[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 18 (Friday, January 26, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 7898]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-2370]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Revised Public Participation Policy Guidance

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of availability and solicitation of comments.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE) today makes available, and is 
soliciting public comments on, proposed revisions to its Public 
Participation Policy internal directive (DOE P 1210.1, issued July 29, 
1994). The proposed revisions are intended to clarify and update the 
policy guidance in the directive and to expand it to incorporate 
findings and recommendations of the Secretary of Energy Advisory 
Board's Openness Advisory Panel on improving relations between DOE 
facilities and their host communities. Under DOE's Directives System, 
all documents must be reviewed periodically for currency and 
appropriateness. This policy is not intended to affect requirements 
imposed by law, regulation, or contractual agreement; neither does it 
expand or limit any rights available to the public under current law.

DATES: The public comment period will extend to April 30, 2001. 
Comments received after that date will be considered to the extent 
practicable.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be provided by mail to: U.S. Department 
of Energy, Nevada Operations Office, Office of Public Affairs and 
Information, P.O. Box 98518--Attn: DOE PPP Comments, Las Vegas, NV 
89193-8518.

by fax to (702) 295-0154--Attn: DOE PPP Comments
or electronically to: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Copies of the Proposed Revised Public 
Participation and Community Relations Policy are available on DOE's 
World Wide Web Site at http://www.energy.gov, under ``Headlines.'' 
Copies may also be obtained by writing or calling: The Center for 
Environmental Management Information, P.O. Box 23769, Washington, DC 
20026, Telephone: 1-800-736-3282 (in Washington, DC: 202-863-5084).
    For further information on the purpose and substance of DOE's 
Public Participation and Community Relations Policy, please write or 
call: Ms. Elizabeth A. Nolan, Senior Advisor, Office of Congressional & 
Intergovernmental Affairs (CI-1), U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, Telephone: 202-586-
7328.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

     DOE issued its Public Participation Policy (DOE P 1210.1) on July 
29, 1994. The Policy was in the form of an internal directive that 
provided policy guidance for DOE officials. Under DOE's Directives 
System, all documents must be reviewed periodically for currency and 
appropriateness.
    A Task Force of DOE headquarters program and field site managers 
actively involved in public participation activities was convened to 
review the policy. The Task Force proposed revisions to clarify and 
update the policy to reflect current practices and the lessons of six 
years' experience with public participation.
    At about the same time, the Openness Advisory Panel of the 
Secretary of Energy Advisory Board undertook a review of DOE's 
relationships with the communities surrounding its laboratories and 
facilities to assess how DOE is perceived as a neighbor, what it is 
doing well, and what it could do better. The Panel's initial review 
focused on Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Lawrence Livermore 
National Laboratory, both in California, and on the Fernald Plant, in 
Ohio. On November 17, 2000 the Openness Advisory Panel issued its 
report, titled Relations between DOE Facilities and their Host 
Communities: A Pilot Review, which presented Findings and 
Recommendations on improving community relations. As keys to success, 
the Openness Advisory Panel identified full, open, timely, two-way 
communication, the building of positive personal relationships, and 
accountability on the part of DOE managers. The importance of these 
elements has been reaffirmed and strengthened in the proposed 
revisions.

Proposed Revised Policy

    Under the proposed revised Public Participation and Community 
Relations Policy, public participation would be defined as open, 
ongoing two-way communication, both formal and informal, between DOE 
and its stakeholders concerning DOE's missions and activities. The 
Policy would recognize that effective public participation is at the 
core of good community relations, which are essential for DOE 
facilities to achieve their missions. Under this Policy, DOE would 
actively seek, consider, and incorporate or otherwise respond in a 
timely manner to the views of its stakeholders and affected communities 
in making its decisions. This Policy would function as a framework 
within which all DOE programs, including programs of the National 
Nuclear Security Administration, would operate.
    The proposed Public Participation and Community Relations Policy is 
being released for public comment prior to DOE's decision to approve 
any of the recommended changes.

    Issued in Washington D.C., January 16, 2001.
Linda Lingle,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Congressional and 
Intergovernmental Affairs.
[FR Doc. 01-2370 Filed 1-25-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P