Department of Energy March 2023 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announces the availability of the Final Waste Incidental to Reprocessing Evaluation for the Test Bed Initiative Demonstration, U.S. Department of Energy (Final WIR Evaluation) and associated Waste Incidental to Reprocessing Determination for the Test Bed Initiative Demonstration at the Hanford Site, Washington (WIR Determination). The Final WIR Evaluation demonstrates that the waste from DOE's proposed Test Bed Initiative (TBI) Demonstration is waste incidental to reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel, is not high-level radioactive waste (HLW), and may be managed as low-level radioactive waste (LLW). DOE prepared the Final WIR Evaluation pursuant to DOE Order 435.1, Radioactive Waste Management, and the criteria in Chapter II.B.(2)(a) of DOE Manual 435.1-1, Radioactive Waste Management Manual. DOE consulted with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) on the Draft Waste Incidental to Reprocessing Evaluation for the Test Bed Initiative Demonstration (Draft WIR Evaluation) and made the Draft WIR Evaluation available for comments from States, Tribal Nations, stakeholders and the public. DOE prepared the Final WIR Evaluation after carefully considering comments received from the NRC, States, Tribal Nations, stakeholders and the public, and after performing revisions of analyses and technical documents. Based on the Final WIR Evaluation, DOE determined that the pretreated and solidified waste is incidental to reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel, is non-HLW, and is to be managed as LLW.

Freepoint Commodities LLC (the Applicant or Freepoint) has applied for authorization to transmit electric energy from the United States to Canada pursuant to the Federal Power Act.

This Notice announces the Department of Energy's (DOE) acceptance of claims in FY 2023 from eligible uranium and thorium processing site licensees for reimbursement under Title X of the Energy Policy Act of 1992. In FY 2022, DOE distributed $16.155 million to licensees with approved claims from licensees in the Title X Uranium and Thorium Reimbursement Program.

The Energy Policy and Conservation Act, as amended (``EPCA''), prescribes energy conservation standards for various consumer products and certain commercial and industrial equipment, including battery chargers. EPCA also requires the U.S. Department of Energy (``DOE'' or ``Department'') to periodically determine whether more-stringent, standards would be technologically feasible and economically justified, and would result in significant energy savings. In this notice of proposed rulemaking (``NOPR''), DOE proposes amended energy conservation standards for battery chargers, and also announces a public meeting to receive comment on these proposed standards and associated analyses and results.

This notice announces a partially-closed meeting of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST). This meeting will be held virtually for members of the public and in-person for PCAST members. The Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) requires that public notice of these meetings be announced in the Federal Register.