3436 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 14 / Friday, January 21, 2000 / Notices

Washington

U.S. Department of Energy, Richland

Operations Office, Washington State

University, WSU Tri-Cities Branch

Campus, 100 Sprout Road, Richlands,

WA 99352, Telephone: (509) 376–

8583

Wyoming

Teton County Public Library, 125

Virginian Lane, Jackson, WY 83001,

Telephone: (307) 733–2164

Wyoming State Library, Government

Documents Collection, 2301 Capitol

Avenue, Cheyenne, WY 82002,

Telephone: (307) 777–6333

District of Columbia

DOE Forrestal Building, Freedom of

Information Reading Room, 1000

Independence Ave., SW, Washington,

DC 20585, Telephone: (202) 586–6020

Issued in Washington, DC, January 14,

2000.

Mark W. Frei,

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Project

Completion, Environmental Management.

[FR Doc. 00–1494 Filed 1–20–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6450–01–M

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Chicago Operations Office; Office of

Industrial Technologies

Notice of Solicitation for Financial

Assistance Applications for

Cooperative Research and

Development for Advanced Materials

in Advanced Industrial Gas Turbines

AGENCY: Chicago Operations Office,

DOE.

ACTION: Notice of solicitation

availability.

SUMMARY: The Department of Energy

(DOE) announces its interest in

receiving applications for federal

assistance. The purpose of this research

is to advance the state of development

of one or more advanced material

system(s) for integration into Advanced

Industrial Gas Turbine Systems used in

power generation service. In order to

reach this goal, development, subsystem

testing, and demonstration of optimized

and fully integrated components

comprising advanced material system(s)

must be performed.

DATES: The solicitation document will

be available on or about December 17,

1999. Applications are due on or about

February 4, 2000. Awards are

anticipated by June 1, 2000.

ADDRESSES: The solicitation will be

available on the internet by accessing

the DOE Chicago Operations Office

Acquisition and Assistance Group home

page at http://www.ch.doe.gov/business/

acq.htm under the heading ‘‘Current

Solicitations’’, Solicitation No. DE–

SC02–00CH11005. Completed

applications referencing Solicitation No.

DE–SC02–00CH11005 must be

submitted to the U.S. Department of

Energy, Chicago Operations Office,

Communications Center, Building 201,

Room 168, 9800 South Cass Avenue,

Argonne, IL 60439–4899, ATTN:

Roberta D. Schroeder, Acquisition and

Assistance Group.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Roberta D. Schroeder at 630/252–2708,

U.S. Department of Energy, 9800 South

Cass Avenue, Argonne, IL 60439–4899,

by facsimile at 630/252–5045, or by

electronic mail at

roberta.schroeder@ch.doe.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Scope

of Work covers applied research and

pre-commercial demonstration in five

work areas as described below as Tasks

1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. In addition to these

tasks the Scope of Work includes

Subtasks A and B. Subtask A will

require the participant to provide a

report covering the potential technical

market and technical/economic barriers.

Subtask B will require the participant to

provide a commercialization plan for

advanced industrial turbines utilizing

advanced material system(s).

The Tasks represent an increasing

progression of maturation stages for

technology development. Tasks 1 and 2

involve research, design, and

development of advanced materials

systems, Tasks 3 and 4 involve

technology systems development

including gas-turbine modifications,

and Task 5 involves pre-commercial

demonstration. Depending on the

current maturation of proposed

technologies, the work may start at any

task if prior work has been performed

that would satisfy completion or

sufficient progress of the previous

task(s). For example, an applicant with

an innovative concept but limited

development experience for that

concept may decide to apply only under

Task 1—whereas applicants with more

developed concepts may elect to bypass

the initial tasks. Applications may

address any combination or portions of

the tasks. While it is not mandatory for

applications to address only

sequentially numbered tasks (e.g.,

applying under Tasks 1, 3 and 4 is

allowable), there must be a logical

sequence of the tasks to be performed

based on the nature of the work to be

performed.

The ultimate maturation of

technologies will be reached upon the

attainment of the solicitation objectives

in a pre-commercial demonstration of

8,000 hours (Task 5). Although it is the

intention of this solicitation to support

development of advanced material

systems that will so culminate, there

also is relevancy in gaining a better

understanding of the advanced

materials systems and their impact on

gas turbines. In such a case,

development of a completed

commercial system may not be feasible.

For example, development may end

prior to the maturation state of Task 5,

or Task 5 may be scheduled to complete

less than the 8,000 hours (but more than

4,000 hours as discussed below)

identified in the solicitation as a goal for

commercialization. Regardless of the

tasks proposed, applications will raise

the maturation level of the concept

relative to the solicitation objectives.

Insofar as Subtask A and B are

concerned, all participants will

complete the program and planning

report required by Subtask A, which

will become a subtask of the lowest

numbered Task proposed. Additionally,

participants performing work under

Tasks 3, 4 and/or 5 will complete the

commercialization plan required by

Subtask B as a part of the lowest

numbered Task proposed that is equal

to or greater than 3.

All work proposed to be performed

under an application must be scheduled

for completion within the three-year life

expectancy of this program.

Under Tasks 1 and 2 that follow, the

work may be performed with respect to

test devices or turbines that could serve

as a logical and cost effective

intermediate basis for developing

technologies for advanced material

systems. However, any such technology

developed under Tasks 1 and 2 must

have applicability to advanced

industrial gas turbines.

Under Tasks 3, 4 and 5 that follow, all

work must be performed with respect to

advanced industrial gas turbines

(including test devices suitable to

characterize aspects of advanced

industrial gas turbines), and the

demonstration required under Task 5

must be performed on an advanced

industrial gas turbine(s). In performing

this work, one or more such turbines

may be used.

Work under all tasks requires the

participation of material processors at

any level (applicant or sub-applicant)

with sufficient responsibility to

accomplish the work proposed. Work

under all tasks also will be enhanced by

the participation of an end user. For

these tasks, this solicitation encourages

the coordination of technical and

administrative activities with an end

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 14 / Friday, January 21, 2000 / Notices 3437

user. Long-term demonstration under

Task 5 must be conducted at a host site

that is committed by the end user. We

encourage the demonstration to be

conducted at an Industry of the Future

Company.

Task 1—The starting point of this task

shall be, as a minimum, a technological

concept(s) of an advanced material

system(s) with prior experimental

evidence of its potential for meeting the

solicitation objectives. The participant

will identify the form, function, and fit

of all components necessary to execute

the proposed technology. The

participant also will develop

preliminary component designs

compatible with the properties of the

advanced material system(s). The

preliminary component designs will

consider ease of manufacture and

insertion and function of the component

in the turbine. Testing on preliminary

articles may be done at a scale suitable

to confirm the design parameters that

were used and to give qualitative and

quantitative indications that the

components will perform as planned.

Task 2—The participant will

complete detailed designs of the

selected system components. The design

process will include the optimization

and cost reduction of the processing,

fabrication, and integration of the

selected components into a viable

turbine system. The components will be

manufactured and the sub-system will

be assembled. Development and testing

will be done to verify and optimize the

overall approach, to provide operating

and control parameters during

manufacture and use, and to provide

full-scale definition such as allowable

turbine operating ranges, sensitivity to

fuel variability, and other factors

affecting the performance and

competitiveness of the turbine system.

Task 3—The design of an advanced

industrial gas turbine will be adapted in

parallel to component development to

assure compatibility, optimum fit, and

functionality. The work under this task

will integrate hardware, controls, and

operating procedures for startup, steady

operation over the advanced industrial

gas turbine’s usual power range (for

example 50% to 100% of rated output),

planned changes (such as anticipated

shutdown or transitions of operating

load), and unexpected changes in power

output (such as lost load) and

determining energy efficiency and

emissions.

Task 4—The applicant shall design

and fabricate a complete advanced

industrial gas turbine system that

utilizes the components developed

under Task 2 or elsewhere. The

components shall exhibit the form,

function, and fit compatible with the

modified advanced industrial gas

turbine developed either under Task 3

or elsewhere. The applicant shall prove,

either by subsystem rig testing or by

demonstrating on an advanced

industrial gas turbine, the ability of the

subsystem components to perform as

planned. Such testing shall include

those sensors and controllers needed to

maintain testing over the design

operating range of the turbine. Test

results shall include relationships

among performance, efficiency,

emissions, temperatures, and all other

relevant parameters that quantify and

qualify the system for commercial

delivery. The proof testing shall be

based on natural gas fuel or any other

fuel with a viable market presence in

the Industries of the Future such as

waste fuels and biomass. Also, the

market may require dual fuel

capabilities. Such dual fuel capabilities

may be considered in the design.

The completion of Task 4 would

result in the assembly of an advanced

industrial gas turbine that incorporates

components completed under this task

or elsewhere. The advanced industrial

gas turbine shall be ready for insertion

into a commercial package that is

suitable for shipment, installation, and

demonstration in the field under Task 5.

Task 5—A host site(s) will be selected

for demonstration of the advanced

industrial gas turbine qualified either by

the completion of Task 4 or elsewhere.

The participant will integrate the

advanced industrial gas turbine with the

balance of plant equipment such as a

generator that is compatible with the

needs of a specific host site(s). The

completion of Task 5 would result in an

8000-hour demonstration of an

advanced industrial gas turbine that can

be reasonably expected to meet project

objectives. At a minimum, the

demonstration shall comprise 4000

hours of operation with natural gas fuel

at a host site that is compatible with an

operating rate of at least 4000 hours per

annum.

The applicant shall complete a

coordinated plan for the demonstration

that incorporates the perspectives of all

relevant parties, including the host site.

The plan will also assign

responsibilities on all matters necessary

to execute the demonstration plan, such

as business arrangements, balance of

plant equipment, site construction, site

integration, periodic inspections of

hardware, visitations of third parties,

data acquisition at the host site to verify

expected benefits, and obtainment of

environmental, construction, operating,

and other permits.

In support of the Office of Industrial

Technologies and the nation’s

industries, it is preferred that the

demonstration be conducted at an

Industry of the Future company. If it is

not feasible to conduct the

demonstration at an Industry of the

Future company or if there are valid

reasons to do the demonstration

elsewhere, a host site other than

Industry of the Future company may be

considered. Host sites comprising

buildings or natural gas and electric

utility sites may be relevant to programs

of the Office of Energy Efficiency and

Renewable Energy, Office of Building

and Community Systems and the Office

of Power Technologies respectively. In

such cases, every possible effort will be

made to coordinate such demonstrations

with these offices.

The demonstration shall be

representative of significant market

segments of the distributed power

generation industry. As a result, the

successful demonstration at the host site

will be expected to exemplify the

resolution of the typical barriers (such

as technical, environmental, industry

acceptance, and control issues related to

the use of advanced material systems)

that impede the widespread adoption of

distributed generation. In this regard, all

hours of operation accumulated under

the demonstration shall be gained while

generating electric power. Additionally,

all such hours of operation shall be

accumulated while the host site is

interconnected to the existing local

utility transmission and distribution

grid that exists for the routine

transmission and distribution of electric

power. Accordingly, the balance of

plant equipment shall be sufficient to

generate and condition such electric

power, and all hardware shall be

provided for interconnection,

transmission, and distribution on the

local utility grid. (The sole use of

isolation switches shall not be sufficient

to meet this requirement.)

Subtask A—Subtask A is required for

any applicant selected for award and is

to be performed in conjunction with the

lowest numbered task proposed. The

completed report must be received

within 90 days of award of the

cooperative agreement and will be

submitted in accordance with topical

report requirements.

With emphasis on the Industries of

the Future but not excluding other

applications, the report will further

define completed distributed generation

and combined heat and power systems

likely to be available at the successful

completion of this project. The

participant will identify and quantify

the potential technical markets for such

3438 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 14 / Friday, January 21, 2000 / Notices

systems. In areas such as energy

efficiency, performance, cost, and

emissions, the participant will provide

detailed rationale that supports these

projections. All barriers such as the lack

of uniform code standards that will

impact on the technical market will be

identified. However, any such barriers

that are out of the control of the

participant shall be deemed not to

impact on the projected technical

market.

Subtask B—Subtask B is required for

any applicant selected for award who

proposed on Tasks 3, 4, and/or 5 and is

to be performed in conjunction with the

lowest numbered task proposed. The

completed report must be received

within 180 days of initiation of the

lowest numbered Task (3–5) proposed.

This report will be submitted in

accordance with topical report

requirements.

The main impetus for this work is the

commercial implementation of efficient,

clean, and cost effective advanced

industrial gas turbines with advanced

material systems that are deployed in

distributed generation and combined

heat and power system(s). It is essential

that a commercialization plan support

the proposed advanced material systems

and achieve the goals of this

solicitation. Participants doing work

under Tasks 3, 4, or 5 shall complete

commercialization plans and strategies

for all relevant functions in the

commercialization process such as costeffective manufacturing, marketing,

production volumes, and support for the

participant’s advanced industrial gas

turbine system. The commercialization

plan will emphasize market

applications in the Industries of the

Future.

As applicants may apply under one or

more of the five tasks within the

solicitation Scope of Work, there is a

wide range in the number of potential

awards and award values. DOE expects

to award one (1) to five (5) cooperative

agreements under this solicitation. It is

estimated that individual awards will

range in value between approximately

$300,000.00 and $1,500,000.00 of DOE

funding and will require awardee cost

sharing. A minimum non-federal cost

sharing commitment of 30% of the cost

for Tasks 1 and 2, 45% of the costs for

Tasks 3 and 4, and 60% of the costs for

Task 5 is required.

Estimated DOE funding is $6 million

over the three-year period. DOE reserves

the right to fund in whole or in part,

any, all, or none of the applications

submitted in response to this

solicitation. All awards are subject to

the availability of funds.

Any non-profit or for-profit

organization or other institution of

higher education, or non-federal agency

or entity is eligible to apply, unless

otherwise restricted by the SimpsonCraig Amendment. In addition,

applicants must satisfy the requirements

of the Energy Policy Act in order to be

eligible for award. DOE National

Laboratory participation as a

subcontractor is limited to no more than

30% of the cost of any individual task

to be performed.

Issued in Argonne, Illinois on January 4,

2000.

John D. Greenwood,

Acquisition and Assistance Group, Group

Manager.

[FR Doc. 00–1495 Filed 1–20–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6450–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Energy Information Administration

Agency Information Collection

Activities: Proposed Collection;

Comment Request

AGENCY: Energy Information

Administration, DOE.

ACTION: Agency information collection

activities: Proposed collection; comment

request.

SUMMARY: The Energy Information

Administration (EIA) is soliciting

comments on the proposed changes and

extension to Form NWPA–830G,

‘‘Standard Remittance Advice for

Payment of Fees.’’

DATES: Written comments must be

submitted on or before March 21, 2000.

If you anticipate difficulty in submitting

comments within that period, contact

the person listed below as soon as

possible.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Jim

Finucane, Office of Coal, Nuclear,

Electric and Alternate Fuels, EI–52,

Forrestal Building, U.S. Department of

Energy, Washington, D.C. 20585–0650.

Alternatively, Mr. Finucane may be

reached by phone at 202–426–1960, by

e-mail jim.finucane@eia.doe.gov, or by

FAX 202–426–1280.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for additional information or

copies of the forms and instructions

should be directed to Mr. Finucane at

the address listed above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

II. Current Actions

III. Request for Comments

I. Background

The Federal Energy Administration

Act of 1974 (Pub. L. No. 93–275, 15

U.S.C. 761 et seq.) and the Department

of Energy Organization Act (Pub. L. No.

95–91), 42 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.) require

the Energy Information Administration

(EIA) to carry out a centralized,

comprehensive, and unified energy

information program. This program

collects, evaluates, assembles, analyzes,

and disseminates information on energy

resource reserves, production, demand,

technology, and related economic and

statistical information. This information

is used to assess the adequacy of energy

resources to meet near and longer term

domestic demands.

The EIA, as part of its effort to comply

with the Paperwork Reduction Act of

1995 (Pub. L. 104–13, 44 U.S.C. Chapter

35), provides the general public and

other Federal agencies with

opportunities to comment on collections

of energy information conducted by or

in conjunction with the EIA. Any

comments received help the EIA to

prepare data requests that maximize the

utility of the information collected, and

to assess the impact of collection

requirements on the public. Also, the

EIA will later seek approval by the

Office of Management and Budget

(OMB) of the collections under Section

3507(h) of the Paperwork Reduction Act

of 1995.

The Form NWPA–830G is designed to

be the service document for entries into

the Department of Energy’s accounting

records. Electric utilities transmit data

concerning payment of their

contribution to the Nuclear Waste Fund,

and specific data on disposal of nuclear

waste.

II. Current Actions

This action is an extension with a

minor change proposed to the existing

collection. In keeping with its mandated

responsibilities, EIA proposes to extend

the information collection aspects of

NWPA–830G, ‘‘Standard Remittance

Advice for Payment of Fees’’ for three

years from the current approved OMB

expiration date (07/31/00).

Proposed change:

Where to Submit: The address is

unchanged for the signed copy of the

data form; however, the data in

electronic form may now be submitted

as an attachment to an E-mail addressed

to:

RAPS@EIA.DOE.GOV

III. Request for Comments

Prospective respondents and other

interested parties should comment on

the actions discussed in item II. The