[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 63 (Friday, April 3, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15303-15304]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-7366]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Antitrust Division


Notice Pursuant to the National Cooperative Research and 
Production Act of 1993--Petroleum Environmental Research Forum Project 
No. 2007-05, Membrane Bioreactor Demonstration

    Notice is hereby given that, on February 26, 2009, pursuant to 
Section 6(a) of the National Cooperative Research and Production Act of 
1993, 15 U.S.C. 4301 et seq. (``the Act'') Petroleum Environmental 
Research Forum Project No. 2007-05, Membrane Bioreactor Demonstration 
(``PERF Project No. 2007-05'') has filed written notifications 
simultaneously with the Attorney General and the Federal Trade 
Commission disclosing (1) the identities of the parties to the venture 
and (2) the nature and objectives of the venture. The notifications 
were filed for the purpose of invoking the Act's provisions limiting 
the recovery of antitrust plaintiffs to actual damages under specified 
circumstances.
    Pursuant to Section 6(b) of the Act, the identities of the parties 
to the venture are: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company, 
Fairfax, VA; BP Products North America Inc., Naperville, IL; Chevron 
Energy Technology Company, Richmond, CA; ConocoPhillips Company, 
Houston, TX; Repsol YPF S.A., Madrid, SPAIN; and Shell Global Solutions 
(US) Inc., Houston, TX. The general area of PERF Project No. 2007-05's 
planned activity is to, through cooperative research

[[Page 15304]]

efforts, evaluate membrane bioreactor (MBR) technology as a competitive 
alternate to conventional activated sludge system (aeration basin and 
clarifier). This will be done by conducting pilot scale testing of a 
MBR system to treat refinery wastewater alongside conventional 
biological treatment. This setup will allow a quality comparison to be 
conducted. Preferably, both normal conditions as well as various upset 
conditions will be evaluated. Simulated upset conditions to be 
considered may include oil & grease upsets and possibly pH swing, high 
organic or nitrogen loading, and excessive debris or other solids that 
could potentially foul membrane. Current plans are that effluent from 
the MER will be analyzed for potential recycle/reuse applications 
(e.g., cooling tower makeup). The project will attempt to determine if 
this wastewater treatment technology is comparable or superior in 
operability and effluent quality to conventional biological treatment. 
Information regarding participation in this venture may be obtained 
from: Mr. Ryan Couture; ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company; 
3225 Gallows Road; Fairfax, VA 22037.

Patricia A. Brink,
Deputy Director of Operations, Antitrust Division.
[FR Doc. E9-7366 Filed 4-2-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-11-M