[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 207 (Thursday, October 27, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65048-65049]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-23382]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Notice of Funding Opportunity for Consent-Based Siting Program

AGENCY: Office of Spent Fuel and Waste Disposition, Office of Nuclear 
Energy, Department of Energy.

ACTION: Funding opportunity announcement.

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SUMMARY: On September 20, 2022, the Department of Energy (DOE or the 
Department) issued a $16 million funding opportunity announcement (FOA) 
to support community engagement with DOE's consent-based siting 
activities and foster the development of innovative community ideas and 
feedback related to the potential role that one or more federal 
consolidated interim storage facilities for commercial spent nuclear 
fuel may have in the community. To view the FOA, go to https://www.grants.gov and search for ``DE-FOA-0002575.''

DATES: Questions about the FOA must be received by December 4, 2022. 
FOA applications must be received by 8 p.m., EST, December 19, 2022.

ADDRESSES: All applications must be emailed to the DOE Contracts 
Specialist at [email protected]. Applicants must 
obtain a Unique Entity ID (UEI) number. Applicants must first be 
registered with the (System for Award Management) SAM website: https://www.sam.gov. All SAM registrants will be assigned a UEI and can view 
the number on the SAM website. Applications shall be prepared in 
accordance with the detailed instructions in the FOA. To learn more 
about the FOA, including application requirements, please go to https://www.grants.gov and search for ``DE-FOA-0002575.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Dr. Tran Le, U.S. Department of 
Energy, Office of Nuclear Energy, NE-82, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, 
Washington, DC 20585-0121. Telephone: (301) 903-3301. Email: 
[email protected].
    Questions about the FOA must be submitted by December 4, 2022, to 
the DOE Contracts Specialist at [email protected]. For

[[Page 65049]]

non-FOA related questions about DOE's consent-based siting activities, 
please send your inquiry via email to [email protected] or 
by phone at (301) 903-3301.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Issuance of this FOA is an important step 
toward building understanding between interested communities, 
organizations, and DOE about consent-based siting. While DOE is not 
soliciting volunteer sites to host consolidated interim storage 
facilities as part of this funding opportunity, the Department hopes to 
encourage engagement, open dialogue, and building capacity among 
interested stakeholders and communities about the consent-based siting 
process. In later phases, DOE will engage with communities that express 
interest in potentially hosting one or more facilities.
    Who should apply?: This FOA invites proposals from communities and 
organizations located within the continental United States interested 
in learning more about consent-based siting. Eligible awardees include, 
but are not limited to: higher-education institutions (colleges, 
universities, and other institutions of higher learning); Tribal, 
State, and local governments (municipalities, towns, cities, and 
counties); Community foundations; and Non-governmental organizations 
(trade associations, 501(c)(3) organizations, and other public groups). 
Federally funded research and development centers are not eligible to 
apply for funding. More detailed information on eligibility is provided 
in the FOA.
    Public Information Webinar: DOE hosted an informational webinar 
about this FOA on October 3, 2022, to discuss the scope and answer 
questions about the application process. The webinar was recorded and 
is available at https://www.energy.gov/ne/consent-based-siting.

Background

    Management of the nation's spent nuclear fuel and high-level 
radioactive waste is the US DOE's responsibility. This includes finding 
sites to store and dispose of the Nation's spent nuclear fuel. DOE is 
committed to a consent-based approach to siting and an integrated waste 
management system that enables broad participation and centers equity 
and environmental justice. In the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 
2021, and Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022, Congress appropriated 
funds to the Department for Federal interim storage activities using a 
consent-based approach. Interim storage is an important component of an 
integrated waste management system and will enable near-term 
consolidation and temporary storage of spent nuclear fuel until a 
disposal capability is identified. A Federal interim storage capability 
will enable removal of spent nuclear fuel from reactor sites, provide 
useful research opportunities, and build trust and confidence with 
stakeholders and the public by demonstrating a consent-based approach 
to facility siting.
    In December 2021, DOE issued a request for information on ``Using a 
Consent-Based Siting Process to Identify Federal Interim Storage 
Facilities'' (86 FR 68244). The 225 submissions received by the DOE 
(available at https://www.energy.gov/ne/consent-based-siting) included 
comments from Tribal, State, and local governments; Non-governmental 
organizations; members of academia, industry; other stakeholders and 
individual commenters. This consent-based siting FOA is responsive to 
public feedback on the need to provide resources for interested 
communities to learn more about consent-based siting and spent nuclear 
fuel management. Specifically, the FOA seeks to advance mutual learning 
between stakeholders, communities, and DOE and to foster open 
discussions about consent-based siting, spent nuclear fuel management, 
and the role one or more federal consolidated interim storage 
facilities could have in interested communities. For more information 
on DOE's consent-based siting activities, please go to https://www.energy.gov/ne/consent-based-siting.
    Confidential Business Information: Pursuant to 10 CFR 1004.11, any 
person submitting information that he or she believes to be 
confidential and exempt by law from public disclosure should submit via 
email, postal mail, or hand delivery two well-marked copies: one copy 
of the document marked ``confidential'' including all the information 
believed to be confidential, and one copy of the document marked ``non-
confidential'' with the information believed to be confidential 
deleted. Submit these documents via email, if feasible. DOE will make 
its own determination about the confidential status of the information 
and treat it according to its determination.

Signing Authority

    This document of the Department of Energy was signed on October 21, 
2022, by Dr. Kathryn Huff, Assistant Secretary for the Office of 
Nuclear Energy, 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 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 October 24, 2022.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2022-23382 Filed 10-26-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P