[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 77 (Friday, April 19, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 17257]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-9565]



 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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  Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 77 / Friday, April 19, 1996 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 17257]]



DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

10 CFR Part 1021


National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Procedures

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of reopening comment period and notice of public 
hearing.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE) reopens the comment period and 
schedules a public hearing on its notice of proposed rulemaking to 
amend its implementing procedures under the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA).

DATES: The public hearing will take place on May 6, 1996, from 1:00 pm 
to 4:00 pm. The comment period is being reopened until May 10, 1996, 
and comments must be received by that date to ensure consideration. 
Late comments will be considered to the extent practicable. Persons 
interested in participating in the hearing by telephone conference must 
make advance arrangements by contacting the person in the FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice by April 29, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the proposed rule should be addressed to Carol 
M. Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA Policy and Assistance, EH-42, 
U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, 
D.C. 20585-0119. Comments may be hand-delivered to room 3E-080 at the 
Forrestal Building on workdays between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 
p.m. Comments may also be sent by facsimile to (202) 586-7031 or by 
electronic mail to the following internet address: 
[email protected]. The public hearing will take place in 
Washington, D.C. For information on obtaining a transcript of the 
hearing, see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Pulliam, Office of NEPA Policy 
and Assistance, at the above address, or telephone (202) 586-4600 or 
leave a message at (800) 472-2756. Persons interested in participating 
in the hearing by telephone conference must make advance arrangements 
by calling one of the above numbers for instructions.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The notice of proposed rulemaking to amend 
DOE's NEPA implementing procedures indicated that DOE would hold a 
public meeting if there were public interest in an opportunity to 
present oral comments (61 FR 6414, February 20, 1996). The written 
comment period closed on April 5, 1996. DOE has received comments from 
25 individuals and organizations. One commenter requested public 
hearings in various locations around the Nation. None of the other 
commenters indicated an interest in amplifying their written comments 
through an oral presentation. In view of the lack of widespread 
interest in an opportunity for public hearings at regional locations, 
DOE has decided to reopen the comment period and schedule a single 
public hearing in Washington, D.C.
    A DOE official will be designated to preside at the hearing. The 
hearing will not be a judicial or an evidentiary-type hearing, but will 
be conducted in accordance with the informal rulemaking procedural 
requirements under the Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. 553, and 
section 501 of the Department of Energy Organization Act, 42 U.S.C. 
7191. The length of each presentation will be limited to ten minutes, 
or as determined by the presiding officer based on the number of 
persons who request an opportunity to speak at the outset of the 
hearing. DOE will make arrangements upon request for public 
participation in the hearing by telephone conference call from various 
DOE regional offices. If you wish to present comments at the hearing 
via telephone, you must call one of the numbers listed above by April 
29, 1996, to make arrangements for a time to speak. The presiding 
officer may establish additional procedures governing the conduct of 
the hearing.
    A transcript of the hearing will be prepared and made available for 
public inspection at the U.S. Department of Energy Freedom of 
Information Reading Room, room 1E-110 Forrestal Building, 1000 
Independence Avenue S.W., Washington, D.C. 20585-0119, phone (202) 586-
6020.

    Issued in Washington, D.C., April 15, 1996.
Peter Brush,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Environment, Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. 96-9565 Filed 4-18-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P