FERC-725B, Revisions in RD24-3, Adding Voluntary Requests for Cybersecurity Incentives to Mandatory Reliability Standards for Critical Infrastructure Protection
ICR 202409-1902-002 · OMB 1902-0248 · Historical Active
⚠️ Notice: This information collection may be outdated. More recent filings for OMB 1902-0248 can be found here:
FERC-725B, Revisions in RD24-3, Adding Voluntary Requests for Cybersecurity Incentives to Mandatory Reliability Standards for Critical Infrastructure Protection
Revision of a currently approved collection
No
Regular
Approved with change
10/31/2024
09/06/2024
Because the agency sought comments only on the changes associated with the order, the existing expiration date remains the same for this collection. In accordance with 5 CFR 1320, the information collection is approved.
table that charts list comparision
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
06/30/2026
36 Months From Approved
06/30/2026
242,567
0
241,101
2,247,984
0
2,168,901
0
0
0
Revisions in RD24-3 NERC states that proposed Reliability Standard CIP-012-2 improves upon and expands the protections required by Reliability Standard CIP-012-1 by requiring responsible entities to mitigate the risk posed by loss of availability of communication links and Real-time Assessment and Real-time monitoring data transmitted between Control Centers. Proposed Reliability Standard CIP-012-2 adds two new provisions to Requirement R1 that address availability by requiring (1) protections for the availability of data in transit and (2) protections to initiate recovery of lost (i.e., unavailable) communication links.
NERC also requests approval of the associated implementation plan, the associated violation risk factors and violation severity levels, and retirement of Reliability Standard CIP-012-1 immediately prior to the effective date of CIP-012-2. The 24-month implementation period is proposed to afford responsible entities sufficient time to implement the new controls and coordinate with other responsible entities that own or operate Control Centers as required in proposed Reliability Standard CIP-012-2.
The information collection in the final rule implements section 219A of the Federal Power Act (FPA) (16 U.S.C. 824s-1), which requires the Commission to encourage utilities to: (1) invest in advanced cybersecurity technology, and (2) participate in information sharing regarding cybersecurity threats. The final rule includes information collection activities for voluntary submission of requests for cybersecurity incentives, and annual informational filings that would be mandatory for utilities receiving such incentives. In order to obtain Commission approval, the cybersecurity measures proposed by a utility must materially improve cybersecurity through either an investment in advanced cybersecurity technology or participation in a cybersecurity threat information sharing program(s); and must not be already mandated by Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) Reliability Standards, or otherwise mandated by local, state, or Federal law.
As previously approved, the information collection at FERC-725B implements CIP Reliability Standards that require entities to comply with specific requirements to safeguard critical cyber assets. Neither the final rule nor the additional burdens in this information collection request would affect the previously approved mandatory CIP Reliability Standards.
All of the estimated burdens described above in Discussion # 12 are program changes to FERC-725B. The estimated annual burdens would add average annual number (for Years 1-3) of responses and burden for one-time and ongoing burden will total:
â¢1,460 responses (one-time) + 730 responses (ongoing) (There was already 724 responses from RD22-2 and +6 was added+ totaling 730 responses)
â¢79,083 burden hours [78,353 hours (one-time) + 730 hours (ongoing)]
to FERC-725B.
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:
(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;
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.
RD24-3 supporting statement 10.29.2024.docx
CIP-012-2.pdf
RD24-3 One-time Years 1-3