[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 76 (Thursday, April 20, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19747-19748]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-9689]



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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Financial Assistance Award: Niel Murdock

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy announces that pursuant to 10 
CFR 600.6(a)(2) it is making a financial assistance award under Grant 
Number DE-FG01-95EE15624 to Niel Murdock. The proposed grant will 
provide funding in the estimated amount of $99,236 by the Department of 
Energy for the purpose of saving energy through development of the 
inventor's patented Self Actuating Spillway Control Device, a highly 
efficient alternative to rubber dams, wooden flashboards, and other 
common dam spillway gates.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Energy has determined in 
accordance with 10 CFR 600.14(e)(1) that the unsolicited application 
for financial assistance submitted by Niel Murdock is meritorious based 
on the general evaluation required by 10 CFR 600.14(d) and the proposed 
project represents a unique idea that would not be eligible for 
financial assistance under a recent, current or planned solicitation. 
The new technology is a molded rubber panel with internal reinforcement 
that bends under the force of flood waters. Once water levels decrease, 
potential energy absorbed by the panel forces it back to its normal, 
upright position. Thus the gate is totally self operating. This novel 
technology needs no external power to operate, as do inflatable rubber 
dams, and does not wash away in flood conditions, as do wooden 
flashboards. The panel costs approximately half that of rubber dams, 
and is very advantageous at remote sites. For hydroelectric dams alone, 
the market potential of the self-actuating panel is about $120 million. 
As hydroelectric facilities account for only three percent of the total 
number of dams in the U.S., the market potential appears significant.
    The proposed project is not eligible for financial assistance under 
a recent, current or planned solicitation because the funding program, 
the Energy Related Invention Program (ERIP), has been structured since 
its beginning in 1975 to operate without competitive solicitations 
because the authorizing legislation directs ERIP to provide support for 
worthy ideas submitted by the public. The program has never issued and 
has no plans to issue a competitive solicitation. This award will be 
made 14 calendar days after publication to allow for public comment.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please write the U.S. Department of 
Energy, Office of Placement and Administration, ATTN: Rose Mason, HR-
531.21, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585. 
[[Page 19748]] 
    The anticipated term of the proposed grant is 18 months from the 
date of award.
Lynn Warner,
Contracting Officer, Office of Placement and Administration.
[FR Doc. 95-9689 Filed 4-19-95; 8:45 am]
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