[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 202 (Wednesday, October 19, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72042-72043]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-25278]


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

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

National Nuclear Security Administration


Agency Information Collection Extension

AGENCY: National Nuclear Security Administration, U.S. Department of 
Energy.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE), pursuant to the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995, intends to extend for three years, an 
information collection request with the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB). Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the extended collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways 
to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, 
including through the use of automated collection techniques or other 
forms of information technology.

DATES: Comments regarding this proposed information collection must be 
received on or before December 19, 2016. If you anticipate difficulty 
in submitting comments within that period, contact the person listed 
below as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be sent to Richard Goorevich, Senior 
Policy Advisor, Office of Nonproliferation and Arms Control, National 
Nuclear Security Administration, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 
Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20585, or by fax at 202-586-1348 
or by email at [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Goorevich, Senior Policy 
Advisor, Office of Nonproliferation and Arms Control, National Nuclear 
Security Administration, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence 
Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20585, or by fax at 202-586-1348 or by email 
at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This information collection request 
contains: (1) OMB No.1910-5173; (2) Information Collection Request 
Title: The American Assured Fuel Supply Program; (3) Type of Review: 
Extension; (4) Purpose: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) created the 
American Assured Fuel Supply (AFS), a reserve of low enriched uranium 
(LEU) to serve as a backup fuel supply for foreign recipients to be 
supplied through U.S. persons or for domestic recipients, in the event 
of fuel supply disruption. DOE is committed to making the AFS available 
to eligible recipients in the case of supply disruptions in the nuclear 
fuel market. This effort supports the United States Government's 
nuclear nonproliferation objectives by supporting civilian nuclear 
energy development while minimizing proliferation risks. DOE published 
a Notice of Availability for AFS on August 18, 2011, and published an 
application on December 2, 2013, in the Federal Register to standardize 
the information that must be provided in a request to access the 
material in the AFS as set forth in the Notice of Availability 76 FR 
51357, 51358. This application form is necessary in order for DOE to 
identify if applicants meet basic requirements for use of the AFS and 
implement this important nonproliferation initiative; (5) Annual 
Estimated Number of Respondents: 10; (6) Annual Estimated Number of 
Total Responses: 10; (7) Annual Estimated Number of Burden Hours: 8; 
(8) Annual Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Cost Burden: $1,800.
    Statutory Authority: The Secretary of Energy is authorized pursuant 
to the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (Pub. L. 83-703), and the 
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Act of 1978 (NNPA) (Pub. L. 95-242) to 
encourage the widespread use of atomic energy for peaceful purposes, 
and to cooperate with other nations by distributing nuclear material 
where appropriate safeguards measures are in place to ensure the 
material is properly controlled and used for peaceful purposes. In 
2005, DOE set aside a portion of its LEU inventory to be used to 
support the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) International 
Nuclear Fuel Bank (INFB) initiative, which is envisioned as an LEU 
reserve that will be administered by the IAEA and that will serve as a 
back-up for global supply disruptions. Congress later appropriated 
$49,540,000

[[Page 72043]]

in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008 (Pub. L. 110-161) to fund 
a portion of the INFB. Congress, in the Explanatory Statement 
accompanying the House Appropriations Committee Print (which in the Act 
was given the same effect as a joint explanatory statement), noted that 
the INFB freed up DOE's LEU set-aside, and recommended DOE also ``allow 
U.S. interests to purchase uranium fuel from the Reliable Fuel Supply 
[now the AFS] in the event of supply disruption.'' (H. Approp. Cmte. 
Print at 592.)
    The sale of LEU from the AFS will be conducted consistent with 
applicable law, the policies and guidance in the ``Secretary of 
Energy's 2008 Policy Statement of Management of the Department of 
Energy's Excess Uranium Inventory'' (March 11, 2008), and the DOE 
Excess Uranium Inventory Management Plan.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on October 3, 2016.
Anne M. Harrington,
Deputy Administrator, Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation, National 
Nuclear Security Administration.
[FR Doc. 2016-25278 Filed 10-18-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6450-01-P