[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 211 (Friday, October 31, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58951-58953]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-28912]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Energy Research


Continuation of Solicitation for the Office of Energy Research 
Financial Assistance Program Notice 98-01

AGENCY: U.S. Department of Energy.

ACTION: Annual notice of continuation of availability of grants and 
cooperative agreements.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Energy Research (ER) of the Department of Energy 
hereby announces its continuing interest in receiving applications for 
grants and cooperative agreements supporting work in the following 
programs: Basic Energy Sciences, High Energy Physics, Nuclear Physics, 
Computational and Technology Research, Fusion Energy Sciences, 
Biological and Environmental Research and Energy Research Analyses. On 
September 3, 1992, (57 FR 40582), DOE published in the Federal Register 
the Office of Energy Research Financial Assistance Program, 10 CFR Part 
605, Final Rule, which contained a solicitation for this program. 
Information about submission of applications, eligibility, limitations, 
evaluation and selection processes and other policies and procedures 
are specified in 10 CFR Part 605.

DATES: Applications may be submitted at any time in response to this 
Notice of Availability. This Notice is published annually and remains 
in effect until it is superseded by another issuance by the Office of 
Energy Research.

ADDRESSES: Applications must be sent to: Director, Grants and Contracts 
Division, Office of Energy Research, ER-64, U.S. Department of Energy, 
19901 Germantown Road, Germantown, MD 20874-1290. When preparing 
applications, applicants should use the Office of Energy Research 
Financial Assistance Program Application Guide and Forms located on the 
World Wide Web at: http://www.er.doe.gov/production/grants/grants.html. 
Applicants without Internet access may call 301-903-5544 for 
information.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: It is anticipated that approximately $400 
million will be available for grant and cooperative agreement awards in 
FY 1998. The DOE is under no obligation to pay for any costs associated 
with the preparation or submission of an application. DOE reserves the 
right to fund, in whole or in part, any, all, or none of the 
applications submitted in response to this Notice.
    In addition, the following program descriptions are offered to 
provide more in-depth information on scientific and technical areas of 
interest to the Office of Energy Research.

1. Basic Energy Sciences

    The Basic Energy Sciences (BES) program supports fundamental 
research in the natural sciences and engineering leading to new and 
improved energy technologies and to understanding and mitigating the 
environmental impacts of energy technologies. The science divisions and 
their objectives are as follows.

(a) Materials Sciences

    The objective of this program is to increase the understanding of 
phenomena and properties important to materials behavior that will 
contribute to meeting the needs of present and future energy 
technologies. It is comprised of the subfields metallurgy, ceramics, 
solid state physics, materials chemistry, and related disciplines where 
the emphasis is on the science of materials. Program Contact: (301) 
903-3427.

(b) Chemical Sciences

    The objective of this program is to expand, through support of 
basic research, knowledge of various areas of chemistry, chemical 
engineering and atomic molecular and optical physics with a goal of 
contributing to new or improved processes for developing and using 
domestic energy resources in an efficient and environmentally sound 
manner. Disciplinary areas where research is supported include atomic 
molecular and optical physics; physical, inorganic and organic 
chemistry; chemical physics; photochemistry; radiation chemistry; 
analytical chemistry; separations science; actinide chemistry; and 
chemical engineering sciences.
    Program Contact: (301) 903-5804.

(c) Engineering Research

    This program's objectives are: (1) to extend the body of knowledge 
underlying current engineering practice in order to open new ways for 
enhancing energy savings and production, prolonging useful equipment 
life, and reducing costs

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while maintaining output performance, and environmental quality; and 
(2) to broaden the technical and conceptual base for solving future 
engineering problems in the energy technologies. Long-term research 
topics of current interest include: foundations of bioprocessing of 
fuels and energy related wastes, fracture mechanics, experimental and 
theoretical studies of multi phase flows, intelligent machines, and 
diagnostics and control for plasma processing of materials.
    Program Contact: (301) 903-5822.

(d) Geosciences

    The goal of this program is to develop a quantitative and 
predictive understanding of the energy-related aspects of processes in 
the earth. The emphasis is on the upper levels of the earth's crust and 
the focus is on geophysics, geomechanics and geochemistry of rock-fluid 
systems and interactions emphasizing processes taking place at the 
atomic and molecular scale. Specific topical areas receiving emphasis 
include: high resolution geophysical imaging; rock physics, fundamental 
properties and interactions of rocks, minerals, and fluids; and 
sedimentary basin systems. The resulting improved understanding and 
knowledge base are needed to assist efforts in the utilization of the 
Nation's energy resources in an environmentally acceptable fashion.
    Program Contact: (301) 903-5822.

(e) Energy Biosciences

    The primary objective of this program is to generate the 
fundamental understanding of biological mechanisms in the areas of 
botanical and microbiological sciences that will support 
biotechnological developments related to DOE's mission. The research 
serves as the basic information foundation with respect to an 
environmentally responsible renewable resource production for fuels and 
chemicals, microbial conversions of renewable materials and biological 
systems for the conservation of energy. This office has special 
requirements for the submission of preapplications, when to submit, and 
the length of the applications. Applicants are encouraged to contact 
the office regarding these requirements.
    Program Contact: (301) 903-2873.

2. High Energy and Nuclear Physics

    This program supports about 90% of the U.S. efforts in high energy 
and nuclear physics. The objectives of these programs are indicated 
below.

(a) High Energy Physics

    The primary objectives of this program are to understand the 
ultimate structure of matter in terms of the properties and 
interrelations of its basic constituents, and to understand the nature 
and relationships among the fundamental forces of nature. The research 
falls into three broad categories: experimental research, theoretical 
research, and technology R&D in support of the high energy physics 
program.
    Program Contact: (301) 903-3624.

(b) Nuclear Physics (Including Nuclear Data Program)

    The primary objectives of this program are an understanding of the 
interactions and structures of atomic nuclei and nuclear matter at the 
most elementary level possible, and an understanding of the fundamental 
forces of nature as manifested in nuclear matter.
    Program Contact: (301) 903-3613.

3. Computational and Technology Research

    The goal of this program is to conduct an integrated program in 
applied mathematical sciences, high performance computing and 
communications, information infrastructure, advanced energy projects 
research, and technology research, to address complex problems. 
Research in forefront and diverse programs is becoming more multi 
disciplinary and requires new approaches to the solution of these 
complex problems. The program exploits the capabilities and research 
skills at universities, national laboratories, and industrial research 
laboratories. The program provides technical, analytical, and 
management direction for development, implementation, and evaluation of 
research programs that include activities from fundamental research to 
technology development. The goal of the program is accomplished through 
the effort of the following two divisions.

(a) Mathematical, Information, and Computational Sciences

    This is a diverse research program in applied mathematical 
sciences, high performance computing, communications and information 
infrastructure technologies that spans the spectrum of activities from 
strategic fundamental research to technology development and 
demonstration. The diverse activities supported by this program are 
integrated to support two major strategic directions that support the 
underlying mathematical concepts and information technology needs of 
all Department of Energy (DOE) mission areas. These two strategic 
directions are:
     National Collaboratories--developing a set of tools and 
capabilities to permit scientists and engineers to access facilities 
and collaborate on experiments system-wide, as easily as if they were 
in the same building.
     Advanced Computational Testing and Simulation--developing 
an integrated set of algorithms, software frameworks, and network 
infrastructures to enable simulation to complement experimentation when 
actual experiments would be dangerous, expensive, or infeasible.
    Program Contact: (301)-903-5800.

(b) Advanced Energy Projects/Laboratory Technology Research

Advanced Energy Projects
    This activity funds research to establish the feasibility of novel, 
energy-related concepts. These concepts are usually derived from recent 
advances in basic research, but require additional research to 
establish their feasibility. A common theme for each concept is the 
initial linkage of new, or previously neglected, research results to a 
practical energy payoff for the Nation.
Laboratory Technology Research
    This activity conducts technology research projects to reduce 
technical risk associated with a technology or process development. The 
program couples basic research advances at ER national laboratories 
into the advanced energy technology arena through leveraged 
collaborations with industry. The program is focused on critical 
technology research areas, i.e., tailored materials, intelligent 
manufacturing, and sustainable environments, to contribute 
technological innovations that will stimulate national economic growth, 
and to increase the return on the government investment in basic 
research.
    Program Contact: (301)-903-5995.

4. Fusion Energy Sciences

    The mission of the Fusion Energy Sciences program is to advance 
plasma science, fusion science, and fusion technology--the knowledge 
base needed for an economically and environmentally attractive fusion 
energy source. This program is supported by the Office of Fusion Energy 
Sciences (OFES), which fosters both applied and basic research and 
emphasizes international collaboration to accomplish this mission.

(a) Science Division

    This Division seeks to develop the physics knowledge base needed to

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advance the Fusion Energy Sciences program toward its goals. Basic and 
applied research is carried out in the following areas: (1) basic 
plasma science research directed at furthering the understanding of 
fundamental processes in plasmas; (2) improving the theoretical 
understanding of fusion plasmas necessary for interpreting results from 
present experiments and the planning and design of future confinement 
devices, (3) obtaining the critical data on plasma properties, atomic 
physics and new diagnostic techniques for support of confinement 
experiments, (4) supporting exploratory research into concepts that are 
alternatives to the tokamak, and (5) carrying out research on issues 
that support the development of Inertial Fusion Energy, for which 
target development is carried out by the Department of Energy's Defense 
Programs.
    Research into basic physics issues associated with medium to large 
scale confinement devices is essential to studying conditions relevant 
to the production of fusion energy. Experiments on these scale of 
devices are used to explore the limits of specific confinement 
concepts, as well as study associated physical phenomena. Specific 
areas of interest include: (1) the production of increased plasma 
densities and temperatures, (2) the understanding of the physical laws 
governing plasma energy of high plasma pressure, (4) the investigation 
of plasma interaction with radio frequency waves, and (5) the study and 
control of particle transport and exhaust in plasmas.
    Program Contact: (301) 903-4095.

(b) Technology Division

    This Division seeks to develop the technology knowledge base needed 
to advance the Fusion Energy Sciences program toward its goals. The 
Division's science-oriented goal is to provide the technologies that 
are required to successfully design, build, and operate near-term 
experiments aimed at producing, understanding, and optimizing the 
fusion energy process. The Division's energy-oriented goal is to 
develop the technologies that will be needed in the long-term for an 
economically and environmentally attractive fusion energy source. These 
goals are pursued through multi-institutional domestic programs and 
international collaboration partnerships that are centered around U.S. 
participation in the Engineering Design Activities for a long-pulse 
burning plasma experiment--the International Thermonuclear Experimental 
Reactor (ITER).
    Program Contact: (301) 903-5378.

5. Biological and Environmental Research Program

    The goals of the Biological and Environmental Research Program are 
as follows: (1) to provide, through basic and applied research, the 
scientific information required to identify, understand and anticipate 
the long-term health and environmental consequences of energy use and 
development; and (2) to utilize the Department's unique resources to 
solve major scientific problems in medicine, biology and the 
environment. Goals of the program are accomplished through the efforts 
of the following research program elements:

(a) Health Effects and Life Sciences Research

    This is a broad program of basic and applied biological research. 
The objectives are: (1) to create and apply new technologies and 
resources in mapping, sequencing, and information management for 
characterizing the molecular nature of the human genome; (2) to develop 
and support DOE national user facilities for use in fundamental 
structural biology; (3) to use model organisms to understand human 
genome organization, human gene function and control, and the 
functional relationships between human genes and proteins; (4) to 
characterize and exploit the genomes and diversity of microbes with 
potential relevance for energy, bioremediation, or global climate; (5) 
to understand and characterize the risks to human health from exposures 
to low levels of radiation and chemicals; (6) to develop novel 
technologies for high throughput determination of protein structure; 
and (7) to anticipate and address ethical, legal, and social 
implications arising from genome research.
    Program Contact: (301) 903-5468.

(b) Medical Applications and Measurement Science

    The objectives of this program comprise the following areas: (1) to 
develop technologies for the beneficial applications of radiation and 
in vivo radiotracer detection in the study, diagnosis and treatment of 
human diseases and disorders; (2) to develop new instrumentation for 
biological and medical research; and (3) to develop new concepts and 
techniques for detecting and measuring the hazardous agents of 
biochemical, physical and environmental consequences related to energy 
production.
    Program Contact: (301) 903-3213.

(c) Environmental Remediation

    The objectives of the program relate to environmental processes 
affected by energy production and use. The program develops information 
on the physical, chemical and biological processes that cycle and 
transport energy-related material, particularly contaminates that arose 
during nuclear weapons production, through the Earth's surface and 
subsurface. Emphasis is put on the development of a strong basis for 
understanding and implementing the appropriate and efficient use of 
bioremediation, particularly at the Department's sites.
    Program Contact: (301) 903-3281.

(d) Environmental Processes

    This program addresses global environmental change from increases 
in atmospheric carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. The scope of 
the global change program encompasses the carbon cycle, climate 
modeling and diagnostics, atmospheric sciences and meteorology, 
ecosystem responses, and impacts on resources. The role of clouds and 
radiation in climate prediction is a particular emphasis.
    Program Contact: (301) 903-3281.

6. Energy Research Analyses

    This program supports energy research analyses of the Department's 
basic and applied research activities. Specific objectives include 
assessments to identify any duplication or gaps in scientific research 
activities, and impartial and independent evaluations of scientific and 
technical research efforts.
    Program Contact: (202) 586-7021

    Issued in Washington, D.C., on October 15, 1997.
John Rodney Clark,
Associate Director for Resource Management, Office of Energy Research.
[FR Doc. 97-28912 Filed 10-30-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P