FERC Issues Proposed Rulemaking to Approve Physical Security Reliability Standard (Pre-Fed. Reg.)

In a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking ("NOPR"), FERC proposed to approve the physical security Reliability Standard (CIP-014-1) submitted by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation ("NERC").

The purpose of the proposed Reliability Standard is to enhance physical security measures for the most critical Bulk-Power System facilities. NERC submitted the proposed Reliability Standard for Commission approval in response to FERC's March 7 Order, in which FERC determined that existing Critical Infrastructure Protection ("CIP") Reliability Standards did not specifically require entities to reasonably protect against physical attacks that could have an adverse impact on reliable operation of the grid.

In addition, the NOPR requested that NERC submit two informational reports to: (i) analyze whether the physical security Reliability Standard should be applicable to additional types of facilities, consistent with the scope of critical facilities under other CIP standards, and (ii) provide analysis on grid resiliency.

Comments on the NOPR are due 45 days after publication in the Federal Register.

See: FERC Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.See also: Commissioner Clark's Statement on the NOPR; FERC's Staff Presentation from the July 17, 2014 Open Commission Meeting.