### 56412 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 177 / Tuesday, September 13, 2011 / Notices

deliveries to it at the Project during on-peak and off-peak hours, respectively. Deliveries to preference customers of the Government shall be divided on the basis (with allowance for losses) of 77 percent being considered as on-peak energy and 23 percent being off-peak energy. Such percentages may by mutual consent be changed from time to time as further studies show to be appropriate. In the event that in classifying energy there is more than enough on-peak energy available to supply on-peak requirements of the Government’s preference customers but less than enough off-peak energy available to supply such customers off-peak requirements, such excess on-peak energy may be applied to the extent necessary to meet off-peak requirements of such customers in lieu of purchasing deficiency energy to meet such off-peak requirements.

Billing Month: The billing month under this schedule shall end at 12:00 midnight on the 20th day
of each calendar month.

Power Factor: The purchaser and seller under this rate schedule agree that they will both so operate their respective systems that neither party will impose an undue reactive burden on the
other.

[FR Doc. 2011–23356 Filed 9–12–11; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 6450–01–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY**

**Ultra-Deepwater and Unconventional**
**Natural Gas and Other Petroleum Resources Research and Development**  **Program 2011 Annual Plan**

**AGENCY :**  Office of Fossil Energy, Department of Energy.

**ACTION :**  Notice of report availability.

**SUMMARY :**  The Office of Fossil Energy announces the availability of the 2011 Annual Plan for the Ultra-Deepwater
and Unconventional Natural Gas and
Other Petroleum Resources Research and Development Program on the DOE
Web site at http:// www.fossil.energy.gov/programs/oilgas/
ultra

_and

_ unconventional/2011–

2012

_ Committees/

2011

_annual

_

plan.pdf or in print form (see ‘‘Contact’’ below). The 2011 Annual
Plan is in compliance with the Energy Policy Act of 2005, Subtitle J, Section 999B(e)(3) which requires the publication of this plan and all written
comments in the Federal Register.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Elena Melchert, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Oil and Natural Gas, Mail Stop FE–30, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585 or phone: (202) 586–5600 or e-mail to UltraDeepwater@hq.doe.gov.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :**  Executive Summary [Excerpted From the 2011 Annual Plan p. iii]

As the Nation transitions to the clean energy economy of the future, we must also ensure that we effectively mitigate the risks of our current energy portfolio.

This 2011 Annual Plan, the fifth such plan to be produced since the launch of
the Ultra-Deepwater and
Unconventional Natural Gas and Other Petroleum Resources Research Program, reflects an important shift in priorities towards safety and environmental sustainability. This shift is based on the recognition that a critical element in prudently developing our domestic
resource base is a scientific assessment of the risks which exploration and production activities entail, and the development of appropriate technologies and processes to mitigate
these risks.

Domestic deepwater and ultradeepwater oil and gas resources, and domestic unconventional natural gas resources, are important contributors to our Nation’s energy supply portfolio. Recent events, the Macondo well blowout and the Deepwater Horizon explosion in the Gulf of Mexico, and growing public opposition to the rapid pace of shale gas development onshore
are stark reminders of the
environmental risks of our current energy portfolio. The 2011 Annual Plan proposes scientific research that will quantify and mitigate risks associated with oil and gas exploration and production onshore and offshore, thereby improving safety and minimizing environmental impacts.

The Department will ensure that the federal government’s understanding of
the risks associated with these operations keeps pace. This will be accomplished through scientific assessment of the risks, potential impacts, and adequacy of current response and mitigation technologies.

The research discussed in this Annual Report will be administered by the Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America (RPSEA), which operates under the guidance of the Secretary of Energy. RPSEA is a consortium which includes representatives from industry,
academia and research institutions. RPSEA’s expertise in all areas of the exploration and production value chain ensure that the Department of Energy’s research program has access to relevant emerging technologies and processes, and that projects are designed in a way that have a direct impact on practices in
the field.

Background

Offshore and onshore research activities are administered pursuant to an annual plan in compliance with Title IX, Subtitle J of EPACT, which directs that $50 million per year of federal royalties, rents and bonus payments be used to fund an oil and natural gas research and development (R&D) effort,
the Ultra-Deepwater and
Unconventional Natural Gas and Other Petroleum Resources Research Program (Program).

The Secretary of Energy approves all awards to research performers, and the planned R&D activities support the goals and objectives of the annual plan.
The research activities are administered by a Program Consortium that has been selected by the Secretary, as detailed in the Program Consortium section below.

The National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) is responsible for implementation of the Program. Within NETL, the responsibility for overall program implementation, including oversight of the Program Consortium contract, has been assigned to the Strategic Center for Natural Gas and Oil.

Complementary research prescribed under Section 999A(d) is carried out by
NETL’s Office of Research and Development.

Program Consortium

In 2006, DOE selected the Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America (RPSEA) through a competitive solicitation to serve as the Program
Consortium and administer the research activities pursuant to Section 999B(c).

RPSEA has a broad membership base that includes representatives from all
levels and sectors of both the oil and natural gas exploration and production (E&P) and oil and natural gas R&D
communities. The breadth of membership helps to ensure that R&D funds leverage existing industry efforts in accomplishing the Program’s objectives.

Administration funds provided to RPSEA cannot exceed 10 percent pursuant to Section 999G(3). The private companies, universities, and other organizations that are awarded contracts through this program provide
cost-share contributions of at least 20 percent.

The Annual Plan Development Process

Pursuant to Section 999B(e)(2)(A), the Program Consortium prepared its 2011 Draft Annual Plan (DAP) which it delivered to the Secretary July 2010. The Department of Energy prepared a Draft 2011 Annual Plan. Subsequently,
the Draft 2011 Annual Plan and the DAP were reviewed by the Unconventional Resources Technology Advisory Committee (URTAC) which presented


### 56413 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 177 / Tuesday, September 13, 2011 / Notices

1 42 U.S.C. 6836(b)(2) and (3). its final report of findings and
recommendations in October 2010.

On February 2, 2011, the Secretary of Energy appointed new members to his Ultra-Deepwater Advisory Committee (UDAC), and met with the members on February 23, 2011 to discuss his goals for offshore research and development. Before presenting its final report of findings and recommendations to the Secretary in April 2011, the UDAC
established a Subcommittee on Risk

Assessment.

The Department of Energy will be continually informed by the UDAC
based on the work of its Subcommittee on Risk. In addition, other Federal advisory bodies will help inform the Department. These include the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board (SEAB) which established a Subcommittee on Natural Gas, and the Department of the Interior’s Ocean Energy Safety Committee (OESC) which
has established four subcommittees including the Spill Prevention Subcommittee, and the Containment Subcommittee. The Department of Energy is a member of the OESC. The Department will take new information into account in the preparation of
solicitations and the selection of research projects for the 2011 portfolio.

Issued in Washington, DC, on September 7,

2011. Christopher A. Smith, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Oil and Natural Gas, Office of Fossil Energy.

[FR Doc. 2011–23328 Filed 9–12–11; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 6450–01–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY**

**Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy** 

**[Docket No. EERE–2011–BT–BC–0046]**

**Building Energy Codes Cost Analysis**

**AGENCY :**  Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy.

**ACTION :**  Request for information.

**SUMMARY :**  The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is soliciting public input on how it may improve the methodology DOE intends to use for assessing cost effectiveness (which includes an energy savings assessment) of changes to residential building energy codes. DOE supports the development of the International Code Council’s (ICC) International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), the national model code adopted by or forming the basis of residential energy codes promulgated by a majority of U.S. states, as well as other voluntary building energy codes. DOE performs a cost effectiveness analysis of proposed modifications to the codes as part of that support. DOE also performs an analysis
of cost effectiveness of new code versions. DOE is interested in public input on its methodology, preferred data sources, and parameter assumptions.

DOE is publishing this request for information to allow interested parties to provide suggestions, comments, and
other information. This notice identifies
several areas in which DOE is particularly interested in receiving information; however, any input and suggestions considered relevant to the topic are welcome.

**DATES :**  Written comments and information are requested by October

13, 2011.

**ADDRESSES :**  Interested persons may submit comments in writing, identified by docket number EERE–2011–BT–BC– 0046, by any of the following methods:

E-mail: Res-CEAM-2011-BC0046@ee.doe.gov. Include EERE–2011– BT–BC–0046 in the subject line of the

message.

Mail: Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department of Energy, Building Technologies Program, Mailstop EE–2J, Building Energy Codes, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585–0121. Phone (202) 586–2945. Please submit one signed paper original.

Hand Delivery/Courier: Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department of Energy, Building Technologies Program, 6th Floor, 950 L’Enfant Plaza, SW., Washington, DC 20024. Phone: (202) 586–2945. Please submit one signed paper original.

Internet: http://www.regulations.gov/ #!docketDetail;dct=FR+PR+N+O+SR +PS;rpp=250;so=DESC;sb=postedDate; po=0;D=EERE-2011-BT-BC-0046. Please use the input form and complete all required fields.

Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name and
docket number.

Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents, or comments received, visit the U.S. Department of Energy, Resource Room of the Building Technologies Program, 950 L’Enfant Plaza, SW., Suite 600, Washington, DC 20024, (202) 586–2945, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
Please call Ms. Brenda Edwards at the above telephone number for additional information regarding visiting the

Resource Room.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Mr. Robert Dewey, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building Technologies Program, Mailstop EE–2J, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585–0121, Telephone: (202) 287–1354, E-mail: Robert.Dewey@ee.doe.gov.

Ms. Kavita Vaidyanathan, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the General Counsel, Forrestal Building, Mailstop GC–71, 1000 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20585, Telephone: (202) 586–0669, E-mail: kavita.vaidyanathan@hq.doe.gov.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :** 
Authority and Background

Section 307(b) of the Energy
Conservation and Production Act (ECPA, Public Law 102–486), as amended, directs DOE to support voluntary building energy codes by periodically reviewing the technical and economic basis of the voluntary building energy codes and ‘‘seek adoption of all technologically feasible and economically justified energy efficiency measures; and * * * otherwise participate in any industry process for review and modification of
such codes.’’ 1

This Request for Information (RFI) seeks public input on DOE’s methodology for assessing the cost effectiveness of proposed changes to residential building energy codes and new editions of such codes. Historically, DOE’s analyses have been conducted in an ad hoc manner, with the methodology selected based on the type of code change contemplated and the nature of ongoing stakeholder debates on the topic. Because residential energy codes lagged advances in residential efficiency measures, DOE relied on successes in relevant research,demonstration, and voluntary beyondcode programs ( e.g., Building America, ENERGY STAR) rather than directly calculating the cost effectiveness of code changes. However, recent advances in the IECC and other voluntary building energy codes have improved the energy performance of buildings and building components to levels that in many cases rival those of the beyond-code programs. Consequently, for its future efforts advancing and promoting voluntary building energy codes, DOE
sees the need for a consistent and transparent methodology for assessing the cost effectiveness of code change proposals and for assessing the cost
effectiveness of new code versions.

DOE intends to use the methodology
described in this document to address DOE’s legislative direction related to