Department of Energy November 2, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice announces an open meeting of the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board (SEAB). SEAB was reestablished pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463, 86 Stat. 770) (the Act). This notice is provided in accordance with the Act.

Pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the Act), the Department of Energy (DOE) has reviewed DOE regulations that require the use of an assessment of the credit- worthiness of a security or money market instrument. DOE has identified regulatory provisions that may be subject to the Act's requirement to remove any references to or requirements in such regulations regarding credit ratings. The regulations DOE identified are regulations implementing the loan guarantee program created by Title XVII of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and regulations implementing the standby support program for certain nuclear plant delays promulgated pursuant to section 638 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. DOE provided a report of its review to Congress as required by the Act and, as a result of this review, proposes to modify these regulatory provisions to remove provisions that would require applicants or sponsors to provide a credit rating or other credit assessment to DOE.