80 FR 57549 - Relay Performance During Stable Power Swings Reliability Standard

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 185 (September 24, 2015)

Page Range		57549-57553
FR Document		2015-24279
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission proposes to approve Reliability Standard PRC-026-1 (Relay Performance During Stable Power Swings), submitted by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation. The proposed Reliability Standard is designed to ensure that applicable entities use protective relay systems that can differentiate between faults and stable power swings. In addition, the Commission requests comment regarding the potential burden of modifying the applicability of proposed Reliability Standard PRC-026-1 to include relays with a time delay of 15 cycles or greater in instances where either (1) an element has been identified by a Planning Coordinator as potentially susceptible to power swings or (2) an entity becomes aware of a bulk electric system element that tripped in response to a stable or unstable power swing due to the operation of its protective relay(s), even if the element was not previously identified by the planning coordinator.
Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 185 (Thursday, September 24, 2015)
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 185 (Thursday, September 24, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 57549-57553]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-24279]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

18 CFR Part 40

[Docket No. RM15-8-000]


Relay Performance During Stable Power Swings Reliability Standard

AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission proposes to approve 
Reliability Standard PRC-026-1 (Relay Performance During Stable Power 
Swings), submitted by the North American Electric Reliability 
Corporation. The proposed Reliability Standard is designed to ensure 
that applicable entities use protective relay systems that can 
differentiate between faults and stable power swings. In addition, the 
Commission requests comment regarding the potential burden of modifying 
the applicability of proposed Reliability Standard PRC-026-1 to include 
relays with a time delay of 15 cycles or greater in instances where 
either (1) an element has been identified by a Planning Coordinator as 
potentially susceptible to power swings or (2) an entity becomes aware 
of a bulk electric system element that tripped in response to a stable 
or unstable power swing due to the operation of its protective 
relay(s), even if the element was not previously identified by the 
planning coordinator.

DATES: Comments are due November 23, 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:

Kenneth Hubona (Technical Information), Office of Electric Reliability, 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Washington, 
DC 20426, (301) 665-1608, [email protected].
Kevin Ryan (Legal Information), Office of the General Counsel, Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 
20426, (202) 502-6840, [email protected].


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    1. Pursuant to section 215 of the Federal Power Act (FPA),\1\ the 
Commission proposes to approve Reliability Standard PRC-026-1 (Relay 
Performance During Stable Power Swings), submitted by the North 
American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), the Commission-
approved Electric Reliability Organization (ERO). The proposed 
Reliability Standard applies to planning coordinators, as well as 
generator owners and transmission owners that apply certain load-
responsive protective relays in specific, identified circumstances, and 
is designed to ensure the use of protective relay systems that can 
differentiate between faults and stable power swings. In addition, the 
Commission proposes to approve NERC's proposed implementation plan, and 
the assigned violation risk factors and violation severity levels.
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    \1\ 16 U.S.C. 824o (2012).
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    2. Consistent with directives issued in Order No. 733,\2\ the 
Commission proposes to find that the proposed Reliability Standard 
addresses undesirable relay operation due to power swings,\3\ and 
provides an equally effective and efficient alternative to the Order 
No. 733 directive requiring the use of protective relay systems that 
can differentiate between faults and stable power swings and, when 
necessary, retirement of protective relay systems that cannot meet this 
requirement.\4\ Further, as discussed below, the Commission seeks 
comment regarding the potential burden of modifying the applicability 
of proposed Reliability Standard PRC-026-1 to include relays with a 
time delay of 15 cycles or greater in instances where either (1) an 
element has been identified by a Planning Coordinator as potentially 
susceptible to power swings or (2) an entity becomes aware of a bulk 
electric system element that tripped in response to a stable or

[[Page 57550]]

unstable power swing due to the operation of its protective relay(s), 
even if the element was not previously identified by the planning 
coordinator. Depending on the response, the Commission may direct that 
NERC develop modifications to the proposed Reliability Standard.
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    \2\ Transmission Relay Loadability Reliability Standard, Order 
No. 733, 130 FERC ] 61,221 (2010), order on reh'g and clarification, 
Order No. 733-A, 134 FERC ] 61,127, order on reh'g and 
clarification, Order No. 733-B, 136 FERC ] 61,185 (2011).
    \3\ Order No. 733, 130 FERC ] 61,221 at P 153.
    \4\ Id. P 150.
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I. Background

A. Mandatory Reliability Standards and Order No. 733 Directives

    3. Section 215 of the FPA requires a Commission-certified ERO to 
develop mandatory and enforceable Reliability Standards, subject to 
Commission review and approval.\5\ Pursuant to section 215 of the FPA, 
the Commission established a process to select and certify an ERO,\6\ 
and subsequently certified NERC.\7\
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    \5\ 16 U.S.C. 824(d) and (e).
    \6\ 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).
    \7\ 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).
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    4. On March 18, 2010, in Order No. 733, the Commission approved 
Reliability Standard PRC-023-1 (Transmission Relay Loadability) and 
directed NERC to develop a new Reliability Standard that requires the 
use of protective relay systems that can differentiate between faults 
and stable power swings and, when necessary, retirement of protective 
relay systems that cannot meet this requirement.\8\ In Order No. 733, 
the Commission cited the findings of both NERC and the U.S.-Canada 
Power System Outage Task Force on the causes of the 2003 Northeast 
Blackout, explaining that the cascade during this event was accelerated 
by zone 2 and zone 3 relays that continued to operate because these 
devices could not distinguish between a dynamic, but stable, power 
swing and an actual fault.\9\ The Commission recognized that addressing 
stable power swings is a complex issue which impacted the 2003 
Blackout, and yet there was no Reliability Standard that addresses the 
issue; therefore, the Commission directed NERC to develop a Reliability 
Standard to address undesirable relay operation due to stable power 
swings.\10\
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    \8\ Order No. 733, 130 FERC ] 61,221 at P 150.
    \9\ Id. PP 3-4, 130 (citing U.S.-Canada Power System Outage Task 
Force, Final Report on the August 14, 2003 Blackout in the United 
States and Canada: Causes and Recommendations, at 80 (2004); and 
August 14, 2003 Blackout: NERC Actions to Prevent and Mitigate the 
Impacts of Future Cascading Blackouts, at 13 (2004)).
    \10\ Id. P 153.
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    5. On February 17, 2011, in Order No. 733-A, the Commission denied 
rehearing of Order No. 733 and clarified that ``[w]e continue to 
believe that not addressing stable power swings constitutes a gap in 
the current Reliability Standards and must be addressed.'' \11\ 
Therefore, the Commission affirmed the directive that NERC develop a 
Reliability Standard addressing stable power swings.\12\ The Commission 
also clarified that it did not require a Reliability Standard 
containing an absolute obligation to prevent protection relays from 
operating unnecessarily during stable power swings or an across-the-
board elimination of all zone 3 relays, but only the development of a 
standard that addresses protection systems that are vulnerable to 
stable power swings (resulting from Category B and Category C 
contingencies from the NERC Planning Standards in place at that time) 
that will result in inappropriate tripping.\13\ In Order No. 733-B, the 
Commission denied further clarification regarding the issue.
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    \11\ Order No. 733-A, 134 FERC ] 61,127 at P 104.
    \12\ Id.
    \13\ Id. P 107.
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B. NERC Petition and Proposed Standard PRC-026-1

    6. On December 31, 2014, NERC submitted a petition seeking approval 
of proposed Reliability Standard PRC-026-1, as well as the associated 
implementation plan, and violation risk factors and violation severity 
levels.\14\ NERC avers that proposed Reliability Standard PRC-026-1 
satisfies the Order No. 733 directive to develop a new standard that 
requires the use of protective relay systems that can differentiate 
between faults and stable power swings. According to NERC, the proposed 
Reliability Standard sets forth requirements that prevent the 
unnecessary tripping of bulk electric system elements in response to 
stable power swings.\15\ NERC further explains that the identification 
of bulk electric system elements with protection systems at-risk of 
operating as a result of a stable or unstable power swing and 
subsequent review by the applicable generator owner or transmission 
owner ``provides assurance that relays will continue to be secure for 
stable power swings if any changes in system impedance occur.'' \16\
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    \14\ Proposed Reliability Standard PRC-026-1 is available on the 
Commission's eLibrary document retrieval system in Docket No. RM15-
8-000 and on the NERC Web site, www.nerc.com.
    \15\ See NERC Petition at 4.
    \16\ Id.
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    7. According to NERC, the proposed Reliability Standard is 
``directly responsive'' to the Order No. 733 directive that NERC 
develop a standard addressing undesirable relay operation due to stable 
power swings.\17\ NERC explains, however, that the proposed Reliability 
Standard ``includes an alternative to the Commission's approach to 
require `the use of protective relay systems that can differentiate 
between faults and stable power swings and, when necessary, phases out 
protective relay systems that cannot meet this requirement.' '' \18\ 
NERC notes that in Order No. 733-A, the Commission clarified that it 
had not intended ``to prohibit NERC from exercising its technical 
expertise to develop a solution to an identified reliability concern 
that is equally effective and efficient as the one proposed in Order 
No. 733.'' \19\ In support of its alternative solution, NERC states 
that ``it is generally preferable to emphasize dependability over 
security when it is not possible to ensure both for all possible system 
conditions'' and avers that ``[p]rohibiting use of certain types of 
relays, such as those protective relay systems that cannot 
differentiate between faults and stable power swings, may have 
unintended negative outcomes for Bulk-Power System reliability.'' \20\
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    \17\ Id. at 23 (citing Order No. 733, 130 FERC ] 61,221 at P 
153).
    \18\ Id. (quoting Order No. 733, 130 FERC ] 61,221 at P 162).
    \19\ Id. at 11 (citing Order No. 733-A, 134 FERC ] 61,127 at P 
11).
    \20\ Id. at 24.
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    8. Proposed Reliability Standard PRC-026-1 has four requirements 
and two attachments. NERC explains that Attachment A ``provides clarity 
on which load-responsive protective relay functions are applicable'' 
under the standard.\21\ Specifically, Attachment A provides that 
proposed Reliability Standard PRC-026-1 applies to:
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    \21\ Id. at 31.

any protective functions which could trip instantaneously or with a 
time delay of less than 15 cycles on load current (i.e., ``load-
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responsive'') . . . .

    According to NERC, the 15 cycle time delay ``is representative of 
an expected power swing having a slow slip rate of 0.67 Hertz (Hz) and 
is the average time that a stable power swing with that slip rate would 
enter the relays' characteristic, reverse direction, and then exit the 
characteristic before the time delay expired.'' \22\ NERC states that

[[Page 57551]]

the proposed standard does not apply to ``functions that are either 
immune to power swings, block power swings, or prevent non-immune 
protection function operation due to supervision of the function.'' 
\23\ Attachment B contains the criteria for the evaluation of load-
responsive protective relays that are within the scope of proposed 
Reliability Standard PRC-026-1.\24\ According to NERC, Attachment B 
``will reduce the need for simulation by comparing the load-responsive 
protective relay to specific criteria'' set forth in Attachment B.\25\
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    \22\ Id. at 30.
    \23\ Id. at 31.
    \24\ See id. at 35-38.
    \25\ Proposed Reliability Standard PRC-026-1 (Application 
Guidelines) at 15.
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    9. According to NERC, Requirement R1 of the proposed Reliability 
Standard requires the planning coordinator to identify bulk electric 
system elements that meet one or more of four criteria and subsequently 
notify, at least once each calendar year, the respective generator 
owners and transmission owners of the identified at-risk elements.\26\
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    \26\ Id. at 32-33.
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    10. NERC states that, upon such notification, Requirement R2 
obligates the generator owners and transmission owners to determine 
whether the relays applied to the identified bulk electric system 
elements meet the two criteria outlined in Attachment B to proposed 
Reliability Standard PRC-026-1. NERC notes that Requirement R2 requires 
a generator owner or transmission owner to conduct the same analysis 
where the entity becomes aware of a bulk electric system element that 
tripped in response to a stable or unstable power swing due to the 
operations of its protective relay(s), even if the element was not 
previously identified by the planning coordinator.\27\ NERC concludes 
that, based on the ``expected infrequency of Elements tripping in 
response to a stable power swing,'' the evaluation of elements 
identified under Requirement R1 combined with the evaluation of 
elements identified following a known power swing trip ``meet[s] the 
reliability purpose of the proposed Reliability Standard and directive 
in an efficient manner without significant burden to applicable 
entities.'' \28\
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    \27\ NERC Petition at 38. NERC explains that the phrase 
``becoming aware'' is used in Requirement R2 to ``not overburden 
entities by requiring a determination of whether a power swing was 
present for every Element trip'' due to relay operation. Id.
    \28\ Id. at 38-39.
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    11. NERC explains that Requirement R3 requires an applicable 
generator owner or transmission owner to develop a corrective action 
plan for any protective system that does not meet the Attachment B 
criteria. Under the corrective action plan, a generator owner or 
transmission owner is required to modify the relevant protection system 
to meet the Attachment B criteria. Requirement R4 obligates a generator 
owner or transmission owner to implement a corrective action plan 
developed under Requirement R3 and to update the plan when either the 
content of the plan or associated timetables change until the plan has 
been fully executed.
    12. NERC proposes an implementation plan for PRC-026-1 under which 
Requirement R1 is to become effective 12 months after Commission 
approval, and Requirements R2, R3, and R4 become effective 36 months 
after Commission approval.

II. Discussion

    13. Pursuant to section 215(d)(2) of the FPA, we propose to approve 
Reliability Standard PRC-026-1 as just, reasonable, not unduly 
discriminatory or preferential, and in the public interest. We also 
propose to approve NERC's proposed implementation plan, and the 
proposed violation risk factors and violation severity levels. 
Generally, the proposed Reliability Standard appears to adequately 
address the Commission's directive from Order No. 733 by helping to 
prevent the unnecessary tripping of bulk electric system elements in 
response to stable power swings. We propose to accept NERC's approach 
as an equally effective and efficient method to achieve the reliability 
goal underlying the Commission's Order No. 733 directive.
    14. However, we are concerned that NERC's proposed exclusion of 
load responsive relays with a time delay of 15 cycles or greater as 
proposed in Attachment A could result in a gap in reliability. As 
mentioned above, pursuant to Attachment A, the Reliability Standard 
applies to ``any protective functions which could trip instantaneously 
or with a time delay of less than 15 cycles on load current (i.e., 
``load-responsive''). . . .'' NERC provides technical rationale for the 
less than 15 cycle threshold, explaining that load-responsive relays 
set to trip instantaneously or with a ``slight time delay'' are most 
susceptible to power swings.\29\ Nevertheless, while NERC states that 
its proposal meets the Commission's directive in an efficient manner 
without significant burden to applicable entities, NERC has not 
provided any information on the burden of including relays with a time 
delay of 15 cycles or greater under proposed Reliability Standard PRC-
026-1. We believe that the lack of this information is significant in 
light of the fact that an entity would not be required under the 
proposed Reliability Standard to investigate an element identified by a 
Planning Coordinator as potentially susceptible to power swings or 
investigate an element following a known power swing trip if the 
relay(s) involved have a time delay of 15 cycles or greater.
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    \29\ See NERC Petition at 29-30.
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    15. Therefore, we seek comment on the potential burden of modifying 
the applicability of proposed Reliability Standard PRC-026-1 to include 
relays with a time delay of 15 cycles or greater in instances where 
either (1) an element has been identified by a Planning Coordinator as 
potentially susceptible to power swings or (2) an entity becomes aware 
of a bulk electric system element that tripped in response to a stable 
or unstable power swing due to the operation of its protective 
relay(s), even if the element was not previously identified by the 
planning coordinator. Depending on the response, the Commission may 
direct that NERC develop modifications to the proposed Reliability 
Standard.

III. Information Collection Statement

    16. The collection of information contained in this Notice of 
Proposed Rulemaking is subject to review by the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) regulations under section 3507(d) of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA).\30\ OMB's regulations require approval of 
certain informational collection requirements imposed by agency 
rules.\31\
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    \30\ 44 U.S.C. 3507(d) (2012).
    \31\ 5 CFR 1320.11.
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    17. 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.
    18. We solicit comments on the 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

[[Page 57552]]

burden or cost estimates submitted by commenters be supported by 
sufficient detail to understand how the estimates are generated.
    Public Reporting Burden: The Commission proposes to approve 
Reliability Standard PRC-026-1. Proposed Reliability Standard PRC-026-1 
will impose new requirements for the notification of particular bulk 
electric system elements from planning coordinator to generator owners 
and transmissions owners based on given criteria. Generator owners and 
transmissions owner will evaluate those bulk electric system elements 
and load-responsive protective relay(s) according to Attachment B 
criteria and, if a load-responsive protective relay does not meet the 
Attachment B criteria, the generator owner/transmission owner must 
develop a corrective action plan. Our estimate below regarding the 
number of respondents is based on the NERC Compliance Registry as of 
June 26, 2015. According to the NERC Compliance Registry, NERC has 
registered 318 transmission owners, 884 generator owners, and 68 
planning coordinators. However, under NERC's compliance registration 
program, entities may be registered for multiple functions, so these 
numbers incorporate some double counting. The total number of unique 
entities that may be identified as a notification provider (e.g. 
applicable entity) in accordance with proposed Reliability Standard 
PRC-026-1 will be approximately 1,074 entities registered in the United 
States as a transmission owner and/or generator owner. The total number 
of unique entities that may be identified as evidence retention 
entities (e.g. applicable entity) in accordance with proposed 
Reliability Standard PRC-026-1 will be approximately 1,092 entities 
registered in the United States as a transmission owner, generator 
owner and/or planning coordinator. The Commission estimates the annual 
reporting burden and cost as follows:
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    \32\ The estimates for cost per response are derived using the 
following formula:
    Average Burden Hours per Response * $60.66 per Hour = Average 
Cost per Response. The hourly average of $60.66 assumes equal time 
is spent by the manager, electrical engineer, and information and 
record clerk. The average hourly cost (salary plus benefits) is: 
$37.50 for information and record clerks (occupation code 43-4199), 
$78.04 for a manager (occupation code 11-0000), and $66.45 for an 
electrical engineer (occupation code 17-2071). (The figures are 
taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2014 figures at 
http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics2_22.htm).
    \33\ The average hourly cost (salary plus benefits) is $37.50. 
The BLS wage category code is 34-4199. This figure is also taken 
from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2014 figures at http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics2_22.htm.

                                                                       RM15-8-000
                                            [Mandatory reliability standards: reliability standard PRC-026-1]
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                                                                                                                           Total annual
                                                             Number of     Annual number   Total number   Average burden  burden hours &     Cost per
                                                            respondents    of responses    of responses     & cost per     total annual   respondent ($)
                                                                          per respondent                     response          cost
                                                                     (1)             (2)     (1)*(2)=(3)             (4)     (3)*(4)=(5)         (5)/(1)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notifications to GO/TO per Requirement R1...............           1,074               1           1,074               8           8,592         $845.28
                                                                                                            \32\ $485.28        $521,191
Evidence Retention GO/TO/PC.............................           1,092               1           1,092              12          13,104         $450.00
                                                                                                            \33\ $450.00        $491,400
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total...............................................  ..............  ..............           2,166  ..............          21,696  ..............
                                                                                                                              $1,012,591
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    Title: FERC-725G3, Mandatory Reliability Standards: Reliability 
Standard PRC-026-1.
    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 and on-going.
    Necessity of the Information: The proposed Reliability Standard 
PRC-026-1, 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 address undesirable 
relay operation due to power swings.
    19. Internal review: The Commission has reviewed the requirements 
pertaining to the proposed Reliability Standard PRC-026-1 and made a 
determination that the proposed requirements of this standard are 
necessary to implement section 215 of the FPA. These requirements 
conform to the Commission's plan for efficient information collection, 
communication and management within the energy industry. 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.
    20. 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 protected], phone: 
(202) 502-8663, fax: (202) 273-0873].
    21. 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: [email protected]. Please reference 
the docket number of this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Docket No. 
RM15-8-000) in your submission.

IV. Regulatory Flexibility Act Analysis

    22. The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (RFA) \34\ generally 
requires a description and analysis of this NOPR that will have 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. 
Proposed Reliability Standard PRC-026-1 sets forth requirements that 
prevent the unnecessary tripping of bulk

[[Page 57553]]

electric system elements in response to stable power swings. As shown 
in the information collection section, an estimated 1,092 entities are 
expected to evaluate bulk electric system elements and load-responsive 
protective relay(s) according to Attachment B criteria of proposed PRC-
026-1. Comparison of the applicable entities with the Commission's 
small business data indicates that approximately 661 are small entities 
\35\ or 60.53 percent of the respondents affected by proposed 
Reliability Standard PRC-026-1.
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    \34\ 5 U.S.C. 601-12.
    \35\ 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 apply a 500 employee threshold for each affected entity. Each 
entity is classified as Electric Bulk Power Transmission and Control 
(NAICS code 221121).
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    23. As discussed above, proposed Reliability Standard PRC-026-1 
will serve to enhance reliability by imposing mandatory requirements 
governing generator relay loadability, thereby reducing the likelihood 
of premature or unnecessary tripping of generators during system 
disturbances. The Commission estimates that each of the small entities 
to whom the proposed Reliability Standard PRC-026-1 applies will incur 
paperwork and record retention costs of $935.28 per entity (annual 
ongoing).
    24. The Commission does not consider the estimated costs per small 
entity to have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of 
small entities. Accordingly, the Commission certifies that proposed 
Reliability Standard PRC-026-1 will not have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities. The Commission seeks 
comment on this certification.

V. Environmental Analysis

    25. 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.\36\ 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.\37\ The actions proposed 
herein fall within this categorical exclusion in the Commission's 
regulations.
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    \36\ Regulations Implementing the National Environmental Policy 
Act of 1969, Order No. 486, FERC Stats. & Regs., Regulations 
Preambles 1986-1990 ] 30,783 (1987).
    \37\ 18 CFR 380.4(a)(2)(ii) (2015).
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VI. Comment Procedures

    26. 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 November 23, 2015. Comments must refer to 
Docket No. RM15-8-000, and must include the commenter's name, the 
organization they represent, if applicable, and address.
    27. 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.
    28. 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.
    29. 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

    30. 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 p.m. Eastern time) at 888 First Street NE., Room 2A, 
Washington, DC 20426.
    31. 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 document, excluding the last three digits, in 
the docket number field.
    32. 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 
[email protected], or the Public Reference Room at (202) 502-
8371, TTY (202) 502-8659. Email the Public Reference Room at 
[email protected].

    By direction of the Commission.

    Issued: September 17, 2015.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-24279 Filed 9-23-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 185 / Thursday, September 24, 2015 / Proposed Rules 57549

a signatory of the Common Rule NPR. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Commission, 888 First Street NE.,
However, through this proposed rule, Washington, DC 20426, (301) 665–
the Commission proposes to adopt the Federal Energy Regulatory 1608, kenneth.hubona@ferc.gov.
Common Rule NPR and solicits Commission Kevin Ryan (Legal Information), Office
comment on the proposal. of the General Counsel, Federal
18 CFR Part 40 Energy Regulatory Commission, 888
II. CPSC’s Proposed Regulatory Text First Street NE., Washington, DC
[Docket No. RM15–8–000]
20426, (202) 502–6840, kevin.ryan@
CPSC’s current regulations on the
Relay Performance During Stable ferc.gov.
protection of human subjects are the
regulations promulgated by all of the Power Swings Reliability Standard
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
departments and agencies subject to the AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory 1. Pursuant to section 215 of the
Common Rule, as codified under the Commission. Federal Power Act (FPA),1 the
CPSC’s regulations at 16 CFR part 1028. ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking. Commission proposes to approve
For the reasons provided in the Reliability Standard PRC–026–1 (Relay
Common Rule NPR (80 FR 53933), the SUMMARY: The Federal Energy Performance During Stable Power
CPSC would adopt the amended Regulatory Commission proposes to Swings), submitted by the North
regulatory text provided in the Common approve Reliability Standard PRC–026– American Electric Reliability
Rule NPR. Because the CPSC follows the 1 (Relay Performance During Stable Corporation (NERC), the Commission-
HHS regulations in 45 CFR part 46, Power Swings), submitted by the North approved Electric Reliability
subpart A, the CPSC proposes to amend American Electric Reliability Organization (ERO). The proposed
the Commission regulations at 16 CFR Corporation. The proposed Reliability Reliability Standard applies to planning
part 1028 to cross-reference the HHS Standard is designed to ensure that coordinators, as well as generator
applicable entities use protective relay owners and transmission owners that
regulations in 45 CFR part 46, subpart
systems that can differentiate between apply certain load-responsive protective
A.
faults and stable power swings. In relays in specific, identified
List of Subjects in 16 CFR Part 1028 addition, the Commission requests circumstances, and is designed to
comment regarding the potential burden ensure the use of protective relay
Human research subjects, Reporting of modifying the applicability of systems that can differentiate between
and recordkeeping requirements, proposed Reliability Standard PRC– faults and stable power swings. In
Research. 026–1 to include relays with a time addition, the Commission proposes to
For the reasons stated in the delay of 15 cycles or greater in instances approve NERC’s proposed
where either (1) an element has been implementation plan, and the assigned
preamble, the Consumer Product Safety
identified by a Planning Coordinator as violation risk factors and violation
Commission proposes to revise 16 CFR
potentially susceptible to power swings severity levels.
part 1028 to read as follows:
or (2) an entity becomes aware of a bulk 2. Consistent with directives issued in
PART 1028—PROTECTION OF HUMAN electric system element that tripped in Order No. 733,2 the Commission
response to a stable or unstable power proposes to find that the proposed
SUBJECTS
swing due to the operation of its Reliability Standard addresses
Sec. protective relay(s), even if the element undesirable relay operation due to
1028.101 Cross-Reference. was not previously identified by the power swings,3 and provides an equally
planning coordinator. effective and efficient alternative to the
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 42 U.S.C. 300v–
DATES: Comments are due November 23, Order No. 733 directive requiring the
1(b).
2015. use of protective relay systems that can
PART 1028—PROTECTION OF HUMAN ADDRESSES: Comments, identified by differentiate between faults and stable
SUBJECTS docket number, may be filed in the power swings and, when necessary,
following ways: retirement of protective relay systems
§ 1028.101 Cross-Reference. • Electronic Filing through http:// that cannot meet this requirement.4
www.ferc.gov. Documents created Further, as discussed below, the
The provisions set forth at 45 CFR Commission seeks comment regarding
part 46, subpart A, concerning the electronically using word processing
software should be filed in native the potential burden of modifying the
protection of human research subjects, applicability of proposed Reliability
apply to all research conducted, applications or print-to-PDF format and
not in a scanned format. Standard PRC–026–1 to include relays
supported, or otherwise subject to with a time delay of 15 cycles or greater
• Mail/Hand Delivery: Those unable
regulation by the CPSC. in instances where either (1) an element
to file electronically may mail or hand-
Dated: September 21, 2015. deliver comments to: Federal Energy has been identified by a Planning
Todd A. Stevenson, Regulatory Commission, Secretary of the Coordinator as potentially susceptible to
Commission, 888 First Street NE., power swings or (2) an entity becomes
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety
Washington, DC 20426. aware of a bulk electric system element
Commission.
Instructions: For detailed instructions that tripped in response to a stable or
[FR Doc. 2015–24247 Filed 9–23–15; 8:45 am]
on submitting comments and additional
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BILLING CODE 6355–01–P 1 16 U.S.C. 824o (2012).
information on the rulemaking process, 2 Transmission Relay Loadability Reliability
see the Comment Procedures Section of Standard, Order No. 733, 130 FERC ¶ 61,221
this document. (2010), order on reh’g and clarification, Order No.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 733–A, 134 FERC ¶ 61,127, order on reh’g and
clarification, Order No. 733–B, 136 FERC ¶ 61,185
Kenneth Hubona (Technical (2011).
Information), Office of Electric 3 Order No. 733, 130 FERC ¶ 61,221 at P 153.

Reliability, Federal Energy Regulatory 4 Id. P 150.

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57550 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 185 / Thursday, September 24, 2015 / Proposed Rules

unstable power swing due to the undesirable relay operation due to swings if any changes in system
operation of its protective relay(s), even stable power swings.10 impedance occur.’’ 16
if the element was not previously 5. On February 17, 2011, in Order No. 7. According to NERC, the proposed
identified by the planning coordinator. 733–A, the Commission denied Reliability Standard is ‘‘directly
Depending on the response, the rehearing of Order No. 733 and clarified responsive’’ to the Order No. 733
Commission may direct that NERC that ‘‘[w]e continue to believe that not directive that NERC develop a standard
develop modifications to the proposed addressing stable power swings addressing undesirable relay operation
Reliability Standard. constitutes a gap in the current due to stable power swings.17 NERC
Reliability Standards and must be explains, however, that the proposed
I. Background Reliability Standard ‘‘includes an
addressed.’’ 11 Therefore, the
A. Mandatory Reliability Standards and Commission affirmed the directive that alternative to the Commission’s
Order No. 733 Directives NERC develop a Reliability Standard approach to require ‘the use of
addressing stable power swings.12 The protective relay systems that can
3. Section 215 of the FPA requires a Commission also clarified that it did not differentiate between faults and stable
Commission-certified ERO to develop require a Reliability Standard power swings and, when necessary,
mandatory and enforceable Reliability containing an absolute obligation to phases out protective relay systems that
Standards, subject to Commission prevent protection relays from operating cannot meet this requirement.’ ’’ 18
review and approval.5 Pursuant to unnecessarily during stable power NERC notes that in Order No. 733–A,
section 215 of the FPA, the Commission swings or an across-the-board the Commission clarified that it had not
established a process to select and elimination of all zone 3 relays, but only intended ‘‘to prohibit NERC from
certify an ERO,6 and subsequently the development of a standard that exercising its technical expertise to
certified NERC.7 addresses protection systems that are develop a solution to an identified
vulnerable to stable power swings reliability concern that is equally
4. On March 18, 2010, in Order No. effective and efficient as the one
733, the Commission approved (resulting from Category B and Category
proposed in Order No. 733.’’ 19 In
Reliability Standard PRC–023–1 C contingencies from the NERC
support of its alternative solution, NERC
(Transmission Relay Loadability) and Planning Standards in place at that
states that ‘‘it is generally preferable to
directed NERC to develop a new time) that will result in inappropriate
emphasize dependability over security
Reliability Standard that requires the tripping.13 In Order No. 733–B, the
when it is not possible to ensure both
use of protective relay systems that can Commission denied further clarification
for all possible system conditions’’ and
differentiate between faults and stable regarding the issue.
avers that ‘‘[p]rohibiting use of certain
power swings and, when necessary, B. NERC Petition and Proposed types of relays, such as those protective
retirement of protective relay systems Standard PRC–026–1 relay systems that cannot differentiate
that cannot meet this requirement.8 In between faults and stable power swings,
Order No. 733, the Commission cited 6. On December 31, 2014, NERC may have unintended negative
the findings of both NERC and the U.S.- submitted a petition seeking approval of outcomes for Bulk-Power System
Canada Power System Outage Task proposed Reliability Standard PRC– reliability.’’ 20
Force on the causes of the 2003 026–1, as well as the associated 8. Proposed Reliability Standard PRC–
Northeast Blackout, explaining that the implementation plan, and violation risk 026–1 has four requirements and two
cascade during this event was factors and violation severity levels.14 attachments. NERC explains that
accelerated by zone 2 and zone 3 relays NERC avers that proposed Reliability Attachment A ‘‘provides clarity on
that continued to operate because these Standard PRC–026–1 satisfies the Order which load-responsive protective relay
devices could not distinguish between a No. 733 directive to develop a new functions are applicable’’ under the
dynamic, but stable, power swing and standard that requires the use of standard.21 Specifically, Attachment A
an actual fault.9 The Commission protective relay systems that can provides that proposed Reliability
recognized that addressing stable power differentiate between faults and stable Standard PRC–026–1 applies to:
swings is a complex issue which power swings. According to NERC, the
any protective functions which could trip
impacted the 2003 Blackout, and yet proposed Reliability Standard sets forth instantaneously or with a time delay of less
there was no Reliability Standard that requirements that prevent the than 15 cycles on load current (i.e., ‘‘load-
addresses the issue; therefore, the unnecessary tripping of bulk electric responsive’’) . . . .
Commission directed NERC to develop system elements in response to stable
According to NERC, the 15 cycle time
a Reliability Standard to address power swings.15 NERC further explains delay ‘‘is representative of an expected
that the identification of bulk electric power swing having a slow slip rate of
5 16 U.S.C. 824(d) and (e). system elements with protection 0.67 Hertz (Hz) and is the average time
6 Rules Concerning Certification of the Electric systems at-risk of operating as a result that a stable power swing with that slip
Reliability Organization; and Procedures for the of a stable or unstable power swing and rate would enter the relays’
Establishment, Approval, and Enforcement of subsequent review by the applicable
Electric Reliability Standards, Order No. 672, FERC characteristic, reverse direction, and
Stats. & Regs. ¶ 31,204, order on reh’g, Order No. generator owner or transmission owner then exit the characteristic before the
672–A, FERC Stats. & Regs. ¶ 31,212 (2006). ‘‘provides assurance that relays will time delay expired.’’ 22 NERC states that
7 North American Electric Reliability Corp., 116 continue to be secure for stable power
FERC ¶ 61,062, order on reh’g and compliance, 117 16 Id.
FERC ¶ 61,126 (2006), aff’d sub nom. Alcoa, Inc.
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10 Id. P 153. 17 Id. at 23 (citing Order No. 733, 130 FERC ¶
v. FERC, 564 F.3d 1342 (D.C. Cir. 2009).
8 Order No. 733, 130 FERC ¶ 61,221 at P 150.
11 Order No. 733–A, 134 FERC ¶ 61,127 at P 104. 61,221 at P 153).
12 Id. 18 Id. (quoting Order No. 733, 130 FERC ¶ 61,221
9 Id. PP 3–4, 130 (citing U.S.-Canada Power

System Outage Task Force, Final Report on the
13 Id. P 107. at P 162).
14 Proposed Reliability Standard PRC–026–1 is 19 Id. at 11 (citing Order No. 733–A, 134 FERC ¶
August 14, 2003 Blackout in the United States and
Canada: Causes and Recommendations, at 80 available on the Commission’s eLibrary document 61,127 at P 11).
20 Id. at 24.
(2004); and August 14, 2003 Blackout: NERC retrieval system in Docket No. RM15–8–000 and on
Actions to Prevent and Mitigate the Impacts of the NERC Web site, www.nerc.com. 21 Id. at 31.

Future Cascading Blackouts, at 13 (2004)). 15 See NERC Petition at 4. 22 Id. at 30.

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57552 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 185 / Thursday, September 24, 2015 / Proposed Rules

burden or cost estimates submitted by responsive protective relay does not as a notification provider (e.g.
commenters be supported by sufficient meet the Attachment B criteria, the applicable entity) in accordance with
detail to understand how the estimates generator owner/transmission owner proposed Reliability Standard PRC–
are generated. must develop a corrective action plan. 026–1 will be approximately 1,074
Public Reporting Burden: The Our estimate below regarding the entities registered in the United States
Commission proposes to approve number of respondents is based on the as a transmission owner and/or
Reliability Standard PRC–026–1. NERC Compliance Registry as of June generator owner. The total number of
Proposed Reliability Standard PRC– 26, 2015. According to the NERC unique entities that may be identified as
026–1 will impose new requirements for
Compliance Registry, NERC has evidence retention entities (e.g.
the notification of particular bulk
registered 318 transmission owners, 884 applicable entity) in accordance with
electric system elements from planning
coordinator to generator owners and generator owners, and 68 planning proposed Reliability Standard PRC–
transmissions owners based on given coordinators. However, under NERC’s 026–1 will be approximately 1,092
criteria. Generator owners and compliance registration program, entities registered in the United States
transmissions owner will evaluate those entities may be registered for multiple as a transmission owner, generator
bulk electric system elements and load- functions, so these numbers incorporate owner and/or planning coordinator. The
responsive protective relay(s) according some double counting. The total number Commission estimates the annual
to Attachment B criteria and, if a load- of unique entities that may be identified reporting burden and cost as follows:

RM15–8–000
[Mandatory reliability standards: reliability standard PRC–026–1]

Annual Total annual
Average Cost per
Number of number of Total number burden hours
burden & cost respondent
respondents responses per of responses & total annual
per response ($)
respondent cost

(1) (2) (1)*(2)=(3) (4) (3)*(4)=(5) (5)÷(1)

Notifications to GO/TO per Requirement
R1 ......................................................... 1,074 1 1,074 8 8,592 $845.28
32 $485.28 $521,191
Evidence Retention GO/TO/PC ............... 1,092 1 1,092 12 13,104 $450.00
33 $450.00 $491,400

Total .................................................. ........................ ........................ 2,166 ........................ 21,696 ........................
$1,012,591

Title: FERC–725G3, Mandatory determination that the proposed estimates, should be sent to the
Reliability Standards: Reliability requirements of this standard are Commission in this docket and may also
Standard PRC–026–1. necessary to implement section 215 of be sent to the Office of Management and
Action: Proposed Collection of the FPA. These requirements conform to Budget, Office of Information and
Information. the Commission’s plan for efficient Regulatory Affairs [Attention: Desk
OMB Control No: To Be Determined. information collection, communication Officer for the Federal Energy
Respondents: Business or other for- and management within the energy Regulatory Commission]. For security
profit and not-for-profit institutions. industry. The Commission has assured reasons, comments should be sent by
Frequency of Responses: One time itself, by means of its internal review, email to OMB at the following email
and on-going. that there is specific, objective support address: oira_submission@omb.eop.gov.
Necessity of the Information: The for the burden estimates associated with Please reference the docket number of
proposed Reliability Standard PRC– the information requirements. this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
026–1, if adopted, would implement the
20. Interested persons may obtain (Docket No. RM15–8–000) in your
Congressional mandate of the Energy
Policy Act of 2005 to develop information on the reporting submission.
mandatory and enforceable Reliability requirements by contacting the Federal
IV. Regulatory Flexibility Act Analysis
Standards to better ensure the reliability Energy Regulatory Commission, Office
of the nation’s Bulk-Power System. of the Executive Director, 888 First 22. The Regulatory Flexibility Act of
Specifically, the proposal would Street NE., Washington, DC 20426 1980 (RFA) 34 generally requires a
address undesirable relay operation due [Attention: Ellen Brown, email: description and analysis of this NOPR
to power swings. DataClearance@ferc.gov, phone: (202) that will have significant economic
19. Internal review: The Commission 502–8663, fax: (202) 273–0873]. impact on a substantial number of small
has reviewed the requirements 21. Comments concerning the entities. Proposed Reliability Standard
pertaining to the proposed Reliability information collections proposed in this PRC–026–1 sets forth requirements that
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS

Standard PRC–026–1 and made a NOPR and the associated burden prevent the unnecessary tripping of bulk
32 The estimates for cost per response are derived plus benefits) is: $37.50 for information and record 33 The average hourly cost (salary plus benefits)

using the following formula: clerks (occupation code 43–4199), $78.04 for a is $37.50. The BLS wage category code is 34–4199.
Average Burden Hours per Response * $60.66 per manager (occupation code 11–0000), and $66.45 for This figure is also taken from the Bureau of Labor
Hour = Average Cost per Response. The hourly an electrical engineer (occupation code 17–2071). Statistics, May 2014 figures at http://www.bls.gov/
average of $60.66 assumes equal time is spent by (The figures are taken from the Bureau of Labor oes/current/naics2_22.htm.
the manager, electrical engineer, and information Statistics, May 2014 figures at http://www.bls.gov/ 34 5 U.S.C. 601–12.
and record clerk. The average hourly cost (salary oes/current/naics2_22.htm).

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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 185 / Thursday, September 24, 2015 / Proposed Rules 57553

electric system elements in response to actions proposed herein fall within this during normal business hours from the
stable power swings. As shown in the categorical exclusion in the Commission’s Online Support at 202–
information collection section, an Commission’s regulations. 502–6652 (toll free at 1–866–208–3676)
estimated 1,092 entities are expected to or email at ferconlinesupport@ferc.gov,
VI. Comment Procedures
evaluate bulk electric system elements or the Public Reference Room at (202)
and load-responsive protective relay(s) 26. The Commission invites interested 502–8371, TTY (202) 502–8659. Email
according to Attachment B criteria of persons to submit comments on the the Public Reference Room at
proposed PRC–026–1. Comparison of matters and issues proposed in this public.referenceroom@ferc.gov.
the applicable entities with the notice to be adopted, including any
By direction of the Commission.
Commission’s small business data related matters or alternative proposals
that commenters may wish to discuss. Issued: September 17, 2015.
indicates that approximately 661 are
small entities 35 or 60.53 percent of the Comments are due November 23, 2015. Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
respondents affected by proposed Comments must refer to Docket No. Deputy Secretary.
Reliability Standard PRC–026–1. RM15–8–000, and must include the [FR Doc. 2015–24279 Filed 9–23–15; 8:45 am]
23. As discussed above, proposed commenter’s name, the organization BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
Reliability Standard PRC–026–1 will they represent, if applicable, and
serve to enhance reliability by imposing address.
mandatory requirements governing 27. The Commission encourages INTERNATIONAL TRADE
generator relay loadability, thereby comments to be filed electronically via COMMISSION
reducing the likelihood of premature or the eFiling link on the Commission’s
unnecessary tripping of generators Web site at http://www.ferc.gov. The 19 CFR Parts 201 and 210
during system disturbances. The Commission accepts most standard
Commission estimates that each of the word processing formats. Documents Rules of General Application,
small entities to whom the proposed created electronically using word Adjudication and Enforcement
Reliability Standard PRC–026–1 applies processing software should be filed in AGENCY: International Trade
will incur paperwork and record native applications or print-to-PDF Commission.
retention costs of $935.28 per entity format and not in a scanned format.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
(annual ongoing). Commenters filing electronically do not
24. The Commission does not need to make a paper filing. SUMMARY: The United States
consider the estimated costs per small 28. Commenters that are not able to International Trade Commission
entity to have a significant economic file comments electronically must send (‘‘Commission’’) proposes to amend its
impact on a substantial number of small an original of their comments to: Rules of Practice and Procedure
entities. Accordingly, the Commission Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, concerning rules of general application,
certifies that proposed Reliability Secretary of the Commission, 888 First adjudication, and enforcement. The
Standard PRC–026–1 will not have a Street NE., Washington, DC 20426. amendments are necessary to make
significant economic impact on a 29. All comments will be placed in certain technical corrections, to clarify
substantial number of small entities. the Commission’s public files and may certain provisions, to harmonize
The Commission seeks comment on this be viewed, printed, or downloaded different parts of the Commission’s
certification. remotely as described in the Document rules, and to address concerns that have
V. Environmental Analysis Availability section below. Commenters arisen in Commission practice. The
on this proposal are not required to intended effect of the proposed
25. The Commission is required to serve copies of their comments on other
prepare an Environmental Assessment amendments is to facilitate compliance
commenters. with the Commission’s Rules and
or an Environmental Impact Statement
for any action that may have a VII. Document Availability improve the administration of agency
significant adverse effect on the human proceedings.
30. In addition to publishing the full
environment.36 The Commission has text of this document in the Federal DATES: To be assured of consideration,
categorically excluded certain actions Register, the Commission provides all written comments must be received by
from this requirement as not having a interested persons an opportunity to 5:15 p.m. November 23, 2015.
significant effect on the human view and/or print the contents of this ADDRESSES: You may submit comments,
environment. Included in the exclusion document via the Internet through the identified by docket number MISC–045,
are rules that are clarifying, corrective, Commission’s Home Page (http:// by any of the following methods:
or procedural or that do not www.ferc.gov) and in the Commission’s —Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://
substantially change the effect of the Public Reference Room during normal www.regulations.gov. Follow the
regulations being amended.37 The business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. instructions for submitting comments.
Eastern time) at 888 First Street NE., —Agency Web site: http://
35 The Small Business Administration sets the
Room 2A, Washington, DC 20426. www.usitc.gov. Follow the
threshold for what constitutes a small business.
Public utilities may fall under one of several
31. From the Commission’s Home instructions for submitting comments
different categories, each with a size threshold Page on the Internet, this information is on the Web site at http://
based on the company’s number of employees, available on eLibrary. The full text of www.usitc.gov/secretary/edis.htm.
including affiliates, the parent company, and this document is available on eLibrary —Email: megan.valentine@usitc.gov.
subsidiaries. For the analysis in this NOPR, we
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apply a 500 employee threshold for each affected in PDF and Microsoft Word format for Include docket number MISC–045 in
entity. Each entity is classified as Electric Bulk viewing, printing, and/or downloading. the subject line of the message.
Power Transmission and Control (NAICS code To access this document in eLibrary, —Mail: For paper submission. U.S.
221121). type the docket number of this International Trade Commission, 500
36 Regulations Implementing the National
document, excluding the last three E Street SW., Room 112, Washington,
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, Order No. 486,
FERC Stats. & Regs., Regulations Preambles 1986– digits, in the docket number field. DC 20436.
1990 ¶ 30,783 (1987). 32. User assistance is available for —Hand Delivery/Courier: U.S.
37 18 CFR 380.4(a)(2)(ii) (2015). eLibrary and the Commission’s Web site International Trade Commission, 500

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Document Created: 2018-02-26 10:17:48
Document Modified: 2018-02-26 10:17:48
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 November 23, 2015.
Contact		Kenneth Hubona (Technical Information), Office of Electric Reliability, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426, (301) 665-1608, [email protected] Kevin Ryan (Legal Information), Office of the General Counsel, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426, (202) 502-6840, [email protected]
FR Citation		80 FR 57549
80 FR 57549 - Relay Performance During Stable Power Swings Reliability Standard

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGYFederal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 185 (September 24, 2015)

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
