[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 69 (Wednesday, April 9, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19198-19200]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-7491]


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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 advises 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 reviews and provides written comments on the annual plan as also 
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 May 2, 2008.

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 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. 109-58, Section 999B, 119 Stat. 917-921] to 
administer the activities outlined above.
    The program includes 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 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. Re-chartering of this committee is currently underway.
    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. 109-58, Section 999D(a)(2), 119 
Stat. 922].
    How to Apply: Candidates who wish to be considered for appointment 
to the Committee should provide the following information by May 2, 
2008. 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 should address all the information requested below: Full 
name; Professional Title (if applicable); Employment Affiliation; 
Address; Phone; E-mail; Professional experience related to ultra-
deepwater natural gas and other petroleum resources; Education; 
Professional Affiliations and Awards; Professional Discipline(s); 
Affiliation with or nomination by industry or professional associations 
or other stakeholder groups; Fit with one or more membership categories 
specified by Section 999D(a)(2) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005: (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;'' Availability for the planned meeting dates of September 9 
or 10, 2008 and October 14 or 15, 2008; Relationship to the Program 
Consortium (Note that board members, officers, and employees of the 
consortium are not eligible for appointment to this Committee.). [REF: 
Energy Policy Act of 2005, Subtitle J, Section 999D(a)(2)]
    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 May 
2, 2008. 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 e-mail attachments are allowed, nor will 
they be opened if included. The closing date for receipt of resumes is 
May 2, 2008.
    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

[[Page 19200]]

Department of Energy. Questions regarding the nomination process should 
be directed to Bill Hochheiser or Elena Melchert at 202/586-5600.

    Issued in Washington, DC on April 4, 2008.
Rachel Samuel,
Deputy Committee, Management Officer.
 [FR Doc. E8-7491 Filed 4-8-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P