Federal Register #RD26-9-000

FERC Approval of NERC CIP-014-4 Physical Security Standard for Transmission Facilities

FERC, part of the Department of Energy, has approved NERC's updated Reliability Standard CIP-014-4 for the physical security of critical transmission facilities in the bulk power system. - Government Buyer: - Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Department of Energy - OEM/Vendor: - North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) - Products/Services Requested: - Compliance with revised Reliability Standard CIP-014-4 - No physical products or purchase quantities specified - Service line item: Reliability Standard Compliance for Physical Security of Transmission Facilities (344 transmission owners affected) - Unique/Notable Requirements: - Stricter assessment timelines for physical security - Clarified applicability thresholds for facilities - Enhanced third-party verification and review processes - Expanded threat and vulnerability evaluation requirements - More objective risk-assessment requirements - Improved consistency and technical guidance for transmission owners - The opportunity focuses on regulatory compliance and improved security measures, not product procurement.

Description

This notice announces the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC) approval of the reliability standard CIP-014-4, which involves revisions to existing collections of information in FERC-725U. The standard refines and strengthens the physical security framework for critical transmission facilities by tightening assessment timelines, clarifying applicability thresholds, and improving verification and oversight processes. Key changes include more objective risk-assessment requirements, clarifying language to the applicability section, increased rigor around third-party verification and review, and expanded threat and vulnerability evaluation requirements. The revisions aim to provide clearer technical guidance, improve consistency among entities, and ensure more effective physical security measures for the bulk power system.

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