Notices. Notice of the acceptance of Title X claims for reimbursement in fiscal year (FY) 2006 and the acceptance of plans for subsequent remedial action

2,871 words·~13 min read·/register/2006/01/12/06-265

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

BILLING CODE 4000-01-M DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Reimbursement for Costs of Remedial Action at Active Uranium and Thorium Processing Sites AGENCY: Office of Environmental Management, Department of Energy. ACTION: Notice of the acceptance of Title X claims for reimbursement in fiscal year

(FY)2006 and the acceptance of plans for subsequent remedial action. SUMMARY: This Notice announces the Department of Energy

(DOE)acceptance of claims in FY 2006 from eligible active uranium and thorium processing sites for reimbursement under Title X of the Energy Policy Act of 1992. For FY 2006, Congress has appropriated approximately $20 million for reimbursement of certain costs of remedial action at these sites. The approved amount of claims submitted during FY 2005 and unpaid approved balances for claims submitted in FY 2004 will be paid by April 28, 2006, subject to the availability of funds. If the available funds are less than the total approved claims, these payments will be prorated, if necessary, based on the amount of available FY 2006 appropriations, unpaid approved claim balances (approximately $0.45 million), and claims received in May 2005 (approximately $22 million). This also provides notice of the continuing DOE acceptance of plans for subsequent decontamination, decommissioning, reclamation, and other remedial action (Plans for Subsequent Remedial Action). If Title X licensees expect to incur remedial action costs for remedial action after December 31, 2007, licensees must submit a Plan for Subsequent Remedial Action during calendar year

(CY)2005 or 2006, and DOE must approve a Plan submitted by a licensee by the end of CY 2007, if the costs incurred after CY 2007 are to be eligible for reimbursement. DATES: The closing date for the submission of claims in FY 2006 is May 1, 2006. These new claims will be processed for payment by April 27, 2007, together with unpaid approved claim balances from prior years, based on the availability of funds from congressional appropriations. Plans for Subsequent Remedial Action must be submitted no later than December 31, 2006. ADDRESSES: Claims and Plans for Subsequent Remedial Action should be forwarded by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, to the U.S. Department of Energy, 19901 Germantown Rd., EM-12/CLF, Germantown, MD 20874-1290, or by express mail to the U.S. Department of Energy, 19901 Germantown Rd., EM-12/CLF, Germantown, MD. All claims should be addressed to the attention of Mr. David Mathes. Three copies of the claim should be included with each submission. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact David Mathes at

(301)903-7222 of the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Environmental Management, Office of Commercial Disposition Options. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: DOE published a final rule under 10 CFR part 765 in the **Federal Register** on May 23, 1994, (59 FR 26714) to carry out the requirements of Title X of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (sections 1001-1004 of Public Law 102-486, 42 U.S.C. 2296a *et seq.* ) and to establish the procedures for eligible licensees to submit claims for reimbursement. DOE amended the final rule on June 3, 2003, (68 FR 32955) to adopt several technical and administrative amendments (e.g., statutory increases in the reimbursement ceilings). Title X requires DOE to reimburse eligible uranium and thorium licensees for certain costs of decontamination, decommissioning, reclamation, and other remedial action incurred by licensees at active uranium and thorium processing sites to remediate byproduct material generated as an incident of sales to the United States Government. To be reimbursable, costs of remedial action must be for work which is necessary to comply with applicable requirements of the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act of 1978 (42 U.S.C. 7901 *et seq.* ) or, where appropriate, with requirements established by a State pursuant to a discontinuance agreement under section 274 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2021). Claims for reimbursement must be supported by reasonable documentation as determined by DOE in accordance with 10 CFR part 765. Funds for reimbursement will be provided from the Uranium Enrichment Decontamination and Decommissioning Fund established at the United States Department of Treasury pursuant to section 1801 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2297g). Payment or obligation of funds shall be subject to the requirements of the Anti-Deficiency Act (31 U.S.C. 1341). Authority: Section 1001-1004 of Public Law 102-486, 106 Stat. 2776 (42 U.S.C. 2296a *et seq.* ). Issued in Washington DC on this 30th of December, 2005. David E. Mathes, Office of Commercial Disposition Options, Office of Logistics and Waste Disposition Enhancements. [FR Doc. E6-218 Filed 1-11-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6450-01-P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Agency Information Collection Extension AGENCY: U.S. Department of Energy. ACTION: Notice and request for comments. SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE), pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, intends to extend for three years the information collection packages listed at the end of this notice. Comments are invited on:

(a)Whether the extended information collections are necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information has practical utility;

(b)the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the information collections, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;

(c)ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

(d)ways to minimize the burden of the information collections on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and included in the request for Office of Management and Budget review and approval of these information collections; they also will become a matter of public record. DATES: Comments regarding these proposed information collections must be received on or before March 13, 2006. If you anticipate difficulty in submitting comments within that period, contact the person listed below as soon as possible. ADDRESSES: Written comments may be sent to: Jeffrey Martus, IM-11/Germantown Building, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20585-1290 or by fax at 301-903-9061 or by e-mail at *Jeffrey.martus@hq.doe.gov.* FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should be directed to Jeffrey Martus at the address listed above in ADDRESSES . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The information collection packages listed in this notice for public comment include the following: 1. *(1) OMB No.:* 1910-0300. *(2) Package Title:* Environment, Safety and Health. *(3) Type of Review:* Renewal. *(4) Purpose:* This information is required to ensure that environment, safety, and health resources and requirements are managed efficiently and effectively and to exercise management oversight of DOE contractors. *(5) Respondents:* 11,344. *(6) Estimated Number of Burden Hours:* 269,475. 2. *(1) OMB No.:* 1910-0500. *(2) Package Title:* Financial Management. *(3) Type of Review:* Renewal. *(4) Purpose:* This information is required by the Department to ensure that financial management resources and requirements are managed efficiently and effectively and to exercise management oversight of DOE contractors. *(5) Respondents:* 12,626. *(6) Estimated Number of Burden Hours:* 152,704. 3. *(1) OMB No.:* 1910-5101. *(2) Package Title:* U.S. Dept. of Energy: Annual Alternative Fuel Vehicle Acquisition Report for State Government & Alternative Fuel Provider Fleets. *(3) Type of Review:* Renewal. *(4) Purpose:* This collection is critical to ensure the Government has sufficient information to ensure that covered fleets are complying with annual reporting and acquisition requirements under the Alternative Fuel Transportation Program. *(5) Respondents:* 310. *(6) Estimated Number of Burden Hours:* 1,550. 4. *(1) OMB No.:* 1910-5102. *(2) Package Title:* Make-or-Buy Plans. *(3) Type of Review:* Renewal. *(4) Purpose:* This information is required by the Department to ensure the Department's management and operations are sub-contracting in the most cost-effective and efficient manner and to exercise management and oversight of DOE contractors. *(5) Respondents:* 36. *(6) Estimated Number of Burden Hours:* 5,350. 5. *(1) OMB No.:* 1910-5111. *(2) Package Title:* Purchasing by DOE Management and Operating Contractors from Contractor Affiliated Sources. *(3) Type of Review:* Renewal. *(4) Purpose:* This information is critical to ensure the Government has sufficient information to judge the degree to which awardees meet the terms of their agreement and ensure that improper organization conflicts are not created. *(5) Respondents:* 20. *(6) Estimated Number of Burden Hours:* 100. 6. *(1) OMB No.* 1910-5121. *(2) Package Title:* End-Use Certificate. *

(3)Type of Review: * Renewal. *(4) Purpose:* This information is required to ensure that respondents acquiring High Risk Property are responsible, not debarred bidders, Specially Designated Nationals or Blocked Persons, or have not violated U.S. export laws and to advise them of compliance with export laws and regulations. *(5) Respondents:* 5,000. *(6) Estimated Number of Burden Hours:* 1,650. Statutory Authority: Department of Energy Organization Act, Public Law 95-91. Issued in Washington, DC on December 30, 2005. Sharon A. Evelin, Director, Records Management Division, Office of the Chief Information Officer. [FR Doc. E6-220 Filed 1-11-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6450-01-P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Environmental Management Site-Specific Advisory Board, Fernald AGENCY: Department of Energy. ACTION: Notice of open meeting. SUMMARY: This notice announces a meeting of the Environmental Management Site-Specific Advisory Board (EMSSAB), Fernald. The Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. No. 92-463, 86 Stat. 770) requires that public notice of this meeting be announced in the **Federal Register** . DATES: Saturday, January 21, 2006, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. ADDRESSES: Crosby Township Senior Center, 8910 Willey Road, Harrison, Ohio 45030. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doug Sarno, The Perspectives Group, Inc., 1055 North Fairfax Street, Suite 204, Alexandria, VA 22314, at

(703)837-1197, or e-mail: *djsarno@theperspectivesgroup.com.* SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: *Purpose of the Board:* The purpose of the Board is to make recommendations to DOE in the areas of environmental restoration, waste management, and related activities. Tentative Agenda: 8:30 a.m. Call to Order 8:35 a.m. Updates and Announcements 8:45 a.m. Stewardship Needs and Responsibilities 10:00 a.m. Break 10:15 a.m. Friends of Fernald Group 10:45 a.m. Fernald History Activities 11:45 a.m. Fernald Citizens' Advisory Board Calendar and 2006 Activities 12:15 a.m. Public Comment 12:30 p.m. Adjourn *Public Participation:* The meeting is open to the public. Written statements may be filed with the Board chair either before or after the meeting. Individuals who wish to make oral statements pertaining to agenda items should contact the Board chair at the address or telephone number listed below. Requests must be received five days prior to the meeting and reasonable provisions will be made to include the presentation in the agenda. The Deputy Designated Federal Officer is empowered to conduct the meeting in a fashion that will facilitate the orderly conduct of business. Individuals wishing to make public comment will be provided a maximum of five minutes to present their comments. This notice is being published less than 15 days before the date of the meeting due to programmatic issues. *Minutes:* The minutes of this meeting will be available for public review and copying at the U.S. Department of Energy's Freedom of Information Public Reading Room, 1E-190, Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday-Friday, except Federal holidays. Minutes will also be available by writing to the Fernald Citizens' Advisory Board, MS-76, Post Office Box 538704, Cincinnati, OH 43253-8704, or by calling the Advisory Board at

(513)648-6478. Issued at Washington, DC on January 5, 2006. Rachel Samuel, Deputy Advisory Committee Management Officer. [FR Doc. E6-219 Filed 1-11-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6450-01-P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Hydrogen Production Cost Independent Review AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy (DOE). ACTION: Request for information and notice of independent review. SUMMARY: The Department of Energy

(DOE)today gives notice of a request for information and an independent progress assessment by the DOE Hydrogen Program in meeting research and development (R&D) cost goals for production of hydrogen using distributed natural gas reforming technology. A review panel is being assembled by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory

(NREL)Hydrogen Program Systems Integrator to review the current state of distributed natural gas reforming technology and costs. Based on the findings of the panel, the Systems Integrator will submit a written report to DOE on or before April 1, 2006. Position papers regarding the cost of hydrogen production via distributed natural gas reforming will be accepted by the Systems Integrator for consideration by the review panel. In addition, the panel may hear presentations from submitters as part of the assessment. DATES: Written position papers for consideration by the review panel regarding this topic must be received by February 1, 2006. The NREL Systems Integrator must receive requests to speak before the review panel no later than February 15, 2006. Attendees at the review panel will be limited to the presenter(s), the independent review panel, NREL Systems Integrator, and DOE representatives. ADDRESSES: Written position papers regarding the topic and requests to speak before the review panel are welcomed. Please submit 2 hardcopies of the position paper to: NREL Systems Integrator, U.S. Department of Energy, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 1617 Cole Boulevard, Mail Stop 1732, Golden, CO 80401-3393, Attn: Dale Gardner. Requests to present before the panel should be sent to Mr. Gardner via e-mail to *dale_gardner@nrel.gov* or Phone

(303)275-3020. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: *Independent review panel and process questions* —Mr. Dale Gardner, U.S. Department of Energy, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 1617 Cole Boulevard, Mail Stop 1732, Golden, CO 80401-3393, Attn: Dale Gardner, Phone

(303)275-3020, e-mail *dale_gardner@nrel.gov* . *Distributed natural gas reforming technology questions* —Mr. Pete Devlin, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Mail Station EE-2H, Attn: Pete Devlin, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121, Phone:

(202)586-4905, e-mail *peter.devlin@ee.doe.gov* . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The mission of DOE's Hydrogen, Fuel Cells and Infrastructure Technologies Program is to research, develop and validate fuel cell and hydrogen production, delivery, and storage technologies such that hydrogen from diverse domestic resources will be used in a clean, safe, reliable and affordable manner in fuel cell vehicles; central station electric power production; distributed thermal electric; and combined heat and power applications. The President's Hydrogen Fuel Initiative accelerates research, development and demonstration of hydrogen production, delivery and storage technologies to support an industry commercialization decision on the hydrogen economy by 2015. The FreedomCAR and Fuel Partnership is working toward an industry commercialization decision on hydrogen fuel cell vehicles by 2015. The transition to a hydrogen economy will take decades. During this transition, it is anticipated that a primary source of hydrogen for use in transportation by light duty fuel cell vehicles will be the distributed reforming of hydrogen from natural gas. This method is anticipated because

(1)reforming is already a mature technology for some applications,

(2)it conceivably can be cost competitive with other fuels and technologies in the transition timeframe,

(3)the natural gas feedstock is accessable and dispersed, and

(4)distributed production avoids a large scale hydrogen delivery/distribution infrastructures during the transition period. The following table shows the DOE cost goal status and targets over time for this production method. As calendar year 2005 comes to an end, an assessment of progress toward the $3.00/gge H <sup>2</sup> target is needed. Table 3.1.2.—Technical Targets: Distributed Production of Hydrogen From Natural Gas a b Characteristics Units Calendar year 2003 c status 2005 d target 2010 d target Total Hydrogen Cost $/gge H <sup>2</sup> 5.00 3.00 2.50 (See *http://www.eere.energy.gov/hydrogenandfuelcells/mypp/pdfs/production.pdf,* page 3-10, for complete table and footnotes). DOE has access to the results of R&D and demonstration projects in this technology area that it has funded to date, but additional information is requested from industry, academia, associations, and entities who are otherwise involved in aspects of distributed natural gas reforming. Position papers are limited to 10 pages maximum. A Cost Data Table is being assembled to help determine the current state of distributed natural gas reforming technologies. This table must be included in the position papers and/or presentations. The table can be downloaded from the DOE Hydrogen Program Web site at *http://www.hydrogen.energy.gov/ docs/natural_gas_cost_sheet.xls.* At a minimum, a submitter (position paper, presentation, or both) should *provide this table filled out to the maximum extent possible.* DOE recognizes that some submitters may not be able to complete all fields. For example, a company that develops only a subsystem/component of a reformer will only be able to address those table elements involved in that subsystem/component technology. Briefing materials should be forwarded to the NREL Systems Integrator for consideration as a presentation to the review panel. The review panel will meet during the February 15 through March 15 time frame to hear presentations that include data to support the presenter's position. If confidential/proprietary information is provided in position papers or presentations, it must be clearly marked as such by the submitter. The independent review panel will be screened for conflicts of interest and each member will have completed confidentiality agreements to protect any information submitted. In addition, all materials will be returned to the submitter when the assessment is complete. The final assessment by the panel will be publicly available and will not contain any information which is identified by a submitter as confidential or proprietary. For more information about the DOE Hydrogen Program and related hydrogen production activities visit the program's Web site at *http://www.hydrogen.energy.gov.* Issued in Golden, CO on January 3, 2005. Andrea K. Lucero, Acting Procurement Director, Golden Field Office. [FR Doc. 06-265 Filed 1-11-06; 8:45 am]

Connectionstraces to 6

Traces to 6 documents

U.S. Code

statutes-at-large