
[Federal Register: September 15, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 178)]
[Notices]               
[Page 56082-56083]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15se10-55]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC10-725E-001]

 
Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-725E); Comment 
Request; Submitted for OMB Review

September 3, 2010.
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirements of section 3507 of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3507, the Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission (Commission or FERC) has submitted the 
information collection described below to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review of the information collection requirements. Any 
interested person may file comments directly with OMB and should 
address a copy of those comments to the Commission as explained below. 
The Commission issued a Notice in the Federal Register (75 FR 35002, 6/
21/2010) requesting public comments. FERC received no comments on the 
FERC-725E and has made this notation in its submission to OMB.

DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due by October 15, 
2010.

ADDRESSES: Address comments on the collection of information to the 
Office of Management and Budget, Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, Attention: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Desk Officer. 
Comments to Created by OMB should be filed electronically, c/o oira__
submission@omb.eop.gov and include the OMB Control Number 1902-0246 for 
reference. The Desk Officer may be reached by telephone at 202-395-
4638.
    A copy of the comments should also be sent to the Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission and should refer to Docket No. IC10-725E-001. 
Comments may be filed either electronically or in paper format. Those 
persons filing electronically do not need to make a paper filing. 
Documents filed electronically via the Internet must be prepared in an 
acceptable filing format and in compliance with the Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission submission guidelines. Complete filing 
instructions and acceptable filing formats are available at http://
www.ferc.gov/help/submission-guide/electronic-media.asp. To file the 
document electronically, access the Commission's Web site and click on 
Documents & Filing, E-Filing (http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/
efiling.asp), and then follow the instructions for each screen. First 
time users will have to establish a user name and password. The 
Commission will send an automatic acknowledgement to the sender's e-
mail address upon receipt of comments.
    For paper filings, the comments should be submitted to the Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission, Secretary of the Commission, 888 First 
Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426, and should refer to Docket No. IC10-
725E-001.
    Users interested in receiving automatic notification of activity in 
FERC Docket Number IC10-725E may do so through eSubscription at http://
www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/esubscription.asp. All comments may be viewed, 
printed or downloaded remotely via the Internet through FERC's homepage 
using the ``eLibrary'' link. For user assistance, contact 
ferconlinesupport@ferc.gov or toll-free at (866) 208-3676, or for TTY, 
contact (202) 502-8659.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Ellen Brown may be reached by e-mail at 
DataClearance@FERC.gov, by telephone at (202) 502-8663, and by fax at 
(202) 273-0873.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Action: The Commission is requesting a three-year extension of the 
information collected by the FERC-725E (OMB Control No. 1902-0246). The 
information is required to implement the statutory provisions of 
section 215 of the Federal Power Act (FPA) (16 U.S.C. 824o). Section 
215 of the FPA buttresses the Commission's efforts to strengthen the 
reliability of the interstate grid through the granting of authority to 
provide for a system of mandatory Reliability Standards developed by 
the Electric Reliability Organization (ERO). Reliability Standards that 
the ERO proposes to the Commission may include Reliability Standards 
that are proposed to the ERO by a Regional Entity.\1\ A Regional Entity 
is an entity that has been approved by the Commission to enforce 
Reliability Standards under delegated authority from the ERO.\2\ On 
June 8, 2008 in an adjudicatory order, the Commission approved eight 
regional Reliability Standards submitted by the ERO as proposed by the 
Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC).\3\
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    \1\ 16 U.S.C. 824o(e)(4).
    \2\ 16 U.S.C. 824o(a)(7) and (e)(4).
    \3\ 72 FR 33462, June 18, 2007.
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    WECC is responsible for coordinating and promoting electric system 
reliability. In addition to promoting a reliable electric power system 
in the Western Interconnection, WECC supports efficient competitive 
power markets, ensures open and non-discriminatory transmission access 
among members, and provides a forum for resolving transmission access 
disputes plus the coordination of operating and planning activities of 
its members. WECC and the eight other regional reliability councils 
were formed due to a national concern regarding the reliability of the 
interconnected bulk power systems, the ability to operate these systems 
without widespread failures in electric service and the need to foster 
the preservation of reliability through a formal organization. The 
eight regional Reliability Standards are translations of existing 
reliability criteria and are now binding on the applicable subset of 
users, owners and operators of the Bulk Power System in the United 
States portion of the Western Interconnection. The Commission's 
reporting requirements are found in 18 CFR Part 40.
    The eight Reliability Standards do not require responsible entities 
to file information with the Commission. However, the standards do 
require responsible entities to file periodic reports with WECC and to 
develop and maintain certain information for a specified period of 
time, subject to inspection by WECC. Specifically the eight Reliability 
Standards require the following:
    WECC-BAL-STD-002-0--balancing authorities and reserve sharing 
groups are to submit to WECC quarterly reports on operating reserves as 
well as reports after any instance of non-compliance.
    WECC-IRO-STD-006-0--transmission operators, balancing authorities 
and loadserving entities are to document and report to WECC actions 
taken in response to direction to mitigate unscheduled flow. The 
standard also requires transmission operators to document required 
actions that are and are not taken by responsible entities.
    WECC- PRC-STD-001-1--certain transmission operators are to submit 
to WECC annual certifications of protective equipment.

[[Page 56083]]

    WECC-PRC-STD-003-1--certain transmission operators are to report to 
WECC any misoperation of relays and remedial action schemes.
    WECC-PRCSTD-005-1--certain transmission operators are to maintain, 
in stated form, maintenance and inspection records pertaining to their 
transmission facilities. The standard also requires operators to 
certify to WECC that the operator is maintaining the required records.
    WECCTOP-STD-007-0--certain transmission operators are to submit to 
WECC quarterly reports on transfer capability data and compliance as 
well as reports after an instance of non-compliance.
    WECC-VAR-STD-002a-1 and WECC-VAR-STD-002b-1--certain generators are 
to submit quarterly reports to WECC on automatic voltage control and 
power system stabilizers. All of the foregoing regional Reliability 
Standards require the reporting entity to retain relevant data in 
electronic form for one year or for a longer period if the data is 
relevant to a dispute or potential penalty, except that WECC-PRC-STD-
005-1 requires retention of maintenance and inspection records for five 
years and retention of other data for four years.
    The Commission uses the data to participate in North American 
Electric Reliability Council's (NERC's) Reliability readiness reviews 
of balancing authorities, transmission operators and reliability 
coordinators in North America to determine their readiness to maintain 
safe and reliable operations. In addition, FERC's Office of Electric 
Reliability uses the data to engage in studies and other activities to 
assess the longer-term and strategic needs and issues related to power 
grid reliability.
    Burden Statement: The estimated annual burden follows.

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                                                                  Average No. of      Average
              FERC data collection                   Number of     reponses per    burden hours    Total burden
                                                    respondents     respondent     per response        hours
                                                             (1)             (2)             (3)     (1)x(2)x(3)
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FERC-725E Reporting:
    Balancing Authorities.......................              34               1              20             680
    Generator Operators.........................             206               1              10           2,060
    Load-Serving Entities.......................             149               1              10           1,490
    Transmission Operators/Owners...............              83             \1\              40           3,320
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
        Subtotal................................  ..............  ..............  ..............           7,550
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Record-keeping..................................   Balancing Authorities          ..............              68
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Generator Operators          ..............             206
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   Load-Serving Entities          ..............             149
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  Transmission Owners/Operators   ..............             332
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                                     Totals                                       ..............             755
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\1\ 1-7 each (total of 83).

    Total Annual hours for the Information Collection: 7,550 reporting 
hours + 755 recordkeeping = 8,305 hours.
    The total estimated annual cost burden to respondents is $ 
936,200.\4\
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    \4\ Reporting = 7,550 hours @ $120/hour = $906,000, 
Recordkeeping = 755 hours @ $40/hour = $30,200. Total Costs = 
Reporting ($906,000) + Recordkeeping ($30,200) = $936,200
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    The reporting burden includes the total time, effort, or financial 
resources expended to generate, maintain, retain, disclose, or provide 
the information including: (1) Reviewing instructions; (2) developing, 
acquiring, installing, and utilizing technology and systems for the 
purposes of collecting, validating, verifying, processing, maintaining, 
disclosing and providing information; (3) adjusting the existing ways 
to comply with any previously applicable instructions and requirements; 
(4) training personnel to respond to a collection of information; (5) 
searching data sources; (6) completing and reviewing the collection of 
information; and (7) transmitting, or otherwise disclosing the 
information.
    The estimate of cost for respondents is based upon salaries for 
professional and clerical support, as well as direct and indirect 
overhead costs. Direct costs include all costs directly attributable to 
providing this information, such as administrative costs and the cost 
for information technology. Indirect or overhead costs are costs 
incurred by an organization in support of its mission. These costs 
apply to activities which benefit the whole organization rather than 
any one particular function or activity.
    Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the proposed collections of 
information are necessary for the proper performance of the functions 
of the Commission, including whether the information will have 
practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimates of the 
burden of the proposed collections of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance 
the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; 
and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collections of information 
on those who are to respond, including the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g. permitting 
electronic submission of responses.

Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2010-22936 Filed 9-14-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P

