Request for Information Regarding Establishment of the Department of Energy Uranium Reserve Program
| Citation | 86 FR 50878 |
| Record Number | 2021-19701 |
| Published date | 13 September 2021 |
| Section | Notices |
| Court | National Nuclear Security Administration |
Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 174 (Monday, September 13, 2021)
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 174 (Monday, September 13, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50878-50879]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-19701]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
National Nuclear Security Administration
Request for Information Regarding Establishment of the Department
of Energy Uranium Reserve Program
AGENCY: National Nuclear Security Administration, Department of Energy.
ACTION: Reopening of the public comment period.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE) published the Request for
information (RFI) to invite public comment on topics related to the
Establishment of the DOE's Uranium Reserve program on August 11, 2021.
Through this notice, DOE announces the reopening of the Uranium Reserve
RFI comment period for an additional 30 days. The August 11, 2021
Federal Register notice mistakenly listed an option for online
submissions via www.regulations.gov, but that option is not available
at this time. Comments can be submitted via email or postal mail
through the instructions in the ADDRESSES section.
DATES: The comment period for the RFI published on August 11, 2021 (86
FR 44007), which closed on September 10, 2021, is hereby reopened. DOE
will accept written comments, data, information in response no later
than October 13, 2021.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons may submit comments by any of the
following methods:
Email: [email protected]. Submit electronic comments in
Microsoft Word or PDF file format and avoid the use of special
characters or any form of encryption. Please include ``Response to
Uranium Reserve RFI'' in the subject line.
Postal Mail: Response to Uranium Reserve RFI, c/o Mr. Kyle Fowler,
U.S. Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration,
Mailstop NA-10, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585-0121.
Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name
for this request for information. No facsimiles (faxes) will be
accepted.
Note: The Government has posted a parallel RFI to SAM.gov in
order invite industry comment on topics related to establishment of
the DOE's Uranium Reserve program. To avoid duplicate submissions,
interested parties are encouraged to only respond to one of the
notices.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for further information
should be sent to: [email protected] or Mr. Kyle Fowler, (202)
586-1963. If responding by email, please include ``Question on Uranium
Reserve RFI'' in the subject line.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE or the
Department) issued this RFI to invite public comment on topics related
to establishment of the DOE's Uranium Reserve program. DOE is re-
opening the comment period on this RFI to provide ample time for
interested parties to respond.
Background
In the United States (U.S.), nuclear energy provides more than 55
percent of our clean energy and supports about half a million American
jobs. However, the U.S. nuclear industry and the nuclear fuel supply
chain face significant challenges that have left domestic nuclear fuel
suppliers in a weakened position on the domestic and global stage.
Revitalizing the U.S. nuclear fuel supply infrastructure would support
the Administration's goals described in the American Jobs Plan,\1\
including addressing the climate crisis, creating American jobs,
positioning the U.S. to compete with economic rivals, and supporting
national security. It would support environmental justice initiatives,
prioritize addressing long-standing and persistent racial injustice by
targeting 40 percent of the benefits of climate and clean
infrastructure investments to disadvantaged communities, consider rural
communities and communities impacted by the market-based transition to
clean energy, and include meaningful stakeholder engagement.
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\1\ https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/03/31/fact-sheet-the-american-jobs-plan/.
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In December 2020, Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations
Act, 2021 (Pub. L. 116-260) that makes $75,000,000 available to the
Department for the Uranium Reserve Program. The Department is
considering options to acquire natural uranium and convert this uranium
into uranium hexafluoride that would be stored at commercial facilities
in the United States.
In considering options, the Department will focus on reinvigorating
domestic nuclear fuel supply chain capabilities, utilizing existing
facilities, and minimizing negative disruption of market mechanisms.
The Department expects the acquisition of natural uranium to result in
new uranium production at existing domestic sites. The Department does
not intend such new production to initiate or expand mining on Tribal
lands, expand the Office of Legacy Management's (LM) Uranium Leasing
Program, or expand access to additional uranium deposits located on
other Federal lands. Additionally, the Department does not intend to
acquire uranium or uranium hexafluoride produced from enricher
underfeeding, the re-enrichment of tails, or other sources that do not
support the reinvigoration of uranium production and conversion
capabilities. Likewise, the Department expects to use existing domestic
commercial conversion capabilities and store the uranium hexafluoride
at a domestic facility.
The Department will comply with all applicable laws, including the
National Environmental Policy Act and the National Historic
Preservation Act, in the proposed establishment of a uranium reserve.
In addition, the Department will give careful attention to energy
justice, distributive impacts, and other relevant issues in its
decision-making process. This program would include meaningful
engagement with stakeholders, including State, local, Tribal
governments, and disadvantaged communities.
The Department is publishing this RFI to gain a better
understanding of Tribal and other disadvantaged communities and
stakeholder views on topics related to the establishment of a uranium
reserve. Responses to the RFI will inform the Department's
establishment of a uranium reserve, as well as the development of a
procurement strategy for acquisition of uranium, conversion services,
and storage.
Signing Authority
This document of the Department of Energy was signed on September
7, 2021, by Dr. Charles Verdon, Deputy Administrator for Defense
Programs for the National Nuclear Security Administration, pursuant to
delegated authority from the Secretary of Energy. That document with
the original signature and date is maintained by DOE. For
administrative purposes only, and in compliance with requirements of
the Office of the Federal Register, the undersigned DOE Federal
Register Liaison Officer has been authorized to sign and submit the
document in electronic format for publication, as an official document
of the Department of
[[Page 50879]]
Energy. This administrative process in no way alters the legal effect
of this document upon publication in the Federal Register.
Signed in Washington, DC, on September 8, 2021.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2021-19701 Filed 9-10-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
