[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 174 (Monday, September 13, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50878-50879]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-19701]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

National Nuclear Security Administration


Request for Information Regarding Establishment of the Department 
of Energy Uranium Reserve Program

AGENCY: National Nuclear Security Administration, Department of Energy.

ACTION: Reopening of the public comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE) published the Request for 
information (RFI) to invite public comment on topics related to the 
Establishment of the DOE's Uranium Reserve program on August 11, 2021. 
Through this notice, DOE announces the reopening of the Uranium Reserve 
RFI comment period for an additional 30 days. The August 11, 2021 
Federal Register notice mistakenly listed an option for online 
submissions via www.regulations.gov, but that option is not available 
at this time. Comments can be submitted via email or postal mail 
through the instructions in the ADDRESSES section.

DATES: The comment period for the RFI published on August 11, 2021 (86 
FR 44007), which closed on September 10, 2021, is hereby reopened. DOE 
will accept written comments, data, information in response no later 
than October 13, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons may submit comments by any of the 
following methods:
    Email: [email protected]. Submit electronic comments in 
Microsoft Word or PDF file format and avoid the use of special 
characters or any form of encryption. Please include ``Response to 
Uranium Reserve RFI'' in the subject line.
    Postal Mail: Response to Uranium Reserve RFI, c/o Mr. Kyle Fowler, 
U.S. Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration, 
Mailstop NA-10, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585-0121.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name 
for this request for information. No facsimiles (faxes) will be 
accepted.

    Note: The Government has posted a parallel RFI to SAM.gov in 
order invite industry comment on topics related to establishment of 
the DOE's Uranium Reserve program. To avoid duplicate submissions, 
interested parties are encouraged to only respond to one of the 
notices.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for further information 
should be sent to: [email protected] or Mr. Kyle Fowler, (202) 
586-1963. If responding by email, please include ``Question on Uranium 
Reserve RFI'' in the subject line.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE or the 
Department) issued this RFI to invite public comment on topics related 
to establishment of the DOE's Uranium Reserve program. DOE is re-
opening the comment period on this RFI to provide ample time for 
interested parties to respond.

Background

    In the United States (U.S.), nuclear energy provides more than 55 
percent of our clean energy and supports about half a million American 
jobs. However, the U.S. nuclear industry and the nuclear fuel supply 
chain face significant challenges that have left domestic nuclear fuel 
suppliers in a weakened position on the domestic and global stage. 
Revitalizing the U.S. nuclear fuel supply infrastructure would support 
the Administration's goals described in the American Jobs Plan,\1\ 
including addressing the climate crisis, creating American jobs, 
positioning the U.S. to compete with economic rivals, and supporting 
national security. It would support environmental justice initiatives, 
prioritize addressing long-standing and persistent racial injustice by 
targeting 40 percent of the benefits of climate and clean 
infrastructure investments to disadvantaged communities, consider rural 
communities and communities impacted by the market-based transition to 
clean energy, and include meaningful stakeholder engagement.
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    \1\ https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/03/31/fact-sheet-the-american-jobs-plan/.
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    In December 2020, Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations 
Act, 2021 (Pub. L. 116-260) that makes $75,000,000 available to the 
Department for the Uranium Reserve Program. The Department is 
considering options to acquire natural uranium and convert this uranium 
into uranium hexafluoride that would be stored at commercial facilities 
in the United States.
    In considering options, the Department will focus on reinvigorating 
domestic nuclear fuel supply chain capabilities, utilizing existing 
facilities, and minimizing negative disruption of market mechanisms. 
The Department expects the acquisition of natural uranium to result in 
new uranium production at existing domestic sites. The Department does 
not intend such new production to initiate or expand mining on Tribal 
lands, expand the Office of Legacy Management's (LM) Uranium Leasing 
Program, or expand access to additional uranium deposits located on 
other Federal lands. Additionally, the Department does not intend to 
acquire uranium or uranium hexafluoride produced from enricher 
underfeeding, the re-enrichment of tails, or other sources that do not 
support the reinvigoration of uranium production and conversion 
capabilities. Likewise, the Department expects to use existing domestic 
commercial conversion capabilities and store the uranium hexafluoride 
at a domestic facility.
    The Department will comply with all applicable laws, including the 
National Environmental Policy Act and the National Historic 
Preservation Act, in the proposed establishment of a uranium reserve. 
In addition, the Department will give careful attention to energy 
justice, distributive impacts, and other relevant issues in its 
decision-making process. This program would include meaningful 
engagement with stakeholders, including State, local, Tribal 
governments, and disadvantaged communities.
    The Department is publishing this RFI to gain a better 
understanding of Tribal and other disadvantaged communities and 
stakeholder views on topics related to the establishment of a uranium 
reserve. Responses to the RFI will inform the Department's 
establishment of a uranium reserve, as well as the development of a 
procurement strategy for acquisition of uranium, conversion services, 
and storage.

Signing Authority

    This document of the Department of Energy was signed on September 
7, 2021, by Dr. Charles Verdon, Deputy Administrator for Defense 
Programs for the National Nuclear Security Administration, pursuant to 
delegated authority from the Secretary of Energy. That document with 
the original signature and date is maintained by DOE. For 
administrative purposes only, and in compliance with requirements of 
the Office of the Federal Register, the undersigned DOE Federal 
Register Liaison Officer has been authorized to sign and submit the 
document in electronic format for publication, as an official document 
of the Department of

[[Page 50879]]

Energy. This administrative process in no way alters the legal effect 
of this document upon publication in the Federal Register.

    Signed in Washington, DC, on September 8, 2021.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2021-19701 Filed 9-10-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P