Department of Energy August 18, 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

As required by the Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. 552a, and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-130, the Department of Energy (DOE) is publishing notice of a proposed amendment to an existing system of records. DOE proposes to amend the system of records DOE-3 ``Employee Concerns Program Records.'' This notice (i) will expand an existing routine use to permit the disclosure of certain information to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and (ii) add an additional system location.

This notice announces the Department of Energy's (DOE's) decision, pursuant to 10 CFR 1021.343(c), that it is in the interest of public welfare to grant a variance from certain requirements of its National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Implementing Procedures (10 CFR part 1021) in regard to the review of applications under the Deployment of Combined Heat and Power, District Energy Systems, Waste Energy Recovery Systems, and Efficient Industrial Equipment Initiative funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act). The variance is limited to certain requirements identified in 10 CFR 1021.216, Procurement, Financial Assistance, and Joint Ventures. The variance in no way affects the requirement to prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement, as applicable, for projects selected for funding. The merit review of applications in response to this funding opportunity will include consideration of the potentially significant environmental impacts of the projects proposed for funding that are within the competitive range. By providing this variance, DOE can reduce the time needed to select projects for possible future funding consistent with the sense of urgency underpinning the Recovery Act.