80 FR 22444 - Protection System, Automatic Reclosing, and Sudden Pressure Relaying Maintenance Reliability Standard
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 77 (April 22, 2015)
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 77 (April 22, 2015)
| Page Range | 22444-22449 | |
| FR Document | 2015-09228 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 77 (Wednesday, April 22, 2015)] [Proposed Rules] [Pages 22444-22449] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-09228] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 18 CFR Part 40 [Docket No. RM15-9-000] Protection System, Automatic Reclosing, and Sudden Pressure Relaying Maintenance Reliability Standard AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Department of Energy. ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Federal Power Act, the Commission proposes to approve a revised Reliability Standard, [[Page 22445]] PRC-005-4 (Protection System, Automatic Reclosing and Sudden Pressure Relaying Maintenance), developed and submitted by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC). In addition, the Commission proposes to approve one new definition and four revised definitions referenced in the proposed Reliability Standard, as well as NERC's proposed violation risk factors, violation severity levels, and implementation plan. Consistent with Order No. 758, the proposed Reliability Standard requires applicable entities to test and maintain certain sudden pressure relays as part of a protection system maintenance program. DATES: Comments are due June 22, 2015. ADDRESSES: Comments, identified by docket number, may be filed in the following ways:Electronic Filing through http://www.ferc.gov. Documents created electronically using word processing software should be filed in native applications or print-to-PDF format and not in a scanned format. Mail/Hand Delivery: Those unable to file electronically may mail or hand-deliver comments to: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Secretary of the Commission, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426. Instructions: For detailed instructions on submitting comments and additional information on the rulemaking process, see the Comment Procedures Section of this document. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Bradish (Technical Information), Office of Electric Reliability, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426, (301) 665-1391, Tom.Bradish@ferc.gov. Julie Greenisen (Legal Information), Office of the General Counsel, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426, (202) 502-6362, julie.greenisen@ferc.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 1. Pursuant to section 215 of the Federal Power Act (FPA),\1\ the Commission proposes to approve a revised Reliability Standard, PRC-005- 4 (Protection System, Automatic Reclosing and Sudden Pressure Relaying Maintenance), developed and submitted by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), the Commission-certified Electric Reliability Organization (ERO). In addition, the Commission proposes to approve one new definition and four revised definitions referenced in the proposed Reliability Standard, as well as NERC's proposed violation risk factors, violation severity levels, and implementation plan. Consistent with Order No. 758,\2\ the proposed Reliability Standard requires applicable entities to test and maintain certain sudden pressure relays as part of a protection system maintenance program. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ 16 U.S.C. 824o (2012). \2\ Interpretation of Protection System Reliability Standard, Order No. 758, 138 FERC ] 61,094, clarification denied, 139 FERC ] 61,227 (2012). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- I. Background A. Regulatory Background 2. Section 215 of the FPA requires a Commission-certified ERO to develop mandatory and enforceable Reliability Standards, subject to Commission review and approval.\3\ Once approved, the Reliability Standards may be enforced by the ERO subject to Commission oversight, or by the Commission independently.\4\ In 2006, the Commission certified NERC as the ERO pursuant to FPA section 215.\5\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \3\ 16 U.S.C. at 824o(c) and (d). \4\ See id. at 824o(e). \5\ North American Electric Reliability Corp., 116 FERC ] 61,062, order on reh'g & compliance, 117 FERC ] 61,126 (2006), aff'd sub nom. Alcoa, Inc. v. FERC, 564 F.3d 1342 (D.C. Cir. 2009). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. In 2007, the Commission approved an initial set of Reliability Standards submitted by NERC, including initial versions of four protection system and load-shedding-related maintenance standards: PRC- 005-1, PRC-008-0, PRC-011-0, and PRC-017-0.\6\ In addition, the Commission directed NERC to develop a revision to PRC-005-1 incorporating a maximum time interval during which to conduct maintenance and testing of protection systems, and to consider combining into one standard the various maintenance and testing requirements for all of the maintenance and testing-related standards for protection systems, underfrequency load shedding (UFLS) equipment and undervoltage load shedding (UVLS) equipment. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \6\ Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Bulk Power System, Order No. 693, FERC Stats. & Regs. ] 31,242, at PP 1474, 1492, 1497, and 1514, order on reh'g, Order No. 693-A, 120 FERC ] 61,053 (2007). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. In February 2012, the Commission issued Order No. 758 in response to NERC's request for approval of its interpretation of Requirement R1 of the then-current version of the protection system maintenance standard, Reliability Standard PRC-005-1. In that order, the Commission accepted NERC's proposed interpretation of Requirement R1, which interpretation provided guidance on the types of protection system equipment to which the Reliability Standard did or did not apply. In reviewing NERC's interpretation, the Commission raised several concerns about potential gaps in the coverage of PRC-005-1, including a concern that the standard as written may not include all components that serve in some protective capacity.\7\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \7\ See Order No. 758, 138 FERC ] 61,094 at P 12. NERC has addressed the Commission's concerns stated in Order No. 758 through a series of projects modifying the PRC-005 standard. See Protection System Maintenance Reliability Standard, Order No. 793, 145 FERC ] 61,253 (2013) (approving Reliability Standard PRC-005-2, which incorporated specific minimum maintenance activities and maximum time intervals for maintenance of individual components of the protection systems and load shedding equipment affecting the bulk electric system); Protection System Maintenance Reliability Standard, Order No. 803,150 FERC ] 61,039 (2015) (approving PRC-005- 3 and directing NERC to develop a modification to include maintenance and testing of supervisory relays associated with relevant autoreclosing relay schemes). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- B. NERC Petition and Proposed Standard PRC-005-4 5. On December 18, 2014, NERC submitted a petition seeking approval of proposed Reliability Standard PRC-005-4, which would add to the applicability of Reliability Standard PRC-005-3 those sudden pressure relays that NERC has identified as having a potential effect on the reliable operation of the Bulk-Power System.\8\ NERC states that these revisions were developed to satisfy NERC's commitment to develop modifications to PRC-005 that would address the Commission's concerns, as set out in Order No. 758, regarding the lack of maintenance requirements for non-electrical sensing relays (such as sudden pressure relays) that could affect the reliable operation of the Bulk-Power System.\9\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \8\ Proposed Reliability Standard PRC-005-4 is not attached to the NOPR; however, the complete text of the proposed Reliability Standard is available on the Commission's eLibrary document retrieval system in Docket No. RM15-9-000 and is posted on NERC's Web site, available at: http://www.nerc.com. \9\ See NERC Petition at 3, 9. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6. NERC states that sudden pressure relays ``are designed to quickly detect faults on the Bulk-Power System transformer equipment that may remain undetected by other Protection Systems, and can operate to limit any potential damage on the equipment.'' \10\ NERC [[Page 22446]] states that the ``misoperation of sudden pressure relays that initiate tripping in response to fault conditions can impact the reliability of the Bulk-Power System,'' and accordingly proposes revisions to PRC-005- 3 that will require entities to document and implement programs for maintenance of applicable sudden pressure relays.\11\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \10\ Id. at 3. NERC describes sudden pressure relays as relays which ``respond to changes in pressure and are utilized as protective devices for power transformers,'' and which may ``detect rapid changes in gas pressure, oil pressure, or oil flow that are indicative of faults within the transformer equipment.'' Id. at 13. NERC notes that in addition to detecting faults, certain sudden pressure relays can trip the associated transformer circuitry in response to the fault conditions. \11\ Id. at 3-4. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7. NERC explains that, consistent with Order No. 758, NERC's System Protection and Control Subcommittee (SPCS) performed a technical study ``to determine which devices that respond to non-electrical quantities should be addressed within PRC-005 identified devices.'' \12\ NERC states that the SPCS considered a broad range of devices that respond to non-electrical quantities, starting with the list of ninety-four devices included in the IEEE Standard Electrical Power System Device Function Numbers, then applying ``multiple layers of analysis to each device to select the ones that can affect the reliability of the Bulk- Power System.'' \13\ The SPCS first determined that only those devices that initiate action to clear faults or mitigate abnormal system conditions presented a risk to the Bulk-Power System. Next, the SPCS eliminated those devices that were ``previously considered as a result of the revised definition of Protection System or those that are clearly not protective devices, such as primary equipment and control devices.'' \14\ Finally, the SPCS conducted an in-depth analysis of the remaining devices, and concluded that only one category--sudden pressure relays that are utilized in a trip application--should be included in the revised PRC-005-4. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \12\ Id. at 4. \13\ Id. at 10. \14\ Id. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8. NERC also explains that the SPCS developed a Supplemental Report in response to comments and questions about its initial recommendations from the Commission staff. These comments and questions focused on whether PRC-005 should include turbine generator vibration monitors and circuit breaker arc extinguishing systems.\15\ The SPCS Supplemental Report, issued on October 31, 2014, examined these two kinds of devices and provided information on events during which these devices operated or failed to operate. The Supplemental Report concluded that neither device affected the reliable operation of the Bulk-Power System. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \15\ NERC Petition at 11, Ex. E, Sudden Pressure Relays and Other Devices that Respond to Non-Electrical Quantities: Supplemental Information to Support Project 2007-17.3: Protection System Maintenance and Testing, NERC SPCS (Oct. 31, 2014) (SPCS Supplemental Report). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9. NERC states that the standard drafting team that was tasked with developing the modifications to PRC-005 in response to Order No. 758 adopted the SPCS Report's recommendations, both as to the scope of additional relays included, and as to the required minimum maintenance activities and maximum maintenance intervals for these relays. 10. NERC maintains that proposed Reliability Standard PRC-005-4 will enhance reliability by extending the coverage of an applicable entity's protection system maintenance program to include sudden pressure relaying components. NERC further maintains that the proposed standard satisfies the Commission's concerns as raised in Order No. 758 ``by including . . . sudden pressure relays that detect [a] fault on Bulk-Power System transformer equipment and trip in response to fault conditions, as recommended by the SPCS Report.'' \16\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \16\ NERC Petition at 12. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11. NERC explains that proposed Reliability Standard PRC-005-4 has been modified to include a new definition for ``Sudden Pressure Relaying,'', as well as four revised definitions as part of an applicable entity's protection system maintenance program.\17\ NERC further explains that the proposed standard would include a sudden pressure relay that trips an interrupting device to isolate the equipment it is monitoring, but ``does not include other non-electric sensing devices, pressure relays that only initiate an alarm, or pressure relief devices.'' \18\ In addition, NERC explains that the revised standard replaces the term ``Special Protection System'' with the term ``Remedial Action Scheme,'' to align the standard with NERC's employment of the latter term moving forward, and revises Applicability section 4.2.6.1 to address how the largest BES generating unit would be determined in circumstances involving a Reserve Sharing Group. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \17\ NERC proposes to modify the definitions of Protection System Maintenance Program, Component Type, Component, and Countable Event to reflect the addition of sudden pressure relays to the scope of a required maintenance program. NERC Petition at 15-16. \18\ Id. at 18. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12. NERC's proposed implementation plan for PRC-005-4 incorporates the phased-in implementation period approved for PRC-005-2, which has a twelve year phase-in period, with the addition of compliance dates for the new requirements for applicable sudden pressure relays. NERC asks that PRC-005-4 become effective the first day of the first calendar quarter following Commission approval. Reliability Standard PRC-005-3 would be retired immediately prior to PRC-005-4 becoming effective. 13. NERC explains that the evidence retention period for PRC-005-4 is shorter than that required in the preceding versions of the standard, as it requires entities to maintain records for one maintenance cycle, rather than two cycles, if the interval of the maintenance activity is longer than the audit cycle. For maintenance activities where the interval is shorter than the audit cycle, documentation is to be retained for all maintenance activities since the previous audit. 14. NERC states that the violation risk factors proposed in PRC- 005-4 track those in previous versions of the standard, and that the violation severity levels have been revised to include the additional component (sudden pressure relays) in a manner consistent with the approach taken for PRC-005-3. II. Discussion 15. Pursuant to section 215(d)(2) of the FPA, the Commission proposes to approve Reliability Standard PRC-005-4, as well as the new definition of Sudden Pressure Relaying, the four revised definitions referenced in the proposed standard, the assigned violation risk factors and violation severity levels, and the proposed implementation plan. We believe that proposed Reliability Standard PRC-005-4 will enhance reliability by requiring the inclusion of sudden pressure relays of certain criteria that are utilized in a trip application as part of the protection system maintenance program, and by requiring entities to undertake minimum required maintenance activities at maximum defined maintenance intervals. 16. NERC has relied on the SPCS's determination that the only non- electrical sensing devices that can impact reliable operation of the Bulk-Power System are the sudden pressure relays that can detect rapid changes in gas pressure, oil pressure, or oil flow that are indicative of faults within the transformer equipment, and can trip associated transformer circuitry to isolate the transformer and limit the potential damage of the equipment. We agree that these relays should be included in an adequate protection system maintenance program. 17. However, we continue to have some concern that the misoperation of other types of non-electrical sensing relays or devices, such as pressure [[Page 22447]] sensing devices associated with air blast or SF6 circuit breaker arc extinguishing systems, could affect the reliable operation of the Bulk- Power System. These non-electrical sensing devices are utilized in this context to give an indication that the circuit breaker may be unable to operate as designed on the Bulk-Power System. With regard to these types of devices, the SPCS stated that, ``there is no operating experience in which misoperation of a density switch or sensor [i.e, pressure sensing device] in response to a system disturbance has contributed to a cascading event.'' \19\ However, we expect Commission staff to continue exploring this issue with NERC, particularly in light of the findings in NERC's 2014 and 2013 State of Reliability reports that AC substation equipment failures remain among the leading causes of Bulk Power System problems. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \19\ SPCS Supplemental Report at 4. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- III. Information Collection Statement 18. The following collection of information contained in this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking is subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under section 3507(d) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA).\20\ OMB's regulations require approval of certain information collection requirements imposed by agency rules.\21\ Upon approval of a collection(s) of information, OMB will assign an OMB control number and an expiration date. Respondents subject to the filing requirements of a rule will not be penalized for failing to respond to these collections of information unless the collections of information display a valid OMB control number. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \20\ 44 U.S.C. 3507(d) (2006). \21\ 5 CFR 1320.11 (2012). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19. We solicit comments on the Commission's need for this information, whether the information will have practical utility, the accuracy of the burden estimates, ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected or retained, and any suggested methods for minimizing respondents' burden, including the use of automated information techniques. Specifically, the Commission asks that any revised burden or cost estimates submitted by commenters be supported by sufficient detail to understand how the estimates are generated. 20. The Commission proposes to approve Reliability Standard PRC- 005-4, which will replace PRC-005-3 (Protection System and Automatic Reclosing Maintenance). The proposed Reliability Standard expands the existing standard to cover sudden pressure relays that meet certain criteria, thereby imposing mandatory minimum maintenance activities and maximum maintenance intervals for the applicable relays. Because the specific requirements were designed to reflect common industry practice, entities are not expected to experience a meaningful change in actual maintenance and documentation practices. However, each applicable entity will have to perform a one-time review of sudden pressure relays that detect rapid changes in gas pressure, oil pressure, or oil flow that are indicative of faults within transformer equipment, and, if it has applicable sudden pressure relay devices, review current maintenance programs to ensure that they meet the requirements of proposed standard PRC-005-4. Accordingly, all additional information collection costs are expected to be limited to the first year of implementation of the revised standard. 21. Proposed Reliability Standard PRC-005-4 reduces the evidence retention requirements approved in previously-approved versions of the standard, and now requires entities to maintain documentation of maintenance activities for only one maintenance cycle (a maximum of twelve years) if the maintenance interval is longer than the audit cycle. For maintenance activities where the interval is shorter than the audit cycle, documentation is to be retained for all maintenance activities since the previous audit. While the potential data retention requirement exceeds the three-year period that is routinely allowed for regulations requiring record retention under the OMB regulations implementing the PRA,\22\ the maximum evidence retention period has been reduced from 24 years to a maximum of 12 years as a result of the Commission's prior request for comment on the reasonableness of the evidence retention period in earlier versions of the standard, and appears to reflect the minimum time needed to ensure compliance with maintenance requirements.\23\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \22\ See 5 CFR 1320.5(d)(2)(iv). \23\ See Order No. 803, 150 FERC ] 61,039 at PP 37-38. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 22. Public Reporting Burden: Affected entities must perform a one- time review of their existing sudden pressure relay schemes and associated maintenance programs to ensure that the programs contain at a minimum the activities required by Reliability Standard PRC-005-4. If the existing maintenance program does not meet the criteria in Reliability Standard PRC-005-4, the entity will have to make certain adjustments to the program. 23. Our estimate below assumes that the number of unique applicable entities (distribution providers, generator owners and transmission owners, or a combination of those) in the United States is approximately 1,287 \24\ and the time required to do the one-time review will be approximately eight hours. The estimate further assumes that the one-time review would be performed by an engineer at a rate of $65.34 per hour.\25\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \24\ This figure reflects the generator owners, transmission owners, and distribution providers identified in the NERC Compliance Registry as of February 27, 2015. \25\ The figure is taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics at http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics2_22.htm; Occupation Code: 17- 2071). RM15-9-000 (Mandatory Reliability Standards: Reliability Standard PRC-005-4) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total annual Number of Annual number Total number Average burden burden hours Cost per respondents of responses of responses (hours) cost total annual respondent ($) per respondent per response cost (1) (2) (1)*(2) = (3) (4) (3)*(4) = (5) (5) / (1) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- One-time review of sudden pressure relay maintenance 1,287 1 1,287 8 10,296 $523 program and adjustment................................. $523 $673,101 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [[Page 22448]] Title: FERC-725P1,\26\ Mandatory Reliability Standards: Reliability Standard PRC-005-4. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \26\ The FERC-725P1 is a temporary collection established so the Commission can submit this proposed rulemaking to OMB on time. However, the burden contained in this rulemaking should be contained in FERC-725G (OMB Control No. 1902-0252). Commission staff plans eventually to move this burden to FERC-725G. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Action: Proposed Collection of Information. OMB Control No: To be determined. Respondents: Business or other for-profit and not-for-profit institutions. Frequency of Responses: One time. Necessity of the Information: The proposed Reliability Standard PRC-005-4, if adopted, would implement the Congressional mandate of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to develop mandatory and enforceable Reliability Standards to better ensure the reliability of the nation's Bulk-Power System. Specifically, the proposal would ensure that transmission and generation protection systems affecting the reliability of the bulk electric system are maintained and tested. 24. Internal review: The Commission has reviewed revised Reliability Standard PRC-005-4 and made a determination that approval of this standard 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 estimates associated with the information requirements. 25. 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: DataClearance@ferc.gov, phone: (202) 502-8663, fax: (202) 273-0873]. 26. Comments concerning the information collections proposed in this NOPR and the associated burden estimates should be sent to the Commission in this docket and may also be sent 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 the following email address: oira_submission@omb.eop.gov. Please reference the docket number of this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Docket No. RM15-9-000) in your submission. IV. Regulatory Flexibility Act Analysis 27. The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (RFA) \27\ generally requires a description and analysis of Proposed Rules that will have significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. Proposed Reliability Standard PRC-005-4 is expected to impose an additional, one-time burden on 1,287 entities (distribution providers, generator owners, and transmission owners, or a combination thereof). Comparison of the applicable entities with FERC's small business data indicates that approximately 789 of the 1,287 entities are small entities, or 61.31 percent of the respondents affected by this proposed Reliability Standard.\28\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \27\ 5 U.S.C. 601-12. The number of small distribution providers required to comply with PRC-005-4 may decrease significantly. In March 2015, the Commission approved revisions to the NERC Rules of Procedure to implement NERC's ``risk based registration'' program, which raised the registry threshold for distribution providers from a 25 MW to 75 MW peak load. North American Electric Reliability Corp., 150 FERC ] 61,213 (2015). \28\ The Small Business Administration sets the threshold for what constitutes a small business. Public utilities may fall under one of several different categories, each with a size threshold based on the company's number of employees, including affiliates, the parent company, and subsidiaries. For the analysis in this NOPR, we are using a 500 employee threshold for each affected entity. Each entity is classified as Electric Bulk Power Transmission and Control (NAICS code 221121). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 28. On average, each small entity affected may have a one-time cost of $523, representing a one-time review of the program for each entity, consisting of 8 man-hours at $65.34/hour, as explained above in the information collection statement. We do not consider this cost to be a significant economic impact for small entities. Accordingly, the Commission certifies that proposed Reliability Standard PRC-005-4 will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The Commission seeks comment on this certification. V. Environmental Analysis 29. 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.\29\ 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.\30\ The actions proposed herein fall within this categorical exclusion in the Commission's regulations. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \29\ Regulations Implementing the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, Order No. 486, FERC Stats. & Regs. ] 30,783 (1987). \30\ 18 CFR 380.4(a)(2)(ii). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- VI. Comment Procedures 30. The Commission invites interested persons to submit comments on the matters and issues proposed in this notice to be adopted, including any related matters or alternative proposals that commenters may wish to discuss. Comments are due June 22, 2015. Comments must refer to Docket No. RM15-9-000, and must include the commenter's name, the organization they represent, if applicable, and address. 31. The Commission encourages comments to be filed electronically via the eFiling link on the Commission's Web site at http://www.ferc.gov. The Commission accepts most standard word processing formats. Documents created electronically using word processing software should be filed in native applications or print-to-PDF format and not in a scanned format. Commenters filing electronically do not need to make a paper filing. 32. Commenters that are not able to file comments electronically must send an original of their comments to: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Secretary of the Commission, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426. 33. All comments will be placed in the Commission's public files and may be viewed, printed, or downloaded remotely as described in the Document Availability section below. Commenters on this proposal are not required to serve copies of their comments on other commenters. VII. Document Availability 34. 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 the Commission's Home Page (http://www.ferc.gov) and in the Commission'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. 35. From the Commission'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 of this [[Page 22449]] document excluding the last three digits in the docket number field. 36. User assistance is available for eLibrary and the Commission's Web site during normal business hours from the Commission's Online Support at 202-502-6652 (toll free at 1-866-208-3676) or email at ferconlinesupport@ferc.gov, or the Public Reference Room at (202) 502- 8371, TTY (202) 502-8659. Email the Public Reference Room at public.referenceroom@ferc.gov. By direction of the Commission. Issued: April 16, 2015. Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr., Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2015-09228 Filed 4-21-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
![22444 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 77 / Wednesday, April 22, 2015 / Proposed Rules
Street NE., Washington, DC 20426 002–2, which focus information be viewed, printed, or downloaded
[Attention: Ellen Brown, email: collection on bulk electric system remotely as described in the Document
DataClearance@ferc.gov, phone: (202) facilities having Interconnection-wide Availability section below. Commenters
502–8663, fax: (202) 273–0873]. impacts worthy of collecting. The on this proposal are not required to
16. Comments concerning the proposed Reliability Standard applies to serve copies of their comments on other
information collection proposed in this approximately 526 entities in the United commenters.
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and the States. The Commission estimates,
associated burden estimates, should be applying the MVA thresholds above, VII. Document Availability
sent to the Commission in this docket that approximately 52 (or 10 percent of 25. In addition to publishing the full
and may also be sent to the Office of the 521) are small entities. The text of this document in the Federal
Management and Budget, Office of Commission estimates for these small Register, the Commission provides all
Information and Regulatory Affairs entities, proposed Reliability Standard interested persons an opportunity to
[Attention: Desk Officer for the Federal PRC–002–2 Requirement R1 may need view and/or print the contents of this
Energy Regulatory Commission]. For to be evaluated and documented every document via the Internet through the
security reasons, comments should be five years with costs of $9,847 for each Commission’s Home Page (http://
sent by email to OMB at the following evaluation. From this set of small www.ferc.gov) and in the Commission’s
email address: oira_submission@ entities, the Commission estimates that Public Reference Room during normal
omb.eop.gov. Please reference FERC– five percent, or only two or three small business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
725G2 and the docket numbers of this entities, may be affected by the other Eastern time) at 888 First Street NE.,
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Docket requirements, i.e., Requirements R2 Room 2A, Washington, DC 20426.
No. RM15–4–000) in your submission. through R12, of proposed Reliability 26. From the Commission’s Home
IV. Environmental Analysis Standard PRC–002–2. Based on a prior Page on the Internet, this information is
industry-sponsored survey, annual available on eLibrary. The full text of
17. The Commission is required to compliance costs will average this document is available on eLibrary
prepare an Environmental Assessment $100,000–$160,000 for entities subject in PDF and Microsoft Word format for
or an Environmental Impact Statement to these requirements.28 Accordingly, viewing, printing, and/or downloading.
for any action that may have a the Commission certifies that the To access this document in eLibrary,
significant adverse effect on the human proposed Reliability Standard will not type the docket number of this
environment.25 This action has been have a significant economic impact on document, excluding the last three
categorically excluded under section a substantial number of small entities. digits in the docket number field.
380.4(a)(2)(ii) of the Commission’s 27. User assistance is available for
regulations, addressing the collection of VI. Comment Procedures
eLibrary and the Commission’s Web site
information.26 21. The Commission invites interested during normal business hours from the
V. Regulatory Flexibility Act persons to submit comments on the Commission’s Online Support at (202)
matters and issues proposed in this 502–6652 (toll free at 1 (866) 208–3676)
18. The Regulatory Flexibility Act of notice to be adopted, including any
1980 (RFA) 27 generally requires a or email at ferconlinesupport@ferc.gov,
related matters or alternative proposals or the Public Reference Room at (202)
description and analysis of proposed that commenters may wish to discuss.
rules that will have significant 502–8371, TTY (202) 502–8659. Email
Comments are due June 22, 2015. the Public Reference Room at
economic impact on a substantial Comments must refer to Docket No.
number of small entities. public.referenceroom@ferc.gov.
RM15–4–000, and must include the
19. The Small Business commenter’s name, the organization By direction of the Commission.
Administration (SBA) revised its size they represent, if applicable, and their Issued: April 16, 2015.
standards (effective January 22, 2014) address in their comments. Kimberly D. Bose,
for electric utilities from a standard 22. The Commission encourages Secretary.
based on megawatt hours to a standard comments to be filed electronically via [FR Doc. 2015–09219 Filed 4–21–15; 8:45 am]
based on the number of employees, the eFiling link on the Commission’s BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
including affiliates. Under SBA’s new Web site at http://www.ferc.gov. The
standards, some transmission owners Commission accepts most standard
and generation owners will possibly fall word processing formats. Documents DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
under the following category and created electronically using word
associated size threshold: Electric bulk processing software should be filed in Federal Energy Regulatory
power transmission and control at 500 native applications or print-to-PDF Commission
employees; hydroelectric power format and not in a scanned format.
generation at 500 employees; fossil fuel Commenters filing electronically do not 18 CFR Part 40
electric power generation at 750 need to make a paper filing.
employees; nuclear electric power 23. Commenters that are not able to [Docket No. RM15–9–000]
generation at 750 employees. file comments electronically must send
20. The Commission estimates that Protection System, Automatic
an original of their comments to:
the number of applicable small entities Reclosing, and Sudden Pressure
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,
will be minimal due to the gross million Relaying Maintenance Reliability
Secretary of the Commission, 888 First
Rmajette on DSK2VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
volt amps (MVA) thresholds embedded Standard
Street NE., Washington, DC 20426.
into proposed Reliability Standard PRC– 24. All comments will be placed in AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory
the Commission’s public files and may Commission, Department of Energy.
25 Regulations Implementing the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, Order No. 486, 28 See NERC Petition Ex. G (Record of
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
52 FR 47897 (Dec. 17, 1987), FERC Stats. & Regs. Development) at 257 of pdf file, providing link to:
Preambles 1986–1990 ¶ 30,783 (1987). NERC Cost Effective Analysis Process (CEAP) Pilot
SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Federal Power
26 18 CFR 380.4(a)(2)(ii).
for NERC Project 2007–11—Disturbance Act, the Commission proposes to
27 5 U.S.C. 601–612. Monitoring—PRC–002–2 at 8 (Apr. 9, 2014). approve a revised Reliability Standard,
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![22446 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 77 / Wednesday, April 22, 2015 / Proposed Rules
states that the ‘‘misoperation of sudden Supplemental Report concluded that pressure relays. NERC asks that PRC–
pressure relays that initiate tripping in neither device affected the reliable 005–4 become effective the first day of
response to fault conditions can impact operation of the Bulk-Power System. the first calendar quarter following
the reliability of the Bulk-Power 9. NERC states that the standard Commission approval. Reliability
System,’’ and accordingly proposes drafting team that was tasked with Standard PRC–005–3 would be retired
revisions to PRC–005–3 that will require developing the modifications to PRC– immediately prior to PRC–005–4
entities to document and implement 005 in response to Order No. 758 becoming effective.
programs for maintenance of applicable adopted the SPCS Report’s 13. NERC explains that the evidence
sudden pressure relays.11 recommendations, both as to the scope retention period for PRC–005–4 is
7. NERC explains that, consistent with of additional relays included, and as to shorter than that required in the
Order No. 758, NERC’s System the required minimum maintenance preceding versions of the standard, as it
Protection and Control Subcommittee activities and maximum maintenance requires entities to maintain records for
(SPCS) performed a technical study ‘‘to intervals for these relays. one maintenance cycle, rather than two
determine which devices that respond 10. NERC maintains that proposed cycles, if the interval of the maintenance
to non-electrical quantities should be Reliability Standard PRC–005–4 will activity is longer than the audit cycle.
addressed within PRC–005 identified enhance reliability by extending the For maintenance activities where the
devices.’’ 12 NERC states that the SPCS coverage of an applicable entity’s interval is shorter than the audit cycle,
considered a broad range of devices that protection system maintenance program documentation is to be retained for all
respond to non-electrical quantities, to include sudden pressure relaying maintenance activities since the
starting with the list of ninety-four components. NERC further maintains previous audit.
devices included in the IEEE Standard that the proposed standard satisfies the 14. NERC states that the violation risk
Electrical Power System Device Commission’s concerns as raised in factors proposed in PRC–005–4 track
Function Numbers, then applying Order No. 758 ‘‘by including . . . those in previous versions of the
‘‘multiple layers of analysis to each sudden pressure relays that detect [a] standard, and that the violation severity
device to select the ones that can affect fault on Bulk-Power System transformer levels have been revised to include the
the reliability of the Bulk-Power equipment and trip in response to fault additional component (sudden pressure
System.’’ 13 The SPCS first determined conditions, as recommended by the relays) in a manner consistent with the
that only those devices that initiate SPCS Report.’’ 16 approach taken for PRC–005–3.
action to clear faults or mitigate 11. NERC explains that proposed
II. Discussion
abnormal system conditions presented a Reliability Standard PRC–005–4 has
risk to the Bulk-Power System. Next, the been modified to include a new 15. Pursuant to section 215(d)(2) of
SPCS eliminated those devices that definition for ‘‘Sudden Pressure the FPA, the Commission proposes to
were ‘‘previously considered as a result Relaying,’’, as well as four revised approve Reliability Standard PRC–005–
of the revised definition of Protection definitions as part of an applicable 4, as well as the new definition of
System or those that are clearly not entity’s protection system maintenance Sudden Pressure Relaying, the four
protective devices, such as primary program.17 NERC further explains that revised definitions referenced in the
equipment and control devices.’’ 14 the proposed standard would include a proposed standard, the assigned
Finally, the SPCS conducted an in- sudden pressure relay that trips an violation risk factors and violation
depth analysis of the remaining devices, interrupting device to isolate the severity levels, and the proposed
and concluded that only one category— equipment it is monitoring, but ‘‘does implementation plan. We believe that
sudden pressure relays that are utilized not include other non-electric sensing proposed Reliability Standard PRC–
in a trip application—should be devices, pressure relays that only 005–4 will enhance reliability by
included in the revised PRC–005–4. initiate an alarm, or pressure relief requiring the inclusion of sudden
8. NERC also explains that the SPCS devices.’’ 18 In addition, NERC explains pressure relays of certain criteria that
developed a Supplemental Report in that the revised standard replaces the are utilized in a trip application as part
response to comments and questions term ‘‘Special Protection System’’ with of the protection system maintenance
about its initial recommendations from the term ‘‘Remedial Action Scheme,’’ to program, and by requiring entities to
the Commission staff. These comments align the standard with NERC’s undertake minimum required
and questions focused on whether PRC– employment of the latter term moving maintenance activities at maximum
005 should include turbine generator forward, and revises Applicability defined maintenance intervals.
vibration monitors and circuit breaker section 4.2.6.1 to address how the 16. NERC has relied on the SPCS’s
arc extinguishing systems.15 The SPCS largest BES generating unit would be determination that the only non-
Supplemental Report, issued on October determined in circumstances involving electrical sensing devices that can
31, 2014, examined these two kinds of a Reserve Sharing Group. impact reliable operation of the Bulk-
devices and provided information on 12. NERC’s proposed implementation Power System are the sudden pressure
events during which these devices plan for PRC–005–4 incorporates the relays that can detect rapid changes in
operated or failed to operate. The phased-in implementation period gas pressure, oil pressure, or oil flow
approved for PRC–005–2, which has a that are indicative of faults within the
to detecting faults, certain sudden pressure relays twelve year phase-in period, with the transformer equipment, and can trip
can trip the associated transformer circuitry in associated transformer circuitry to
response to the fault conditions.
addition of compliance dates for the
new requirements for applicable sudden isolate the transformer and limit the
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11 Id. at 3–4.
12 Id. at 4. potential damage of the equipment. We
13 Id. at 10. 16 NERC Petition at 12. agree that these relays should be
14 Id. 17 NERC proposes to modify the definitions of included in an adequate protection
15 NERC Petition at 11, Ex. E, Sudden Pressure Protection System Maintenance Program, system maintenance program.
Relays and Other Devices that Respond to Non- Component Type, Component, and Countable Event 17. However, we continue to have
Electrical Quantities: Supplemental Information to to reflect the addition of sudden pressure relays to
Support Project 2007–17.3: Protection System the scope of a required maintenance program. NERC some concern that the misoperation of
Maintenance and Testing, NERC SPCS (Oct. 31, Petition at 15–16. other types of non-electrical sensing
2014) (SPCS Supplemental Report). 18 Id. at 18. relays or devices, such as pressure
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![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 77 / Wednesday, April 22, 2015 / Proposed Rules 22447
sensing devices associated with air blast quality, utility, and clarity of the maintain documentation of maintenance
or SF6 circuit breaker arc extinguishing information to be collected or retained, activities for only one maintenance
systems, could affect the reliable and any suggested methods for cycle (a maximum of twelve years) if the
operation of the Bulk-Power System. minimizing respondents’ burden, maintenance interval is longer than the
These non-electrical sensing devices are including the use of automated audit cycle. For maintenance activities
utilized in this context to give an information techniques. Specifically, where the interval is shorter than the
indication that the circuit breaker may the Commission asks that any revised audit cycle, documentation is to be
be unable to operate as designed on the burden or cost estimates submitted by retained for all maintenance activities
Bulk-Power System. With regard to commenters be supported by sufficient since the previous audit. While the
these types of devices, the SPCS stated detail to understand how the estimates potential data retention requirement
that, ‘‘there is no operating experience are generated. exceeds the three-year period that is
in which misoperation of a density 20. The Commission proposes to routinely allowed for regulations
switch or sensor [i.e, pressure sensing approve Reliability Standard PRC–005– requiring record retention under the
device] in response to a system 4, which will replace PRC–005–3 OMB regulations implementing the
disturbance has contributed to a (Protection System and Automatic PRA,22 the maximum evidence
cascading event.’’ 19 However, we Reclosing Maintenance). The proposed retention period has been reduced from
expect Commission staff to continue Reliability Standard expands the 24 years to a maximum of 12 years as
exploring this issue with NERC, existing standard to cover sudden a result of the Commission’s prior
particularly in light of the findings in pressure relays that meet certain request for comment on the
NERC’s 2014 and 2013 State of criteria, thereby imposing mandatory reasonableness of the evidence retention
Reliability reports that AC substation minimum maintenance activities and period in earlier versions of the
equipment failures remain among the maximum maintenance intervals for the standard, and appears to reflect the
leading causes of Bulk Power System applicable relays. Because the specific minimum time needed to ensure
problems. requirements were designed to reflect compliance with maintenance
III. Information Collection Statement common industry practice, entities are requirements.23
18. The following collection of not expected to experience a meaningful 22. Public Reporting Burden: Affected
information contained in this Notice of change in actual maintenance and entities must perform a one-time review
Proposed Rulemaking is subject to documentation practices. However, each of their existing sudden pressure relay
review by the Office of Management and applicable entity will have to perform a schemes and associated maintenance
Budget (OMB) under section 3507(d) of one-time review of sudden pressure programs to ensure that the programs
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 relays that detect rapid changes in gas contain at a minimum the activities
(PRA).20 OMB’s regulations require pressure, oil pressure, or oil flow that required by Reliability Standard PRC–
approval of certain information are indicative of faults within 005–4. If the existing maintenance
collection requirements imposed by transformer equipment, and, if it has program does not meet the criteria in
agency rules.21 Upon approval of a applicable sudden pressure relay Reliability Standard PRC–005–4, the
collection(s) of information, OMB will devices, review current maintenance entity will have to make certain
assign an OMB control number and an programs to ensure that they meet the adjustments to the program.
expiration date. Respondents subject to requirements of proposed standard 23. Our estimate below assumes that
the filing requirements of a rule will not PRC–005–4. Accordingly, all additional the number of unique applicable entities
be penalized for failing to respond to information collection costs are (distribution providers, generator
these collections of information unless expected to be limited to the first year owners and transmission owners, or a
the collections of information display a of implementation of the revised combination of those) in the United
valid OMB control number. standard. States is approximately 1,287 24 and the
19. We solicit comments on the 21. Proposed Reliability Standard time required to do the one-time review
Commission’s need for this information, PRC–005–4 reduces the evidence will be approximately eight hours. The
whether the information will have retention requirements approved in estimate further assumes that the one-
practical utility, the accuracy of the previously-approved versions of the time review would be performed by an
burden estimates, ways to enhance the standard, and now requires entities to engineer at a rate of $65.34 per hour.25
RM15–9–000 (MANDATORY RELIABILITY STANDARDS: RELIABILITY STANDARD PRC–005–4)
Annual Average Total annual Cost per
Number of number of Total number burden (hours) burden hours respondent
respondents responses per of responses cost per total annual ($)
respondent response cost
(1) (2) (1)*(2) = (3) (4) (3)*(4) = (5) (5) ÷ (1)
One-time review of sudden pressure
relay maintenance program and ad-
justment ................................................ 1,287 1 1,287 8 10,296 $523
$523 $673,101
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19 SPCS Supplemental Report at 4. 23 See Order No. 803, 150 FERC ¶ 61,039 at PP identified in the NERC Compliance Registry as of
20 44 U.S.C. 3507(d) (2006). 37–38. February 27, 2015.
21 5 CFR 1320.11 (2012). 24 This figure reflects the generator owners, 25 The figure is taken from the Bureau of Labor
22 See 5 CFR 1320.5(d)(2)(iv). transmission owners, and distribution providers Statistics at http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics2_
22.htm; Occupation Code: 17–2071).
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![22448 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 77 / Wednesday, April 22, 2015 / Proposed Rules
Title: FERC–725P1,26 Mandatory IV. Regulatory Flexibility Act Analysis substantially change the effect of the
Reliability Standards: Reliability 27. The Regulatory Flexibility Act of regulations being amended.30 The
Standard PRC–005–4. 1980 (RFA) 27 generally requires a actions proposed herein fall within this
Action: Proposed Collection of description and analysis of Proposed categorical exclusion in the
Information. Rules that will have significant Commission’s regulations.
OMB Control No: To be determined. economic impact on a substantial VI. Comment Procedures
number of small entities. Proposed
Respondents: Business or other for- 30. The Commission invites interested
Reliability Standard PRC–005–4 is
profit and not-for-profit institutions. persons to submit comments on the
expected to impose an additional, one-
Frequency of Responses: One time. matters and issues proposed in this
time burden on 1,287 entities
notice to be adopted, including any
Necessity of the Information: The (distribution providers, generator
related matters or alternative proposals
proposed Reliability Standard PRC– owners, and transmission owners, or a
combination thereof). Comparison of the that commenters may wish to discuss.
005–4, if adopted, would implement the Comments are due June 22, 2015.
Congressional mandate of the Energy applicable entities with FERC’s small
business data indicates that Comments must refer to Docket No.
Policy Act of 2005 to develop RM15–9–000, and must include the
mandatory and enforceable Reliability approximately 789 of the 1,287 entities
are small entities, or 61.31 percent of commenter’s name, the organization
Standards to better ensure the reliability they represent, if applicable, and
of the nation’s Bulk-Power System. the respondents affected by this
proposed Reliability Standard.28 address.
Specifically, the proposal would ensure 31. The Commission encourages
that transmission and generation 28. On average, each small entity
affected may have a one-time cost of comments to be filed electronically via
protection systems affecting the the eFiling link on the Commission’s
reliability of the bulk electric system are $523, representing a one-time review of
the program for each entity, consisting Web site at http://www.ferc.gov. The
maintained and tested. Commission accepts most standard
of 8 man-hours at $65.34/hour, as
24. Internal review: The Commission explained above in the information word processing formats. Documents
has reviewed revised Reliability collection statement. We do not created electronically using word
Standard PRC–005–4 and made a consider this cost to be a significant processing software should be filed in
determination that approval of this economic impact for small entities. native applications or print-to-PDF
standard is necessary to implement Accordingly, the Commission certifies format and not in a scanned format.
section 215 of the FPA. The that proposed Reliability Standard PRC– Commenters filing electronically do not
Commission has assured itself, by 005–4 will not have a significant need to make a paper filing.
means of its internal review, that there economic impact on a substantial 32. Commenters that are not able to
is specific, objective support for the number of small entities. The file comments electronically must send
burden estimates associated with the Commission seeks comment on this an original of their comments to:
information requirements. certification. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,
25. Interested persons may obtain Secretary of the Commission, 888 First
V. Environmental Analysis Street NE., Washington, DC 20426.
information on the reporting
29. The Commission is required to 33. All comments will be placed in
requirements by contacting the Federal
prepare an Environmental Assessment the Commission’s public files and may
Energy Regulatory Commission, Office
or an Environmental Impact Statement be viewed, printed, or downloaded
of the Executive Director, 888 First
for any action that may have a remotely as described in the Document
Street NE., Washington, DC 20426
significant adverse effect on the human Availability section below. Commenters
[Attention: Ellen Brown, email:
environment.29 The Commission has on this proposal are not required to
DataClearance@ferc.gov, phone: (202)
categorically excluded certain actions serve copies of their comments on other
502–8663, fax: (202) 273–0873].
from this requirement as not having a commenters.
26. Comments concerning the significant effect on the human
information collections proposed in this VII. Document Availability
environment. Included in the exclusion
NOPR and the associated burden are rules that are clarifying, corrective, 34. In addition to publishing the full
estimates should be sent to the or procedural or that do not text of this document in the Federal
Commission in this docket and may also Register, the Commission provides all
be sent to the Office of Management and 27 5 U.S.C. 601–12. The number of small interested persons an opportunity to
Budget, Office of Information and distribution providers required to comply with view and/or print the contents of this
Regulatory Affairs [Attention: Desk PRC–005–4 may decrease significantly. In March document via the Internet through the
2015, the Commission approved revisions to the
Officer for the Federal Energy NERC Rules of Procedure to implement NERC’s
Commission’s Home Page (http://
Regulatory Commission]. For security ‘‘risk based registration’’ program, which raised the www.ferc.gov) and in the Commission’s
reasons, comments should be sent by registry threshold for distribution providers from a Public Reference Room during normal
email to OMB at the following email 25 MW to 75 MW peak load. North American business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Electric Reliability Corp., 150 FERC ¶ 61,213 (2015).
address: oira_submission@omb.eop.gov. 28 The Small Business Administration sets the
Eastern time) at 888 First Street NE.,
Please reference the docket number of threshold for what constitutes a small business. Room 2A, Washington, DC 20426.
this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Public utilities may fall under one of several 35. From the Commission’s Home
(Docket No. RM15–9–000) in your different categories, each with a size threshold Page on the Internet, this information is
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based on the company’s number of employees, available on eLibrary. The full text of
submission. including affiliates, the parent company, and
subsidiaries. For the analysis in this NOPR, we are this document is available on eLibrary
26 The FERC–725P1 is a temporary collection using a 500 employee threshold for each affected in PDF and Microsoft Word format for
established so the Commission can submit this entity. Each entity is classified as Electric Bulk viewing, printing, and/or downloading.
proposed rulemaking to OMB on time. However, Power Transmission and Control (NAICS code
221121).
To access this document in eLibrary,
the burden contained in this rulemaking should be
contained in FERC–725G (OMB Control No. 1902– 29 Regulations Implementing the National type the docket number of this
0252). Commission staff plans eventually to move Environmental Policy Act of 1969, Order No. 486,
this burden to FERC–725G. FERC Stats. & Regs. ¶ 30,783 (1987). 30 18 CFR 380.4(a)(2)(ii).
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![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 77 / Wednesday, April 22, 2015 / Proposed Rules 22449
document excluding the last three digits spirits containing not less than 18 eRulemaking Portal at http://
in the docket number field. percent and not more than 25 percent www.regulations.gov (IRS REG–103281–
36. User assistance is available for alcohol by volume, and to remove the 11).
eLibrary and the Commission’s Web site current exclusion for distilled spirit FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
during normal business hours from the mixtures containing more than 5 Concerning the proposed regulations,
Commission’s Online Support at 202– percent wine on a proof gallon basis. Kate Hwa at (202) 317–6934, or for
502–6652 (toll free at 1–866–208–3676) We have determined under 21 CFR questions related to tax treaties, Rosy
or email at ferconlinesupport@ferc.gov, 25.32(k) that this action is of a type that Lor at (202) 317–6933; concerning
or the Public Reference Room at (202) does not individually or cumulatively submissions of comments,
502–8371, TTY (202) 502–8659. Email have a significant effect on the human Oluwafunmilayo Taylor, (202) 317–
the Public Reference Room at environment. Therefore, neither an 5179, (not toll-free numbers).
public.referenceroom@ferc.gov. environmental assessment nor an SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
By direction of the Commission. environmental impact statement is
required. Paperwork Reduction Act
Issued: April 16, 2015.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr., Dated: April 15, 2015. The collection of information
Deputy Secretary. Dennis M. Keefe, contained in this notice of proposed
[FR Doc. 2015–09228 Filed 4–21–15; 8:45 am] Director, Office of Food Additive Safety, rulemaking has been submitted to the
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. Office of Management and Budget
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
[FR Doc. 2015–09248 Filed 4–21–15; 8:45 am] (OMB) for review in accordance with
BILLING CODE 4164–01–P
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
(44 U.S.C. 3507(d)). Comments on the
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND collection of information should be sent
HUMAN SERVICES to the Office of Management and
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Budget, Attn: Desk Officer for the
Food and Drug Administration
Internal Revenue Service Department of the Treasury, Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs,
21 CFR Part 73
26 CFR Parts 1, 301, and 602 Washington, DC 20503, with copies to
[Docket No. FDA–2015–C–1154] the Internal Revenue Service, Attn: IRS
[REG–103281–11] Reports Clearance Officer,
E. & J. Gallo Winery; Filing of Color RIN 1545–BK06 SE:W:CAR:MP:T:T:SP, Washington, DC
Additive Petition 20224. Comments on the collection of
AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, Tax on Certain Foreign Procurement information should be received by June
HHS. 22, 2015. Comments are specifically
AGENCY: Internal Revenue Service (IRS), requested concerning:
ACTION: Notice of petition. Treasury. Whether the proposed collection of
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking. information is necessary for the proper
SUMMARY: The Food and Drug
Administration (FDA or we) is performance of the functions of the IRS,
SUMMARY: This document contains including whether the information will
announcing that we have filed a proposed regulations under section
petition, submitted by E. & J. Gallo have practical utility;
5000C of the Internal Revenue Code The accuracy of the estimated burden
Winery, proposing that the color relating to the 2 percent tax on
additive regulations be amended to associated with the proposed collection
payments made by the U.S. government of information;
provide for the safe use of mica-based to foreign persons pursuant to certain
pearlescent pigments as color additives How the quality, utility, and clarity of
contracts. The proposed regulations the information to be collected may be
in certain distilled spirits. affect U.S. government acquiring enhanced;
DATES: The color additive petition was agencies and foreign persons providing How the burden of complying with
filed on March 19, 2015. certain goods or services to the U.S. the proposed collection of information
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: government pursuant to a contract. This may be minimized, including through
Salome Bhagan, Center for Food Safety document also contains proposed the application of automated collection
and Applied Nutrition (HFS–265), Food regulations under section 6114, with techniques or other forms of information
and Drug Administration, 5100 Paint respect to foreign persons claiming an technology; and
Branch Pkwy., College Park, MD 20740– exemption from the tax under an Estimates of capital or start-up costs
3835, 240–402–3041. income tax treaty. and costs of operation, maintenance,
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under DATES: Written or electronic comments and purchase of services to provide
section 721(d)(1) of the Federal Food, and requests for a public hearing must information.
Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. be received by July 21, 2015. The collection of information in the
379e(d)(1)), we are giving notice that we ADDRESSES: Send submissions to: proposed regulations is contained in a
have filed a color additive petition (CAP CC:PA:LPD:PR (REG–103281–11), number of provisions including
5C0302), submitted by E. & J. Gallo Internal Revenue Service, Room 5203, §§ 1.5000C–2, 1.5000C–3, and 1.5000C–
Winery, c/o Keller and Heckman LLP, P.O. Box 7604, Ben Franklin Station, 4. Responses to these collections of
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Three Embarcadero Center, Suite 1420, Washington, DC 20044. Submissions information are required to verify the
San Francisco, CA 94111. The petition may be hand-delivered Monday through status of foreign persons to whom
proposes to amend the color additive Friday between the hours of 8 a.m. and specified Federal procurement
regulations in § 73.350 Mica-based 4 p.m. to CC:PA:LPD:PR (REG–103281– payments subject to the section 5000C
pearlescent pigments (21 CFR 73.350) to 11), Courier’s Desk, Internal Revenue tax are made; to obtain a benefit (to
provide for the safe use of mica-based Service, 1111 Constitution Avenue NW., claim an exemption to, or a reduction
pearlescent pigments at a level of up to Washington, DC 20224; or sent in, withholding); and to facilitate tax
0.07 percent by weight in distilled electronically via the Federal compliance (to verify entitlement to an
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Document Created: 2015-12-16 08:27:36
Document Modified: 2015-12-16 08:27:36
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Proposed Rules | |
| Action | Notice of proposed rulemaking. | |
| Dates | Comments are due June 22, 2015. | |
| Contact | Tom Bradish (Technical Information), Office of Electric Reliability, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426, (301) 665-1391, [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 22444 |
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