Department of Energy Invites Cybersecurity Comments

In a Federal Register notice to be officially published Friday, June 20, 2014, the Department of Energy (DOE) is inviting public participation in its efforts to develop a guidance document entitled “Energy Sector Framework Implementation Guidance.” The term “Framework” references the Framework for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity which was released by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) on February 12, 2014. In a prepublication notice, the DOE announced that “[t]he document is being designed to help energy sector stakeholders develop or align existing cybersecurity risk management programs with the Cybersecurity Framework. The document will also take in to consideration energy sector organizations that may have business activities across multiple critical infrastructure sectors, e.g., Dams, Transportation, Chemicals, etc. requiring a harmonized implementation approach with these other sectors.” The notice stated that bi-weekly conference calls will “provide periodic opportunities for participants to comment on the incremental updates to the Draft Framework Implementation Guidance document.”   Please contact Christin McMeley with any inquiries at 202.973.4264.