[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 41 (Friday, February 29, 2008)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 11066-11067]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-3776]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

10 CFR Part 216

48 CFR Parts 911 and 952

RIN 1991-AB69


Defense Priorities and Allocations System

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: This notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) amends Department of 
Energy (DOE) regulations at 10 CFR part 216 which implement DOE's 
delegated authority under section 101(c) of the Defense Production 
Actof 1950 (DPA). Section 101(c) of the DPA provides authority to the 
President of the United States (President) to require the allocation 
of, or priority performance under contracts or orders relating to, 
materials and equipment, services, or facilities, in order to maximize 
domestic energy supplies, if the President makes certain findings. The 
President's authority under section 101(c) was delegated to the 
Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of Energy. The rulemaking would 
make a number of changes to part 216 to reflect a 1991 amendment of the 
DPA which broadens the scope of authority in section 101(c). Because 
DOE does not expect to receive any significant adverse comments, this 
regulatory action is also being issued as a direct final rule in 
today's issue of the Federal Register.

DATES: Public comments on the amendment proposed herein will be 
accepted until March 31, 2008.

ADDRESSES: This notice of proposed rulemaking is available and comments 
may be submitted online at http://

[[Page 11067]]

www.Regulations.gov. Comments may be submitted by e-mail to 
[email protected]. Comments may be mailed to: Mike Soboroff, 
U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Electricity and Energy Assurance, 
OE-30, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585. Comments by 
e-mail are encouraged.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike Soboroff at (202) 586-4936 or via 
e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This NOPR proposes to amend DOE regulations 
at 10 CFR part 216, which implement DOE's delegated authority under 
section 101(c) of the DPA. Section 101(c) provides authority to require 
the allocation of, or priority performance under contracts or orders 
relating to, materials and equipment, services, or facilities, in order 
to maximize domestic energy supplies, if DOE and the Department of 
Commerce make certain findings. The NOPR would make a number of 
technical changes to part 216 regulations to reflect a 1991 amendment, 
which broadens the scope of authority in section 101(c), and Executive 
Order 12919, (June 3, 1994). The NOPR also proposes conforming changes 
in the Department of Energy Acquisition Regulation at 48 CFR parts 911 
and 952.
    Today, DOE is also publishing, elsewhere in this issue of the 
Federal Register, a direct final rule that makes changes to the DOE 
regulations regarding materials allocation and priority performance 
under contracts or orders to maximize domestic energy supplies. The 
amendments in the direct final rule are identical to the amendments 
that are being proposed in this NOPR. As explained in the preamble of 
the direct final rule, DOE considers these amendments to be non-
controversial and unlikely to generate any significant adverse 
comments. If no significant adverse comments are received by DOE on the 
amendments, the direct final rule will become effective on the date 
specified in that rule, and there will be no further action on this 
proposal. If significant adverse comments are timely received on the 
direct final rule, the direct final rule will be withdrawn. The public 
comments will then be addressed in a subsequent final rule based on the 
rule proposed in this NOPR. Because DOE will not institute a second 
comment period on this proposed rule, any party interested in 
commenting should do so during this comment period.
    For further supplemental information, the detailed rationale, and 
the rule amendment, see the information provided in the direct final 
rule in this issue of the Federal Register.

List of Subjects

10 CFR Part 216

    Energy, Government contracts, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, Strategic and critical materials.

48 CFR Part 911

    Government procurement.

48 CFR Part 952

    Government procurement, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Issued in Washington, DC on February 20, 2008.
Edward R. Simpson,
Director, Office of Procurement and Assistance Management, Department 
of Energy.
William N. Bryan,
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Infrastructure Security and Energy 
Restoration, Department of Energy.
David O. Boyd,
Director, Office of Acquisition and Supply Management, National Nuclear 
Security Administration.
 [FR Doc. E8-3776 Filed 2-28-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P