Department of Energy October 23, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On Monday, July 23, 2007, the Department of Energy (DOE) published a notice of revised proposed policy (72 FR 140) setting forth its revised plans for implementing Section 180(c) of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 (the NWPA). The notice requested comments on the provision of technical assistance and financial assistance for training of public safety officials to States and Indian Tribes through whose jurisdictions the DOE plans to transport spent nuclear fuel or high-level radioactive waste to a facility authorized under Subtitle A or C of the NWPA. The training is to cover safe, routine transport procedures and emergency response procedures as directed in the NWPA. The comment period for this notice of revised proposed policy was scheduled to close on October 22, 2007. Today's notice announces a 90-day extension of the comment period on the revised proposed policy. The Department is taking this action in order to allow additional time for all interested parties to comment on the revised proposed policy.

The Office of Management is announcing the availability of a summary of the public comments it received in response to a request for public comments on the challenge the Department of Energy (Department) confronts with respect to the costs and liabilities associated with contractor employee pension and medical benefits. The Department's request for comments was published in the Federal Register on March 27, 2007.

On May 16, 2007, the Department of Energy (DOE or the Department) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and opportunity for comment (NOPR) to establish regulations for the loan guarantee program authorized by Title XVII of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Title XVII or the Act). Title XVII authorizes the Secretary of Energy (Secretary) to make loan guarantees for projects that ``avoid, reduce, or sequester air pollutants or anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases; and employ new or significantly improved technologies as compared to commercial technologies in service in the United States at the time the guarantee is issued.'' Title XVII also identifies ten categories of technologies and projects that are potentially eligible for loan guarantees. The two principal goals of Title XVII are to encourage commercial use in the United States of new or significantly improved energy-related technologies and to achieve substantial environmental benefits. DOE believes that commercial use of these technologies will help sustain and promote economic growth, produce a more stable and secure energy supply and economy for the United States, and improve the environment. Having considered all of the comments submitted to DOE in response to the NOPR, the Department today is issuing this final rule.