82 FR 56186 - Coordination of Protection Systems for Performance During Faults and Specific Training for Personnel Reliability Standards
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 227 (November 28, 2017)
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 227 (November 28, 2017)
| Page Range | 56186-56192 | |
| FR Document | 2017-25586 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 227 (Tuesday, November 28, 2017)] [Proposed Rules] [Pages 56186-56192] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-25586] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 18 CFR Part 40 [Docket No. RM16-22-000] Coordination of Protection Systems for Performance During Faults and Specific Training for Personnel Reliability Standards AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Department of Energy. ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) proposes to approve Reliability Standards PRC-027-1 (Coordination of Protection Systems for Performance During Faults) and PER-006-1 (Specific Training for Personnel) submitted by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC). The purpose of proposed Reliability Standard PRC- 027-1 is to maintain the coordination of protection systems installed to detect and isolate faults on bulk electric system elements, such that those protection systems operate in the intended sequence during faults. The purpose of proposed Reliability Standard PER-006-1 is to ensure that personnel are trained on specific topics essential to reliability to perform or support real-time operations of the bulk electric system. In addition, the Commission proposes to direct NERC to develop certain modifications to proposed Reliability Standard PRC-027- 1. DATES: Comments are due January 29, 2018. 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: Juan Villar (Technical Information), Office of Electric Reliability, Division of Reliability Standards and Security, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426, Telephone: (772) 678-6496, [email protected]. Alan Rukin (Legal Information), Office of the General Counsel, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426, Telephone: (202) 502-8502, [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 1. Pursuant to section 215 of the Federal Power Act (FPA), the Commission proposes to approve proposed Reliability Standards PRC-027-1 (Coordination of Protection Systems for Performance During Faults) and PER-006-1 (Specific Training for Personnel), which were submitted for approval by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), the Commission-certified Electric Reliability Organization (ERO).\1\ As discussed below, however, the Commission also proposes to direct NERC to modify proposed Reliability Standard PRC-027-1 to require an initial protection system coordination study to ensure that applicable entities will perform (or have performed), as a baseline, a study demonstrating proper coordination of its protection systems. We propose to direct NERC to submit the modified Reliability Standard for Commission approval within 12 months following the effective date of a final rule in this proceeding. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ 16 U.S.C. 824o. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. The Commission also proposes to approve the associated violation risk factors, violation severity levels, implementation plans, and effective dates proposed by NERC for Reliability Standards PRC-027-1 and PER-006-1. The Commission further proposes to approve the retirement of currently-effective Reliability Standard PRC-001-1.1(ii) (System Protection Coordination).\2\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \2\ The Commission approved Reliability Standard PRC-001-1.1(ii) on May 29, 2015. North American Electric Reliability Corporation, 151 FERC ] 61,186 (2015). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. In addition, the Commission proposes to approve new and revised definitions submitted by NERC for incorporation in the NERC Glossary of Terms Used in NERC Reliability Standards (``NERC Glossary'') for the following terms: (1) ``protection system coordination study;'' (2) ``operational planning analysis;'' and (3) ``real-time assessment.'' [[Page 56187]] I. Background A. Section 215 and Mandatory Reliability Standards 4. 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 section 215 of the FPA.\5\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \3\ Id. 824o(c), (d). \4\ Id. 824o(e). \5\ North American Electric Reliability Corp., 116 FERC ] 61,062, order on reh'g and compliance, 117 FERC ] 61,126 (2006), order on compliance, 118 FERC ] 61,190, order on reh'g, 119 FERC ] 61,046 (2007), aff'd sub nom. Alcoa Inc. v. FERC, 564 F.3d 1342 (D.C. Cir. 2009). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- B. Order No. 693 5. On March 16, 2007, the Commission issued Order No. 693, approving 83 of the 107 Reliability Standards filed by NERC, including Reliability Standard PRC-001-1.\6\ In addition, the Commission directed NERC to develop modifications to Reliability Standard PRC-001-1 that: --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \6\ Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Bulk-Power System, Order No. 693, FERC Stats. & Regs. ] 31,242, at PP 1433-1449, order on reh'g, Order No. 693-A, 120 FERC ] 61,053 (2007). (1) Correct the references for Requirements, and [sic] (2) include a requirement that upon the detection of failures in relays or protection system elements on the Bulk-Power System that threaten reliable operation, relevant transmission operators must be informed promptly, but within a specified period of time that is developed in the Reliability Standards development process, whereas generator operators must also promptly inform their transmission operators; and (3) clarifies that, after being informed of failures in relays or protection system elements that threaten reliability of the Bulk- Power System, transmission operators must carry out corrective control actions, i.e., return a system to a stable state that respects system requirements as soon as possible and no longer than 30 minutes after they receive notice of the failure.\7\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \7\ Order No. 693, FERC Stats. & Regs. ] 31,242 at P 1449. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- C. NERC Petition and Proposed Reliability Standards PRC-027-1 and PER- 006-1 6. On September 2, 2016, NERC submitted a petition seeking Commission approval of proposed Reliability Standards PRC-027-1 and PER-006-1.\8\ NERC states that the proposed Reliability Standards, new and revised NERC Glossary terms, and the retirement of Reliability Standard PRC-001-1.1(ii) satisfy the Commission's criteria in Order No. 672 and are just, reasonable, not unduly discriminatory or preferential, and in the public interest.\9\ NERC explains that the intent of the proposed Reliability Standards and changes to the NERC Glossary are to maintain the coordination of protection systems installed to detect and isolate faults on bulk electric system elements and require registered entities to provide training to their relevant personnel on protection systems and remedial action schemes. NERC asserts that the proposed Reliability Standards are an improvement over currently-effective Reliability Standard PRC-001-1.1(ii) and will ensure that appropriate personnel are trained on protection systems and that protection systems are appropriately studied, coordinated, and monitored. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \8\ Proposed Reliability Standards PRC-027-1 and PER-006-1 are not attached to this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. The proposed Reliability Standards are available on the Commission's eLibrary document retrieval system in Docket No. RM16-22-000 and are posted on the NERC Web site, http://www.nerc.com. \9\ NERC Petition at 10. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Proposed Reliability Standard PER-006-1 7. NERC states that proposed Reliability Standard PER-006-1 requires generator operators to use a systematic approach to develop and implement training for dispatch personnel at centrally-located dispatch centers.\10\ NERC explains that proposed Reliability Standard PER-006-1 will also cover plant personnel who are responsible for real- time control of a generator. NERC maintains that it is appropriate to train plant personnel [in] the functionality of protection systems and remedial action schemes. NERC observes that proposed Reliability Standard PER-006-1 replaces the phrase ``purpose and limitations'' used in currently-effective Reliability Standard PRC-001-1(ii) with the phrase ``operational functionality'' to clearly identify the objective of the training.\11\ NERC also observes that proposed Reliability Standard PER-006-1 replaces the phrase ``applied in its area'' in Reliability Standard PRC-001-1.1(ii) with the phrase ``that affect the output of the generating facility(ies) it operates'' to properly tailor the scope of the required training. NERC notes that proposed Reliability Standard PER-006-1 does not specify a periodicity for the required training. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \10\ Id. at 13. \11\ Id. at 15. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Proposed Reliability Standard PRC-027-1 8. NERC asserts that proposed Reliability Standard PRC-027-1: provides a clear set of Requirements that obligate entities to (1) implement a process for establishing and coordinating new or revised Protection System settings, and (2) periodically study Protection System settings that could be affected by incremental changes in Fault current to ensure the Protection Systems continue to operate in their intended sequence.\12\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \12\ Id. at 26. According to NERC, proposed Reliability Standard PRC-027-1, Requirement R1 mandates that each transmission owner, generator owner, and distribution provider establish a process for developing new and revised protection system settings for bulk electric system elements.\13\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \13\ Id. at 27. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9. NERC states that proposed Reliability Standard PRC-027-1, Requirement R2 mandates that every six years, applicable entities must either: (1) Perform a protection system coordination study to determine whether the protection systems continue to operate in the intended sequence during faults; (2) compare present fault current values to an established fault current baseline and, only if the comparison identifies a 15 percent or greater deviation in fault current values (either three phase or phase to ground) at a bus to which the bulk electric system is connected, perform a protection system coordination study; or (3) use a combination of options 1 and 2.\14\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \14\ Id. at 26. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10. NERC explains that proposed Reliability Standard PRC-027-1, Requirement R3 will require applicable entities to use the process established under proposed Reliability Standard PRC-027-1, Requirement R1 for the development of any new or revised protection system settings. 3. Proposed Retirement of Reliability Standard PRC-001-1.1(ii) 11. NERC states that Reliability Standard PRC-001-1.1(ii) includes six requirements that are either addressed by Reliability Standards approved by the Commission or by the proposed Reliability Standards. Specifically, NERC explains that Reliability Standard PRC-001-1.1(ii), Requirement R1 has been partially replaced by currently-effective Reliability Standards PER-003-1 and PER-005-2. NERC continues that proposed Reliability Standard PER-006-1 and the proposed revised definitions of operational planning [[Page 56188]] analysis and real-time assessment will replace the remaining portions of Reliability Standard PRC-001-1.1(ii), Requirement R1. NERC asserts that Reliability Standard PRC-001-1.1(ii), Requirement R2 has been addressed by Reliability Standards IRO-001-4, IRO-008-2, IRO-010-2, TOP-001-3, and TOP-003-3, which the Commission approved in Order No. 817.\15\ NERC states that Reliability Standard PRC-001-1.1(ii), Requirements R3 and R4 will be replaced with proposed Reliability Standard PRC-027-1. NERC also explains that Reliability Standard PRC- 001-1.1(ii), Requirement R5 has been replaced with several Reliability Standards developed after Reliability Standard PRC-001-1(ii) became effective.\16\ NERC further states that Reliability Standard PRC-001- 1.1(ii), Requirement R6 has been replaced with Reliability Standards TOP-001-3 and TOP-003-3. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \15\ Id. at 5 (citing Transmission Operations Reliability Standards and Interconnection Reliability Operations and Coordination Reliability Standards, Order No. 817, 153 FERC ] 61,178 (2015)). \16\ Id. at 6. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- II. Discussion 12. Pursuant to section 215(d)(2) of the FPA, we propose to approve proposed Reliability Standards PER-006-1 and PRC-027-1 as just, reasonable, not unduly discriminatory or preferential, and in the public interest, as both proposed Reliability Standards improve upon currently-effective Reliability Standard PRC-001-1.1(ii) in important ways.\17\ Specifically, proposed Reliability Standard PRC-027-1 does so by (1) modifying the applicability section to include the appropriate functional entity types with the responsibilities, resources, and skill sets to conduct the studies required to coordinate protection systems, and (2) listing the protection system functions on all bulk electric system elements that require coordination. Proposed Reliability Standard PER-006-1, along with existing formal training requirements in the PER group of Reliability Standards, also improves upon Reliability Standard PRC-001-1.1(ii), Requirement R1 by ensuring that the necessary personnel are familiar with and understand the purpose and limitations of protection systems schemes while providing more precise and auditable requirements. However, proposed Reliability Standard PRC-027- 1, Requirement R2, Option 2 does not appear to ensure coordination of all bulk electric system elements with protection system functions. Accordingly, pursuant to section 215(d)(5) of the FPA, we propose to direct that NERC develop modifications to proposed Reliability Standard PRC-027-1 that address our concern regarding this gap, as discussed below. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \17\ 16 U.S.C. 824o(d)(2). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13. In addition, we propose to approve NERC's associated violation risk factors, violation severity levels, implementation plans, and effective dates. We also propose to approve the revised definitions for inclusion in the NERC Glossary. Further, we propose to approve the retirement of Reliability Standard PRC-001-1.1(ii), as requested by NERC. 14. Pursuant to 215(d)(5) of the FPA, we propose to direct that NERC develop modifications to proposed Reliability Standard PRC-027-1 addressing our concern that applicable entities that choose Requirement R2, Option 2 perform (or have already performed) an initial baseline study demonstrating proper coordination of their protection systems. Any additional protection system coordination studies would be necessary only if an applicable entity is confronted with 15 percent or greater fault current deviations from the prior baseline study amounts, as currently proposed in Reliability Standard PRC-027-1, Requirement R2, Option 2. We propose to direct NERC to submit the modified Reliability Standard within 12 months following the effective date of a final rule in this proceeding. 15. Proposed Reliability Standard PRC-027-1, Requirement R2 does not require an initial protection system coordination study if an applicable entity elects Option 2. Unlike Option 1, which requires performance of protection system coordination studies every six years, Option 2 requires applicable entities to ``[c]ompare present Fault current values to an established Fault current baseline and perform a Protection System Coordination Study when the comparison identifies a 15 percent or greater deviation.'' The proposed Reliability Standard and NERC's petition do not indicate that the ``Fault current baseline'' must be established through an initial protection system coordination study. Instead, NERC's petition states that the baseline must be established ``by the effective date of the standard based on short- circuit studies.'' \18\ The proposed Reliability Standard provides that ``the initial Fault current baseline(s) shall be established by the effective date of this Reliability Standard and updated each time a Protection System Coordination Study is performed,'' but this language does not require establishing the ``initial Fault current baseline'' through an initial protection system coordination study.\19\ NERC's petition reinforces this understanding, as noted above, by explicitly allowing the use of short-circuit studies to establish the initial Fault current baseline. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \18\ NERC Petition at 36 n.35. \19\ Proposed Reliability Standard PRC-027-1, Requirement R2, Option 2 n.1. Footnote 1 further states that if an ``initial baseline was not established by the effective date of this Reliability Standard because of the previous use of an alternate option or the installation of a new BES Element, the entity may establish the baseline by performing a Protection System Coordination Study'' (emphasis added). Id. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16. While they are related terms, we understand there to be a difference between short-circuit studies and protection system coordination studies. NERC defines protection system coordination study as an ``analysis to determine whether Protection Systems operate in the intended sequence during Faults.'' \20\ By comparison, proposed Reliability Standard PRC-027-1 explains that a short-circuit study is ``an analysis of an electrical network that determines the magnitude of the currents flowing in the network during an electrical fault . . . [and] are used as the basis for protection device coordination studies.'' \21\ Therefore, while short-circuit studies are inputs to protection system coordination studies, it appears that a short-circuit study differs in scope from a protection system coordination study. Based on this record, it would be incorrect to conclude that proposed Reliability Standard PRC-027-1, Requirement R2, Options 1 and 2 afford the same level of protection system coordination because the former requires a protection system coordination study while the latter does not. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \20\ NERC Petition, Exhibit A-3, Proposed Definitions. This definition is consistent with the definition of coordination of protection in IEEE Std. C37.113-1999 (stating that the ``process of choosing settings or time delay characteristics of protective devices, such that operation of the devices will occur in a specified order to minimize customer service interruption and power system isolation due to a power system disturbance''). \21\ Proposed Reliability Standard PRC-027-1, Supplemental Material at 8. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17. While we generally support permitting flexibility in the Reliability Standards to achieve required performance goals, the possibility that some bulk electric system elements may never undergo a protection system coordination study raises reliability concerns. In past serious Bulk-Power System events, mis-coordination was a contributing factor to misoperations and outages. For example, the Arizona Southern California September 8, 2011 Outage Report identified an instance [[Page 56189]] where a transmission owner did not perform a protection system coordination study prior to the implementation of a protection system.\22\ The 2011 Outage Report stated that this omission negatively affected the reliable operation of the Bulk-Power System during the 2011 event.\23\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \22\ Arizona Southern California September 8, 2011 Outage Report at 101-103, https://www.ferc.gov/legal/staff-reports/04-27-2012-ferc-nerc-report.pdf. \23\ Id. at 100-102. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18. Over the past eleven years, several NERC reports have addressed the importance of protection system coordination to Bulk-Power System reliability. Proposed Reliability Standard PRC-027-1 addresses some of the issues raised in these reports; but without requiring an initial protection system coordination study, the proposed Reliability Standard does not address all of them. In 2006, for example, the NERC System Protection Control Task Force assessed Reliability Standard PRC- 001.\24\ The report recommended requiring the coordination of all existing protection systems.\25\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \24\ NERC SPCTF Assessment of Standard PRC-001-0--System Protection Coordination (2006), http://www.nerc.com/pa/Stand/Project200706SystemProtectionCoordinationDL/NERC_SPCTF_Assessment_of_Standard_PRC.pdf. \25\ Id. at 3-4. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19. In 2009, in a letter from the NERC President to the NERC Board of Trustees and stakeholders, NERC identified generation and transmission mis-coordination as responsible for 30 percent of the misoperations that occurred between 2005 and 2008.\26\ The 2009 letter stated that mis-coordination between generation and transmission protection systems ``has caused two significant system disturbances in the past two years, and resulted in the unnecessary loss of generation during seven additional disturbances in that timeframe.'' \27\ The letter explained that the 2009 NERC System Protection Initiative would initially focus on the area of protection system coordination.\28\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \26\ NERC Letter from Rick Sergel, NERC President, Regarding System Protection Initiative at Figure 2 (April 24, 2009). \27\ Id. at 1. \28\ Id. at 1-2. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 20. In 2013, NERC issued a Misoperations Report prepared by the Protection System Misoperations Task Force.\29\ The Misoperations Report identified ``ways to potentially reduce the amount of future misoperations'' and concluded that ``[m]isoperations due to setting errors can potentially be reduced.'' \30\ The identified techniques to reduce incorrect settings, included: Peer reviews, increased training, more extensive fault studies, standard templates for setting standard schemes using complex relays, and periodic review of existing settings when there is a change in system topography.\31\ In the ReliabilityFirst region, NERC identified a category of misoperations caused by ``Engineering/Design Issues,'' which specifically included setting mis-coordination.\32\ This category of misoperations was one of the three most common causes of misoperations for above 200 kV facilities within the ReliabilityFirst region.\33\ The positive impact on Bulk-Power System reliability of reducing misoperations because of ``Incorrect setting/logic/design errors'' is found in NERC's 2015 Analysis of System Protection Misoperations: --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \29\ NERC Misoperations Report (2013), http://www.nerc.com/comm/PC/Protection%20System%20Misoperations%20Task%20Force%20PSMTF%202/PSMTF_Report.pdf. \30\ Id. at 3. \31\ Id. \32\ Id. at 14-15. The 2013 Misoperations Report elaborated that the ``Engineering/Design Issues'' category included: Incorrect short circuit values and coordination errors. The incorrect short circuit values included outdated or incorrect data used to calculate relay settings. The coordination errors in these cases all involved pilot protection either of insufficient carrier blocking trip delays or of improper choice of ground pickup values used in a blocking scheme. Id. at 15. \33\ Id. at 14. The State of Reliability 2015 report found that protection system misoperations continued to be a significant contributor to automatic transmission outage severity. In general, transmission system events with protection system misoperations were more impactful than other transmission events. They were also a significant contributor to transmission outage severity, indicating that a reduction in protection system misoperations would lead to an improvement in system reliability.\34\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \34\ NERC, Analysis of System Protection Misoperations at 1 (Dec. 2015) (citations omitted), http://www.nerc.com/pa/RAPA/PA/Performance%20Analysis%20DL/2015_Analysis_of_System_Protection_Misoperations_Final.pdf (finding that 31 percent of all misoperations were due to ``Incorrect setting/logic/design errors''). 21. In 2014, a NERC ``lessons learned'' document on ``Generation Relaying--Underfrequency Protection Coordination'' identified a 2014 incident where underfrequency relay trip settings were installed on the system unnecessarily and were not coordinated with a generator's relay trip setting.\35\ The document explained that ``[u]nintended generator tripping during an underfrequency event can exacerbate the condition.'' \36\ The document also stated that ``generator relay protection should be coordinated with all auxiliary power system relaying with specific regard to time-delay settings'' in order to ensure reliable generator operation.\37\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \35\ NERC, Lesson Learned, Generation Relaying--Underfrequency Protection Coordination (2014), http://www.nerc.com/pa/rrm/ea/Lessons%20Learned%20Document%20Library/LL20140601_Generation_Relaying_Underfrequency_Protection_Coordination_final.pdf. \36\ Id. \37\ Id. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 22. The 2016 State of Reliability Report noted that while protection system misoperations declined in 2015, misoperations showed a ``statistically significant positive correlation with transmission outage severity and show[ed] a higher relative transmission risk.'' \38\ Misoperations showed the strongest correlation of the factors considered. In addition, the 2016 State of Reliability Report identified that ``over 40 percent of the incorrect setting/logic/design misoperations were due to the miss coordination [sic] of ground overcurrent settings'' found by ERCOT.\39\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \38\ 2016 State of Reliability Report at 17, http://www.nerc.com/pa/RAPA/Pages/default.aspx. \39\ Id. at 166. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 23. The 2017 State of Reliability Report recognized the significance of protection system misoperations to Bulk-Power System reliability by observing that ``[p]rotection system misoperations should remain an area of focus as it continues to be one of the largest contributors to the severity of transmission outages.'' \40\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \40\ 2017 State of Reliability Report at 2. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 24. For the reasons discussed above, we propose to direct that NERC develop modifications to proposed Reliability Standard PRC-027-1 to address our concern by requiring that applicable entities perform an initial protection coordination study under Requirement R2, Option 2. We propose that applicable entities would have six years from the effective date of a modified Reliability Standard to complete the analysis. An applicable entity could use pre-existing protection system coordination studies to satisfy the proposed requirement provided it was reasonable (i.e., no intervening system changes that would render the earlier work obsolete). After conducting the initial protection system coordination study, subsequent protection system coordination studies would only be required when an applicable entity is confronted with 15 percent or greater fault current deviations from the prior baseline study amounts, as currently proposed in Reliability Standard PRC-027-1, Requirement R2, Option 2. We seek comments on this proposal. 25. Separately, we seek comment from NERC and other interested entities explaining the technical basis for [[Page 56190]] employing a 15 percent deviation threshold in proposed Reliability Standard PRC-027-1, Requirement R2, Option 2. We seek to better understand the basis for this threshold to ensure an adequate record in the proceeding on this matter. III. Information Collection Statement 26. The collection of information addressed 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.\41\ OMB's regulations require approval of certain information collection requirements imposed by agency rules.\42\ 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. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \41\ 44 U.S.C. 3507(d). \42\ 5 CFR 1320.11. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 27. The Commission will submit the information collection requirement to OMB for its final review and approval. We solicit public 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. 28. The information collection requirements in this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in Docket No. RM16-22-000 are associated with FERC- 725A,\43\ FERC-725G6,\44\ and FERC-725Y, as discussed below. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \43\ FERC-725A (OMB Control No. 1902-0244) currently includes the information collection requirements associated with Reliability Standard PRC-001-1.1(ii), which is proposed for retirement. Only one item per OMB Control No. may be pending OMB review at a time, and an unrelated item affecting FERC-725A is pending OMB review. We are providing estimates of the burden reduction related to FERC-725A for review and comment. However, to submit this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking timely to OMB, the Commission is being conservative and not reducing the burden estimates associated with FERC-725A at this time. \44\ The information collection requirements related to proposed Reliability Standard PRC-027-1 would normally be included in FERC- 725G (OMB Control No. 1902-0252). However, only one item per OMB Control No. may be pending OMB review at a time, and an unrelated item affecting FERC-725G is pending OMB review. For this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and the related submittal to OMB, we use a placeholder information collection no. of FERC-725G6. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 29. Public Reporting Burden: The number of respondents below is based on an examination of the NERC compliance registry on April 7, 2017, for transmission owners, generator owners, generator operators, and distribution providers within the United States and an estimate of how many entities from that registry will be affected by the Reliability Standards proposed for adoption and implementation. At the time of Commission review of proposed Reliability Standards PRC-027-1 and PER-006-1, 334 transmission owners, 913 generator owners, 875 generator operators, and 365 distribution providers in the United States were registered in the NERC compliance registry. However, under NERC's compliance registration program, entities may be registered for multiple functions, so these numbers incorporate some double counting. We note that many generation sites share a common generator owner or generator operator. The following table provides the estimated proposed annual burden and cost related to information collection requirements in this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.\45\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \45\ TO = transmission owner; TOP = transmission operator; GO = generator owner; GOP = generator operator; DP = distribution provider; and BA = balancing authority. Proposed Changes in the NOPR in Docket No. RM16-22-000 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Annual number of Total number Average burden Annual burden Respondent category and Number of responses of annual hours and cost hours and total requirement \46\ respondents per responses per response \47\ annual cost respondent (rounded) \48\ (1) (2) (1) * (2) = (4)............... (3) * (4) = (5) (3) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FERC-725G6 (Covering Proposed Reliability Standard PRC-027-1) \49\ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TO; Reporting Reqs. R1, R2, & 334 1 334 60 hrs.; $3,941.40 20,040 hrs.; R3. $1,316,428. TO; Recordkeeping Reqs......... 334 1 334 40 hrs.; $1,565.60 13,360 hrs.; $522,910. GO; Reporting Reqs. R1, R2, & 913 1 913 10 hrs.; $656.90.. 9,130 hrs.; R3. $599,750. GO; Recordkeeping Reqs......... 913 1 913 10 hrs.; $391.40.. 9,130 hrs.; $357,348. DP; Reporting Reqs R1, R2, & R3 365 1 365 10 hrs.; $656.90.. 3,650 hrs.; $239,769. DP; Recordkeeping Reqs......... 365 1 365 10 hrs.; $391.40.. 3,650 hrs.; $142,861. ------------------ Sub-Total for Reporting ............ ............ ............ .................. 32,820 hrs.; Reqs. for FERC-725G6. $2,155,947. Sub-Total for Recordkeeping ............ ............ ............ .................. 26,140 hrs.; Reqs. for FERC-725G6. $1,023,119. ------------------ Total Proposed Increase ............ ............ ............ .................. 58,960 hrs.; for FERC-725G6. $3,179,066. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FERC-725Y (Covering Proposed Reliability Standard PER-006-1) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GOP; Reporting Req. R1......... 875 1 875 5 hrs.; $328.45... 4,375 hrs.; $287,394. GOP; Recordkeeping Req......... 875 1 875 10 hrs.; $391.40.. 8,750 hrs.; $342,475. Total Proposed Increase for ............ ............ ............ .................. 13,125 hrs.; FERC-725Y. $629,869. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reductions to FERC-725A (Covering Proposed Retirement of Reliability Standard PRC-001-1.1) \50\ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GOP; Reporting Req............. 875 1 875 40 hrs.; $2,627.60 35,000 hrs.; $2,299,150. GOP; Recordkeeping Req......... 875 1 875 50 hrs.; $1,957.00 43,750 hrs.; $1,712,375. [[Page 56191]] TOP; Reporting Req............. 177 1 177 60 hrs.; $3,941.40 10,620 hrs.; $697,628. TOP; Recordkeeping Req......... 177 1 177 70 hrs.; $2,739.80 12,390 hrs.; $484,945. BA; Reporting Req.............. 99 1 99 32 hrs.; $2,102.08 3,168 hrs.; $208,106. BA; Recordkeeping Req.......... 99 1 99 20 hrs.; $782.80.. 1,980 hrs.; $77,497. Reduction Sub-Total ............ ............ ............ .................. 48,788 hrs.; Reporting Reqs. for FERC- $3,204,884. 725A. ------------------ Reduction Sub-Total ............ ............ ............ .................. 58,120 hrs.; Recordkeeping Reqs. for $2,274,817. FERC-725A. ------------------ Reduction, Sub-Total for ............ ............ ............ .................. 106,908 hrs.; FERC-725A. $5,479,701 (reduction). ------------------ NET TOTAL REDUCTION FOR ............ ............ ............ .................. 34,823 hrs.; PROPOSED CHANGES IN $1,670,766 NOPR IN RM16-22-000. (reduction). ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Titles: FERC-725G6 (Mandatory Reliability Standard PRC-027-1) and FERC-725Y (Mandatory Reliability Standards: Operations Personnel Training (PER-005-2 and PER-006-1). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \46\ For each Reliability Standard, the Measure shows the acceptable evidence for the associated Reporting Requirement, and the Compliance section details the related Recordkeeping Requirement. \47\ Based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average hourly cost (wages plus benefits) is $65.69/hour for an engineer, and $39.14/hour for a record clerk. The hourly cost for an engineer is used for reporting requirements; the hourly cost for a record clerk is used for recordkeeping requirements. \48\ For display purposes, the cost figures in column 5 have been rounded. \49\ Some of the reporting requirements are required at least every six calendar years. In this table, the Commission assumes that respondents might work on some of their elements each year; the annual burden estimate shown is one sixth of the burden associated with one complete six-year cycle. For example, for each transmission owner: (a) the annual reporting burden associated with Requirements R1, R2, and R3 is shown as 60 hours per year, and (b) the burden for the six-year cycle would be six times that, or a total of 360 hours. \50\ The estimates for average annual burden hours per response are based on Order No. 693, FERC Stats. & Regs. ] 31,242 at PP 1906, 1907. The numbers of respondents and estimated hourly costs are based on current figures. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Action: Revision to existing collections and proposed new information collection. OMB Control Nos.: To be determined (FERC-725G6) \51\ and 1902-0279 (FERC-725Y). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \51\ OMB will assign a Control No. when it issues a decision. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Respondents: Business or other for profit, and not for profit institutions. Frequency of Responses: Annual recordkeeping and reporting requirements, with some reporting requirements being at least once every six years. Necessity of the Information: Proposed Reliability Standards PRC- 027-1 and PER-006-1 set forth requirements for coordination of protection systems and personnel training on specific topics essential to reliability. The Commission proposes to approve proposed Reliability Standards PRC-027-1 and PER-006-1, which will replace Commission- approved Reliability Standard PRC-001-1.1(ii). The proposed Reliability Standards PRC-027-1 and PER-006-1 improve upon the existing Reliability Standard PRC-001-1.1(ii) because the proposed Reliability Standards assign responsibilities to entities with more appropriate resources and skill sets to conduct studies required to coordinate protection systems. The proposed Reliability Standards also provide additional clarity to the applicable entities. Internal review: 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. 30. 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]. 31. Comments concerning the information collection proposed in this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 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 refer to OMB Control Nos. to be determined (FERC-725G6) and 1902-0279 (FERC-725Y) in your submittal. IV. Environmental Analysis 32. 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.\52\ The action proposed here falls within the categorical exclusion in the Commission's regulations for rules that are clarifying, corrective or procedural, for information gathering, analysis, and dissemination.\53\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \52\ Regulations Implementing the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, Order No. 486, FERC Stats. & Regs. ] 30,783 (1987) (cross-referenced at 41 FERC ] 61,284). \53\ 18 CFR 380.4(a)(2)(ii). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- V. Regulatory Flexibility Act 33. The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (RFA) generally requires a description and analysis of proposed rules that will have significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.\54\ The Small Business Administration (SBA) defines [[Page 56192]] which utilities are small businesses based on the number of employees that a utility and its affiliates employ.\55\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \54\ 5 U.S.C. 601-612. \55\ 13 CFR 121.201, Subsector 221. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 34. The proposed Reliability Standard PRC-027-1 (included in FERC- 725G6) will apply to approximately 1,612 entities (334 transmission owners, 913 generator owners, and 365 distribution providers) in the United States.\56\ Pursuant to SBA regulations, the employment threshold for transmission is 500 employees, for generator owners is between 250 and 750 employees (depending on the fuel source), and for distribution providers is 1,000 employees. We estimate that the annual cost for each entity will be $1,048 for each generator owner and distribution provider and $5,507 for each transmission owner. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \56\ Many respondents serve multiple roles in the NERC compliance registry, so there is likely double counting in the estimates. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 35. The proposed Reliability Standard PER-006-1 (included in FERC- 725Y) will apply to approximately 875 generator operators in the United States. Pursuant to SBA regulations the employment threshold for generator operators is between 250 and 750 employees (depending on the fuel source). We estimate that the annual cost for each generator operator will be $719. 36. In addition, this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposes the retirement of Reliability Standard PRC-001-1.1(ii) (included in FERC- 725A). That retirement would decrease the annual estimated cost for 875 generator operators by $4,585 each, for 177 transmission operators by $6,681 each, and for 99 balancing authorities by $2,885 each. For the generator operators affected by this retirement and the proposed Reliability Standard PER-006-1, the net annual effect would be a decrease of $3,866 each. We estimate the net annual cost of this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking would vary, by type of entity, from an annual decrease of $6,681 (for each transmission operator) to an annual increase of $5,507 (for each transmission owner). We view this as a minimal economic impact for each entity. Accordingly, we certify that the proposed Reliability Standards PRC-027-1 and PER-006-1 and retirement of Reliability Standard PRC-001-1.1 (ii) will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. VI. Comment Procedures 37. 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 January 29, 2018. Comments must refer to Docket No. RM16-22-000, and must include the commenter's name, the organization they represent, if applicable, and their address in their comments. 38. 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. 39. 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. 40. 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 41. 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. 42. 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. 43. 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 November 16, 2017. Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr., Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2017-25586 Filed 11-27-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
![56186 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 227 / Tuesday, November 28, 2017 / Proposed Rules
DOE also requests feedback on how to DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY of Reliability Standards and Security,
assess pilot program results. In 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC
particular, how could DOE identify the Federal Energy Regulatory 20426, Telephone: (772) 678–6496,
counterfactual or control group for Commission Juan.Villar@ferc.gov.
comparison with the existing mandatory Alan Rukin (Legal Information), Office
ECS program? How could DOE best 18 CFR Part 40
of the General Counsel, Federal
conduct a retroactive assessment of [Docket No. RM16–22–000] Energy Regulatory Commission, 888
costs and benefits to manufacturers First Street NE., Washington, DC
under the existing ECS program and the Coordination of Protection Systems for
20426, Telephone: (202) 502–8502,
market-based pilot? How could DOE Performance During Faults and
Alan.Rukin@ferc.gov.
identify distributional impacts across Specific Training for Personnel
manufacturers? How could DOE Reliability Standards SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
determine if a broader or narrower AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory 1. Pursuant to section 215 of the
scope of trading, if allowed, would have Commission, Department of Energy. Federal Power Act (FPA), the
been more beneficial? DOE also requests ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking. Commission proposes to approve
input on what data it would need to proposed Reliability Standards PRC–
collect to properly assess pilot program SUMMARY: The Federal Energy 027–1 (Coordination of Protection
results. Regulatory Commission (Commission) Systems for Performance During Faults)
proposes to approve Reliability and PER–006–1 (Specific Training for
III. Public Participation Standards PRC–027–1 (Coordination of Personnel), which were submitted for
DOE invites all interested parties to Protection Systems for Performance approval by the North American Electric
submit in writing by February 26, 2018, During Faults) and PER–006–1 (Specific Reliability Corporation (NERC), the
Training for Personnel) submitted by the Commission-certified Electric
comments and information on matters
North American Electric Reliability Reliability Organization (ERO).1 As
addressed in this RFI and on other
Corporation (NERC). The purpose of discussed below, however, the
matters relevant to DOE’s evaluation of proposed Reliability Standard PRC–
the potential advantages and Commission also proposes to direct
027–1 is to maintain the coordination of
disadvantages of additional compliance NERC to modify proposed Reliability
protection systems installed to detect
flexibilities in energy conservation Standard PRC–027–1 to require an
and isolate faults on bulk electric
standards, such as tradable average initial protection system coordination
system elements, such that those
standards, feebates or other market- protection systems operate in the study to ensure that applicable entities
based approaches. DOE requests intended sequence during faults. The will perform (or have performed), as a
feedback on program design, possible purpose of proposed Reliability baseline, a study demonstrating proper
economic efficiency gains, impacts on Standard PER–006–1 is to ensure that coordination of its protection systems.
consumer and manufacturer costs and personnel are trained on specific topics We propose to direct NERC to submit
on energy savings, and potential essential to reliability to perform or the modified Reliability Standard for
challenges associated with designing support real-time operations of the bulk Commission approval within 12 months
and implementing such a program, electric system. In addition, the following the effective date of a final
including suggestions for a pilot and/or Commission proposes to direct NERC to rule in this proceeding.
phase-in of a revised ECS. develop certain modifications to 2. The Commission also proposes to
proposed Reliability Standard PRC– approve the associated violation risk
DOE considers public participation to
027–1. factors, violation severity levels,
be a very important part of the process
for developing new and/or amended DATES: Comments are due January 29, implementation plans, and effective
energy conservation standards. DOE 2018. dates proposed by NERC for Reliability
actively encourages the participation ADDRESSES: Comments, identified by Standards PRC–027–1 and PER–006–1.
and interaction of the public during the docket number, may be filed in the The Commission further proposes to
comment period. Interactions with and following ways: approve the retirement of currently-
between members of the public provide • Electronic Filing through http:// effective Reliability Standard PRC–001–
a balanced discussion of the issues and www.ferc.gov. Documents created 1.1(ii) (System Protection
assist DOE. Anyone who wishes to be electronically using word processing Coordination).2
added to the DOE mailing list to receive software should be filed in native 3. In addition, the Commission
future notices and information about applications or print-to-PDF format and
proposes to approve new and revised
this RFI should contact Appliance and not in a scanned format.
definitions submitted by NERC for
• Mail/Hand Delivery: Those unable
Equipment Standards Program staff at incorporation in the NERC Glossary of
to file electronically may mail or hand-
(202) 287–1445 or via email at Terms Used in NERC Reliability
deliver comments to: Federal Energy
ApplianceStandardsQuestions@ Regulatory Commission, Secretary of the Standards (‘‘NERC Glossary’’) for the
ee.doe.gov. Commission, 888 First Street NE., following terms: (1) ‘‘protection system
Issued in Washington, DC, on November Washington, DC 20426. coordination study;’’ (2) ‘‘operational
jstallworth on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with PROPOSALS
21, 2017. Instructions: For detailed instructions planning analysis;’’ and (3) ‘‘real-time
Daniel R Simmons, on submitting comments and additional assessment.’’
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Energy information on the rulemaking process,
Efficiency and Renewable Energy. see the Comment Procedures Section of 1 16 U.S.C. 824o.
[FR Doc. 2017–25663 Filed 11–27–17; 8:45 am]
this document. 2 The Commission approved Reliability Standard
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: PRC–001–1.1(ii) on May 29, 2015. North American
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
Juan Villar (Technical Information), Electric Reliability Corporation, 151 FERC ¶ 61,186
Office of Electric Reliability, Division (2015).
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I. Background proposed Reliability Standards, new 2. Proposed Reliability Standard PRC–
and revised NERC Glossary terms, and 027–1
A. Section 215 and Mandatory
the retirement of Reliability Standard 8. NERC asserts that proposed
Reliability Standards
PRC–001–1.1(ii) satisfy the Reliability Standard PRC–027–1:
4. Section 215 of the FPA requires a Commission’s criteria in Order No. 672
Commission-certified ERO to develop provides a clear set of Requirements that
and are just, reasonable, not unduly
mandatory and enforceable Reliability obligate entities to (1) implement a process
discriminatory or preferential, and in for establishing and coordinating new or
Standards, subject to Commission the public interest.9 NERC explains that revised Protection System settings, and (2)
review and approval.3 Once approved, the intent of the proposed Reliability periodically study Protection System settings
the Reliability Standards may be Standards and changes to the NERC that could be affected by incremental changes
enforced by the ERO subject to Glossary are to maintain the in Fault current to ensure the Protection
Commission oversight or by the coordination of protection systems Systems continue to operate in their intended
Commission independently.4 In 2006, installed to detect and isolate faults on sequence.12
the Commission certified NERC as the bulk electric system elements and According to NERC, proposed
ERO pursuant to section 215 of the require registered entities to provide Reliability Standard PRC–027–1,
FPA.5 training to their relevant personnel on Requirement R1 mandates that each
protection systems and remedial action transmission owner, generator owner,
B. Order No. 693
schemes. NERC asserts that the and distribution provider establish a
5. On March 16, 2007, the proposed Reliability Standards are an process for developing new and revised
Commission issued Order No. 693, improvement over currently-effective protection system settings for bulk
approving 83 of the 107 Reliability Reliability Standard PRC–001–1.1(ii) electric system elements.13
Standards filed by NERC, including and will ensure that appropriate 9. NERC states that proposed
Reliability Standard PRC–001–1.6 In personnel are trained on protection Reliability Standard PRC–027–1,
addition, the Commission directed systems and that protection systems are Requirement R2 mandates that every six
NERC to develop modifications to appropriately studied, coordinated, and years, applicable entities must either: (1)
Reliability Standard PRC–001–1 that: monitored. Perform a protection system
(1) Correct the references for Requirements, coordination study to determine
and [sic] (2) include a requirement that upon
1. Proposed Reliability Standard PER– whether the protection systems
the detection of failures in relays or 006–1 continue to operate in the intended
protection system elements on the Bulk- 7. NERC states that proposed sequence during faults; (2) compare
Power System that threaten reliable Reliability Standard PER–006–1 present fault current values to an
operation, relevant transmission operators established fault current baseline and,
must be informed promptly, but within a
requires generator operators to use a
systematic approach to develop and only if the comparison identifies a 15
specified period of time that is developed in percent or greater deviation in fault
the Reliability Standards development implement training for dispatch
process, whereas generator operators must personnel at centrally-located dispatch current values (either three phase or
also promptly inform their transmission centers.10 NERC explains that proposed phase to ground) at a bus to which the
operators; and (3) clarifies that, after being Reliability Standard PER–006–1 will bulk electric system is connected,
informed of failures in relays or protection also cover plant personnel who are perform a protection system
system elements that threaten reliability of responsible for real-time control of a coordination study; or (3) use a
the Bulk-Power System, transmission generator. NERC maintains that it is combination of options 1 and 2.14
operators must carry out corrective control 10. NERC explains that proposed
actions, i.e., return a system to a stable state
appropriate to train plant personnel [in]
the functionality of protection systems Reliability Standard PRC–027–1,
that respects system requirements as soon as Requirement R3 will require applicable
possible and no longer than 30 minutes after and remedial action schemes. NERC
observes that proposed Reliability entities to use the process established
they receive notice of the failure.7
Standard PER–006–1 replaces the under proposed Reliability Standard
C. NERC Petition and Proposed phrase ‘‘purpose and limitations’’ used PRC–027–1, Requirement R1 for the
Reliability Standards PRC–027–1 and in currently-effective Reliability development of any new or revised
PER–006–1 Standard PRC–001–1(ii) with the phrase protection system settings.
6. On September 2, 2016, NERC ‘‘operational functionality’’ to clearly 3. Proposed Retirement of Reliability
submitted a petition seeking identify the objective of the training.11 Standard PRC–001–1.1(ii)
Commission approval of proposed NERC also observes that proposed 11. NERC states that Reliability
Reliability Standards PRC–027–1 and Reliability Standard PER–006–1 Standard PRC–001–1.1(ii) includes six
PER–006–1.8 NERC states that the replaces the phrase ‘‘applied in its area’’ requirements that are either addressed
in Reliability Standard PRC–001–1.1(ii) by Reliability Standards approved by
3 Id.824o(c), (d). with the phrase ‘‘that affect the output the Commission or by the proposed
4 Id.824o(e). of the generating facility(ies) it Reliability Standards. Specifically,
5 North American Electric Reliability Corp., 116
operates’’ to properly tailor the scope of NERC explains that Reliability Standard
FERC ¶ 61,062, order on reh’g and compliance, 117
FERC ¶ 61,126 (2006), order on compliance, 118 the required training. NERC notes that PRC–001–1.1(ii), Requirement R1 has
FERC ¶ 61,190, order on reh’g, 119 FERC ¶ 61,046 proposed Reliability Standard PER– been partially replaced by currently-
(2007), aff’d sub nom. Alcoa Inc. v. FERC, 564 F.3d 006–1 does not specify a periodicity for
jstallworth on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with PROPOSALS
1342 (D.C. Cir. 2009). effective Reliability Standards PER–
6 Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Bulk-
the required training. 003–1 and PER–005–2. NERC continues
Power System, Order No. 693, FERC Stats. & Regs. that proposed Reliability Standard PER–
¶ 31,242, at PP 1433–1449, order on reh’g, Order Standards are available on the Commission’s
eLibrary document retrieval system in Docket No.
006–1 and the proposed revised
No. 693–A, 120 FERC ¶ 61,053 (2007).
7 Order No. 693, FERC Stats. & Regs. ¶ 31,242 at RM16–22–000 and are posted on the NERC Web definitions of operational planning
P 1449. site, http://www.nerc.com.
8 Proposed Reliability Standards PRC–027–1 and 9 NERC Petition at 10. 12 Id. at 26.
10 Id. at 13. 13 Id. at 27.
PER–006–1 are not attached to this Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking. The proposed Reliability 11 Id. at 15. 14 Id. at 26.
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![56188 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 227 / Tuesday, November 28, 2017 / Proposed Rules
analysis and real-time assessment will Accordingly, pursuant to section not require establishing the ‘‘initial
replace the remaining portions of 215(d)(5) of the FPA, we propose to Fault current baseline’’ through an
Reliability Standard PRC–001–1.1(ii), direct that NERC develop modifications initial protection system coordination
Requirement R1. NERC asserts that to proposed Reliability Standard PRC– study.19 NERC’s petition reinforces this
Reliability Standard PRC–001–1.1(ii), 027–1 that address our concern understanding, as noted above, by
Requirement R2 has been addressed by regarding this gap, as discussed below. explicitly allowing the use of short-
Reliability Standards IRO–001–4, IRO– 13. In addition, we propose to circuit studies to establish the initial
008–2, IRO–010–2, TOP–001–3, and approve NERC’s associated violation Fault current baseline.
TOP–003–3, which the Commission risk factors, violation severity levels, 16. While they are related terms, we
approved in Order No. 817.15 NERC implementation plans, and effective understand there to be a difference
states that Reliability Standard PRC– dates. We also propose to approve the between short-circuit studies and
001–1.1(ii), Requirements R3 and R4 revised definitions for inclusion in the protection system coordination studies.
will be replaced with proposed NERC Glossary. Further, we propose to NERC defines protection system
Reliability Standard PRC–027–1. NERC approve the retirement of Reliability coordination study as an ‘‘analysis to
also explains that Reliability Standard Standard PRC–001–1.1(ii), as requested determine whether Protection Systems
PRC–001–1.1(ii), Requirement R5 has by NERC. operate in the intended sequence during
been replaced with several Reliability 14. Pursuant to 215(d)(5) of the FPA, Faults.’’ 20 By comparison, proposed
Standards developed after Reliability we propose to direct that NERC develop Reliability Standard PRC–027–1
Standard PRC–001–1(ii) became modifications to proposed Reliability explains that a short-circuit study is ‘‘an
effective.16 NERC further states that Standard PRC–027–1 addressing our analysis of an electrical network that
Reliability Standard PRC–001–1.1(ii), concern that applicable entities that determines the magnitude of the
Requirement R6 has been replaced with choose Requirement R2, Option 2 currents flowing in the network during
Reliability Standards TOP–001–3 and perform (or have already performed) an an electrical fault . . . [and] are used as
TOP–003–3. initial baseline study demonstrating the basis for protection device
proper coordination of their protection coordination studies.’’ 21 Therefore,
II. Discussion systems. Any additional protection while short-circuit studies are inputs to
12. Pursuant to section 215(d)(2) of system coordination studies would be protection system coordination studies,
the FPA, we propose to approve necessary only if an applicable entity is it appears that a short-circuit study
proposed Reliability Standards PER– confronted with 15 percent or greater differs in scope from a protection
006–1 and PRC–027–1 as just, fault current deviations from the prior system coordination study. Based on
reasonable, not unduly discriminatory baseline study amounts, as currently this record, it would be incorrect to
or preferential, and in the public proposed in Reliability Standard PRC– conclude that proposed Reliability
interest, as both proposed Reliability 027–1, Requirement R2, Option 2. We Standard PRC–027–1, Requirement R2,
Standards improve upon currently- propose to direct NERC to submit the Options 1 and 2 afford the same level of
effective Reliability Standard PRC–001– modified Reliability Standard within 12 protection system coordination because
1.1(ii) in important ways.17 Specifically, months following the effective date of a the former requires a protection system
proposed Reliability Standard PRC– final rule in this proceeding. coordination study while the latter does
027–1 does so by (1) modifying the 15. Proposed Reliability Standard
not.
applicability section to include the PRC–027–1, Requirement R2 does not 17. While we generally support
appropriate functional entity types with require an initial protection system permitting flexibility in the Reliability
the responsibilities, resources, and skill coordination study if an applicable
Standards to achieve required
sets to conduct the studies required to entity elects Option 2. Unlike Option 1,
performance goals, the possibility that
coordinate protection systems, and (2) which requires performance of
some bulk electric system elements may
listing the protection system functions protection system coordination studies
never undergo a protection system
on all bulk electric system elements that every six years, Option 2 requires
coordination study raises reliability
require coordination. Proposed applicable entities to ‘‘[c]ompare
concerns. In past serious Bulk-Power
Reliability Standard PER–006–1, along present Fault current values to an
System events, mis-coordination was a
with existing formal training established Fault current baseline and
contributing factor to misoperations and
requirements in the PER group of perform a Protection System
outages. For example, the Arizona
Reliability Standards, also improves Coordination Study when the
comparison identifies a 15 percent or Southern California September 8, 2011
upon Reliability Standard PRC–001–
greater deviation.’’ The proposed Outage Report identified an instance
1.1(ii), Requirement R1 by ensuring that
the necessary personnel are familiar Reliability Standard and NERC’s 19 Proposed Reliability Standard PRC–027–1,
with and understand the purpose and petition do not indicate that the ‘‘Fault Requirement R2, Option 2 n.1. Footnote 1 further
limitations of protection systems current baseline’’ must be established states that if an ‘‘initial baseline was not established
schemes while providing more precise through an initial protection system by the effective date of this Reliability Standard
and auditable requirements. However, coordination study. Instead, NERC’s because of the previous use of an alternate option
or the installation of a new BES Element, the entity
proposed Reliability Standard PRC– petition states that the baseline must be may establish the baseline by performing a
027–1, Requirement R2, Option 2 does established ‘‘by the effective date of the Protection System Coordination Study’’ (emphasis
not appear to ensure coordination of all standard based on short-circuit added). Id.
20 NERC Petition, Exhibit A–3, Proposed
bulk electric system elements with studies.’’ 18 The proposed Reliability
jstallworth on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with PROPOSALS
Definitions. This definition is consistent with the
protection system functions. Standard provides that ‘‘the initial Fault definition of coordination of protection in IEEE Std.
current baseline(s) shall be established C37.113–1999 (stating that the ‘‘process of choosing
15 Id. at 5 (citing Transmission Operations
by the effective date of this Reliability settings or time delay characteristics of protective
Reliability Standards and Interconnection Standard and updated each time a devices, such that operation of the devices will
Reliability Operations and Coordination Reliability occur in a specified order to minimize customer
Standards, Order No. 817, 153 FERC ¶ 61,178 Protection System Coordination Study service interruption and power system isolation due
(2015)). is performed,’’ but this language does to a power system disturbance’’).
16 Id. at 6. 21 Proposed Reliability Standard PRC–027–1,
17 16 U.S.C. 824o(d)(2). 18 NERC Petition at 36 n.35. Supplemental Material at 8.
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![Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 227 / Tuesday, November 28, 2017 / Proposed Rules 56189
where a transmission owner did not due to setting errors can potentially be the condition.’’ 36 The document also
perform a protection system reduced.’’ 30 The identified techniques stated that ‘‘generator relay protection
coordination study prior to the to reduce incorrect settings, included: should be coordinated with all auxiliary
implementation of a protection Peer reviews, increased training, more power system relaying with specific
system.22 The 2011 Outage Report extensive fault studies, standard regard to time-delay settings’’ in order to
stated that this omission negatively templates for setting standard schemes ensure reliable generator operation.37
affected the reliable operation of the using complex relays, and periodic 22. The 2016 State of Reliability
Bulk-Power System during the 2011 review of existing settings when there is Report noted that while protection
event.23 a change in system topography.31 In the system misoperations declined in 2015,
18. Over the past eleven years, several ReliabilityFirst region, NERC identified misoperations showed a ‘‘statistically
NERC reports have addressed the a category of misoperations caused by significant positive correlation with
importance of protection system ‘‘Engineering/Design Issues,’’ which transmission outage severity and
coordination to Bulk-Power System specifically included setting mis- show[ed] a higher relative transmission
reliability. Proposed Reliability coordination.32 This category of risk.’’ 38 Misoperations showed the
Standard PRC–027–1 addresses some of misoperations was one of the three most strongest correlation of the factors
the issues raised in these reports; but common causes of misoperations for considered. In addition, the 2016 State
without requiring an initial protection above 200 kV facilities within the of Reliability Report identified that
system coordination study, the ReliabilityFirst region.33 The positive ‘‘over 40 percent of the incorrect setting/
proposed Reliability Standard does not impact on Bulk-Power System reliability logic/design misoperations were due to
address all of them. In 2006, for of reducing misoperations because of the miss coordination [sic] of ground
example, the NERC System Protection ‘‘Incorrect setting/logic/design errors’’ is overcurrent settings’’ found by
Control Task Force assessed Reliability found in NERC’s 2015 Analysis of ERCOT.39
Standard PRC–001.24 The report System Protection Misoperations: 23. The 2017 State of Reliability
recommended requiring the The State of Reliability 2015 report found Report recognized the significance of
coordination of all existing protection that protection system misoperations protection system misoperations to
systems.25 continued to be a significant contributor to Bulk-Power System reliability by
19. In 2009, in a letter from the NERC automatic transmission outage severity. In observing that ‘‘[p]rotection system
President to the NERC Board of Trustees general, transmission system events with misoperations should remain an area of
and stakeholders, NERC identified protection system misoperations were more
impactful than other transmission events.
focus as it continues to be one of the
generation and transmission mis- largest contributors to the severity of
coordination as responsible for 30 They were also a significant contributor to
transmission outage severity, indicating that transmission outages.’’ 40
percent of the misoperations that a reduction in protection system 24. For the reasons discussed above,
occurred between 2005 and 2008.26 The misoperations would lead to an improvement we propose to direct that NERC develop
2009 letter stated that mis-coordination in system reliability.34 modifications to proposed Reliability
between generation and transmission Standard PRC–027–1 to address our
21. In 2014, a NERC ‘‘lessons learned’’
protection systems ‘‘has caused two concern by requiring that applicable
document on ‘‘Generation Relaying—
significant system disturbances in the entities perform an initial protection
Underfrequency Protection
past two years, and resulted in the coordination study under Requirement
Coordination’’ identified a 2014
unnecessary loss of generation during R2, Option 2. We propose that
incident where underfrequency relay
seven additional disturbances in that applicable entities would have six years
trip settings were installed on the
timeframe.’’ 27 The letter explained that from the effective date of a modified
system unnecessarily and were not
the 2009 NERC System Protection Reliability Standard to complete the
coordinated with a generator’s relay trip
Initiative would initially focus on the analysis. An applicable entity could use
setting.35 The document explained that
area of protection system pre-existing protection system
‘‘[u]nintended generator tripping during
coordination.28
an underfrequency event can exacerbate coordination studies to satisfy the
20. In 2013, NERC issued a
proposed requirement provided it was
Misoperations Report prepared by the
Protection System Misoperations Task
30 Id. at 3. reasonable (i.e., no intervening system
Force.29 The Misoperations Report
31 Id.
changes that would render the earlier
32 Id. at 14–15. The 2013 Misoperations Report
identified ‘‘ways to potentially reduce work obsolete). After conducting the
elaborated that the ‘‘Engineering/Design Issues’’
the amount of future misoperations’’ category included:
initial protection system coordination
and concluded that ‘‘[m]isoperations Incorrect short circuit values and coordination study, subsequent protection system
errors. The incorrect short circuit values included coordination studies would only be
22 Arizona Southern California September 8, 2011
outdated or incorrect data used to calculate relay required when an applicable entity is
settings. The coordination errors in these cases all
Outage Report at 101–103, https://www.ferc.gov/ involved pilot protection either of insufficient
confronted with 15 percent or greater
legal/staff-reports/04-27-2012-ferc-nerc-report.pdf. carrier blocking trip delays or of improper choice fault current deviations from the prior
23 Id. at 100–102.
of ground pickup values used in a blocking scheme. baseline study amounts, as currently
24 NERC SPCTF Assessment of Standard PRC–
Id. at 15. proposed in Reliability Standard PRC–
001–0—System Protection Coordination (2006), 33 Id. at 14.
http://www.nerc.com/pa/Stand/ 34 NERC, Analysis of System Protection
027–1, Requirement R2, Option 2. We
Project200706SystemProtectionCoordinationDL/ Misoperations at 1 (Dec. 2015) (citations omitted),
seek comments on this proposal.
NERC_SPCTF_Assessment_of_Standard_PRC.pdf. http://www.nerc.com/pa/RAPA/PA/ 25. Separately, we seek comment from
jstallworth on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with PROPOSALS
25 Id. at 3–4.
Performance%20Analysis%20DL/2015_Analysis_ NERC and other interested entities
26 NERC Letter from Rick Sergel, NERC President,
of_System_Protection_Misoperations_Final.pdf explaining the technical basis for
Regarding System Protection Initiative at Figure 2 (finding that 31 percent of all misoperations were
(April 24, 2009). due to ‘‘Incorrect setting/logic/design errors’’).
27 Id. at 1. 36 Id.
35 NERC, Lesson Learned, Generation Relaying—
28 Id. at 1–2. 37 Id.
Underfrequency Protection Coordination (2014),
29 NERC Misoperations Report (2013), http:// 38 2016 State of Reliability Report at 17, http://
http://www.nerc.com/pa/rrm/ea/
www.nerc.com/comm/PC/Protection%20 Lessons%20Learned%20Document%20Library/ www.nerc.com/pa/RAPA/Pages/default.aspx.
39 Id. at 166.
System%20Misoperations%20Task%20 LL20140601_Generation_Relaying_
Force%20PSMTF%202/PSMTF_Report.pdf. Underfrequency_Protection_Coordination_final.pdf. 40 2017 State of Reliability Report at 2.
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![Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 227 / Tuesday, November 28, 2017 / Proposed Rules 56191
PROPOSED CHANGES IN THE NOPR IN DOCKET NO. RM16–22–000—Continued
Annual
number of Total number Average burden Annual burden hours
Number of
Respondent category and requirement 46 responses of annual hours and and total annual cost
respondents per responses cost per response 47 (rounded) 48
respondent
(1) (2) (1) * (2) = (3) (4) (3) * (4) = (5)
TOP; Reporting Req. ..................................... 177 1 177 60 hrs.; $3,941.40 .. 10,620 hrs.; $697,628.
TOP; Recordkeeping Req. ............................ 177 1 177 70 hrs.; $2,739.80 .. 12,390 hrs.; $484,945.
BA; Reporting Req. ....................................... 99 1 99 32 hrs.; $2,102.08 .. 3,168 hrs.; $208,106.
BA; Recordkeeping Req. ............................... 99 1 99 20 hrs.; $782.80 ..... 1,980 hrs.; $77,497.
Reduction Sub-Total Reporting Reqs. ...................... ...................... ...................... ................................. 48,788 hrs.; $3,204,884.
for FERC–725A.
Reduction Sub-Total Recordkeeping ...................... ...................... ...................... ................................. 58,120 hrs.; $2,274,817.
Reqs. for FERC–725A.
Reduction, Sub-Total for FERC–725A ... ...................... ...................... ...................... ................................. 106,908 hrs.; $5,479,701
(reduction).
NET TOTAL REDUCTION FOR ...................... ...................... ...................... ................................. 34,823 hrs.; $1,670,766
PROPOSED CHANGES IN (reduction).
NOPR IN RM16–22–000.
Titles: FERC–725G6 (Mandatory requirements being at least once every associated burden estimates should be
Reliability Standard PRC–027–1) and six years. sent to the Commission in this docket
FERC–725Y (Mandatory Reliability Necessity of the Information: and may also be sent to the Office of
Standards: Operations Personnel Proposed Reliability Standards PRC– Management and Budget, Office of
Training (PER–005–2 and PER–006–1). 027–1 and PER–006–1 set forth Information and Regulatory Affairs
Action: Revision to existing requirements for coordination of [Attention: Desk Officer for the Federal
collections and proposed new protection systems and personnel Energy Regulatory Commission]. For
information collection. training on specific topics essential to security reasons, comments should be
OMB Control Nos.: To be determined reliability. The Commission proposes to sent by email to OMB at the following
(FERC–725G6) 51 and 1902–0279 approve proposed Reliability Standards email address: oira_submission@
(FERC–725Y). PRC–027–1 and PER–006–1, which will omb.eop.gov. Please refer to OMB
Respondents: Business or other for replace Commission-approved Control Nos. to be determined (FERC–
profit, and not for profit institutions. Reliability Standard PRC–001–1.1(ii). 725G6) and 1902–0279 (FERC–725Y) in
Frequency of Responses: Annual The proposed Reliability Standards your submittal.
recordkeeping and reporting PRC–027–1 and PER–006–1 improve
IV. Environmental Analysis
requirements, with some reporting upon the existing Reliability Standard
PRC–001–1.1(ii) because the proposed 32. The Commission is required to
46 For each Reliability Standard, the Measure Reliability Standards assign prepare an Environmental Assessment
shows the acceptable evidence for the associated responsibilities to entities with more or an Environmental Impact Statement
Reporting Requirement, and the Compliance section appropriate resources and skill sets to for any action that may have a
details the related Recordkeeping Requirement. conduct studies required to coordinate significant adverse effect on the human
47 Based on data from the Bureau of Labor
protection systems. The proposed environment.52 The action proposed
Statistics, the average hourly cost (wages plus
benefits) is $65.69/hour for an engineer, and Reliability Standards also provide here falls within the categorical
$39.14/hour for a record clerk. The hourly cost for additional clarity to the applicable exclusion in the Commission’s
an engineer is used for reporting requirements; the entities. regulations for rules that are clarifying,
hourly cost for a record clerk is used for Internal review: The Commission has corrective or procedural, for information
recordkeeping requirements.
48 For display purposes, the cost figures in assured itself, by means of its internal gathering, analysis, and
column 5 have been rounded. review, that there is specific, objective dissemination.53
49 Some of the reporting requirements are support for the burden estimates V. Regulatory Flexibility Act
required at least every six calendar years. In this associated with the information
table, the Commission assumes that respondents requirements. 33. The Regulatory Flexibility Act of
might work on some of their elements each year; 1980 (RFA) generally requires a
the annual burden estimate shown is one sixth of 30. Interested persons may obtain
the burden associated with one complete six-year information on the reporting description and analysis of proposed
cycle. For example, for each transmission owner: (a) requirements by contacting the Federal rules that will have significant
the annual reporting burden associated with Energy Regulatory Commission, Office economic impact on a substantial
jstallworth on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with PROPOSALS
Requirements R1, R2, and R3 is shown as 60 hours number of small entities.54 The Small
per year, and (b) the burden for the six-year cycle of the Executive Director, 888 First
would be six times that, or a total of 360 hours. Street NE., Washington, DC 20426 Business Administration (SBA) defines
50 The estimates for average annual burden hours [Attention: Ellen Brown, email:
52 Regulations Implementing the National
per response are based on Order No. 693, FERC DataClearance@ferc.gov, phone: (202)
Stats. & Regs. ¶ 31,242 at PP 1906, 1907. The Environmental Policy Act of 1969, Order No. 486,
numbers of respondents and estimated hourly costs
502–8663, fax: (202) 273–0873]. FERC Stats. & Regs. ¶ 30,783 (1987) (cross-
are based on current figures. 31. Comments concerning the referenced at 41 FERC ¶ 61,284).
51 OMB will assign a Control No. when it issues information collection proposed in this 53 18 CFR 380.4(a)(2)(ii).
a decision. Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and the 54 5 U.S.C. 601–612.
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![56192 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 227 / Tuesday, November 28, 2017 / Proposed Rules
which utilities are small businesses notice to be adopted, including any By direction of the Commission.
based on the number of employees that related matters or alternative proposals Issued November 16, 2017.
a utility and its affiliates employ.55 that commenters may wish to discuss. Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
34. The proposed Reliability Standard Comments are due January 29, 2018. Deputy Secretary.
PRC–027–1 (included in FERC–725G6) Comments must refer to Docket No. [FR Doc. 2017–25586 Filed 11–27–17; 8:45 am]
will apply to approximately 1,612 RM16–22–000, and must include the BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
entities (334 transmission owners, 913 commenter’s name, the organization
generator owners, and 365 distribution they represent, if applicable, and their
providers) in the United States.56 address in their comments.
38. The Commission encourages DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Pursuant to SBA regulations, the
employment threshold for transmission comments to be filed electronically via Department of the Army, Corps of
is 500 employees, for generator owners the eFiling link on the Commission’s Engineers
is between 250 and 750 employees Web site at http://www.ferc.gov. The
(depending on the fuel source), and for Commission accepts most standard 33 CFR Chapter II
distribution providers is 1,000 word processing formats. Documents
employees. We estimate that the annual created electronically using word Report on Potential Actions To Reduce
cost for each entity will be $1,048 for processing software should be filed in Regulatory Burdens on Domestic
each generator owner and distribution native applications or print-to-PDF Energy Production
provider and $5,507 for each format and not in a scanned format.
Commenters filing electronically do not AGENCY: Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
transmission owner.
35. The proposed Reliability Standard need to make a paper filing. ACTION: Notice of availability.
PER–006–1 (included in FERC–725Y) 39. Commenters that are not able to
file comments electronically must send SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of
will apply to approximately 875 Engineers (Corps) has issued a report
generator operators in the United States. an original of their comments to:
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, that examined actions it could take to
Pursuant to SBA regulations the modify existing regulations that
employment threshold for generator Secretary of the Commission, 888 First
Street NE., Washington, DC 20426. potentially burden the development and
operators is between 250 and 750 use of domestically produced energy
employees (depending on the fuel 40. All comments will be placed in
the Commission’s public files and may resources, such as oil, natural gas, coal,
source). We estimate that the annual and nuclear energy, as well as
cost for each generator operator will be be viewed, printed, or downloaded
remotely as described in the Document renewable energy. The report was
$719. required by Executive Order 13783,
36. In addition, this Notice of Availability section below. Commenters
on this proposal are not required to Promoting Energy Independence and
Proposed Rulemaking proposes the Economic Growth. The report identifies
retirement of Reliability Standard PRC– serve copies of their comments on other
commenters. changes that could be made to several
001–1.1(ii) (included in FERC–725A). nationwide permits that authorize
That retirement would decrease the VII. Document Availability activities under section 10 of the Rivers
annual estimated cost for 875 generator and Harbors Act of 1899 and section 404
41. In addition to publishing the full
operators by $4,585 each, for 177 the Clean Water Act that are associated
text of this document in the Federal
transmission operators by $6,681 each, with domestic energy production and
Register, the Commission provides all
and for 99 balancing authorities by use.
interested persons an opportunity to
$2,885 each. For the generator operators
view and/or print the contents of this ADDRESSES: U.S. Army Corps of
affected by this retirement and the
document via the Internet through the Engineers, Attn: CECW–CO–R, 441 G
proposed Reliability Standard PER–
Commission’s Home Page (http:// Street NW., Washington, DC 20314–
006–1, the net annual effect would be a
www.ferc.gov) and in the Commission’s 1000.
decrease of $3,866 each. We estimate
Public Reference Room during normal
the net annual cost of this Notice of FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Proposed Rulemaking would vary, by David Olson at 202–761–4922 or access
Eastern time) at 888 First Street NE.,
type of entity, from an annual decrease the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Room 2A, Washington, DC 20426.
of $6,681 (for each transmission 42. From the Commission’s Home Regulatory Home Page at http://
operator) to an annual increase of Page on the Internet, this information is www.usace.army.mil/Missions/
$5,507 (for each transmission owner). available on eLibrary. The full text of CivilWorks/
We view this as a minimal economic this document is available on eLibrary RegulatoryProgramandPermits.aspx.
impact for each entity. Accordingly, we in PDF and Microsoft Word format for SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Executive
certify that the proposed Reliability viewing, printing, and/or downloading. Order (E.O.) 13783, Promoting Energy
Standards PRC–027–1 and PER–006–1 To access this document in eLibrary, Independence and Economic Growth,
and retirement of Reliability Standard type the docket number of this was published in the Federal Register
PRC–001–1.1 (ii) will not have a document, excluding the last three on March 31, 2017 (82 FR 16093). That
significant economic impact on a digits, in the docket number field. E.O. requires federal agencies to
substantial number of small entities. 43. User assistance is available for immediately review existing regulations
eLibrary and the Commission’s Web site that may burden the development or use
jstallworth on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with PROPOSALS
VI. Comment Procedures
during normal business hours from the of domestically produced energy
37. The Commission invites interested Commission’s Online Support at (202) resources. Section 2 of E.O. 13783
persons to submit comments on the 502–6652 (toll free at 1–866–208–3676) requires federal agencies to prepare and
matters and issues proposed in this or email at ferconlinesupport@ferc.gov, issue reports with specific
55 13
or the Public Reference Room at (202) recommendations to change their
CFR 121.201, Subsector 221.
56 Many respondents serve multiple roles in the
502–8371, TTY (202) 502–8659. Email regulations that could reduce or
NERC compliance registry, so there is likely double the Public Reference Room at eliminate burdens to domestic energy
counting in the estimates. public.referenceroom@ferc.gov. production.
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Document Created: 2017-11-28 01:51:00
Document Modified: 2017-11-28 01:51:00
| 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 January 29, 2018. | |
| Contact | Juan Villar (Technical Information), Office of Electric Reliability, Division of Reliability Standards and Security, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426, Telephone: (772) 678-6496, [email protected] Alan Rukin (Legal Information), Office of the General Counsel, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426, Telephone: (202) 502-8502, [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 56186 |
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