Ultra-Deepwater and Unconventional Natural Gas and Other Petroleum Resources Research and Development Program 2010 Annual Plan, 11147-11148 [2010-5083]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 46 / Wednesday, March 10, 2010 / Notices DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Department of the Navy Notice of Intent To Grant Exclusive Patent License; Distilled Solutions, LLC Department of the Navy, DoD. Notice. AGENCY: ACTION: SUMMARY: The Department of the Navy hereby gives notice of its intent to grant to Distilled Solutions, LLC a revocable, nonassignable, exclusive license to practice in the United States, the Government-owned invention described in U.S. Patent No. 6,893,540, entitled ‘‘High Temperature Peltier Effect Water Distiller,’’ issued May 17, 2005, Navy Case No. 82,363. DATES: Anyone wishing to object to the grant of this license must file written objections along with supporting evidence, if any, not later than March 25, 2010. ADDRESSES: Written objections are to be filed with the Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City, 110 Vernon Ave., Code CDL, Panama City, FL 32407– 7001. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. James Shepherd, Patent Counsel, Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City, 110 Vernon Ave., Panama City, FL 32407–7001, telephone 850–234–4646, fax 850–235–5497, or james.t.shepherd@navy.mil. Authority: 35 U.S.C. 207, 37 CFR part 404. Dated: March 2, 2010. A.M. Vallandingam, Lieutenant Commander, Office of the Judge Advocate General, U.S. Navy, Federal Register Liaison Officer. [FR Doc. 2010–5089 Filed 3–9–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3810–FF–P DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers Process for Requesting a Variance From Vegetation Standards for Levees and Floodwalls AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD. erowe on DSK5CLS3C1PROD with NOTICES ACTION: Extension of public comment period. SUMMARY: In the February 9, 2010 issue of the Federal Register (75 FR 6364), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), published its proposed update to its current process for requesting a variance from vegetation standards for levees and floodwalls for public comment. In that VerDate Nov<24>2008 15:07 Mar 09, 2010 Jkt 220001 notice, the Corps stated that written comments must be submitted on or before March 11, 2010. Instructions for submitting comments are provided in the February 9, 2010, Federal Register notice. In response to several requests, the Corps has decided to extend the public comment period to April 25, 2010. 11147 (EPAct). Subtitle J is reproduced in Appendix A. As required by Subtitle J, the Department of Energy (DOE) contracted with a consortium (Program Consortium) to administer three program elements identified in EPAct: ultra-deepwater architecture and technology, unconventional natural gas and other petroleum resources FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: exploration and production technology, Douglas J. Wade, Headquarters, and technology challenges of small Engineering and Construction producers. A fourth program element of Community of Practice, Washington, complementary research identified in DC, at 202–761–4668. EPAct is being conducted by the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: None. National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). NETL is also responsible for Dated: March 5, 2010. review and oversight of the Program John W. Hunter, Consortium. Engineering and Construction, Headquarters, In 2006, NETL awarded a contract to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. the Research Partnership to Secure [FR Doc. 2010–5126 Filed 3–9–10; 8:45 am] Energy for America (RPSEA) to function BILLING CODE 3720–58–P as the Program Consortium. The 2007 Annual Plan, the first annual plan, resulted in a total of 15 DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY solicitations from which 43 projects were selected. The 2008 Annual Plan Ultra-Deepwater and Unconventional resulted in the selection of 29 projects. Natural Gas and Other Petroleum Implementation of the 2009 Annual Resources Research and Development Plan includes 7 solicitations issued by Program 2010 Annual Plan the Program Consortium in October AGENCY: Department of Energy, Office of 2009, with selections anticipated in early 2010. Fossil Energy. As further required by Subtitle J, in ACTION: Notice of report availability. September 2009, two Federal advisory committees, the Ultra-Deepwater SUMMARY: The Office of Fossil Energy Advisory Committee and the announces the availability of the 2010 Unconventional Resources Technology Annual Plan for the Ultra-Deepwater Advisory Committee, began their and Unconventional Natural Gas and respective reviews of the draft 2010 Other Petroleum Resources Research Annual Plan. In October 2009, the two and Development Program on the DOE advisory committees provided their Web site at https:// management.energy.gov/FOIA/1480.htm recommendations. Section 999B(e)(3) of EPAct requires or in print form (see ‘‘Contact’’ below). DOE to publish all written comments The 2010 Annual Plan is in received regarding the annual plan. compliance with the Energy Policy Act Accordingly, the Program Consortium’s of 2005, Subtitle J, Section 999B(e)(3) 2010 draft Annual Plan is included here which requires the publication of this as Appendix B, and the comments and plan and all written comments in the recommendations provided by the two Federal Register. Federal advisory committees are FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: included here as Appendix C. No other Elena Melchert, U.S. Department of written comments were received. Energy, Office of Oil and Natural Gas, The 2010 Annual Plan provides a Mail Stop FE–30, 1000 Independence comprehensive outline of the research Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585 or activities planned for 2010. The primary phone: 202–586–5600 or e-mail to focus of these activities is to fill in any UltraDeepwater@hq.doe.gov. technology gaps not adequately addressed by the projects and SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: solicitations to date. A highlight of 2010 Executive Summary [Excerpted From Annual Plan is the attention that is the 2010 Annual Plan p. 3] being given to technology transfer. Technology transfer is important to This document is the 2010 Annual the success of this research program. Plan for the Ultra-Deepwater and Subtitle J requires 2.5% of the amount Unconventional Natural Gas and Other of each award to be designated for Petroleum Resources Research and technology transfer activities. The Development Program established Federal advisory committees have pursuant to Title IX, Subtitle J (Subtitle recommended that more information on J) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 PO 00000 Frm 00044 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\10MRN1.SGM 10MRN1 11148 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 46 / Wednesday, March 10, 2010 / Notices technology transfer be included in future annual plans. In response, the 2010 Annual Plan describes the structure for the overall technology transfer program. Subtitle J provides that the UltraDeepwater and Unconventional Natural Gas and Other Petroleum Research Fund be funded at $50-million-per-year, with funds generated from Federal lease royalties, rents, and bonuses paid by oil and gas companies. Seventy-five percent of these funds are obligated to the Program Consortium’s contract to execute the three program elements. After allocations for contract management by NETL and program administration by the Program Consortium, the amount to be invested in research activities by the Program Consortium totals $31.88 million per year. Under the Stage-Gate approach applied to prior years’ activities, all Program Consortium administered projects are fully funded to the completion of the appropriate decision point identified in each contract, which may include multiple stages. If a decision is made to move to the next stage or decision point or to gather additional data, additional funding will be provided from available funds. The NETL Strategic Center for Natural Gas and Oil is responsible for management of the consortium’s contract as part of its review and oversight function. Complementary research and development (R&D) is being carried out by NETL’s Office of Research and Development. Planning and analysis related to the Program, including benefits assessment and technology impacts analysis, is being carried out by NETL’s Office of Systems, Analysis, and Planning. Subtitle J contains a general sunset provision for Title IX, Subtitle J, of September 30, 2014. Issued in Washington, DC, on February 22, 2010. Christopher A. Smith, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Oil and Natural Gas, Office of Fossil Energy. [FR Doc. 2010–5083 Filed 3–9–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6450–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY erowe on DSK5CLS3C1PROD with NOTICES Energy Information Administration Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request AGENCY: Energy Information Administration (EIA), Department of Energy (DOE). VerDate Nov<24>2008 15:07 Mar 09, 2010 Jkt 220001 ACTION: Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request. SUMMARY: The EIA is soliciting comments on the proposed three-year extension of EIA Form EIA–914 Monthly Natural Gas Production Report. DATES: Comments must be filed by May 10, 2010. If you anticipate difficulty in submitting comments within that period, contact the person listed below as soon as possible. ADDRESSES: Send comments to Ms. Rhonda Green at Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration, Reserves and Production Division, 1999 Bryan Street, Suite 1110, Dallas, Texas 75201–6801. To ensure receipt of the comments by the due date, submission by e-mail (rhonda.green@eia.doe.gov) or FAX 214–720–6155 is recommended. Alternatively, Ms. Green may be contacted by telephone at 214–720– 6161. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or copies of any forms and instructions should be directed to Ms. Rhonda Green at the contact information listed above. The proposed forms and instructions are also available on the Internet at: https:// www.eia.doe.gov/oil_gas/natural_gas/ survey_forms/nat_survey_forms.html. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Background II. Current Actions III. Request for Comments I. Background The Federal Energy Administration Act of 1974 (Pub. L. No. 93–275, 15 U.S.C. 761 et seq.) and the DOE Organization Act (Pub. L. No. 95–91, 42 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.) require the EIA to carry out a centralized, comprehensive, and unified energy information program. This program collects, evaluates, assembles, analyzes, and disseminates information on energy resource reserves, production, demand, technology, and related economic and statistical information. This information is used to assess the adequacy of energy resources to meet near and longer-term domestic demands. The EIA, as part of its effort to comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–13, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), provides the general public and other Federal agencies with opportunities to comment on collections of energy information conducted by or in conjunction with the EIA. Any comments received help the EIA to prepare data requests that maximize the utility of the information collected, and to assess the impact of collection PO 00000 Frm 00045 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 requirements on the public. Also, the EIA will later seek approval by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under section 3507(a) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Currently a sample of operators of natural gas wells report on the Form EIA–914. From a universe of about 9,300 active operators, a cut-off sample is selected of 243 largest natural gas producers by state or area, known to have produced at least 20 million cubic feet (10 million cubic feet in Oklahoma) of natural gas per day in 2009. Using information collected on Form EIA–914, EIA estimates and disseminates timely and reliable monthly natural gas production data for Texas (onshore and offshore) and Louisiana (onshore and offshore), New Mexico, Oklahoma, Wyoming, the Federal Offshore Gulf of Mexico, Other States (onshore and offshore for the remaining gas producing States with Alaska excluded), and the lower 48 States. This collection is essential to the mission of the DOE in general and the EIA in particular because of the increasing demand for natural gas in the United States and the requirement for accurate and timely natural gas production information necessary to monitor the United States natural gas supply and demand balance. These estimates are essential to the development, implementation, and evaluation of energy policy and legislation. Data are disseminated through the EIA Natural Gas Monthly and EIA Natural Gas Annual Web site. Secondary publications that use the data include EIA’s Short-Term Energy Outlook, Annual Energy Outlook, Monthly Energy Review, and Annual Energy Review. II. Current Actions Currently EIA asks operators to resubmit if actual or corrected data vary more than plus or minus four percent (4%) from the data previously reported. The proposed change would ask that operators resubmit any change in previously reported data. This will make the instructions consistent with the way operators actually report now, i.e., without regard to a four percent difference threshold on revision submissions. III. Request for Comment Prospective respondents and other interested parties should comment on the actions discussed in item II. The following guidelines are provided to assist in the preparation of comments. E:\FR\FM\10MRN1.SGM 10MRN1

Agencies

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 46 (Wednesday, March 10, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11147-11148]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-5083]


=======================================================================
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Ultra-Deepwater and Unconventional Natural Gas and Other 
Petroleum Resources Research and Development Program 2010 Annual Plan

AGENCY: Department of Energy, Office of Fossil Energy.

ACTION: Notice of report availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Office of Fossil Energy announces the availability of the 
2010 Annual Plan for the Ultra-Deepwater and Unconventional Natural Gas 
and Other Petroleum Resources Research and Development Program on the 
DOE Web site at https://management.energy.gov/FOIA/1480.htm or in print 
form (see ``Contact'' below).
    The 2010 Annual Plan is in compliance with the Energy Policy Act of 
2005, Subtitle J, Section 999B(e)(3) which requires the publication of 
this plan and all written comments in the Federal Register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elena Melchert, U.S. Department of 
Energy, Office of Oil and Natural Gas, Mail Stop FE-30, 1000 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585 or phone: 202-586-5600 
or e-mail to UltraDeepwater@hq.doe.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Executive Summary [Excerpted From the 2010 Annual Plan p. 3]

    This document is the 2010 Annual Plan for the Ultra-Deepwater and 
Unconventional Natural Gas and Other Petroleum Resources Research and 
Development Program established pursuant to Title IX, Subtitle J 
(Subtitle J) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct). Subtitle J is 
reproduced in Appendix A.
    As required by Subtitle J, the Department of Energy (DOE) 
contracted with a consortium (Program Consortium) to administer three 
program elements identified in EPAct: ultra-deepwater architecture and 
technology, unconventional natural gas and other petroleum resources 
exploration and production technology, and technology challenges of 
small producers. A fourth program element of complementary research 
identified in EPAct is being conducted by the National Energy 
Technology Laboratory (NETL). NETL is also responsible for review and 
oversight of the Program Consortium.
    In 2006, NETL awarded a contract to the Research Partnership to 
Secure Energy for America (RPSEA) to function as the Program 
Consortium.
    The 2007 Annual Plan, the first annual plan, resulted in a total of 
15 solicitations from which 43 projects were selected. The 2008 Annual 
Plan resulted in the selection of 29 projects. Implementation of the 
2009 Annual Plan includes 7 solicitations issued by the Program 
Consortium in October 2009, with selections anticipated in early 2010.
    As further required by Subtitle J, in September 2009, two Federal 
advisory committees, the Ultra-Deepwater Advisory Committee and the 
Unconventional Resources Technology Advisory Committee, began their 
respective reviews of the draft 2010 Annual Plan. In October 2009, the 
two advisory committees provided their recommendations.
    Section 999B(e)(3) of EPAct requires DOE to publish all written 
comments received regarding the annual plan. Accordingly, the Program 
Consortium's 2010 draft Annual Plan is included here as Appendix B, and 
the comments and recommendations provided by the two Federal advisory 
committees are included here as Appendix C. No other written comments 
were received.
    The 2010 Annual Plan provides a comprehensive outline of the 
research activities planned for 2010. The primary focus of these 
activities is to fill in any technology gaps not adequately addressed 
by the projects and solicitations to date. A highlight of 2010 Annual 
Plan is the attention that is being given to technology transfer.
    Technology transfer is important to the success of this research 
program. Subtitle J requires 2.5% of the amount of each award to be 
designated for technology transfer activities. The Federal advisory 
committees have recommended that more information on

[[Page 11148]]

technology transfer be included in future annual plans. In response, 
the 2010 Annual Plan describes the structure for the overall technology 
transfer program.
    Subtitle J provides that the Ultra-Deepwater and Unconventional 
Natural Gas and Other Petroleum Research Fund be funded at $50-million-
per-year, with funds generated from Federal lease royalties, rents, and 
bonuses paid by oil and gas companies. Seventy-five percent of these 
funds are obligated to the Program Consortium's contract to execute the 
three program elements. After allocations for contract management by 
NETL and program administration by the Program Consortium, the amount 
to be invested in research activities by the Program Consortium totals 
$31.88 million per year.
    Under the Stage-Gate approach applied to prior years' activities, 
all Program Consortium administered projects are fully funded to the 
completion of the appropriate decision point identified in each 
contract, which may include multiple stages. If a decision is made to 
move to the next stage or decision point or to gather additional data, 
additional funding will be provided from available funds.
    The NETL Strategic Center for Natural Gas and Oil is responsible 
for management of the consortium's contract as part of its review and 
oversight function. Complementary research and development (R&D) is 
being carried out by NETL's Office of Research and Development. 
Planning and analysis related to the Program, including benefits 
assessment and technology impacts analysis, is being carried out by 
NETL's Office of Systems, Analysis, and Planning.
    Subtitle J contains a general sunset provision for Title IX, 
Subtitle J, of September 30, 2014.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on February 22, 2010.
Christopher A. Smith,
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Oil and Natural Gas, Office of 
Fossil Energy.
[FR Doc. 2010-5083 Filed 3-9-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P

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