[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 106 (Tuesday, June 3, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31929-31930]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-12801]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Commission To Review the Effectiveness of the National Energy 
Laboratories

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of Intent To Establish the Commission To Review the 
Effectiveness of the National Energy Laboratories.

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SUMMARY: Following consultation with the Committee Management 
Secretariat, General Services Administration, notice is hereby given 
that the Commission To Review the Effectiveness of the National Energy 
Laboratories (Commission) will be established. The Commission will 
provide advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Energy.
    Additionally, the establishment of the Commission has been 
determined to be essential to the conduct of the Department's business 
and to be in the public interest in connection with the performance of 
duties imposed upon the Department of Energy by law and agreement. The 
Commission will operate in accordance with the provisions of the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act and the rules and regulations in 
implementation of that Act.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Section 14(a)(2)(A) of the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463), section 319 of the 
Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2014, Public Law 113-76, and in 
accordance with title 41, Code of Federal Regulations, section 102-
3.65, and following consultation with the Committee Management 
Secretariat, General Services Administration, notice is hereby given 
that the Commission to Review the Effectiveness of the National Energy 
Laboratories will be established.
    The activities of the Commission will include, but are not limited 
to:
    Two phases are planned for the Commission. In Phase 1, the 
objective of the Commission is to address whether the Department of 
Energy's (DOE) national laboratories are properly aligned with the 
Department's strategic priorities; have clear, well understood, and 
properly balanced missions that are not unnecessarily redundant and 
duplicative; have unique capabilities that have sufficiently evolved to 
meet current and future energy and national security challenges; are 
appropriately sized to meet the Department's energy and national 
security missions; and are appropriately supporting other Federal 
agencies and the extent to which it benefits DOE missions.
    For Phase 2, the Commission shall also determine whether there are 
opportunities to more effectively and efficiently use the capabilities 
of the national laboratories, including consolidation and realignment, 
reducing overhead costs, reevaluating governance models using 
industrial and academic bench marks for comparison, and assessing the 
impact of DOE's oversight and management approach. In its evaluation, 
the Commission should also consider the cost and effectiveness of using 
other research, development, and technology centers and universities as 
an alternative to meeting DOE's energy and national security goals.
    The Commission shall analyze the effectiveness of the use of 
laboratory directed research and development (LDRD) to meet the 
Department of Energy's science, energy, and national security goals. 
The Commission shall further evaluate the effectiveness of the 
Department's oversight approach to ensure LDRD-funded projects are 
compliant with statutory requirements and congressional direction, 
including requirements that LDRD projects be distinct from projects 
directly funded by appropriations and that LDRD projects derived from 
the Department's national security programs support the national 
security mission of the Department of Energy. Finally, the Commission 
shall quantify the extent to which LDRD funding supports recruiting and 
retention of qualified staff.
    The Commission will submit a report containing the Commission's 
findings and conclusions to the Secretary of Energy, the Committees on 
Appropriations of the House of Representatives, and the Senate.
    The Commission terminates following submission of its final report 
to the Secretary of Energy and the Committees on Appropriations of the 
House of Representatives and the Senate, unless,

[[Page 31930]]

prior to that time, the charter is renewed in accordance with Section 
14 of the FACA.
    The Commission shall be composed of approximately nine members, 
appointed by the Secretary of Energy to serve as special Government 
employees. The members shall be eminent in a field of science or 
engineering; and/or have expertise in managing scientific facilities; 
and/or have expertise in cost and/or program analysis; and have an 
established record of distinguished service. The membership of the 
Commission shall be representative of the broad range of scientific, 
engineering, financial, and managerial disciplines related to 
activities under this title. Subcommittees may be utilized.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Gibson, (202) 586-3787.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on May 28, 2014.
Amy Bodette,
Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 2014-12801 Filed 6-2-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P