(Final Rule in RM12-12) Mandatory Reliability Standards for the NPCC Region

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
FINAL RM12-12 (FERC-725L) Supporting Statement for NPCC Final Rule.docx Supporting Statement A	2013-02-28
NERC Petition for approval of standard 5-4-12.pdf Supplementary Document	2012-10-02
PRC-006-NPCC-1 Reliability Standard.pdf Supplementary Document	2012-10-02
18 CFR Part 40.pdf Supplementary Document	2012-10-02
16 USC 824o.pdf Supplementary Document	2012-10-02

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
204001	Mandatory Reliability Standards for NPCC Region	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 1902-0261	ICR Reference No: 201302-1902-007
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 201209-1902-002
Agency/Subagency: FERC	Agency Tracking No: FERC-725L
Title: (Final Rule in RM12-12) Mandatory Reliability Standards for the NPCC Region
Type of Information Collection: New collection (Request for a new OMB Control Number)	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 04/25/2013
	Date Received in OIRA: 02/28/2013
Terms of Clearance: In accordance with 5 CFR 1320, the information collection is approved for three years.

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	04/30/2016	36 Months From Approved
Responses	137	0	0
Time Burden (Hours)	2,748	0	0
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

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Abstract: Section 215 of the FPA requires a Commission-certified Electric Reliability Organization (ERO) to develop mandatory and enforceable Reliability Standards which are subject to Commission review and approval. Once approved, NERC would enforce the Reliability Standards either subject to Commission oversight or by the Commission independently. Reliability Standards that NERC proposes to the Commission may include Reliability Standards that a Regional Entity proposes to be effective in that region. In Order No. 672, the Commission noted that: As a general matter, we will accept the following two types of regional differences, provided they are otherwise just, reasonable, not unduly discriminatory or preferential and in the public interest, as required under the statute: (1) a regional difference that is more stringent than the continent-wide Reliability Standard, including a regional difference that addresses matters that the continent-wide Reliability Standard does not; and (2) a regional Reliability Standard that is necessitated by a physical difference in the Bulk-Power System. When NERC reviews a regional Reliability Standard that would be applicable on an interconnection-wide basis and that has been proposed by a Regional Entity organized on an interconnection-wide basis, NERC must presume that the regional Reliability Standard is just, reasonable, not unduly discriminatory or preferential, and in the public interest. In turn, the Commission must give due attention to the technical expertise of NERC and of a Regional Entity organized on an interconnection-wide basis. On 4/19/2007, the Commission accepted delegation agreements between NERC and each of the eight Regional Entities. In the order, the Commission accepted Northeast Power Coordinating Council (NPCC) as a Regional Entity organized on less than an interconnection-wide basis. NPCC is not an

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 16 USC 824(o) Name of Law: Federal Power Act (FPA)
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: US Code: 16 USC 824o Name of Law: Federal Power Act (FPA)

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
1902-AE54	Final or interim final rulemaking	78 FR 13213	02/27/2013

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Federal Register Notices & Comments

Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? Yes

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Mandatory Reliability Standards for NPCC Region

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	137	0	0	137	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	2,748	0	0	2,748	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: This is the first request for approval concerning this regional Reliability Standard. NERC states (in its petition) that UFLS requirements had been in place (continent-wide and within NPCC) for years prior to implementation of the Commission-approved Reliability Standards in 2007. Because the UFLS requirements have been in place prior to the development of PRC-006-NPCC-01, the regional Reliability Standard is closely associated with requirements to which the entities already adhere.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $1,588

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Is the Supporting Statement intended to be a Privacy Impact Assessment required by the E-Government Act of 2002? No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? Uncollected

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Common Form ICR:  No

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On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).

The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(i) Why the information is being collected;

(ii) Use of information;

(iii) Burden estimate;

(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);

(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and

(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.

Certification Date: 02/28/2013

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