[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 217 (Tuesday, November 10, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63037-63038]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-30139]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Nonproliferation and National Security


Information Briefing Regarding the Nuclear Cities Initiative

AGENCY: Office of Nonproliferation and National Security, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of public information presentation.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE) will hold an informal public 
information workshop to introduce the Nuclear Cities Initiative, a new 
joint US-Russia project in nonproliferation commercialization focusing 
on the ten closed nuclear cities of the Russian Federation. The 
initiative was officially launched with the signing of the government-
to-government agreement on September 22, 1998 in Vienna, Austria by 
Energy Secretary Bill Richardson and Russian Minister of Atomic Energy 
Evgeny Adamov. DOE staff will explain the goals and objectives of the 
Nuclear Cities Initiative, introduce the Nuclear Cities Initiative 
staff, and solicit suggestions for parameters of public participation 
in this project from those attending.


[[Page 63038]]


DATES: The information presentation will be held on Wednesday, December 
2, 1998, with the briefing portion held from 10:00 a.m. until 11:30 
a.m. A Questions and Answer session will follow from 11:30-1 p.m. with 
members of the Nuclear Cities Initiative staff responsible for specific 
aspects of the program. Representatives from the Office of General 
Counsel and the Office of Procurement Operations will also be present 
to provide program support.

ADDRESSES: The information presentation will be held at the U.S. 
Department of Energy, Forrestal building, Main Auditorium, 1000 
Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585. It is advisable to 
register for attendance in advance by contacting either individual 
named above and to provide the program office with the name of the 
company or firm that you represent and a list of any other attendees 
from your company/firm in advance. All those inquiring will be added to 
an Nuclear Cities Initiative database and will receive any additional 
information and updates.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Reeshemah Speaks NN-40, U.S. 
Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 
20585, (202) 586-6568, email:[email protected]; or Denise 
Tramble, NN40, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Initiatives of 
Proliferation Prevention, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 
20585, 202-586-1007, e-mail:[email protected]. FAXES ARE 
WELCOME. Fax number is 202-586-2164.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Energy, together with the 
Russian Ministry of Atomic Energy, is the Executive Agent charged with 
carrying out the Nuclear Cities Initiative.
    The Nuclear Cities Initiative is an agreement between the US and 
Russian Federation for mutual cooperation to address the problems faced 
by the ten closed cities which house the Russian nuclear weapons 
uranium enrichment, plutonium production, weapons design, and weapons 
assembly facilities.
    The Nuclear Cities Initiative has near term goals to provide 
civilian employment for displaced weapons workers in the ten closed 
nuclear cities and long term goals to assist the Russian Federation in 
reducing the size of its nuclear weapons complex. In its first year the 
project will focus on three of the ten nuclear cities designated by 
Minatom for assistance. Those cities are Sarov (Arzamas-16), Snezhinsk 
(Chelyabinsk-70), and Zheleznogorsk (Krasnoyarsk-26).
    The Department of Energy has thus far allocated $15,000,000 for the 
Nuclear Cities Initiative in Fiscal Year 1999. Early activities will 
feature assessment trips to the first three nuclear cities to yield an 
analysis of the strengths, weaknesses opportunities and potential 
problems specific to each of the three cities.
    Once that is accomplished DOE will be looking to the private sector 
to participate in assessing business opportunities and job creation in 
these cities.
    This information briefing will provide opportunities for interested 
parties to find out more about the nuclear cities, the mandate of the 
project, and how the public and private sector can participate. 
Nongovernmental Organizations within the nonproliferation and social 
support communities will also have a role under Nuclear Cities 
Initiative and are also welcome.
    Information about the Nuclear Cities Initiative including project 
description, chronology, mission statement, lists and maps of the 
nuclear cities, copies of the Government-to-Government Agreement and 
descriptions of the business, commercial development, training and 
social support components of the project will be available.
    This program is intended to provide general information and will 
not necessarily result in any future request for proposals, invitation 
for bids, or preapplications or applications for a financial assistance 
agreement such as a Grant or Cooperative Agreement. Unsolicited 
proposals and/or any offer to enter into a contract with the Department 
of Energy will not be invited and shall not be accepted. Matters that 
will be considered are described below.
    Matters to be Considered: DOE is interested in receiving comments 
and views of interested parties, such as statements of capability, 
informational brochures and other written materials prepared by 
attendees providing relevant information and activities that would 
facilitate creation of conditions necessary for business training, job 
creation, and the attracting of investment opportunities in the 
designated nuclear cities for the purposes prescribed in the 
``Agreement Between the Government of the United States of America and 
the Government of the Russian Federation on the Nuclear Cities 
Initiative'' signed on September 22, 1998, in Vienna, Austria.
    After reviewing comments from those attending the information 
briefing and the assessment reports of the working groups, the 
Department will issue a report on the results, with outlines of how 
interested parties can continue to actively participate in the 
initiative.
    Those unable to attend can receive an information packet about the 
Nuclear Cities Initiative by contacting the Nuclear Cities Initiative 
program office at the address given above.

Tentative Agenda: Wednesday, December 2, 1998

     Welcoming Remarks and Opening of Meeting.
     Overview of NCI by Director of Office of Initiative for 
Proliferation Prevention and Nuclear Cities Initiative.
     Introduction to staff of Nuclear Cities Initiative.
     Outline of program activities envisioned under NCI.
     Question and Answer period/Public Discussion.

    Issued in Washington DC on November 4, 1998.
Louis Licht,
Interagency Coordinator and Federal Liaison, Nuclear Cities Initiative.
[FR Doc. 98-30139 Filed 11-9-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P