[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 69 (Wednesday, April 9, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19200-19201]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-7495]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Office of Fossil Energy; Unconventional Resources Technology 
Advisory Committee: Solicitation of Nominations for Appointment as a 
Member to the Unconventional Resources Technology 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 
Unconventional Resources Technology 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 onshore unconventional 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), Unconventional 
Resources Technology 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/UnconventionalResources.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 onshore unconventional natural gas and other 
petroleum resource exploration and production technology. Projects 
focus on areas including advanced coalbed methane, deep drilling, 
natural gas production from tight sands, natural gas production from 
gas shales, stranded gas, innovative exploration and production 
techniques, enhanced recovery techniques, and environmental mitigation 
of unconventional natural gas and other petroleum resources exploration 
and production. 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 Unconventional Resources 
Technology Advisory Committee to advise the Department on the 
development and implementation of programs related to unconventional 
natural gas and other petroleum resources, and to review and comment on 
the annual plan. The process of re-chartering this committee is 
currently underway.
    Qualifications for membership of this committee include: (A) 
Employees or representatives of independent producers of natural gas 
and other petroleum, including small producers; (B) individuals with 
extensive research experience or operational knowledge of 
unconventional natural gas and other petroleum resource exploration and 
production; (C) individuals broadly representative of the affected 
interests in unconventional natural gas and other petroleum resource 
exploration and production, including interests in environmental 
protection and safe operations; (D) individuals with expertise in the 
various geographic areas of potential supply of unconventional onshore 
natural gas and other petroleum in the United States; (E) no 
individuals who are Federal employees; and (F) 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(b)(2), 119 
Stat. 922-923].
    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(b)(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/UnconventionalResources.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(b)(2) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005: (A) A 
majority of members who are employees or representatives of independent 
producers of natural gas and other petroleum, including small 
producers; (B) individuals with extensive research experience or 
operational knowledge of unconventional natural gas and other petroleum 
resource exploration and production; (C) individuals broadly 
representative of the affected interests in unconventional natural gas 
and other petroleum resource exploration and production, including 
interests in environmental protection and safe operations; (D) 
individuals with expertise in the various geographic areas of potential 
supply of unconventional onshore natural gas and other petroleum in the 
United States; 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(b)(2)]

[[Page 19201]]

    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/UnconventionalResources.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: URTAC 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/UnconventionalResources.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 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. E8-7495 Filed 4-8-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P