FERC-725B, Revisions in RD24-3, Adding Voluntary Requests for Cybersecurity Incentives to Mandatory Reliability Standards for Critical Infrastructure Protection

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
RD24-3 supporting statement - Final 9-6-24.docx Supporting Statement A	2024-09-06
CIP-012-2.pdf Supplementary Document	2024-09-04
CLO in RD24-3-000 CIP-012-2- 5-23-2024.docx Supplementary Document	2024-09-04
RD24-3 30-day notice (Published) 8-20-2024.pdf Supplementary Document	2024-09-04
FERC-725B 30-day notice (RD24-3) 8-14-24 (Issued).docx Supplementary Document	2024-09-04
RD24-3 (725B) 60-day notice (Published).pdf Supplementary Document	2024-09-04
FERC-725B 60-day notice (RD24-3)(Issued).docx Supplementary Document	2024-09-04
18 CFR Part 35.pdf Supplementary Document	2023-05-03
16 U.S.C. 824o.pdf Supplementary Document	2023-05-03
16 U.S.C.824d.pdf Supplementary Document	2023-05-03
16 U.S.C. 824s-1.pdf Supplementary Document	2023-05-03

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
270745	RD24-3 One-time Years 1-3	New
259874	Annual informational filing required where Commission has granted incentive rate treatment (18 CFR 35.48(h))	Unchanged
259873	Voluntary filing seeking incentive rate treatment for cybersecurity investment (18 CFR 35.48(b))	Unchanged
250321	CIP Standards 11-2	Unchanged
250320	CIP Standards 10-3	Unchanged
250319	CIP Standards 009-6	Unchanged
250318	CIP Standards 008-6	Unchanged
250317	CIP Standards 007-6	Unchanged
250316	CIP Standard 006-6	Unchanged
250315	CIP Standard 005-7	Unchanged
249467	CIP Standard CIP-002-5.1	Unchanged
249406	CIP-014-2	Unchanged
239914	CIP-012-2 RD24-3 Ongoing	Modified
233612	Reliability Standard CIP-013-1	Unchanged
231302	Reliability Standard CIP-003-8	Unchanged
181478	CIP Standards 004-6	Unchanged

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 1902-0248	ICR Reference No: 202409-1902-002
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No: 202304-1902-003
Agency/Subagency: FERC	Agency Tracking No: FERC-725B
Title: FERC-725B, Revisions in RD24-3, Adding Voluntary Requests for Cybersecurity Incentives to Mandatory Reliability Standards for Critical Infrastructure Protection
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular	Date Submitted to OIRA: 09/06/2024

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	36 Months From Approved	06/30/2026
Responses	242,567	241,101
Time Burden (Hours)	2,247,984	2,168,901
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0

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Abstract: Revisions in RD24-3 NERC states that proposed Reliability Standard CIP-012-2 improves upon and expands the protections required by Reliability Standard CIP-012-1 by requiring responsible entities to mitigate the risk posed by loss of availability of communication links and Real-time Assessment and Real-time monitoring data transmitted between Control Centers. Proposed Reliability Standard CIP-012-2 adds two new provisions to Requirement R1 that address availability by requiring (1) protections for the availability of data in transit and (2) protections to initiate recovery of lost (i.e., unavailable) communication links. NERC also requests approval of the associated implementation plan, the associated violation risk factors and violation severity levels, and retirement of Reliability Standard CIP-012-1 immediately prior to the effective date of CIP-012-2. The 24-month implementation period is proposed to afford responsible entities sufficient time to implement the new controls and coordinate with other responsible entities that own or operate Control Centers as required in proposed Reliability Standard CIP-012-2. The information collection in the final rule implements section 219A of the Federal Power Act (FPA) (16 U.S.C. 824s-1), which requires the Commission to encourage utilities to: (1) invest in advanced cybersecurity technology, and (2) participate in information sharing regarding cybersecurity threats. The final rule includes information collection activities for voluntary submission of requests for cybersecurity incentives, and annual informational filings that would be mandatory for utilities receiving such incentives. In order to obtain Commission approval, the cybersecurity measures proposed by a utility must materially improve cybersecurity through either an investment in advanced cybersecurity technology or participation in a cybersecurity threat information sharing program(s); and must not be already mandated by Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) Reliability Standards, or otherwise mandated by local, state, or Federal law. As previously approved, the information collection at FERC-725B implements CIP Reliability Standards that require entities to comply with specific requirements to safeguard critical cyber assets. Neither the final rule nor the additional burdens in this information collection request would affect the previously approved mandatory CIP Reliability Standards.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 16 USC 824s-1 Name of Law: Federal Power Act
   US Code: 16 USC 824d Name of Law: Federal Power Act
   US Code: 16 USC 824o Name of Law: Federal Power Act
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: US Code: 16 USC 824s-1 Name of Law: Federal Power Act

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	89 FR 47147	05/31/2024
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	89 FR 67432	08/20/2024
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 16

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Annual informational filing required where Commission has granted incentive rate treatment (18 CFR 35.48(h))
CIP Standard 005-7
CIP Standard 006-6
CIP Standard CIP-002-5.1
CIP Standards 004-6
CIP Standards 007-6
CIP Standards 008-6
CIP Standards 009-6
CIP Standards 10-3
CIP Standards 11-2
CIP-012-2 RD24-3 Ongoing
CIP-014-2
RD24-3 One-time Years 1-3
Reliability Standard CIP-003-8
Reliability Standard CIP-013-1
Voluntary filing seeking incentive rate treatment for cybersecurity investment (18 CFR 35.48(b))

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Request	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	242,567	241,101	0	1,466	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	2,247,984	2,168,901	0	79,083	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Changing Regulations

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: All of the estimated burdens described above in Discussion # 12 are program changes to FERC-725B. The estimated annual burdens would add average annual number (for Years 1-3) of responses and burden for one-time and ongoing burden will total: •1,460 responses (one-time) + 730 responses (ongoing) (There was already 724 responses from RD22-2 and +6 was added+ totaling 730 responses) •79,083 burden hours [78,353 hours (one-time) + 730 hours (ongoing)] to FERC-725B.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $216,182

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? No

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Common Form ICR:  No

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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:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(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;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

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.

Certification Date: 09/06/2024

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