[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 15 (Wednesday, January 24, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3127-3128]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-973]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Office of Fossil Energy; Ultra-Deepwater Advisory Committee: 
Solicitation of Nominations for Appointment as a Member to the Ultra-
Deepwater Advisory Committee

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy is 
soliciting nominations for candidates to serve as members of the Ultra-
Deepwater Advisory Committee. The Advisory Committee shall advise the 
Secretary of Energy on the development and implementation of programs 
under Subtitle J, Section 999 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT) 
related to ultra-deepwater natural gas and other petroleum resources 
and review and provide written comments on the annual plan as described 
in this subtitle of the EPACT. The membership of the Advisory Committee 
must be in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act and some members of the Advisory Committee may be 
appointed as special Government employees of the Department of Energy.

DATES: Nominations must be received by February 2, 2007.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information regarding this Request 
for Nominations please contact Ms. Elena Melchert, Mr. Bill Hochheiser, 
or Mr. James Slutz, Designated Federal Official (DFO), Ultra-Deepwater 
Advisory Committee, at [email protected] or (202) 586-5600. 
Complete text of Subtitle J, Section 999 of the Energy Policy Act of 
2005 can be found on the DOE Office of Fossil Energy Web site at http://www.fe.doe.gov/programs/oilgas/advisorycommittees/UltraDeepwater.html.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Background: Under Subtitle J, Section 999, the Secretary of Energy 
is required to carry out a program of research, development, 
demonstration, and commercial application of technologies for ultra-
deepwater and unconventional natural gas and other petroleum resource 
exploration and production, including addressing the technology 
challenges for small producers, safe operations, and environmental 
mitigation (including reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and 
sequestration of carbon). The activities should maximize the value of 
natural gas and other petroleum resources of the United States by 
increasing the supply

[[Page 3128]]

of such resources through reducing the cost and increasing the 
efficiency of exploration for and production of such resources while 
improving safety and minimizing environmental impacts. In support of 
this subtitle, the Secretary will contract with a corporation that is 
structured as a program consortium [REF: Energy Policy Act of 2005, 
Pub. L. No. 109-58, Sec.  999B, 119 Stat. 917-21] to administer the 
activities outlined above.
    The program should include improving safety and minimizing 
environmental impacts of activities involving ultra-deepwater 
architecture and technology, including drilling to formations in the 
Outer Continental Shelf to depths greater than 15,000 feet. Projects 
should focus on the development and demonstration of individual 
exploration and production technologies as well as integrated systems 
technologies including new architectures for production in ultra-
deepwater (water depths greater than or equal to 1500 meters). The 
Secretary is also required to prepare an annual plan that describes the 
ongoing and prospective activities of the program.
    In May 2006, the Secretary established the Ultra-Deepwater Advisory 
Committee to advise the Department on the development and 
implementation of programs related to ultra-deepwater natural gas and 
other petroleum resources, and to review and comment on the annual 
plan.
    Qualifications for membership of this committee include: (A) 
Individuals with extensive research experience or operational knowledge 
of offshore natural gas and other petroleum exploration and production; 
(B) individuals broadly representative of the affected interests in 
ultra-deepwater natural gas and other petroleum production, including 
interests in environmental protection and safe operations; (C) no 
individuals who are Federal employees; and (D) no individuals who are 
board members, officers, or employees of the program consortium [REF: 
Energy Policy Act of 2005, Pub. L. No. 109-58, Sec.  999D(a)(2), 119 
Stat. 922].
    How to Apply: Candidates who wish to be considered for appointment 
to the Committee must provide the requested information by February 2, 
2007. The format to be used for nomination is a resume that addresses 
the specific qualification criteria stated in Section 999D(a)(2) of the 
EPACT and other information. Details and specifications for preparing 
the resume are summarized below and can be found at http://www.fe.doe.gov/programs/oilgas/advisorycommittees/UltraDeepwater.html.
    Resume must address all the following: (Incomplete resumes will not 
be considered): Full name; Professional Title (if applicable); 
Employment Affiliation; Address; Phone; E-mail; Organization Being 
Represented, if applicable; Organization Address; Organization Phone 
Number; Organization website address; Brief description of organization 
being represented; Education; Professional Experience related to 
research or operational knowledge of offshore natural gas and other 
petroleum resource exploration and production, and related experience 
broadly associated with the affected interests in ultra-deepwater 
natural gas and other petroleum resource production, including 
interests in environmental protection and safe operations; Affiliations 
and Awards; Contributions to the Committee: please provide a statement 
that highlights the key contributions you hope to make if appointed to 
the Committee; Relationship to the program consortium [REF: Energy 
Policy Act of 2005, Pub. L. No. 109-58, Sec.  999B, 119 Stat. 917-21], 
please provide a statement that highlights your degree of involvement 
with this organization, especially include any leadership and/or 
strategic planning activities, note that only board members, officers, 
and employees of the program consortium are ineligible for appointment 
to this Committee.
    In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act [REF: 5 
U.S.C. App. 2], this committee's membership will be balanced in terms 
of the points of view represented. All resumes must be received by 
February 2, 2007. Candidates may use the form found at http://www.fe.doe.gov/programs/oilgas/advisorycommittees/UltraDeepwater.html 
to address the required resume elements. Candidates who wish to be 
considered for appointment to the Committee must submit a resume via 
one of the following methods.
    1. E-mail to [email protected] (with resume embedded within 
the body of the e-mail message; no attachment),
    2. Facsimile to 202/586-6221, Attn: UDAC Nomination,
    3. Overnight delivery service to: U.S. Department of Energy, Mail 
Stop FE-30, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585. No 
resumes should be sent via the U.S. Postal Service due to extensive 
security processing that can damage documents and result in extensive 
delays.
    4. Resume Submission Online at http://www.fe.doe.gov/programs/oilgas/advisorycommittees/UltraDeepwater.html.
    For security reasons, no email attachments are allowed, nor will 
they be opened if included.
    The closing date for receipt of resumes is February 2, 2007. All 
resumes received will be acknowledged within 10 working days from date 
of receipt. Members will have their travel expenses reimbursed, but 
their time will not be compensated. Some members of the Advisory 
Committee may be appointed as special Government employees of the 
Department of Energy. Questions regarding the nomination process should 
be directed to B. Hochheiser or E. Melchert at 202/586-5600.

    Issued in Washington, DC on January 18, 2007.
Rachel M. Samuel,
Deputy Advisory Committee, Management Officer.
[FR Doc. E7-973 Filed 1-23-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P