[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 169 (Wednesday, August 31, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 59989]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-20935]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology

AGENCY: Office of Science, Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of partially-closed meeting.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice sets forth the schedule and summary agenda for a 
partially-closed meeting of the President's Council of Advisors on 
Science and Technology (PCAST), and describes the functions of the 
Council. The Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463, 86 Stat. 
770) requires that public notice of these meetings be announced in the 
Federal Register.

DATES: September 30, 2016; 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the National Academy of 
Sciences, 2101 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC, in the Lecture 
Room.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Information regarding the meeting 
agenda, time, location, and how to register for the meeting is 
available on the PCAST Web site at: http://whitehouse.gov/ostp/pcast. A 
live video webcast and an archive of the webcast after the event are 
expected to be available at http://whitehouse.gov/ostp/pcast. The 
archived video will be available within one week of the meeting. 
Questions about the meeting should be directed to Ms. Jennifer Michael 
at [email protected], (202) 456-4444. Please note that public 
seating for this meeting is limited and is available on a first-come, 
first-served basis.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The President's Council of Advisors on 
Science and Technology (PCAST) is an advisory group of the nation's 
leading scientists and engineers, appointed by the President to augment 
the science and technology advice available to him from inside the 
White House, cabinet departments, and other Federal agencies. See the 
Executive Order at http://www.whitehouse.gov/ostp/pcast. PCAST is 
consulted about and provides analyses and recommendations concerning a 
wide range of issues where understandings from the domains of science, 
technology, and innovation may bear on the policy choices before the 
President. PCAST is co-chaired by Dr. John P. Holdren, Assistant to the 
President for Science and Technology, and Director, Office of Science 
and Technology Policy, Executive Office of the President, The White 
House; and Dr. Eric S. Lander, President, Broad Institute of the 
Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard.
    Type of Meeting: Open and Closed.
    Proposed Schedule and Agenda: The President's Council of Advisors 
on Science and Technology (PCAST) is scheduled to meet in open session 
on September 30, 2016, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
    Open Portion of Meeting: During this open meeting, PCAST is 
scheduled to discuss its studies on forensics, biodefense, and water 
science and technology. They will also hear from speakers who will 
remark on agriculture preparedness and soil sciences and others who 
will speak on data and justice. Additional information and the agenda, 
including any changes that arise, will be posted at the PCAST Web site 
at: http://whitehouse.gov/ostp/pcast.
    Closed Portion of the Meeting: PCAST may hold a closed meeting of 
approximately one hour with the President on September 30, 2016, which 
must take place in the White House for the President's scheduling 
convenience and to maintain Secret Service protection. Both meetings 
will be closed to the public because such portion of the meeting is 
likely to disclose matters that are to be kept secret in the interest 
of national defense or foreign policy under 5 U.S.C. 552b(c)(1).
    Public Comments: It is the policy of the PCAST to accept written 
public comments of any length, and to accommodate oral public comments 
whenever possible. The PCAST expects that public statements presented 
at its meetings will not be repetitive of previously submitted oral or 
written statements.
    The public comment period for this meeting will take place on 
September 30, 2016, at a time specified in the meeting agenda posted on 
the PCAST Web site at http://whitehouse.gov/ostp/pcast. This public 
comment period is designed only for substantive commentary on PCAST's 
work, not for business marketing purposes.
    Oral Comments: To be considered for the public speaker list at the 
meeting, interested parties should register to speak at http://whitehouse.gov/ostp/pcast, no later than 12:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on 
September 23, 2016. Phone or email reservations will not be accepted. 
To accommodate as many speakers as possible, the time for public 
comments will be limited to two (2) minutes per person, with a total 
public comment period of up to 15 minutes. If more speakers register 
than there is space available on the agenda, PCAST will randomly select 
speakers from among those who applied. Those not selected to present 
oral comments may always file written comments with the committee. 
Speakers are requested to bring at least 25 copies of their oral 
comments for distribution to the PCAST members.
    Written Comments: Although written comments are accepted 
continuously, written comments should be submitted to PCAST no later 
than 12:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on September 23, 2016, so that the 
comments may be made available to the PCAST members prior to this 
meeting for their consideration. Information regarding how to submit 
comments and documents to PCAST is available at http://whitehouse.gov/ostp/pcast in the section entitled ``Connect with PCAST.''
    Please note that because PCAST operates under the provisions of 
FACA, all public comments and/or presentations will be treated as 
public documents and will be made available for public inspection, 
including being posted on the PCAST Web site.
    Meeting Accommodations: Individuals requiring special accommodation 
to access this public meeting should contact Ms. Jennifer Michael at 
least ten business days prior to the meeting so that appropriate 
arrangements can be made.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on August 25, 2016.
LaTanya R. Butler,
Deputy Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 2016-20935 Filed 8-30-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6450-01-P