Notices. Notice of proposed draft cost and performance for the Department of Energy's coal and related technologies program, and request for comments

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A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

BILLING CODE 6820-EP-S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request AGENCY: Department of Education. SUMMARY: The Leader, Information Management Case Services Team, Regulatory Information Management Services, Office of the Chief Information Officer invites comments on the submission for OMB review as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before January 5, 2006. ADDRESSES: Written comments should be addressed to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention:

Rachel Potter, Desk Officer, Department of Education, Office of Management and Budget, 725 17th Street, NW., Room 10222, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503 or faxed to

(202)395-6974. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 3506 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35) requires that the Office of Management and Budget

(OMB)provide interested Federal agencies and the public an early opportunity to comment on information collection requests. OMB may amend or waive the requirement for public consultation to the extent that public participation in the approval process would defeat the purpose of the information collection, violate State or Federal law, or substantially interfere with any agency's ability to perform its statutory obligations. The Leader, Information Management Case Services Team, Regulatory Information Management Services, Office of the Chief Information Officer, publishes that notice containing proposed information collection requests prior to submission of these requests to OMB. Each proposed information collection, grouped by office, contains the following:

(1)Type of review requested; *e.g.* new, revision, extension, existing or reinstatement;

(2)Title;

(3)Summary of the collection;

(4)Description of the need for, and proposed use of, the information;

(5)Respondents and frequency of collection; and

(6)Reporting and/or Recordkeeping burden. OMB invites public comment. Dated: November 29, 2005. Angela C. Arrington, Leader, Information Management Case Services Team, Regulatory Information Management Services, Office of the Chief Information Officer. Office of the Chief Financial Officer *Type of Review:* Revision. *Title:* Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunity for Applicants. *Frequency:* Annually. *Affected Public:* Not-for-profit institutions. *Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden:* *Responses:* 17,000. *Burden Hours:* 1,360. *Abstract:* To ensure equal opportunity for all applicants including small community-based and faith-based and religious groups. It is essential to collect information that allows Federal agencies to determine the level of participation of such organizations in Federal grant programs while ensuring that such information is not used in grant-making decisions. Requests for copies of the information collection submission for OMB review may be accessed from *http://edicsweb.ed.gov* , by selecting the “Browse Pending Collections” link and by clicking on link number 2881. When you access the information collection, click on “Download Attachments” to view. Written requests for information should be addressed to U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Potomac Center, 9th Floor, Washington, DC 20202-4700. Requests may also be electronically mailed to the Internet address *OCIO_RIMG@ed.gov* or faxed to 202-245-6623. Please specify the complete title of the information collection when making your request. Comments regarding burden and/or the collection activity requirements should be directed to Sheila Carey at *Sheila.Carey@ed.gov.* Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf

(TDD)may call the Federal Information Relay Service

(FIRS)at 1-800-877-8339. [FR Doc. E5-6862 Filed 12-5-05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000-01-P DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Notice of Proposed Information Collection Requests AGENCY: Department of Education. SUMMARY: The Leader, Information Management Case Services Team, Regulatory Information Management Services, Office of the Chief Information Officer, invites comments on the proposed information collection requests as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before February 6, 2006. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 3506 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35) requires that the Office of Management and Budget

(1)Type of review requested, *e.g.* , new, revision, extension, existing or reinstatement;

(2)Title;

(3)Summary of the collection;

(4)Description of the need for, and proposed use of, the information;

(5)Respondents and frequency of collection; and

(6)Reporting and/or Recordkeeping burden. OMB invites public comment. The Department of Education is especially interested in public comment addressing the following issues:

(1)Is this collection necessary to the proper functions of the Department;

(2)will this information be processed and used in a timely manner;

(3)is the estimate of burden accurate;

(4)how might the Department enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

(5)how might the Department minimize the burden of this collection on the respondents, including through the use of information technology. Dated: November 29, 2005. Angela C. Arrington, Leader, Information Management Case Services Team, Regulatory Information Management Services, Office of the Chief Information Officer. Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services *Type of Review:* Revision. *Title:* Annual Program Cost Report. *Frequency:* Annually. *Affected Public:* State, Local, or Tribal Gov't, SEAs or LEAs. *Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden:* *Responses:* 80. *Burden Hours:* 385. *Abstract:* Vocational Rehabilitation Services data submitted on the RSA-2 by State VR agencies for each FY used by RSA to administer and manage the Title I Program; to analyze expenditures, evaluate program performance and identify problem areas. Requests for copies of the proposed information collection request may be accessed from *http://edicsweb.ed.gov* , by selecting the “Browse Pending Collections” link and by clicking on link number 2918. When you access the information collection, click on “Download Attachments” to view. Written requests for information should be addressed to U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Potomac Center, 9th Floor, Washington, DC 20202-4700. Requests may also be electronically mailed to the Internet address *OCIO_RIMG@ed.gov* or faxed to 202-245-6621. Please specify the complete title of the information collection when making your request. Comments regarding burden and/or the collection activity requirements should be directed to Sheila Carey at her e-mail address *Sheila.Carey@ed.gov* . Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf

(TDD)may call the Federal Information Relay Service

(FIRS)at 1-800-877-8339. [FR Doc. E5-6863 Filed 12-5-05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000-01-P DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Innovation and Improvement Overview Information; Teaching American History Grant Program; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year

(FY)2006 *Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

(CFDA)Number:* 84.215X. *Dates:* Applications Available: December 6, 2005. Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply: January 6, 2006. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: February 3, 2006. Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: April 4, 2006. *Eligible Applicants:* Local educational agencies (LEAs)—including charter schools that are considered LEAs under State law and regulations—working in partnership with one or more of the following entities: • An institution of higher education. • A non-profit history or humanities organization. • A library or museum. *Estimated Available Funds:* The Administration has requested $119,040,000 for new awards for this program for FY 2006. The actual level of funding, if any, depends on final congressional action. However, we are inviting applications to allow enough time to complete the grant process in a timely manner, if Congress appropriates funds for this program. *Maximum Awards:* The following maximum award amounts are from the notice of final selection criteria and other application requirements for this program, published in the **Federal Register** on April 15, 2005 (70 FR 19939). Total funding for a three-year project period is a maximum of: $500,000 for LEAs with enrollments of less than 20,000 students; $1,000,000 for LEAs with enrollments of 20,000-300,000 students; and $2,000,000 for LEAs with enrollments above 300,000 students. LEAs may form consortia and combine their enrollments in order to receive a grant reflective of their combined enrollment. For districts applying jointly as a consortium, the maximum award is based on the combined enrollment of the individual districts in the consortium. If more than one LEA wishes to form a consortium, they must follow the procedures for group applications described in 34 CFR 75.127 through 34 CFR 75.129 of the Education Department General Administrative Regulations. *Estimated Number of Awards:* 100-135. Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice. *Project Period:* Up to 36 months. Full Text of Announcement I. Funding Opportunity Description *Purpose of Program:* Teaching American History grants support projects to raise student achievement by improving teachers' knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of traditional American history. Grant awards assist local educational agencies (LEAs), in partnership with entities that have extensive content expertise, to develop, document, evaluate, and disseminate innovative, cohesive models of professional development. By helping teachers to develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of traditional American history as a separate subject within the core curriculum, these programs improve instruction and raise student achievement. *Priorities:* This competition includes one absolute priority and four invitational priorities. To be considered for funding, each applicant must address the absolute priority. *Absolute Priority:* In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(iv), this priority is from section 2351(b) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (Pub. L. 107-110). For FY 2006, this priority is an absolute priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) we consider only applications that meet this priority. This priority is: *Partnerships With Other Agencies or Institutions.* Each applicant LEA must propose to work in collaboration with one or more of the following: • An institution of higher education. • A non-profit history or humanities organization. • A library or museum. *Invitational Priorities:* For FY 2006 these priorities are invitational priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(1) we do not give an application that meets one or more of these invitational priorities a competitive or absolute preference over other applications. These priorities are: Invitational Priority One *Kindergarten to Eighth Grade Teachers in Schools That Have Not Made Adequate Yearly Progress.* Projects that support professional development for kindergarten to eighth grade teachers in schools that have not made adequate yearly progress. Invitational Priority Two *High School Teachers Who Have Not Met their State Requirements for Highly Qualified Teachers.* Projects that support professional development for high school teachers who have not met their state requirements for highly qualified teachers. Invitational Priority Three *Annual High School Assessments.* Projects that support teacher professional development in high schools that conduct State-provided annual assessments, tied to State standards, that exceed the requirements of section 1111(b)(3) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as reauthorized by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. Invitational Priority Four *Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Evaluation Designs.* Projects proposing an evaluation plan that is based on rigorous scientifically based research methods to assess the effectiveness of a particular intervention. The Secretary intends that this priority will allow program participants and the Department to determine whether the project produces meaningful effects on student achievement or teacher performance. Evaluation methods using an experimental design are best for determining project effectiveness. Thus, when feasible, the project must use an experimental design under which participants— *e.g.* , students, teachers, classrooms, or schools—are randomly assigned to participate in the project activities being evaluated or to a control group that does not participate in the project activities being evaluated. If random assignment is not feasible, the project may use a quasi-experimental design with carefully matched comparison conditions. This alternative design attempts to approximate a randomly assigned control group by matching participants— *e.g.* , students, teachers, classrooms, or schools—with non-participants having similar pre-program characteristics. In cases where random assignment is not possible and participation in the intervention is determined by a specified cutting point on a quantified continuum of scores, regression discontinuity designs may be employed. For projects that are focused on special populations in which sufficient numbers of participants are not available to support random assignment or matched comparison group designs, single-subject designs such as multiple baseline or treatment-reversal or interrupted time series that are capable of demonstrating causal relationships can be employed. Proposed evaluation strategies that use neither experimental designs with random assignment nor quasi-experimental designs using a matched comparison group nor regression discontinuity designs will not be considered responsive to the priority when sufficient numbers of participants are available to support these designs. Evaluation strategies that involve too small a number of participants to support group designs must be capable of demonstrating the causal effects of an intervention or program on those participants. The proposed evaluation plan must describe how the project evaluator will collect—before the project intervention commences and after it ends—valid and reliable data that measure the impact of participation in the program or in the comparison group. Definitions As used in this invitational priority— *Scientifically based research* (section 9101(37) of the ESEA as amended by NCLB 20 U.S.C. 7801(37)):

(A)Means research that involves the application of rigorous, systematic, and objective procedures to obtain reliable and valid knowledge relevant to education activities and programs; and

(B)Includes research that—

(i)Employs systematic, empirical methods that draw on observation or experiment;

(ii)Involves rigorous data analyses that are adequate to test the stated hypotheses and justify the general conclusions drawn;

(iii)Relies on measurements or observational methods that provide reliable and valid data across evaluators and observers, across multiple measurements and observations, and across studies by the same or different investigators;

(iv)Is evaluated using experimental or quasi-experimental designs in which individuals, entities, programs, or activities are assigned to different conditions and with appropriate controls to evaluate the effects of the condition of interest, with a preference for random-assignment experiments, or other designs to the extent that those designs contain within-condition or across-condition controls;

(v)Ensures that experimental studies are presented in sufficient detail and clarity to allow for replication or, at a minimum, offer the opportunity to build systematically on their findings; and

(vi)Has been accepted by a peer-reviewed journal or approved by a panel of independent experts through a comparably rigorous, objective, and scientific review. *Random assignment or experimental design* means random assignment of students, teachers, classrooms, or schools to participate in a project being evaluated (treatment group) or not participate in the project (control group). The effect of the project is the difference in outcomes between the treatment and control groups. *Quasi-experimental designs* include several designs that attempt to approximate a random assignment design. *Carefully matched comparison groups design* means a quasi-experimental design in which project participants are matched with non-participants based on key characteristics that are thought to be related to the outcome. *Regression discontinuity design* means a quasi-experimental design that closely approximates an experimental design. In a regression discontinuity design, participants are assigned to a treatment or control group based on a numerical rating or score of a variable unrelated to the treatment such as the rating of an application for funding. Eligible students, teachers, classrooms, or schools above a certain score (“cut score”) are assigned to the treatment group and those below the score are assigned to the control group. In the case of the scores of applicants' proposals for funding, the “cut score” is established at the point where the program funds available are exhausted. *Single subject design* means a design that relies on the comparison of treatment effects on a single subject or group of single subjects. There is little confidence that findings based on this design would be the same for other members of the population. *Treatment reversal design* means a single subject design in which a pre-treatment or baseline outcome measurement is compared with a post-treatment measure. Treatment would then be stopped for a period of time, a second baseline measure of the outcome would be taken, followed by a second application of the treatment or a different treatment. For example, this design might be used to evaluate a behavior modification program for disabled students with behavior disorders. *Multiple baseline design* means a single subject design to address concerns about the effects of normal development, timing of the treatment, and amount of the treatment with treatment-reversal designs by using a varying time schedule for introduction of the treatment and/or treatments of different lengths or intensity. *Interrupted time series design* means a quasi-experimental design in which the outcome of interest is measured multiple times before and after the treatment for program participants only. *Program Authority:* 20 U.S.C. 6721. *Applicable Regulations:*

(a)The Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 80, 81, 82, 84, 85, 86, 97, 98 and 99.

(b)The notice of final selection criteria and other application requirements published in the **Federal Register** on April 15, 2005 (70 FR 19939). Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 79 apply to all applicants except federally recognized Indian tribes. Note: The regulation in 34 CFR part 86 apply to institutions of higher education only. II. Award Information *Type of Award:* Discretionary grants. *Estimated Available Funds:* The Administration has requested $119,040,000 for new awards for this program for FY 2006. The actual level of funding, if any, depends on final congressional action. However, we are inviting applications to allow enough time to complete the grant process in a timely manner, if Congress appropriates funds for this program. *Maximum Awards:* The following maximum award amounts are from the notice of final selection criteria and other application requirements for this program, published in the **Federal Register** on April 15, 2005 (70 FR 19939). Total funding for a three-year project period is a maximum of: $500,000 for LEAs with enrollments of less than 20,000 students; $1,000,000 for LEAs with enrollments of 20,000-300,000 students; and $2,000,000 for LEAs with enrollments above 300,000 students. LEAs may form consortia and combine their enrollments in order to receive a grant reflective of their combined enrollment. For districts applying jointly as a consortium, the maximum award is based on the combined enrollment of the individual districts in the consortium. If more than one LEA wishes to form a consortium, they must follow the procedures for group applications described in 34 CFR 75.127 through 34 CFR 75.129 of the Education Department General Administrative Regulations. *Estimated Number of Awards:* 100-135. Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice. *Project Period:* Up to 36 months. III. Eligibility Information 1. *Eligible Applicants:* LEAs—including charter schools that are considered LEAs under State law and regulations—working in partnership with one or more of the following entities: • An institution of higher education. • A non-profit history or humanities organization. • A library or museum. 2. *Cost Sharing or Matching:* This program does not involve cost sharing or matching. IV. Application and Submission Information 1. *Address to Request Application Package:* Education Publications Center (ED Pubs), P.O. Box 1398, Jessup, MD 20794-1398. Telephone (toll free): 1-877-433-7827. FAX:

(1)Print ED 424 from e-Application.

(2)The applicant's Authorizing Representative must sign this form.

(3)Place the PR/Award number in the upper right hand corner of the hard-copy signature page of the ED 424.

(4)Fax the signed ED 424 to the Application Control Center at

(202)245-6272. • We may request that you provide us original signatures on other forms at a later date. *Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of e-Application System Unavailability:* If you are prevented from electronically submitting your application on the application deadline date because the e-Application system is unavailable, we will grant you an extension of one business day to enable you to transmit your application electronically, by mail, or by hand delivery. We will grant this extension if—

(1)You are a registered user of e-Application and you have initiated an electronic application for this competition; and

(a)The e-Application system is unavailable for 60 minutes or more between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date; or

(b)The e-Application system is unavailable for any period of time between 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. We must acknowledge and confirm these periods of unavailability before granting you an extension. To request this extension or to confirm our acknowledgment of any system unavailability, you may contact either

(1)the person listed elsewhere in this notice under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT (see VII. Agency Contact) or

(2)the e-Grants help desk at 1-888-336-8930. If the system is down and therefore the application deadline is extended, an e-mail will be sent to all registered users who have initiated an e- Application. Extensions referred to in this section apply only to the unavailability of the Department's e-Application system. *Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement:* You qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, and may submit your application in paper format, if you are unable to submit an application through the e-Application system because— • You do not have access to the Internet; or • You do not have the capacity to upload large documents to the Department's e-Application system; and • No later than two weeks before the application deadline date (14 calendar days or, if the fourteenth calendar day before the application deadline date falls on a Federal holiday, the next business day following the Federal holiday), you mail or fax a written statement to the Department, explaining which of the two grounds for an exception prevent you from using the Internet to submit your application. If you mail your written statement to the Department, it must be postmarked no later than two weeks before the application deadline date. If you fax your written statement to the Department, we must receive the faxed statement no later than two weeks before the application deadline date. Address and mail or fax your statement to: Alex Stein, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 4W206, Washington, DC 20202-5960. FAX:

(202)401-8466 or

(202)205-5631. Your paper application must be submitted in accordance with the mail or hand delivery instructions described in this notice. b. *Submission of Paper Applications by Mail.* If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, you may mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a commercial carrier) your application to the Department. You must mail the original and two copies of your application, on or before the application deadline date, to the Department at the applicable following address: *By mail through the U.S. Postal Service:* U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA Number 84.215X), 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20202-4260 or *By mail through a commercial carrier:* U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center—Stop 4260, Attention: (CFDA Number 84.215X), 7100 Old Landover Road, Landover, MD 20785-1506. Regardless of which address you use, you must show proof of mailing consisting of one of the following:

(1)A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark,

(2)A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the U.S. Postal Service,

(3)A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial carrier, or

(4)Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. If you mail your application through the U.S. Postal Service, we do not accept either of the following as proof of mailing:

(1)A private metered postmark, or

(2)A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service. If your application is postmarked after the application deadline date, we will not consider your application. Note: The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a dated postmark. Before relying on this method, you should check with your local post office. c. *Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery.* If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, you (or a courier service) may deliver your paper application to the Department by hand. You must deliver the original and two copies of your application, by hand, on or before the application deadline date, to the Department at the following address: U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA Number 84.215X), 550 12th Street, SW., Room 7041, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-4260. The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, except Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal holidays. Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of Paper Applications: If you mail or hand deliver your application to the Department:

(1)You must indicate on the envelope and—if not provided by the Department—in Item 4 of the ED 424 the CFDA number—and suffix letter, if any—of the competition under which you are submitting your application.

(2)The Application Control Center will mail a grant application receipt acknowledgment to you. If you do not receive the grant application receipt acknowledgment within 15 business days from the application deadline date, you should call the U.S. Department of Education Application Control Center at

(202)245-6288. V. Application Review Information *Selection Criteria:* The following selection criteria for this program are from the notice of final selection criteria and other application requirements published in the **Federal Register** on April 15, 2005 (70 FR 19939).

(1)*Project Quality* (60 points). The Secretary considers the quality of the proposed project by considering—

(a)The likelihood that the proposed project will develop, implement, and strengthen programs to teach traditional American history as a separate academic subject (not as a component of social studies) within elementary school and secondary school curricula.

(b)How specific traditional American history content will be covered by the grant (including the significant issues, episodes, and turning points in the history of the United States; how the words and deeds of individuals have determined the course of our Nation; and how the principles of freedom and democracy articulated in the founding documents of this Nation have shaped America's struggles and achievements and its social, political, and legal institutions and relations); the format in which the project will deliver the history content; and the quality of the staff and consultants responsible for delivering these content-based professional development activities, emphasizing, where relevant, their postsecondary teaching experience and scholarship in subject areas relevant to the teaching of traditional American history. The applicant may also attach curriculum vitae for individuals who will provide the content training to the teachers.

(c)How well the applicant describes a plan that meets the statutory requirement to carry out activities under the grant in partnership with one or more of the following:

(i)An institution of higher education.

(ii)A nonprofit history or humanities organization.

(iii)A library or museum.

(d)The applicant's rationale for selecting the partner(s) and its description of specific activities that the partner(s) will contribute to the grant during each year of the project. The applicant should include a memorandum of understanding or detailed letters of commitment from the partner(s) in an appendix to the application narrative.

(2)*Significance* (15 points). The Secretary considers the significance of the proposed project. In determining the significance of the project, the Secretary considers—

(a)The extent to which the proposed project is likely to build local capacity to improve or expand the LEA's ability to provide American history teachers professional development in traditional American history subject content and content-related teaching strategies.

(b)The importance or magnitude of the results or outcomes likely to be attained by the proposed project, especially improvements in teaching and student achievement.

(c)How teachers will use the knowledge acquired from project activities to improve the quality of instruction. This description may include plans for reviewing how teachers' lesson planning and classroom teaching are affected by their participation in project activities. Note: In meeting this criterion, the Secretary encourages the applicant to include a description of its commitment to build local capacity by primarily serving teachers in its LEA or consortium of LEAs. The Secretary also encourages the applicant to include background and statistical information to explain the project's significance. For example, the applicant could include information on: the extent to which teachers in the LEA are not certified in history or social studies; student achievement data in American history; and rates of student participation in courses such as Advanced Placement U.S. History.

(3)*Quality of the management plan* (10 points). The Secretary considers the quality of the management plan for the proposed project. In determining the quality of the management plan for the proposed project, the Secretary considers the following factors:

(a)The adequacy of the management plan to achieve the objectives of the proposed project on time and within budget, including clearly defined responsibilities, timelines, and milestones for accomplishing project tasks.

(b)The extent to which the time commitments of the project director and other key project personnel are appropriate and adequate to meet the objectives of the proposed project.

(4)*Quality of the project evaluation* (15 points). The Secretary considers the quality of the evaluation to be conducted of the proposed project. In determining the quality of the evaluation, the Secretary considers:

(a)The extent to which the methods of evaluation include the use of objective performance measures that are clearly related to the intended outcomes of the project and will produce quantitative and qualitative data to the extent possible.

(b)How well the evaluation plans are aligned with the project design explained under the *Project Quality* criterion.

(c)Whether the evaluation includes benchmarks to monitor progress toward specific project objectives, and outcome measures to assess the impact on teaching and learning or other important outcomes for project participants.

(d)Whether the applicant identifies the individual and/or organization that has agreed to serve as evaluator for the project and includes a description of the qualifications of that evaluator.

(e)The extent to which the applicant indicates the following:

(i)What types of data will be collected;

(ii)When various types of data will be collected;

(iii)What methods will be used to collect data;

(iv)What data collection instruments will be developed;

(v)How the data will be analyzed;

(vi)When reports of results and outcomes will be available;

(vii)How the applicant will use the information collected through the evaluation to monitor the progress of the funded project and to provide accountability information about both success at the initial site and effective strategies for replication in other settings; and

(viii)How the applicant will devote an appropriate level of resources to project evaluation. VI. Award Administration Information 1. *Award Notices:* If your application is successful, we notify your U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators and send you a Grant Award Notification (GAN). We may also notify you informally. If your application is not evaluated or not selected for funding, we notify you. 2. *Administrative and National Policy Requirements:* We identify administrative and national policy requirements in the application package and reference these and other requirements in the *Applicable Regulations* section of this notice. We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of an award in the *Applicable Regulations* section of this notice and include these and other specific conditions in the GAN. The GAN also incorporates your approved application as part of your binding commitments under the grant. Budgets should include funds for at least two project staff members to attend a two-day annual meeting of the Teaching American History Grant program in Washington, DC, each year of the project. Applicants also should include in their budgets funds to cover the travel and lodging expenses for these training activities during each year of the project. 3. *Reporting:* At the end of your project period, you must submit a final performance report, including financial information, as directed by the Secretary. If you receive a multi-year award, you must submit an annual performance report that provides the most current performance and financial expenditure information as specified by the Secretary in 34 CFR 75.118. For specific requirements on grantee reporting, please go to *http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.* 4. *Performance Measures:* We have established one performance measure for Teaching American History. The indicator is: Students in experimental and quasi-experimental studies of educational effectiveness of Teaching American History projects will demonstrate higher achievement on course content measures and/or statewide U.S. history assessments than students in control and comparison groups. VII. Agency Contacts *For Further Information Contact:* Emily Fitzpatrick, Alex Stein, Harry Kessler, Kelly O'Donnell, Claire Geddes, or Margarita Melendez, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 4W218, Washington, DC 20202-6200. Telephone:

(202)260-1498 (Emily Fitzpatrick); or

(202)205-9085 (Alex Stein); or

(202)708-9943 (Harry Kessler); or

(202)205-5231 (Kelly O'Donnell); or

(202)260-2487 (Claire Geddes); or

(202)260-3548 (Margarita Melendez) or by e-mail: *teachingamericanhistory@ed.gov.* If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may call the Federal Relay Service

(FRS)at 1-800-877-8339. Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an alternative format ( *e.g.* , Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) on request to one of the program contact persons listed in this section. VIII. Other Information *Electronic Access to This Document:* You may view this document, as well as all other documents of this Department published in the **Federal Register** , in text or Adobe Portable Document Format

(PDF)on the Internet at the following site: *http://www.ed.gov/news/fedregister* . To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at this site. If you have questions about using PDF, call the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO), toll free, at 1-888-293-6498; or in the Washington, DC, area at

(FI)Projects; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year

(FY)2006 *Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

(CFDA)Number:* 84.133G-1 (Research) and 84.133G-2 (Development) *Dates:* *Applications Available:* December 6, 2005. *Deadline for Transmittal of Applications:* February 6, 2006. *Eligible Applicants:* States; public or private agencies, including for-profit agencies; public or private organizations, including for-profit organizations; institutions of higher education; and Indian tribes and tribal organizations. *Estimated Available Funds:* The Administration has requested $3,750,000 for the FI program for FY 2006. The actual level of funding, if any, depends on final congressional action. However, we are inviting applications to allow enough time to complete the grant process if Congress appropriates funds for this program. *Estimated Range of Awards:* $145,000-$150,000. *Estimated Average Size of Awards:* $147,500. *Maximum Award:* We will reject any application that proposes a budget exceeding $150,000 for a single budget period of 12 months. The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services may change the maximum amount through a notice published in the **Federal Register** . Note: The maximum amount includes direct and indirect costs. *Estimated Number of Awards:* 25. Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice. *Project Period:* Up to 36 months. Full Text of Announcement I. Funding Opportunity Description *Purpose of Program:* The purpose of the Field Initiated

(FI)program is to develop methods, procedures, and rehabilitation technology that maximize the full inclusion and integration into society, employment, independent living, family support, and economic and social self-sufficiency of individuals with disabilities, especially individuals with the most severe disabilities; and to improve the effectiveness of services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. FI projects carry out either research activities or development activities. NIDRR makes two types of grants under the FI program: Research grants (CFDA 84.133G-1) and development grants (CFDA 84.133G-2). Applicants must indicate in their applications whether they are applying for a research grant (84.133G-1) or a development grant (84.133G-2). • In carrying out a research activity under an FI research grant, a grantee must identify one or more hypotheses and, based on the hypotheses identified, perform an intensive, systematic study directed toward

(1)new scientific knowledge, or

(2)better understanding of the subject, problem studied, or body of knowledge. • In carrying out a development activity under an FI development grant, a grantee must use knowledge and understanding gained from research to create materials, devices, systems, or methods beneficial to the target population, including design and development of prototypes and processes. Target population means the group of individuals, organizations, or other entities expected to be affected by the project. More than one group may be involved since a project may affect those who receive services, provide services, or administer services. Note: Different selection criteria are used for research projects (84.133G-1) and development projects (84.133G-2). In their applications, applicants must clearly indicate whether they are applying for a research grant (84.133G-1) or a development grant (84.133G-2) and must address the selection criteria relevant for their project type. Without exception, NIDRR will review each application based on the designation (i.e., research (84.133G-1) or development (84.133G-2)) made by the applicant. Applications will be determined ineligible and will not be reviewed if they do not include a clear designation of research or development. Note: NIDRR supports the goals of President Bush's New Freedom Initiative (NFI). The NFI can be accessed on the Internet at the following site: *http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/newfreedom/.* The FI projects are in concert with NIDRR's proposed Long-Range Plan for Fiscal Years 2005-2009

(Plan)published in the **Federal Register** on July 27, 2005 (70 FR 43521). The Plan is comprehensive and integrates many issues relating to disability and rehabilitation research topics. While applicants will find many sections throughout the Plan that support potential research and related activities to be conducted under the FI program, the specific reference to the FI program is on page 43533 of the Plan. The Plan can be accessed on the Internet at the following site: *http://www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/other/2005-3/072705d.html.* Through the implementation of the NFI and the Plan, NIDRR seeks to:

(1)Improve the quality and utility of disability and rehabilitation research;

(2)Foster an exchange of expertise, information, and training to facilitate the advancement of knowledge and understanding of the unique needs of traditionally underserved populations;

(3)Determine best strategies and programs to improve rehabilitation outcomes for underserved populations;

(4)Identify research gaps;

(5)Identify mechanisms of integrating research and practice; and

(6)Disseminate findings. *Program Authority:* 29 U.S.C. 764. *Applicable Regulations:*

(a)The Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 80, 81, 82, 84, 85, 86, and 97.

(b)The regulations in 34 CFR part 350. Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to institutions of higher education only. II. Award Information *Type of Award:* Discretionary grants. *Estimated Available Funds:* The Administration has requested $3,750,000 for the FI program for FY 2006. The actual level of funding, if any, depends on final congressional action. However, we are inviting applications to allow enough time to complete the grant process if Congress appropriates funds for this program. *Estimated Range of Awards:* $145,000-$150,000. *Estimated Average Size of Awards:* $147,500. *Maximum Award:* We will reject any application that proposes a budget exceeding $150,000 for a single budget period of 12 months. The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services may change the maximum amount through a notice published in the **Federal Register** . Note: The maximum amount includes direct and indirect costs. *Estimated Number of Awards:* 25. Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice. *Project Period:* Up to 36 months. III. Eligibility Information 1. *Eligible Applicants:* States; public or private agencies, including for-profit agencies; public or private organizations, including for-profit organizations; institutions of higher education; and Indian tribes and tribal organizations. 2. *Cost Sharing or Matching:* This program does not involve cost sharing or matching. IV. Application and Submission Information 1. *Address to Request Application Package:* You may obtain an application package via Internet or from the Education Publications Center (ED Pubs). To obtain a copy via Internet use the following address: *http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/grantapps/index.html.* To obtain a copy from ED Pubs, write or call the following: Education Publications Center, P.O. Box 1398, Jessup, MD 20794-1398. Telephone (toll free): 1-877-433-7827. FAX:

(301)470-1244. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may call (toll free): 1-877-576-7734. You may also contact ED Pubs at its Web site: *http://www.ed.gov/pubs/edpubs.html* or you may contact ED Pubs at its e-mail address: *edpubs@inet.ed.gov* If you request an application from ED Pubs, be sure to identify this competition as follows: CFDA Number: 84.133G. Individuals with disabilities may obtain a copy of the application package in an alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) by contacting the program contact person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII of this notice. 2. *Content and Form of Application Submission:* Requirements concerning the content of an application, together with the forms you must submit, are in the application package for this competition. *Page Limit:* The application narrative (Part III of the application) is where you, the applicant, address the selection criteria that reviewers use to evaluate your application. We recommend that you limit Part III to the equivalent of no more than 50 pages, using the following standards: • A “page” is 8.5″ x 11″, on one side only, with 1″ margins at the top, bottom, and both sides. • Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch) all text in the application narrative. Single space may be used for titles, headings, footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as all text in charts, tables, figures, and graphs. • Use a font that is either 12 point or larger or no smaller than 10 pitch (characters per inch). The recommended page limit does not apply to Part I, the cover sheet; Part II, the budget section, including the narrative budget justification; Part IV, the assurances and certifications; or the one-page abstract, the resumes, the bibliography, or the letters of support. However, you must include all of the application narrative in Part III. The application package will provide instructions for completing all components to be included in the application. Each application must include a cover sheet (ED Standard Form 424); budget requirements (ED Form 524) and narrative justification; other required forms; an abstract, Human Subjects narrative, Part III narrative; resumes of staff; and other related materials, if applicable. 3. *Submission Dates and Times:* Applications Available: December 6, 2005. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: February 6, 2006. Applications for grants under this competition may be submitted electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov), or in paper format by mail or hand delivery. For information (including dates and times) about how to submit your application electronically, or by mail or hand delivery, please refer to section IV. 6. *Other Submission Requirements* in this notice. We do not consider an application that does not comply with the deadline requirements. 4. *Intergovernmental Review:* This program is not subject to Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. 5. *Funding Restrictions:* We reference regulations outlining funding restrictions in the *Applicable Regulations* section of this notice. 6. *Other Submission Requirements:* Applications for grants under this competition may be submitted electronically or in paper format by mail or hand delivery. a. *Electronic Submission of Applications.* We have been accepting applications electronically through the Department's e-Application system since FY 2000. In order to expand on those efforts and comply with the President's Management Agenda, we are continuing to participate as a partner in the new government wide Grants.gov Apply site in FY 2006. Field Initiated Projects-CFDA Numbers 84.133G-1 (Research) and 84.133G-2 (Development) are included in this project. We request your participation in Grants.gov. If you choose to submit your application electronically, you must use the Grants.gov Apply site at *http://www.Grants.gov.* Through this site, you will be able to download a copy of the application package, complete it offline, and then upload and submit your application. You may not e-mail an electronic copy of a grant application to us. You may access the electronic grant application for Field Initiated Projects, 84.133G-1 (Research) and 84.133G-2 (Development) at: *http://www.grants.gov.* You must search for the downloadable application package for this program by the CFDA number. Do not include the CFDA number's alpha suffix in your search. Please note the following: • Your participation in Grants.gov is voluntary. • When you enter the Grants.gov site, you will find information about submitting an application electronically through the site, as well as the hours of operation. • Applications received by Grants.gov are time and date stamped. Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted, and must be date/time stamped by the Grants.gov system no later than 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. Except as otherwise noted in this section, we will not consider your application if it is date/time stamped by the Grants.gov system later than 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. When we retrieve your application from Grants.gov, we will notify you if we are rejecting your application because it was date/time stamped by the Grants.gov system after 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. • The amount of time it can take to upload an application will vary depending on a variety of factors including the size of the application and the speed of your Internet connection. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline date to begin the application process through Grants.gov. • You should review and follow the Education Submission Procedures for submitting an application through Grants.gov that are included in the application package for this competition to ensure that you submit your application in a timely manner to the Grants.gov system. You can also find the Education Submission Procedures pertaining to Grants.gov at *http://e-Grants.ed.gov/help/GrantsgovSubmissionProcedures.pdf.* • To submit your application via Grants.gov, you must complete the steps in the Grants.gov registration process (see *http://www.Grants.gov/GetStarted* ) and provide on your application the same D-U-N-S Number used with this registration. Please note that the registration process may take five or more business days to complete. • You will not receive additional point value because you submit your application in electronic format, nor will we penalize you if you submit your application in paper format. • You may submit all documents electronically, including all information typically included on the Application for Federal Education Assistance (ED 424), Budget Information—Non-Construction Programs (ED 524), and all necessary assurances and certifications. If you choose to submit your application electronically, you must attach any narrative sections of your application as files in a .DOC (document), .RTF (rich text), or .PDF (Portable Document) format. If you upload a file type other than the three file types specified above or submit a password protected file, we will not review that material. • Your electronic application must comply with any page limit requirements described in this notice. • After you electronically submit your application, you will receive an automatic acknowledgment from Grants.gov that contains a Grants.gov tracking number. The Department will retrieve your application from Grants.gov and send you a second confirmation by e-mail that will include a PR/Award number (an ED-specified identifying number unique to your application). • We may request that you provide us original signatures on forms at a later date. Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of System Unavailability If you are prevented from electronically submitting your application on the application deadline date because of technical problems with the Grants.gov system, we will grant you an extension until 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, the following business day to enable you to transmit your application electronically, or by hand delivery. You also may mail your application by following the mailing instructions as described elsewhere in this notice. If you submit an application after 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the deadline date, please contact the person listed elsewhere in this notice under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT , and provide an explanation of the technical problem you experienced with Grants.gov, along with the Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number (if available). We will accept your application if we can confirm that a technical problem occurred with the Grants.gov system and that that problem affected your ability to submit your application by 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. The Department will contact you after a determination is made on whether your application will be accepted. Note: Extensions referred to in this section apply only to the unavailability of or technical problems with the Grants.gov system. We will not grant you an extension if you failed to fully register to submit your application to Grants.gov before the deadline date and time or if the technical problem you experienced is unrelated to the Grants.gov system. b. *Submission of Paper Applications by Mail.* If you submit your application in paper format by mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a commercial carrier), you must mail the original and two copies of your application, on or before the application deadline date, to the Department at the applicable following address: *By mail through the U.S. Postal Service:* U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (Applicants must identify either CFDA Number 84.133G-1 (Research) or 84.133G-2 (Development) depending on the designation of their proposed project), 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20202-4260 or *By mail through a commercial carrier:* U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center—Stop 4260, Attention: (Applicants must identify either CFDA Number 84.133G-1 (Research) or 84.133G-2 (Development) depending on the designation of their proposed project.), 7100 Old Landover Road, Landover, MD 20785-1506. Regardless of which address you use, you must show proof of mailing consisting of one of the following:

(1)A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark,

(2)A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the U.S. Postal Service,

(3)A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial carrier, or

(1)A private metered postmark, or

(2)A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service. If your application is postmarked after the application deadline date, we will not consider your application. Note: The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a dated postmark. Before relying on this method, you should check with your local post office. c. *Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery.* If you submit your application in paper format by hand delivery, you (or a courier service) must deliver the original and two copies of your application by hand, on or before the application deadline date, to the Department at the following address: U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (Applicants must identify either CFDA Number 84.133G-1 (Research) or 84.133G-2 (Development) depending on the designation of their proposed project.), 550 12th Street, SW., Room 7041, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-4260. The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, except Saturdays, Sundays and Federal holidays. Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of Paper Applications: If you mail or hand deliver your application to the Department:

(1)You must indicate on the envelope and—if not provided by the Department—in Item 4 of the Application for Federal Education Assistance (ED 424) the CFDA number—and suffix letter, if any—of the competition under which you are submitting your application.

(202)245-6288. V. Application Review Information 1. *Selection Criteria:* The selection criteria for this competition are from 34 CFR 75.210 and 34 CFR 350.54 and are in the application package. Note: There are two different sets of selection criteria for FI projects: one set to evaluate applications proposing to carry out research activities (84.133G-1), and a second set to evaluate applications proposing to carry out development activities (84.133G-2). Each applicant will be evaluated using the selection criteria for the type of project (i.e., research (84.133G-1) or development (84.133G-2)) the applicant designates in its application. 2. *Review and Selection Process:* Additional factors we consider in selecting an application for an award are as follows— The Secretary is interested in outcomes-oriented research or development projects that use rigorous scientific methodologies. To address this interest applicants are encouraged to articulate goals, objectives, and expected outcomes for the proposed research or development activities. Proposals should describe how results and planned outputs are expected to contribute to advances in knowledge, improvements in policy and practice, and eventually to public benefits for individuals with disabilities. Applicants should propose projects that are optimally designed to be consistent with these goals. We encourage applicants to include in their application a description of how results will measure progress towards achievement of anticipated outcomes, the mechanisms that will be used to evaluate outcomes associated with specific problems or issues, and how the proposed activities will support new intervention approaches and strategies, including a discussion of measures of effectiveness. Submission of the information identified in this section V. 2. *Review and Selection Process* is voluntary, except where required by the selection criteria listed in the application package. VI. Award Administration Information 1. *Award Notices:* If your application is successful, we notify your U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators and send you a Grant Award Notification (GAN). We may also notify you informally. If your application is not evaluated or not selected for funding, we notify you. 2. *Administrative and National Policy Requirements:* We identify administrative and national policy requirements in the application package and reference these and other requirements in the *Applicable Regulations* section of this notice. We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of an award in the *Applicable Regulations* section of this notice and include these and other specific conditions in the GAN. The GAN also incorporates your approved application as part of your binding commitments under the grant. 3. *Reporting:* At the end of your project period, you must submit a final performance report, including financial information, as directed by the Secretary. If you receive a multi-year award, you must submit an annual performance report that provides the most current performance and financial expenditure information as specified by the Secretary in 34 CFR 75.118. Note: NIDRR will provide information by letter to grantees on how and when to submit the report. 4. *Performance Measures:* To evaluate the overall success of its research program, NIDRR assesses the quality of its funded projects through review of grantee performance and products. Each year, NIDRR examines a portion of its grantees to determine the extent to which grantees are conducting high-quality research and related activities that lead to high quality products. Performance measures for the FI studies program include— • The percentage of grantee research and development that has appropriate study design, meets rigorous standards of scientific or engineering methods, and builds on and contributes to knowledge in the field; • The number of publications per award based on NIDRR-funded research and development activities in refereed journals; • The number of discoveries, analyses, and standards developed or tested with NIDRR funding that have been judged by expert panels to advance understanding of key concepts, issues, and emerging trends and strengthen the evidence-base for disability and rehabilitation policy, practice, and research; • The number of new or improved tools and methods developed or tested with NIDRR funding that have been judged by expert panels to improve measurement and data collection procedures and enhance the design and evaluation of disability and rehabilitation interventions, products and devices; and • The number of new and improved interventions, programs, and devices developed or tested with NIDRR funding that have been judged by expert panels to be successful in improving individual outcomes and increasing access. NIDRR uses information submitted by grantees as part of their Annual Performance Reports

(APRs)for these reviews. The Department's program performance reports, which include information on NIDRR programs, are available on the Department's Web site: *http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/opepd/sas/index.html.* Updates on the Government Performance and Results Act

(GPRA)indicators, revisions, and methods appear in the NIDRR Program Review Web site: *http://www.cessi.net/contracts/pm/doe_nidrr_tsam.html.* Grantees should consult these sites, on a regular basis, to obtain details and explanations on how NIDRR programs contribute to the advancement of the Department's long-term and annual performance goals. VII. Agency Contact *For Further Information Contact:* Lynn Medley, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 6027, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202. Telephone:

(202)245-7338 or by e-mail: *lynn.medley@ed.gov.* If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may call the TDD number at

(202)245-7317 or the Federal Relay Service

(FRS)at 1-800-877-8339. Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) on request to the program contact person listed in this section. VIII. Other Information *Electronic Access to This Document:* You may view this document, as well as all other documents of this Department published in the **Federal Register,** in text or Adobe Portable Document Format

(PDF)on the Internet at the following site: *http://www.ed.gov/news/fedregister.* To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at this site. If you have questions about using PDF, call the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO), toll free, at 1-888-293-6498; or in the Washington, DC area at

(202)512-1530. Note: The official version of this document is the document published in the **Federal Register** . Free Internet access to the official edition of the **Federal Register** and the Code of Federal Regulations is available on GPO Access at: *http://www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/index.html.* Dated: December 1, 2005. John H. Hager, Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services. [FR Doc. E5-6910 Filed 12-5-05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000-01-P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Proposed Draft Cost and Performance Goals for the Department of Energy's Coal and Related Technologies Program AGENCY: Office of Fossil Energy, Department of Energy (DOE). ACTION: Notice of proposed draft cost and performance for the Department of Energy's coal and related technologies program, and request for comments. SUMMARY: Section 962 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct), (42 U.S.C. 16292), directed the Secretary of Energy to conduct coal research and development programs and, in carrying out such programs, to identify proposed draft cost and performance goals for coal-based technologies that would permit the continued cost-competitive use of coal for the production of electricity, chemical feedstocks, and transportation fuels. In compliance with section 962(b) of EPAct, this notice requests public comment on the proposed goals. DATES: Comments on the draft cost and performance goals are due December 27, 2005. ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to: U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Fossil Energy, ATTN: Darren Mollot, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Darren Mollot, Office of Clean Coal, Office of Fossil Energy,

(202)586-0429, *darren.mollot@hq.doe.gov* or Mr. John Grasser, Director of Communications, Office of Fossil Energy,

(202)586-6803, *john.grasser@hq.doe.gov* , 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 962 of EPAct directed DOE to conduct a program of technology research, development, demonstration, and commercial application for coal and power systems (42 U.S.C. 16292(a)). In carrying out these programs, DOE was also directed to identify proposed draft cost and performance goals for coal-based technologies that would permit the continued cost-competitive use of coal for the production of electricity, chemical feedstocks, and transportation fuels (42 U.S.C. 16292(b)). Proposed draft cost and performance goals for program activities currently funded and undertaken by DOE to facilitate production and generation of coal-based power are summarized in the table below. These aggressive goals are for technology that does not yet exist. The goals provide a basis for guiding technology development, and program funding. They are not being proposed as the basis for present or future regulations or legally binding standards, nor do they attempt to project dates by which technologies will be developed or commercially available. The dates for achieving the targeted goals relate to the projected need for maintaining existing coal-based electric plant capability and for significantly increasing coal-based electric power capacity beginning in the 2010 to 2020 time frame (Energy Information Administration, Annual Energy Outlook, February 2005). Achieving the performance goals within these dates will depend on continued availability of funding. The overall program objective is to develop coal-based technologies that will enable the continued use of coal as a valued energy resource for the Nation. These proposed goals were established based on a variety of information and data, including the status of current coal-based technology and results from on-going research and development programs carried out by industry, university, and national laboratories. They were developed through feedback from workshops held by DOE that resulted in developing a coal program roadmap to meet national needs and from workshops on advanced technology to improve environmental performance, energy system efficiency, and lower cost of coal-based energy systems. In establishing these goals, DOE consulted with coal-based technology equipment vendors, users ( *e.g.* electric utilities), and technology developers. Consultations also included exchanges with the Coal Utilization Research Council, the Electric Power Research Institute, and with other organizations, including environmental and consumer groups. An integrated plan to achieve the performance and cost goals is presented in the DOE Office of Clean Coal Strategic Plan. The latest version of this Strategic Plan is undergoing internal review and will be issued shortly and then made available to the public on the National Energy Technology Laboratory Web site at *http://www.netl.doe.gov/coal/index.html* . Detailed program plans, roadmaps, and other documents related to the goals of individual programs are currently available on the Web site. Some of the program activities to facilitate production and generation of coal-based power listed in section 962(a) of EPAct have not been funded to date. Therefore, no cost and performance goals have been established for those activities, which include advanced combustion systems, the liquid fuels portion of coal-derived liquids and transportation fuels (except for hydrogen), liquid fuels derived from low rank coal water slurry, and solid fuels and feedstocks. The following table identifies cost and performance goals for currently funded program activities under DOE's coal and related technologies program. Some of the activities include more than one of those listed in section 962(a). *Advanced Power Systems* includes cost and performance goals for gasification systems, turbines for synthesis gas derived from coal, and advanced separation technologies (oxygen). *Carbon Sequestration* also includes advanced separation technologies (carbon dioxide) and work on advanced combustion technology. *Hydrogen and Fuels* activities are part of coal-derived chemicals and transportation fuels and also include advanced separation technologies (hydrogen). All of the below listed program activities encompass some aspect of advanced coal-related research activities. Program activity Performance goals * Efficiency Environmental Cost Goals * Innovations for Existing Plants Maintain current plant efficiency while achieving the environmental performance and cost goals Mercury (Hg): 50-70% reduction by 2007; 90% reduction by 2010 70% of today's cost (per lb of mercury removed). Nitrogen Oxides (NO X ): <0.15 lb/million Btu by 2007; <0.10 lb/million Btu by 2010 50-75% of current selective catalytic reduction

(SCR)capital cost. Advanced Power Systems 45-50% higher heating value

(HHV)efficiency to electricity by 2010 Multi-product capability ( *e.g.* power and hydrogen) with over 60% efficiency by 2015 Sulfur Dioxide (SO 2 ): >99% removal NO X : < 0.01 lb/million Btu Hg: >90% removal Carbon Dioxide (CO 2 ) capture: >90% 2012 goal: <10% increase in cost of electricity services in zero emission advanced gasification plants integrated with carbon sequestration. Carbon Sequestration Efficiency of current and new plants consistent with cost of electricity target 90% CO 2 capture and sequestration 2012 goal: <10% increase in cost of electricity services to separate, capture, transport, and sequester carbon using either direct or indirect systems. Hydrogen and Fuels Efficiency consistent with advanced power systems Emissions consistent with advanced power systems Hydrogen at $0.90/gal. gasoline equivalent

(gge)by 2010 and $0.79 gge by 2015 with no incentives or tax credits when integrated with advanced coal power systems. Fuel Cell Systems (Coal-based fuel cell/turbine hybrids) 40-60% (40% for kilowatt sizes; 60% for megawatt class hybrid systems integrated with coal gasification) Emissions consistent with advanced power systems $400/kW capital cost for fuel cell power modules (in kilowatt sizes by 2010 and megawatt class hybrids by 2015). * All dates shown are meant to indicate the completion dates for ongoing research. The referenced technologies will still have to be commercially demonstrated before they are ready or are available for commercial deployment. Issued in Washington, DC, on November 30, 2005. Mark R. Maddox, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Fossil Energy. [FR Doc. E5-6902 Filed 12-5-05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6450-01-P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Bonneville Power Administration Klondike III/Biglow Canyon Wind Integration Project AGENCY: Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), Department of Energy (DOE). ACTION: Notice of Extension of Comment Period for an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). SUMMARY: This notice extends the close of comment for scoping from the previously published May 13, 2005 to January 5, 2006. BPA is preparing its Klondike III/Biglow Canyon Wind Integration EIS under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). BPA is currently considering a proposed interconnection requested by PPM Energy, Inc. (PPM), to integrate electrical power from their proposed Klondike III Wind Project into the Federal Columbia River Transmission System (FCRTS). The EIS will now also include a proposed interconnection requested by an additional wind developer, Orion Energy, LLC (Orion) to integrate electrical power from their proposed Biglow Canyon Wind Farm Project. BPA published a NOI to prepare an EIS for the Klondike III Wind Project in the **Federal Register** on February 11, 2005. After receiving comments during the scoping period that suggested combining the interconnections of these two projects, and receiving an interconnection request from Orion, BPA has decided to include both projects in the same EIS and change the name of the EIS to Klondike III/Biglow Canyon Wind Integration Project EIS. Both proposed wind projects are located in Sherman County, Oregon. BPA proposes to execute agreements with both developers to provide them with an interconnection for up to 700 megawatts

(MW)of generation (300 MW from Klondike III, 400 MW from Biglow Canyon). Interconnection would require BPA to build and operate a new double-circuit 230-kilovolt

(kV)transmission line, a new 230-kV substation, and to expand an existing 500-kV substation. BPA also intends to consider the impacts of building another substation in the area. Because more local wind generation projects are expected to be constructed in the coming years, a substation is likely to be needed in this area to integrate them into BPA's transmission system; however, another substation is not needed at this time. DATES: Written comments on the NEPA scoping process are due at the address below no later than January 5, 2006. ADDRESSES: Send letters with comments and suggestions on the proposed scope of the Draft EIS and requests to be placed on the project mailing list to Bonneville Power Administration, Communications—DKP-7, P.O. Box 14428, Portland, OR 97293-4428. Comments may also be sent to the following Web site: *http://www.transmission.bpa.gov/NewsEv/commentperiods.cfm.* Please refer to the Klondike III/Biglow Canyon Wind Integration Project EIS in all communications. Comments submitted at the previous scoping meetings or in writing do not have to be resubmitted. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gene Lynard, Bonneville Power Administration—KEC-4, P.O. Box 3621, Portland, Oregon 97208-3621, toll-free telephone 1-800-622-4519; direct phone number 503-230-3790, fax number 503-230-5699, email gplynard@bpa.gov. Additional information can be found at BPA's Web site: *http://www.efw.bpa.gov/environmental_services/Document_Library/Klondike/.* SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: *Proposed Action.* BPA proposes to execute an agreement with PPM to provide interconnection services for up to 300 MW from the Klondike III Wind Project. BPA also proposes to execute an agreement with Orion to provide interconnection services for up to 400 MW from the Biglow Canyon Wind Farm Project. As part of these agreements, BPA would agree to construct and operate an approximately 12-mile, double-circuit 230-kV transmission line that would interconnect the electricity from the wind projects to the FCRTS. BPA would also build and operate a new 230-kV substation, expand and place new equipment in BPA's existing John Day 500-kV Substation, and connect to two transmission lines built by PPM and Orion. Steel tubes and lattice steel towers are being considered for BPA's transmission line. The line and new 230-kV substation would be on privately-owned land that is primarily used for dryland wheat farming. The EIS will also analyze a potential site for a future substation, not yet proposed, in the project area. A substation would likely be needed in the future for other wind development integration, but is not needed at this time. In addition to these federal actions, the EIS will consider the reasonably foreseeable consequences from the construction and operation of the PPM's proposed Klondike III Wind Project and Orion's proposed Biglow Canyon Wind Farm Project. The Klondike III Wind Project would be next to the currently operating Klondike Wind Project Phases I and II, on privately-owned land, mostly used for agriculture. Up to 165 additional wind turbines are proposed to be commercially operating by the end of 2007. The Klondike III Wind Project includes wind turbines, substations, access roads, and other project facilities. Siting of the proposed wind project is under the jurisdiction of Oregon Energy Facility Siting Council (EFSC), and PPM has applied for an EFSC Site Certificate. The Biglow Canyon Wind Farm Project would be on privately-owned land mostly used for agriculture. Up to 225 wind turbines are proposed to be commercially operating by the end of 2007. The Biglow Canyon Wind Farm Project includes wind turbines, substation, access roads, and other project facilities. Siting of the proposed wind project is under the jurisdiction of EFSC, and Orion has applied for an EFSC Site Certificate. Construction of the BPA transmission line, new 230-kV substation and the wind projects would commence in early 2007. The wind projects would be interconnected to BPA transmission lines in fall 2007, with a commercial operation date for the wind projects in 2007. Agricultural activities could continue to take place next to the transmission line structures and wind turbines. The wind projects would operate for much of each year for at least 20 years. *Possible Alternatives for BPA's Proposed Action.* An alternative to the proposed action of offering interconnection contract terms is to not offer the terms requested. Thus, the EIS will evaluate this “no-action” alternative. In addition, the EIS will evaluate alternatives for routing the proposed BPA transmission line. At this time, at least two potentially feasible alternatives have been identified: • The North Alternative; and • The Middle Alternative (see attached Project Area Map). *Public Participation and Identification of Environmental Issues.* BPA is the lead federal agency under NEPA for the EIS. BPA originally established a minimum of a 30-day scoping period during which affected landowners, Tribes, concerned citizens, special interest groups, local governments, state and federal agencies and any other interested parties were invited to comment on the scope of the proposed EIS. BPA extended this scoping period after reviewing the comments received by mail and at a public scoping meeting on March 1, 2005. After revising alternatives proposed for the transmission line route, BPA held a second public scoping meeting on April 27, 2005. Now that the second proposed wind project will be included in the EIS, BPA has reopened scoping to receive comments. Scoping will help BPA identify potentially significant impacts that may result from BPA's proposed action and will help ensure that all relevant environmental issues related to BPA's proposed action are addressed in the EIS. Based on BPA's experience, potential environmental issues for the wind projects and BPA's interconnection facilities may include noise created by wind turbines, visual effects from the wind turbines and transmission line, socioeconomic impacts created by an influx of construction workers into a sparsely populated area, effects on recreation (primarily hunting), impacts on cultural resources, and impacts to wildlife habitat and populations, including migratory birds. When completed, the Draft EIS will be circulated for review and comment, and BPA will hold a public comment meeting on the Draft EIS. In the Final EIS, BPA will consider and respond to comments received on the Draft EIS. BPA expects to publish the Final EIS in summer or early fall 2006. BPA's subsequent decision will be documented in a Record of Decision. In addition to BPA's EIS process, Oregon EFSC provides opportunity for public participation as part of its site evaluation process. It is expected that public meetings for the projects will be held by representatives from the Oregon Office of Energy sometime in 2006. BPA will coordinate with Oregon EFSC to ensure full consideration of all public and agency comments received. Stephen J. Wright, Administrator and Chief Executive Officer. [FR Doc. E5-6904 Filed 12-5-05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6450-01-P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Energy Information Administration Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request AGENCY: Energy Information Administration (EIA), Department of Energy (DOE). ACTION: Agency information collection activities: submission for OMB review; comment request. SUMMARY: The EIA has submitted the Energy Information Administration's Natural Gas Data Collection Program Package collections to the Office of Management and Budget

(OMB)for review and a three-year extension under section 3507(h)(1) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13) (44 U.S.C. 3501 *et seq.* ). DATES: Comments must be filed by January 5, 2006. If you anticipate that you will be submitting comments but find it difficult to do so within that period, you should contact the OMB Desk Officer for DOE listed below as soon as possible. ADDRESSES: Send comments to the OMB Desk Officer for DOE, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 726 Jackson Place NW., Washington, DC 20503. The OMB DOE Desk Officer may be telephoned at

(202)395-3084. (A copy of your comments should also be provided to EIA's Statistics and Methods Group at the address below.) FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information should be directed to Kara Norman, Statistics and Methods Group, (EI-70), Forrestal Building, U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, DC 20585-0670. Kara Norman may be contacted by telephone at

(202)287-1902, FAX at

(202)287-1705, or e-mail at *kara.norman@eia.doe.gov.* SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This section contains the following information about the energy information collections submitted to OMB for review:

(1)The collection numbers and title;

(2)the sponsor (i.e., the Department of Energy component);

(3)the current OMB docket number (if applicable);

(4)the type of request (i.e, new, revision, extension, or reinstatement);

(5)response obligation (i.e., mandatory, voluntary, or required to obtain or retain benefits);

(6)a description of the need for and proposed use of the information;

(7)a categorical description of the likely respondents; and

(8)an estimate of the total annual reporting burden (i.e., the estimated number of likely respondents times the proposed frequency of response per year times the average hours per response). 1. EIA-176, EIA-191, EIA-857, EIA-895, EIA-910, and EIA-912. 2. Energy Information Administration. 3. OMB Number 1905-0175. 4. Three-year extension. 5. All forms are mandatory except EIA-895, which is voluntary. 6. The purpose of the Natural Gas Data Collection Program Package is to collect basic and detailed data to meet EIA's mandates and energy data users' needs. Adequate evaluation of the industry requires production, processing, transmission, distribution, storage, marketing, consumption, and price data. The data collected by EIA on these forms are unique. While somewhat similar or related data may be available from private and/or industry sources, as well as from other Federal agencies, such data are not reasonable alternatives for the data provided by the Natural Gas Data Collection Program Package survey forms. Data from the forms in the Natural Gas Data Collection Program Package are published in the Annual Energy Outlook, Annual Energy Review, Natural Gas Annual, Natural Gas Monthly, Natural Gas Weekly Market Update Report, Weekly Natural Gas Storage Report, Monthly Energy Review, Short-Term Energy Outlook, State Energy Data Report, and numerous other EIA publications. 7. Business or other for-profit. 8. 53,284. Statutory Authority: Section 3507(h)(1) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13). Issued in Washington, DC, November 30, 2005. Jay H. Casselberry, Agency Clearance Officer, Energy Information Administration. [FR Doc. E5-6903 Filed 12-5-05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6450-01-P FARM CREDIT ADMINISTRATION Sunshine Act Meeting; Farm Credit Administration Board AGENCY: Farm Credit Administration. SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given, pursuant to the Government in the Sunshine Act (5 U.S.C. 552b(e)(3)), of the regular meeting of the Farm Credit Administration Board (Board). DATE AND TIME: The regular meeting of the Board will be held at the offices of the Farm Credit Administration in McLean, Virginia, on December 8, 2005, from 9 a.m. until such time as the Board concludes its business. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeanette C. Brinkley, Secretary to the Farm Credit Administration Board,

(703)883-4009, TTY

(703)883-4056. ADDRESSES: Farm Credit Administration, 1501 Farm Credit Drive, McLean, Virginia 22102-5090. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Parts of this meeting of the Board will be open to the public (limited space available), and parts will be closed to the public. In order to increase the accessibility to Board meetings, persons requiring assistance should make arrangements in advance. The matters to be considered at the meeting are: Open Session A. Approval of Minutes • November 8, 2005 (Open). B. New Business 1. Regulations • Termination—Proposed Rule. 2. Reports • FCS Building Association Quarterly Report. • Office of Examination Quarterly Report on Farm Credit System. Closed Session * * Session Closed-Exempt pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552b(c)(2), (6),

(8)and (9). C. Reports • Quarterly Supervisory Report on FCS and Status of OE Organizational Changes and Communications with FCS Institutions. • OSMO Quarterly Report. Dated: December 1, 2005. Jeanette C. Brinkley, Secretary, Farm Credit Administration Board. [FR Doc. 05-23700 Filed 12-2-05; 9:29 am]

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