81 FR 9179 - Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-725J); Comment Request; Extension

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 36 (February 24, 2016)

In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or FERC) is soliciting public comment on the currently approved information collection, FERC-725J (Definition of the Bulk Electric System).

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 36 (Wednesday, February 24, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9179-9180]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-03838]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC16-6-000]


Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-725J); Comment 
Request; Extension

AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of information collection and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A), the Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission (Commission or FERC) is soliciting public comment on the 
currently approved information collection, FERC-725J (Definition of the 
Bulk Electric System).

DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due April 25, 
2016.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments (identified by Docket No. IC16-6-
000) by either of the following methods:
     eFiling at Commission's Web site: http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling.asp
     Mail/Hand Delivery/Courier: Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, Secretary of the Commission, 888 First Street NE., 
Washington, DC 20426.
    Instructions: All submissions must be formatted and filed in 
accordance with submission guidelines at: http://www.ferc.gov/help/submission-guide.asp. For user assistance contact FERC Online Support 
by email at [email protected], or by phone at: (866) 208-3676 
(toll-free), or (202) 502-8659 for TTY.
    Docket: Users interested in receiving automatic notification of 
activity in this docket or in viewing/downloading comments and 
issuances in this docket may do so at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/docs-filing.asp.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen Brown may be reached by email at 
[email protected], telephone at (202) 502-8663, and fax at (202) 
273-0873.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: FERC-725J, Definition of the Bulk Electric System
    OMB Control No.: 1902-0259
    Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC-725J information 
collection requirements with no changes to the current reporting 
requirements.
    Abstract: On December 20, 2012, the Commission issued Order No. 
773, a Final Rule approving NERC's modifications to the definition of 
``bulk electric system'' and the Rules of Procedure exception process 
to be effective July 1, 2013. On April 18, 2013, in Order No. 773-A, 
the Commission largely affirmed its findings in Order No. 773. In Order 
Nos. 773 and 773-A, the Commission directed NERC to modify the 
definition of bulk electric system in two respects: (1) Modify the 
local network exclusion (exclusion E3) to remove the 100 kV minimum 
operating voltage to allow systems that include one or more looped 
configurations connected below 100 kV to be eligible for the local 
network exclusion; and (2) modify the exclusions to ensure that 
generator interconnection facilities at or above 100 kV connected to 
bulk electric system generators identified in inclusion I2 are not 
excluded from the bulk electric system.
    Type of Respondents: Generator owners, distribution providers, 
other NERC-registered entities.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: \1\ The Commission estimates the annual 
public reporting burden for the information collection as:
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    \1\ The Commission defines burden as the total time, effort, or 
financial resources expended by persons to generate, maintain, 
retain, or disclose or provide information to or for a Federal 
agency. For further explanation of what is included in the 
information collection burden, reference 5 Code of Federal 
Regulations 1320.3.
    \2\ The estimates for cost per response are derived using the 
following formula: Average Burden Hours per Response * $62.38/hour = 
Average Cost per Response. The hourly cost figure (wages plus 
benefits) comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics2_22.htm). The figure is for an 
electric engineer (Occupational Code: 17-2071).

                                                   FERC-725J (Definition of the Bulk Electric System)
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                                                                                                           Average
                                                          Number of    Annual  number   Total number     burden and       Total annual       Cost per
                                                         respondents    of responses    of responses      cost per      burden hours and  respondent ($)
                                                                       per respondent                   response \2\   total annual cost
                                                                  (1)             (2)     (1)*(2)=(3)             (4)        (3)*(4)=(5)         (5)/(1)
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Generator Owners and Distribution Providers                        20               1              20        94 hrs.;        1,880 hrs.;          $5,864
 (Exception Request).................................                                                          $5,864           $117,274
All Registered Entities (Implementation Plans and                 186               1             186       350 hrs.;       65,100 hrs.;         $21,833
 Compliance).........................................                                                         $21,833         $4,060,938
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    Total............................................  ..............  ..............             206  ..............       66,980 hrs.;         $27,697
                                                                                                                              $4,178,212
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    Comments: Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the Commission, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden and 
cost of the collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information collection;

[[Page 9180]]

and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology.

    Dated: February 18, 2016.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-03838 Filed 2-23-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P