Department of Energy October 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Western Area Power Administration (Western), a Federal power marketing agency of the Department of Energy (DOE), is seeking comments on proposed marketing criteria for allocating the Federal power from the Boulder Canyon Project (BCP). The Conformed Power Marketing Criteria or Regulations for the Boulder Canyon Project (2012 Conformed Criteria) published in the Federal Register on June 14, 2012, as required by the Hoover Power Allocation Act of 2011, established a resource pool (Post-2017 Resource Pool) to be allocated to new allottees and general eligibility criteria. Western is proposing for comment additional marketing criteria to be used to allocate the Post- 2017 Resource Pool that will become available October 1, 2017. Once determined, these marketing criteria, in conjunction with the 2012 Conformed Criteria, will establish the framework for allocating power from the Post-2017 Resource Pool. This Federal Register notice (FRN) is not a call for applications. A call for applications from those interested in an allocation of BCP power will occur in a future notice.

Take notice that the Commission staff is issuing a memorandum setting forth certain minor revisions to the Commission's Natural Gas Pipeline regulations that may be appropriate to remove reporting requirements that may no longer serve their intended purpose. The memorandum was issued pursuant to the Nov. 8, 2011 Plan for Retrospective Analysis of Existing Rules prepared in response to Executive Order 13579, which requested independent regulatory agencies issue plans for periodic retrospective analysis of their existing regulations. The Staff Memorandum is being placed in the record in the above- referenced administrative docket. The Staff Memorandum will also be available on the Commission's Web site at https://www.ferc.gov.

The Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technical Advisory Committee (HTAC) was established under section 807 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT), Public Law 109-58; 119 Stat. 849. The Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 92-463, 86 Stat. 770, requires that agencies publish notice of an advisory committee meeting in the Federal Register. To attend the meeting and/or to make oral statements during the public comment period, please register no later than 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 6, 2012 by email at: HTAC@nrel.gov. An early confirmation of attendance will help to facilitate access to the building more quickly. Entry to the building will be restricted to those who have confirmed their attendance in advance. Please provide your name, organization, citizenship, and contact information, and indicate whether you want to make an oral statement. Anyone attending the meeting will be required to present government issued identification.

In this Final Rule, the Commission revises its rules and regulations relating to the filing of privileged material in keeping with the Commission's efforts to comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act, the Government Paperwork Elimination Act and the E-Government Act of 2002. First, the Commission establishes two categories of privileged material for filing purposes: Privileged material and critical energy infrastructure information. This revision will expand the ability to file electronically by permitting electronic filing of materials subject to Administrative Law Judge protective orders as appropriate. Second, the Commission revises its regulations to provide a single set of uniform procedures for filing privileged materials. These revisions continue the Commission's effort to reassess and streamline its regulations to ensure that they are efficient, effective and up to date. Also, the Commission revises Rule 213(d) of its Rules of Practice and Procedure, which establishes the timeline for filing answers to motions, to clarify that the standard fifteen day reply time will not apply to motions requesting an extension of time or a shortened time period for action. Instead, the Commission proposes to set the time for responding to such motions at five days, unless another time period is established by notice based on the circumstances.

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Department of Energy, pursuant to Section 229 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, prohibits the unauthorized entry and the unauthorized introduction of weapons or dangerous materials into or upon the facilities of the Kansas City Plant of the United States Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration, National Security Campus. The facilities are described in this notice.

The Department of Energy invites public comment on a proposed collection of information that DOE is developing for submission to the Office of Management and Budget pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. The proposed collection would involve information that will enable DOE to measure the impact and progress of DOE's National Clean Fleets Partnership (Partnership). The Partnership is an initiative through which DOE provides large private-sector fleets with technical assistance and expertise to incorporate alternative fuels and fuel saving measures into their operations successfully. The initiative builds on the established success of DOE's Clean Cities program. The Partnership was developed with input from fleet managers, industry representatives, Clean Cities program staff, and Clean Cities coordinators.

This notice announces an open meeting of the Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee. The Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463, 86 Stat. 770) requires that agencies publish these notices in the Federal Register.

This notice provides the Performance Review Board Chair designee for the Department of Energy.