Nationwide Categorical Waivers Under Section 1605 (Buy American) of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act), 65012-65013 [2010-26507]

Download as PDF jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES 65012 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 203 / Thursday, October 21, 2010 / Notices an increase in the number of companies that produce solar PV modules in the United States containing domesticallymanufactured cells. This amended public interest waiver determination also resolves questions regarding the applicability of the Buy American provisions to numerous individual manufactured goods that are incidental in cost and technological significance but are ultimately incorporated into the final solar installation. These items, including, but not limited to, charge controllers, combiners and disconnect boxes, breakers and fuses, racks, trackers, lugs, wires, and cables—but excluding inverters and batteries—are generally low-cost incidental items that are incorporated into the installation of PV modules and arrays on public buildings and public works. This public interest waiver for all incidental and ancillary items eliminates potential questions and ambiguities concerning whether the incidental items are final manufactured goods or merely components of a larger solar module, installation or array. Issuance of this nationwide public interest waiver recognizes EERE’s commitment to expeditious costing of Recovery Act dollars by enabling recipients to easily ascertain whether a given solar installation complies with the Buy American provision. Simultaneously, this waiver advances the purpose and the principles of the Buy American provision by focusing on the highest-value and most laborintensive pieces of solar PV equipment. In light of the foregoing, and under the authority of section 1605(b)(1) of Public Law 111–5 and Redelegation Order 00–002–01C, dated November 10, 2009, with respect to Recovery Act projects funded by EERE, the Assistant Secretary hereby issues an amended ‘‘determination of inapplicability’’ (a waiver under the Recovery Act Buy American provisions) for the following items: (1) Domestically-manufactured modules containing foreignmanufactured cells, (2) foreignmanufactured modules, when completely comprised of domesticallymanufactured cells, and (3) any ancillary items and equipment (including, but not limited to, charge controllers, combiners and disconnect boxes, breakers and fuses, racks, trackers, lugs, wires, cables and all otherwise incidental equipment with the exception of inverters and batteries) when utilized in a solar installation involving a U.S. manufactured PV module, or a module manufactured abroad but comprised exclusively of domestically-manufactured cells. This waiver expires February 6, 2011 (six VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:24 Oct 20, 2010 Jkt 223001 months from the date of the original waiver issuance). Recipients of EERE Recovery Act funds who have taken substantial steps to commit funds for the purchase of the items covered in this waiver by February 6, 2011 will not be impacted by the expiration of this waiver. Furthermore, the Assistant Secretary reserves the right to revisit and amend this determination based on new information or new developments. Authority: Public Law 111–5, section 1605. Issued in Washington, DC, on September 30, 2010. Cathy Zoi, Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy. [FR Doc. 2010–26518 Filed 10–20–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6450–01–P (202) 502–8333 or shana.murray@ferc.gov. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2010–26479 Filed 10–20–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Nationwide Categorical Waivers Under Section 1605 (Buy American) of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). ACTION: Notice of limited waivers. AGENCY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is hereby granting a nationwide limited waiver of the Buy American requirements of section 1605 of the Recovery Act under the authority of Section 1605(b)(2) (iron, steel, and the relevant manufactured goods are not produced in the United States in sufficient and reasonably available quantities and of a satisfactory quality) with respect to: (1) Motorized automatic two wing revolving doors that open via the motor upon a fire alarm to accommodate smoke evacuation, retract to full open position under Fire Alarm status and remain in the open position until the alarm is cleared, are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and possess both sliding and swinging door that allows entry/exit through the sliding doors while the revolving section is being serviced; (2) self-contained photovoltaic LED area lighting systems with a non-corrosive, stainless steel, powder-coated antiweathering shell, that do not succumb to the sail effect, possess flat plate lens optics with directional lamp lens, dark sky capability, and full cutoff conformity; (3) ultrasonic directional sensors and DC300 facility controllers for a parking guidance system which integrates with American designed intelligent parking guidance system software allowing real-time updates to a central location and via the Internet; (4) load Management Ripple Control Receivers for an existing load management system; and (5) LED tube lights to replace T8 fluorescents that meet the April 2010 DOE recommended performance specifications that will be used on eligible EERE-Recovery Act funded projects. DATES: Effective Date: September 30, 2010. SUMMARY: DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. AD09–9–000] Small Hydropower Development in the United States; Notice of Small/LowImpact Hydropower Webinar October 13, 2010. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will host a Small/LowImpact Hydropower Webinar on November 10, 2010, from 12 noon to 1 p.m. Eastern Time. The webinar will be open to the public and advance registration is required. The purpose of this webinar is to introduce the new Small/Low-Impact Hydropower Program website and walk participants through all phases of the licensing and exemption processes using the Web site. Specifically, the webinar will provide the opportunity for participants to learn about the small hydropower licensing process, find out how to get more information and assistance from FERC, and ask questions. To register for this webinar, please go to https://www.ferc.gov/whats-new/ registration/hydro-form-11-10-10.asp. Space is limited to the first 98 reservations. Once registered, you will receive a confirmation e-mail containing information about joining the webinar a few days prior to the start of the webinar. For more information about this webinar, please contact Shana Murray at PO 00000 Frm 00029 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\21OCN1.SGM 21OCN1 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 203 / Thursday, October 21, 2010 / Notices jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Benjamin Goldstein, Energy Technology Program Specialist, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), (202) 287–1553, Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Mailstop EE–2K, Washington, DC 20585. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the authority of the Recovery Act, Public Law 111–5, section 1605(b)(2), the head of a Federal department or agency may issue a ‘‘determination of inapplicability’’ (a waiver of the Buy American provision) if the iron, steel, or relevant manufactured good is not produced or manufactured in the United States in sufficient and reasonably available quantities and of a satisfactory quality (‘‘nonavailability’’). On November 10, 2009, the Secretary of Energy delegated the authority to make all inapplicability determinations to the Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), for EERE projects under the Recovery Act. Pursuant to this delegation the Assistant Secretary, EERE, has concluded that (1) motorized automatic two wing revolving doors that open via the motor upon a fire alarm to accommodate smoke evacuation, retract to full open position under Fire Alarm status and remain in the open position until the alarm is cleared, are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and possess both sliding and swinging door that allows entry/exit through the sliding doors while the revolving section is being serviced; (2) selfcontained photovoltaic LED area lighting systems with a non-corrosive, stainless steel, powder-coated antiweathering shell, that do not succumb to the sail effect, possess flat plate lens optics with directional lamp lens, dark sky capability, and full cutoff conformity; (3) ultrasonic directional sensors and DC300 facility controllers for a parking guidance system which integrates with American designed intelligent parking guidance system software allowing real-time updates to a central location and via the Internet; (4) Load Management Ripple Control Receivers for an existing load management system; and (5) LED tube lights to replace T8 fluorescents that meet the April 2010 DOE recommended performance specifications, available at https://apps1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/ publications/pdfs/ssl/t8_replacementlamps.pdf that will be used on eligible EERE-Recovery Act funded projects qualify for the ‘‘nonavailability’’ waiver determination. EERE has developed a robust process to ascertain in a systematic and VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:24 Oct 20, 2010 Jkt 223001 expedient manner whether or not there is domestic manufacturing capacity for the items submitted for a waiver of the Recovery Act Buy American provision. This process involves a close collaboration with the United States Department of Commerce National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), in order to scour the domestic manufacturing landscape in search of producers before making any nonavailability. The NIST MEP has 59 regional centers with substantial knowledge of, and connections to, the domestic manufacturing sector. MEP uses their regional centers to ‘scout’ for current or potential manufacturers of the product(s) submitted in a waiver request. In the course of this interagency collaboration, MEP has been able to find exact or partial matches for manufactured goods that EERE grantees had been unable to locate. As a result, in those cases, EERE was able to work with the grantees to procure Americanmade products rather than granting a waiver. Upon receipt of completed waiver requests for the five products in the current waiver, EERE reviewed the information provided and submitted the relevant technical information to the NIST MEP. The MEP then used their network of nationwide centers to scout for domestic manufacturers. The NIST MEP reported that their scouting process did not locate any domestic manufacturers for these exact or equivalent items. In addition to the MEP collaboration outlined above, the EERE Buy American Coordinator worked with labor unions, trade associations and other manufacturing stakeholders to scout for domestic manufacturing capacity or an equivalent product for each item contained in this waiver. EERE also conducted significant amounts of independent research to supplement MEP’s scouting efforts, including utilizing the solar experts employed by the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory. EERE’s research efforts confirmed the MEP findings that the goods included in this waiver are not produced in the United States in sufficient and reasonably available quantities and of a satisfactory quality. The nonavailability determination is also informed by the inquiries and petitions to EERE from recipients of EERE Recovery Act funds, and from suppliers, distributors, retailers and trade associations—all stating that their individual efforts to locate domestic manufacturers have been unsuccessful. PO 00000 Frm 00030 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 65013 Having established a proper justification based on domestic nonavailability, EERE hereby provides notice that on September 30, 2010 five nationwide categorical waivers of section 1605 of the Recovery Act were issued as detailed supra. This notice constitutes the detailed written justification required by Section 1605(c) for waivers based on a finding under subsection (b). This waiver determination is pursuant to the delegation of authority by the Secretary of Energy to the Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy with respect to expenditures within the purview of her responsibility. Consequently, this waiver applies to EERE projects carried out under the Recovery Act. Authority: Pub. L. 111–5, section 1605. Issued in Washington, DC, on September 30, 2010. Cathy Zoi, Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy. [FR Doc. 2010–26507 Filed 10–20–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6450–01–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL–9216–6] Access in Litigation to Confidential Business Information Environmental Protection Agency (‘‘EPA’’). ACTION: Notice of Transfer of Information Claimed as Confidential Business Information to the United States Department of Justice and Parties to Certain Litigation. AGENCY: The EPA has authorized the United States Department of Justice (‘‘DOJ’’) to disclose, in response to discovery requests received in the litigation styled, Tronox Incorporated, et al., v. Anadarko Petroleum Corp., et al., Adv. Proc. No. 09–01198 (ALG), pending in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York (the ‘‘Litigation’’), information which has been submitted to EPA by its contractors that is claimed to be, or has been determined to be, confidential business information (‘‘CBI’’). The EPA is providing notice of past disclosure and of ongoing and contemplated future disclosure. Interested persons may submit comments on this Notice to the address noted below. SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\21OCN1.SGM 21OCN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 203 (Thursday, October 21, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65012-65013]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-26507]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy


Nationwide Categorical Waivers Under Section 1605 (Buy American) 
of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act)

AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. 
Department of Energy (DOE).

ACTION: Notice of limited waivers.

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

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is hereby granting a 
nationwide limited waiver of the Buy American requirements of section 
1605 of the Recovery Act under the authority of Section 1605(b)(2) 
(iron, steel, and the relevant manufactured goods are not produced in 
the United States in sufficient and reasonably available quantities and 
of a satisfactory quality) with respect to: (1) Motorized automatic two 
wing revolving doors that open via the motor upon a fire alarm to 
accommodate smoke evacuation, retract to full open position under Fire 
Alarm status and remain in the open position until the alarm is 
cleared, are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and 
possess both sliding and swinging door that allows entry/exit through 
the sliding doors while the revolving section is being serviced; (2) 
self-contained photovoltaic LED area lighting systems with a non-
corrosive, stainless steel, powder-coated anti-weathering shell, that 
do not succumb to the sail effect, possess flat plate lens optics with 
directional lamp lens, dark sky capability, and full cutoff conformity; 
(3) ultrasonic directional sensors and DC300 facility controllers for a 
parking guidance system which integrates with American designed 
intelligent parking guidance system software allowing real-time updates 
to a central location and via the Internet; (4) load Management Ripple 
Control Receivers for an existing load management system; and (5) LED 
tube lights to replace T8 fluorescents that meet the April 2010 DOE 
recommended performance specifications that will be used on eligible 
EERE-Recovery Act funded projects.

DATES: Effective Date: September 30, 2010.

[[Page 65013]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Benjamin Goldstein, Energy Technology 
Program Specialist, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy 
(EERE), (202) 287-1553, Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, 
SW., Mailstop EE-2K, Washington, DC 20585.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the authority of the Recovery Act, 
Public Law 111-5, section 1605(b)(2), the head of a Federal department 
or agency may issue a ``determination of inapplicability'' (a waiver of 
the Buy American provision) if the iron, steel, or relevant 
manufactured good is not produced or manufactured in the United States 
in sufficient and reasonably available quantities and of a satisfactory 
quality (``nonavailability''). On November 10, 2009, the Secretary of 
Energy delegated the authority to make all inapplicability 
determinations to the Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and 
Renewable Energy (EERE), for EERE projects under the Recovery Act. 
Pursuant to this delegation the Assistant Secretary, EERE, has 
concluded that (1) motorized automatic two wing revolving doors that 
open via the motor upon a fire alarm to accommodate smoke evacuation, 
retract to full open position under Fire Alarm status and remain in the 
open position until the alarm is cleared, are compliant with the 
Americans with Disabilities Act, and possess both sliding and swinging 
door that allows entry/exit through the sliding doors while the 
revolving section is being serviced; (2) self-contained photovoltaic 
LED area lighting systems with a non-corrosive, stainless steel, 
powder-coated anti-weathering shell, that do not succumb to the sail 
effect, possess flat plate lens optics with directional lamp lens, dark 
sky capability, and full cutoff conformity; (3) ultrasonic directional 
sensors and DC300 facility controllers for a parking guidance system 
which integrates with American designed intelligent parking guidance 
system software allowing real-time updates to a central location and 
via the Internet; (4) Load Management Ripple Control Receivers for an 
existing load management system; and (5) LED tube lights to replace T8 
fluorescents that meet the April 2010 DOE recommended performance 
specifications, available at https://apps1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/publications/pdfs/ssl/t8_replacement-lamps.pdf that will be used on 
eligible EERE-Recovery Act funded projects qualify for the 
``nonavailability'' waiver determination.
    EERE has developed a robust process to ascertain in a systematic 
and expedient manner whether or not there is domestic manufacturing 
capacity for the items submitted for a waiver of the Recovery Act Buy 
American provision. This process involves a close collaboration with 
the United States Department of Commerce National Institute of 
Standards and Technology (NIST) Manufacturing Extension Partnership 
(MEP), in order to scour the domestic manufacturing landscape in search 
of producers before making any nonavailability.
    The NIST MEP has 59 regional centers with substantial knowledge of, 
and connections to, the domestic manufacturing sector. MEP uses their 
regional centers to `scout' for current or potential manufacturers of 
the product(s) submitted in a waiver request. In the course of this 
interagency collaboration, MEP has been able to find exact or partial 
matches for manufactured goods that EERE grantees had been unable to 
locate. As a result, in those cases, EERE was able to work with the 
grantees to procure American-made products rather than granting a 
waiver.
    Upon receipt of completed waiver requests for the five products in 
the current waiver, EERE reviewed the information provided and 
submitted the relevant technical information to the NIST MEP. The MEP 
then used their network of nationwide centers to scout for domestic 
manufacturers. The NIST MEP reported that their scouting process did 
not locate any domestic manufacturers for these exact or equivalent 
items.
    In addition to the MEP collaboration outlined above, the EERE Buy 
American Coordinator worked with labor unions, trade associations and 
other manufacturing stakeholders to scout for domestic manufacturing 
capacity or an equivalent product for each item contained in this 
waiver. EERE also conducted significant amounts of independent research 
to supplement MEP's scouting efforts, including utilizing the solar 
experts employed by the Department of Energy's National Renewable 
Energy Laboratory. EERE's research efforts confirmed the MEP findings 
that the goods included in this waiver are not produced in the United 
States in sufficient and reasonably available quantities and of a 
satisfactory quality.
    The nonavailability determination is also informed by the inquiries 
and petitions to EERE from recipients of EERE Recovery Act funds, and 
from suppliers, distributors, retailers and trade associations--all 
stating that their individual efforts to locate domestic manufacturers 
have been unsuccessful.
    Having established a proper justification based on domestic 
nonavailability, EERE hereby provides notice that on September 30, 2010 
five nationwide categorical waivers of section 1605 of the Recovery Act 
were issued as detailed supra. This notice constitutes the detailed 
written justification required by Section 1605(c) for waivers based on 
a finding under subsection (b).
    This waiver determination is pursuant to the delegation of 
authority by the Secretary of Energy to the Assistant Secretary for 
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy with respect to expenditures 
within the purview of her responsibility. Consequently, this waiver 
applies to EERE projects carried out under the Recovery Act.

    Authority: Pub. L. 111-5, section 1605.


    Issued in Washington, DC, on September 30, 2010.
Cathy Zoi,
Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. 
Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2010-26507 Filed 10-20-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
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