The Commission established its
Critical Energy Infrastructure Information (CEII rules in Order
Nos. 630 and 630-A.. The current procedures require that each CEII
requester file a signed, written request in which he or she
provides to the CEII Coordinator detailed information about himself
or herself and his or her need for the information, along with an
executed non-disclosure agreement. Commission staff verifies and
utilizes this information to determine whether to release the CEII
to the requester. The current process requires that Commission
staff verify each requester when each request is made. Information
provided to the Commission in FERC-603 is necessary to the
verification process and essential to keeping sensitive information
out of the hands of individuals that may do harm to this nation.
Information exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information
Act (FOIA)
When the CEII data request was
instituted in Order No. 630, the Commission anticipated 200
filings. In FY 2005 it received 548 requests for CEII, 303 requests
in FY 2006, 279 requests in FY 2007 and to through March 30, 2008
CEII requests numbered 122 for an annual projection of 244 requests
in FY 2008. As of March, 2008 there were 18 CEII requests pending.
The vast majority of those were filed after January 1, 2008. With
the changes adopted in Order, No. 702, the Commission anticipates
that the number of CEII requests per year will return to a level of
around 200 per year.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.