CRITICAL ENERGY/ ELECTRIC INFRASTRUCTURE INFORMATION GENERAL NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT
1. These provisions govern the use of Critical Energy/Electric Infrastructure Information
(CEII) provided to an individual who files a request for access to CEII pursuant to 18
C.F.R. § 388.113.
2. Definitions - For purposes of these provisions:
a. The term “CEII Coordinator” refers to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
(Commission) official designated as the CEII Coordinator, with delegated authority
under 18 C.F.R. § 375.313 to make determinations with respect to requests for CEII
and make determinations as to whether particular information fits within the
definition of CEII.
b. The terms “non-disclosure agreement” and “NDA” mean this agreement by which
requesters certify their understanding that access to CEII is provided pursuant to
the terms and restrictions of these provisions, and that such requesters have read
the provisions and agree to be bound by them.
c. The term “Recipient” means someone who is approved to receive CEII in
accordance with the provisions of 18 C.F.R. § 388.113.
3. A Recipient may only discuss CEII with another authorized Recipient of the identical CEII.
A Recipient may check with the CEII Coordinator to determine whether another individual
is an authorized Recipient of the identical CEII.
4. If any Recipient submits information to the Commission that includes CEII obtained under
these provisions, the portions of the filing containing CEII must be submitted in accordance
with 18 C.F.R. § 388.113(d)(1).
5. A Recipient of CEII may use CEII as foundation for advice provided to others but may not
disclose CEII to another individual unless that individual is an authorized Recipient of the
identical CEII.
6. A Recipient may only use CEII for the purpose for which it was requested and must not
use CEII for an illegal or illegitimate purpose.
7. All CEII shall be maintained by the Recipient in a secure place in a manner that conforms
with industry standards, such as those specified by the National Institute of Standards and
Technology (NIST), to prevent unauthorized electronic or physical access, 1 and only made
accessible to other authorized Recipients of the identical CEII. Within 5 business days of
a request from Commission staff, the Recipient will provide details on the Recipient’s
methods of securely maintaining and safeguarding CEII.
8. Recipients may make copies of CEII, but such copies of CEII are subject to the restrictions
specified herein. Recipients may make notes concerning CEII, which shall be subject to
the restrictions herein if such notes contain CEII.
9. A Recipient must notify the Commission of any unauthorized disclosure of CEII or any
data breach or other security incident that may involve Commission provided CEII within
2 business days of the data breach or knowledge thereof, and the recipient agrees to provide
the Commission an incident management report describing Recipient’s response to the data
breach and all corrective action that has or will be taken within 5 business days.
10. CEII provided pursuant to the agreement is not subject to release under either the Freedom
of Information Act or other Sunshine Laws.
11. Recipients must return CEII to the CEII Coordinator or destroy CEII within fifteen days of
a written request by the CEII Coordinator to do so, except that CEII notes may be retained
in accordance with Paragraph 7, above. Within such time period, each Recipient, if
requested to do so, shall also submit to the CEII Coordinator an affidavit stating that, to the
best of his or her knowledge, all CEII has been returned or destroyed and that CEII notes
have either been returned, destroyed or are being maintained by Recipient in accordance
with Paragraph 7.
12. The Recipient is obligated to protect the CEII, even after designation period has lapsed,
until the CEII Coordinator determines the information should no longer be designated as
CEII under 18 C.F.R. § 388.113(e)(2), or a court of competent jurisdiction finds that the
information does not qualify as CEII.
13. The Recipient must promptly notify the Commission if any conditions, such as a change in
employment, have occurred.
14. The Commission may audit the Recipient’s compliance with this non-disclosure; agreement,
and Recipient agrees to fully cooperate with the Commission in any compliance monitoring
and auditing processes.
15. I hereby certify my understanding that access to CEII is provided to me pursuant to the
terms and restrictions of the above provisions, that I have been given a copy of and have
read the provisions, and that I agree to be bound by them. I understand that the contents of
the CEII, any notes or other memoranda, or any other derivative form of information that
copies or discloses CEII shall not be disclosed to anyone other than another person who
has been granted access to these same materials by the Commission.
16. If Recipient fails to comply with any of the provisions of this Agreement, the Commission
reserves the right to suspend Recipient’s ability to appear before the Commission pursuant
to 18 C.F.R. § 385.2102 and may require the immediate destruction or return of the
information, as well as taking any other legally available action. To that end, Recipient
acknowledge that a violation of this non-disclosure agreement may result in criminal
sanctions (including a fine of up to $25,000 per day per offense pursuant to Section 316(b)
of the Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. § 825o(b)), or civil sanctions under Section 316A of
the Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. § 825o-1.
¹ See NIST Special Publication (SP) 800-171“Protecting CUI in Nonfederal Systems and
Organizations” and 800-172 “Enhanced Security Requirements for Protecting Controlled
Unclassified Information - A Supplement to NIST Special Publication 800-171”. A summary of
NIST security requirements 3.8.1 through 3.8.9 are attached hereto as Appendix A. Compliance
measures include access control, awareness and training, audit and accountability, configuration
management, identification and authentication, incident response, maintenance, media protection,
personnel security, physical protection, risk assessment, security assessment, system and
communications protection and system and information integrity.
Appendix A
NIST Basic Security Requirements and Derived Security Requirements
Basic Security Requirements
3.8.1 Protect (i.e., physically control and securely
store) system media containing CUI, both paper and
digital.
3.8.2 Limit access to CUI on system media to
authorized users.
3.8.3 Sanitize or destroy system media containing
CUI before disposal or release for reuse.
Derived Security Requirements
3.8.4 Mark media with necessary CUI markings and
distribution limitations.
3.8.5 Control access to media containing CUI and
maintain accountability for media during transport
outside of controlled areas.
3.8.6 Implement cryptographic mechanisms to
protect the confidentiality of CUI stored on digital
media during transport unless otherwise protected by
alternative physical safeguards.
3.8.7 Control the use of removable media on system
components.
3.8.8 Prohibit the use of portable storage devices
when such devices have no identifiable owner.
3.8.9 Protect the confidentiality of backup CUI at
storage locations.
This NDA concerns a matter within the jurisdiction of an agency of the United States.
Anyone who knowingly and willfully executes a false, fictitious, or fraudulent NDA may be
criminally prosecuted under 18 U.S.C. § 1001.