the
                                                                           EROs Reliability
                                                                           Standards
                                                                           development
                                                                           procedure.'' [See
                                                                           also P 198-199]
                                                                           (NERC Reference
                                                                           No. 10216).
15..........  MOD -001, -004, -008, -028, -           729  P 160          ``In developing     This paragraph is
               029, -030.                                                  the modifications   not a directive
                                                                           to the MOD          to change or
                                                                           Reliability         modify a
                                                                           Standards           standard.
                                                                           directed in this
                                                                           Final Rule, the
                                                                           ERO should
                                                                           consider
                                                                           generator
                                                                           nameplate ratings
                                                                           and transmission
                                                                           line ratings
                                                                           including the
                                                                           comments raised
                                                                           by Entegra and
                                                                           ISO/RTO
                                                                           Council.'' [Also
                                                                           see P 154] (NERC
                                                                           Reference No.
                                                                           10207).
16..........  MOD-001.......................          729  P 179          ``The Commission    This paragraph is
                                                                           directs the ERO     not a directive
                                                                           to consider         to change or
                                                                           Entegra's request   modify a
                                                                           regarding more      standard.
                                                                           frequent updates
                                                                           for constrained
                                                                           facilities
                                                                           through its
                                                                           Reliability
                                                                           Standards
                                                                           development
                                                                           process.'' (see
                                                                           Order No. 729 at
                                                                           P 177 for
                                                                           Entegra's
                                                                           comments). (NERC
                                                                           Reference No.
                                                                           10211).
17..........  MOD-028.......................          729  P 231          ``The Commission    This paragraph
                                                                           directs the ERO     clarifies the
                                                                           to develop a        Commission's
                                                                           modification sub-   understanding of
                                                                           requirement R2.2    the phrase
                                                                           pursuant to its     ``adjacent and
                                                                           Reliability         beyond
                                                                           Standards           Reliability
                                                                           development         Coordination
                                                                           process to          area.'' Since the
                                                                           clarify the         Commission's
                                                                           phrase `adjacent    understanding of
                                                                           and beyond          the language is
                                                                           Reliability         clearly
                                                                           Coordination        expressed, and
                                                                           areas.''' (NERC     the matter has
                                                                           Reference No.       little impact on
                                                                           10219).             reliability,
                                                                                there is no
                                                                                reason to go
                                                                                forward with the
                                                                                directive.

18..........  MOD-028.......................          729  P 234          ``The Commission    This paragraph is
                                                                           agrees that a       not a directive
                                                                           graduated time      to change or
                                                                           frame for           modify a
                                                                           reposting could     standard.
                                                                           be reasonable in
                                                                           some situations.
                                                                           Accordingly, the
                                                                           ERO should
                                                                           consider this
                                                                           suggestion when
                                                                           making future
                                                                           modifications to
                                                                           the Reliability
                                                                           Standards.''
                                                                           (NERC Reference
                                                                           No. 10220).
19..........  MOD-029.......................          729  P 246          ``The ERO should    This paragraph is
                                                                           consider Puget      not a directive
                                                                           Sound's concerns    to change or
                                                                           on this issue       modify a
                                                                           when making         standard.
                                                                           future
                                                                           modifications to
                                                                           the Reliability
                                                                           Standards.'' [See
                                                                           also P 245] (NERC
                                                                           Reference No.
                                                                           10222).
20..........  MOD-030.......................          729  P 269          ``The Commission    This paragraph is
                                                                           also directs the    not a directive
                                                                           ERO to make         to change or
                                                                           explicit such       modify a
                                                                           [effective date]    standard.
                                                                           detail in any
                                                                           future version of
                                                                           this or any other
                                                                           Reliability
                                                                           Standard.'' (NERC
                                                                           Reference No.
                                                                           10223).
21..........  MOD-024.......................          693  P 1310         ``Similarly, we     This paragraph is
                                                                           respond to          not a directive
                                                                           Constellation       to change or
                                                                           that any            modify a
                                                                           modification of     standard.
                                                                           the Levels of Non-
                                                                           Compliance in
                                                                           this Reliability
                                                                           Standard should
                                                                           be reviewed in
                                                                           the ERO
                                                                           Reliability
                                                                           Standards
                                                                           development
                                                                           process.'' (NERC
                                                                           Reference No.
                                                                           10318).
22..........  PER-002.......................          693  P 1375         ``Training          This paragraph is
                                                                           programs for        not a directive
                                                                           operations          to change or
                                                                           planning and        modify a
                                                                           operations          standard.
                                                                           support staff
                                                                           must be tailored
                                                                           to the needs of
                                                                           the function, the
                                                                           tasks performed
                                                                           and personnel
                                                                           involved.'' (NERC
                                                                           Reference No.
                                                                           10329).
23..........  VAR-001.......................          693  P 1863         ``The Commission    This paragraph is
                                                                           expects that the    not a directive
                                                                           appropriate power   to change or
                                                                           factor range        modify a
                                                                           developed for the   standard.
                                                                           interface between
                                                                           the bulk electric
                                                                           system and the
                                                                           load-serving
                                                                           entity from VAR-
                                                                           001-1 would be
                                                                           used as an input
                                                                           to the
                                                                           transmission and
                                                                           operations
                                                                           planning
                                                                           Reliability
                                                                           Standards.''
                                                                           (NERC Reference
                                                                           No. 10441).
24..........  VAR-001.......................          693  P 1869         ``We recognize      This paragraph is
                                                                           that our proposed   not a directive
                                                                           modification does   to change or
                                                                           not identify what   modify a
                                                                           definitive          standard.
                                                                           requirements the
                                                                           Reliability
                                                                           Standard should
                                                                           use for
                                                                           established
                                                                           limits and
                                                                           sufficient
                                                                           reactive
                                                                           resources.''
                                                                           (NERC Reference
                                                                           No. 10434).
25..........  TPL and FAC series............          705  P 49           ``Direct that any   This paragraph
                                                                           revised TPL         provides guidance
                                                                           Reliability         on an ongoing
                                                                           Standards must      implementation
                                                                           reflect             issue and is not
                                                                           consistency in      a directive to
                                                                           the lists of        change or modify
                                                                           contingencies.''    a standard.
                                                                           (NERC Reference
                                                                           No. 10601).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     Group C--The outstanding directive is redundant with another directive
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
26..........  MOD-012.......................          693  P 1177         ``Direct the ERO    This directive is
                                                                           to use its          redundant with
                                                                           authority           the directive in
                                                                           pursuant to Sec.    paragraph 1147,
                                                                            39.2(d) of our     which has already
                                                                           regulations to      been addressed
                                                                           require users,      and is reflected
                                                                           owners, and         in section A
                                                                           operators to        above.
                                                                           provide to the
                                                                           Regional Entities
                                                                           the information
                                                                           related to data
                                                                           gathering, data
                                                                           maintenance,
                                                                           reliability
                                                                           assessments and
                                                                           other process
                                                                           type functions.''
                                                                           (NERC Reference
                                                                           No. 10275).
27..........  MOD-012.......................          693  P 1177         ``Develop a Work    This directive is
                                                                           Plan and submit a   redundant with
                                                                           compliance filing   the directive in
                                                                           that will           paragraph 1163,
                                                                           facilitate          which has already
                                                                           ongoing             been addressed
                                                                           collection of the   and is reflected
                                                                           dynamics system     in section A
                                                                           modeling and        above.
                                                                           simulation
                                                                           data.'' (NERC
                                                                           Reference No.
                                                                           10279).
28..........  MOD-012.......................          693  P 1181         ``Direct the ERO    This directive is
                                                                           to address          redundant with
                                                                           confidentiality     the directive in
                                                                           issues and modify   paragraph 1152,
                                                                           the standard as     which has already
                                                                           necessary through   been addressed
                                                                           its Reliability     and is reflected
                                                                           Standards           in section A
                                                                           development         above.
                                                                           process.'' (NERC
                                                                           Reference No.
                                                                           10277).

29..........  MOD-013.......................          693  P 1200         ``Direct the ERO    This directive is
                                                                           to develop a Work   redundant with
                                                                           Plan that will      the directive in
                                                                           facilitate          paragraph 1163,
                                                                           ongoing             which has already
                                                                           collection of the   been addressed
                                                                           dynamics system     and is reflected
                                                                           modeling and        in section A
                                                                           simulation data     above.
                                                                           specified in MOD-
                                                                           013-1, and submit
                                                                           a compliance
                                                                           filing containing
                                                                           this Work Plan to
                                                                           the Commission.''
                                                                           (NERC Reference
                                                                           No. 10283).
30..........  MOD-014.......................          693  P 1212         ``Direct the ERO    This directive is
                                                                           to use its          redundant with
                                                                           authority           the directive in
                                                                           pursuant to Sec.    paragraph 1147,
                                                                            39.2(d) of our     which has already
                                                                           regulations to      been addressed
                                                                           require users,      and is reflected
                                                                           owners and          in section A
                                                                           operators to        above.
                                                                           provide the
                                                                           validated models
                                                                           to regional
                                                                           reliability
                                                                           organizations.''
                                                                           (NERC Reference
                                                                           No. 10288).
31..........  MOD-014.......................          693  P 1212         ``Direct the ERO    This directive is
                                                                           to develop a Work   redundant with
                                                                           Plan that will      the directive in
                                                                           facilitate          paragraph 1163,
                                                                           ongoing             which has already
                                                                           validation of       been addressed
                                                                           steady-state        and is reflected
                                                                           models and submit   in section A
                                                                           a compliance        above.
                                                                           filing containing
                                                                           the Work Plan
                                                                           with the
                                                                           Commission.''
                                                                           (NERC Reference
                                                                           No. 10289).
32..........  MOD-015.......................          693  P 1221         ``Direct the ERO    This directive is
                                                                           to use its          redundant with
                                                                           authority           the directive in
                                                                           pursuant to Sec.    paragraph 1147,
                                                                            39.2(d) of our     which has already
                                                                           regulations to      been addressed
                                                                           require users,      and is reflected
                                                                           owners and          in section A
                                                                           operators to        above.
                                                                           provide to the
                                                                           Regional Entity
                                                                           the validated
                                                                           dynamics system
                                                                           models while MOD-
                                                                           015-0 is being
                                                                           modified.'' (NERC
                                                                           Reference No.
                                                                           10291).
33..........  MOD-015.......................          693  P 1221         ``Require the ERO   This directive is
                                                                           to develop a Work   redundant with
                                                                           Plan that will      the directive in
                                                                           enable continual    paragraph 1163,
                                                                           validation of       which has already
                                                                           dynamics system     been addressed
                                                                           models and submit   and is reflected
                                                                           a compliance        in section A
                                                                           filing with the     above.
                                                                           Commission.''
                                                                           (NERC Reference
                                                                           No. 10292).
34..........  MOD-017.......................          693  P 1247         ``Provide a Work    This directive is
                                                                           Plan and            redundant with
                                                                           compliance filing   the directive in
                                                                           regarding the       paragraph 1163,
                                                                           collection of       which has already
                                                                           information         been addressed
                                                                           specified under     and is reflected
                                                                           standards that      in section A
                                                                           are deferred, in    above.
                                                                           this instance,
                                                                           data on the
                                                                           accuracy, error
                                                                           and bias of the
                                                                           forecast.'' (NERC
                                                                           Reference
                                                                           No.10299).
35..........  MOD-018.......................          693  P 1264         ``Require the ERO   This directive is
                                                                           to provide a Work   redundant with
                                                                           Plan and            the directive in
                                                                           compliance filing   paragraph 1163,
                                                                           regarding           which has already
                                                                           collection of       been addressed
                                                                           information         and is reflected
                                                                           specified under     in section A
                                                                           standards that      above.
                                                                           are deferred, and
                                                                           believe there
                                                                           should be no
                                                                           difficulties
                                                                           complying with
                                                                           this Reliability
                                                                           Standard.'' (NERC
                                                                           Reference No.
                                                                           10303).
36..........  MOD-019.......................          693  P 1275         ``Direct the ERO    This directive is
                                                                           to use its          redundant with
                                                                           authority           the directive in
                                                                           pursuant to Sec.    paragraph 1147,
                                                                            39.2(d) of our     which has already
                                                                           regulations to      been addressed
                                                                           require users,      and is reflected
                                                                           owners and          in section A
                                                                           operators to        above.
                                                                           provide to the
                                                                           Regional Entity
                                                                           information
                                                                           related to
                                                                           forecasts of
                                                                           interruptible
                                                                           demands and
                                                                           direct control
                                                                           load
                                                                           management.''
                                                                           (NERC Reference
                                                                           No. 10305).
37..........  MOD-021.......................          693  1297           ``Direct the ERO    This directive is
                                                                           to provide a Work   redundant with
                                                                           Plan and            the directive in
                                                                           compliance filing   paragraph 1163,
                                                                           regarding           which has already
                                                                           collection of       been addressed
                                                                           information         and is reflected
                                                                           specified under     in section A
                                                                           related standards   above.
                                                                           that are
                                                                           deferred, and
                                                                           believe there
                                                                           should be no
                                                                           difficulty
                                                                           complying with
                                                                           this Reliability
                                                                           Standard.'' (NERC
                                                                           Reference No.
                                                                           10309).
38..........  MOD-021.......................          693  P 1297         ``Direct the ERO    This directive is
                                                                           to use its          redundant with
                                                                           authority           the directive in
                                                                           pursuant to Sec.    paragraph 1147,
                                                                            39.2(d) of our     which has already
                                                                           regulations to      been addressed
                                                                           require users,      and is reflected
                                                                           owners and          in section A
                                                                           operators to        above.
                                                                           provide to the
                                                                           Regional Entity
                                                                           the information
                                                                           required by this
                                                                           Reliability
                                                                           Standard.'' (NERC
                                                                           Reference No.
                                                                           10313).

39..........  MOD-024.......................          693  P 1308         ``In order to       This directive is
                                                                           continue            redundant with
                                                                           verifying and       the directive in
                                                                           reporting gross     paragraph 1147,
                                                                           and net real        which has already
                                                                           power generating    been addressed
                                                                           capability needed   and is reflected
                                                                           for reliability     in section A
                                                                           assessment and      above.
                                                                           future plans, we
                                                                           direct the ERO to
                                                                           develop a Work
                                                                           Plan and submit a
                                                                           compliance
                                                                           filing.'' (NERC
                                                                           Reference No.
                                                                           10317).
40..........  MOD-024.......................          693  P 1312         ``Direct the ERO    This directive is
                                                                           to use its          redundant with
                                                                           authority           the directive in
                                                                           pursuant to Sec.    paragraph 1147,
                                                                            39.2(d) of our     which has already
                                                                           regulations to      been addressed
                                                                           require users,      and is reflected
                                                                           owners and          in section A
                                                                           operators to        above.
                                                                           provide this
                                                                           information.''
                                                                           (NERC Reference
                                                                           No. 10314).
41..........  MOD-025.......................          693  P 1320         ``In order to       This directive is
                                                                           continue            redundant with
                                                                           verifying and       the directive in
                                                                           reporting gross     paragraph 1147,
                                                                           and net reactive    which has already
                                                                           power generating    been addressed
                                                                           capability needed   and is reflected
                                                                           for reliability     in section A
                                                                           assessment and      above.
                                                                           future plans, we
                                                                           direct the ERO to
                                                                           develop a Work
                                                                           Plan as defined
                                                                           in the Common
                                                                           Issues section.''
                                                                           (NERC Reference
                                                                           No. 10321).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Note:  Attachment B will not appear in the Code of Federal
Regulations.

Attachment B

Commenters on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

The American Public Power Association, Edison Electric Institute,
Electricity Consumers Resource Council, Electric Power Supply
Association, Large Public Power Council, and Transmission Access Policy
Group (collectively, Trade Associations)
Canadian Electricity Association (CEA)
Dominion Resources Services, Inc., on behalf of Virginia Electric and
Power Company, doing business as Dominion Virginia Power; Dominion
Nuclear Connecticut, Inc.; Dominion Energy Brayton Point, LLC; Dominion
Energy Manchester Street, Inc.; Elwood Energy, LLC; Kincaid Generation,
LLC; and Fairless Energy, LLC
International Transmission Company d/b/a ITCTransmission, Michigan
Electric Transmission Company, LLC, ITC Midwest LLC and ITC Great
Plains, LLC (ITC)
ISO/RTO Council
National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA)
North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC)

[FR Doc. 2013-28516 Filed 12-5-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P