### 9765 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 35 / Tuesday, February 22, 2011 / Notices

Measure: The average percentage gain on a teacher assessment after participation in the Presidential Academy.
VII. Agency Contact

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Bonnie Carter, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 4W107, Washington, DC 20202–
5960. Telephone: (202) 401–3576 or by e-mail: academies@ed.gov.

If you use a TDD, call the FRS, toll free, at 1–800–877–8339.

VIII. Other Information

Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this document and a copy of the application package in an accessible format ( e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) on request to the program contact person listed under **FOR FURTHER**
**INFORMATION CONTACT** in section VII of this notice.

Electronic Access to This Document: You can view this document, as well as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal Register , in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) on the Internet at the following site: http://www.ed.gov/news/ fedregister. To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at this site.

Note: The official version of this document is the document published in the Federal Register . Free Internet access to the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal Regulations is available on GPO Access at: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/ index.html.

Dated: February 16, 2011. James H. Shelton III, Assistant Deputy Secretary for Innovation and Improvement.
[FR Doc. 2011–3913 Filed 2–18–11; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 4000–01–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY**

**National Coal Council**

**AGENCY :**  Department of Energy.

**ACTION :**  Notice of open meeting.

**SUMMARY :**  This notice announces a meeting of the National Coal Council (NCC). The Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92–463, 86 Stat. 770) requires that public notice of these meetings be announced in the Federal Register

. **DATES :**  Friday, March 18, 2011 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

**ADDRESSES :**  Westin Georgetown, 2350 M Street, NW., Washington, DC 20037. **FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Michael J. Ducker, U.S. Department of Energy; 4G–036/Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585–1290; Telephone: (202) 586–7810.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :** 

Purpose of Meeting: To conduct an open meeting of the NCC and to provide a presentation on the new study conducted by the Council on the deployment of carbon capture and storage technologies.

Agenda:

• Welcome and call to order by NCC Chair Joe Hopf.

• Remarks by Secretary Steven Chu, Department of Energy.

• Council Business:

Æ Finance report by Committee Chairman Joe Hopf.

• Presentation by Coal Policy Committee Chairman Frank Blake on the findings and recommendations in the new NCC Report.

• Presentation by Mike Howard, President and CEO of Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI).

• Presentation by Tom Grahame of the Department of Energy on the impacts of black carbon in the atmosphere.

• Other Business.

• Adjourn. Public Participation: The meeting is open to the public. If you would like to file a written statement with the Committee, you may do so either before or after the meeting. If you would like to make oral statements regarding any potential items on the agenda, you should contact Michael J. Ducker by telephone at (202) 586–7810 or Michael.Ducker@HQ.DOE.GOV (e-mail). You must make your request for an oral statement at least 5 business days before the meeting. Reasonable provision will be made to include the scheduled oral statements on the agenda. The Chairperson of the Committee will conduct the meeting to facilitate the orderly conduct of business. Public comment will follow the 10-minute rule.

Minutes: The NCC will prepare meeting minutes within 45 days of the meeting. The minutes will be posted on the NCC Web site at http:// www.nationalcoalcouncil.org/

.

Issued at Washington, DC, on February 15,
2011. LaTanya Butler, Acting Deputy Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011–3847 Filed 2–18–11; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 6450–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY** 

**Advanced Scientific Computing Advisory Committee** 

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

**ACTION :**  Notice of open meeting.

**SUMMARY :**  This notice announces a meeting of the Advanced Scientific Computing Advisory Committee (ASCAC). The Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92–463, 86 Stat. 770) requires that public notice of these meetings be announced in the Federal Register

. **DATES :**  Tuesday, March 22, 2011—9 a.m.–5 p.m. and Wednesday, March 23, 2011—9 a.m.–12 p.m.

**ADDRESSES :**  American Geophysical Union (AGU), 2000 Florida Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20009–1277.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Melea Baker, Office of Advanced Scientific Computing Research, SC–21/ Germantown Building, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW.; Washington, DC 20585–1290; Telephone (301) 903–7486.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :** 

Purpose of the Meeting: The purpose of this meeting is to provide advice on a continuing basis to the Department of Energy on scientific priorities within the field of advanced scientific computing research. Tentative Agenda Topics

• Advanced Scientific Computing Research program updates.

• ARRA update.

• Technical talks on exascale relevant research.

• ASCAC Committee of Visitors (COV) update and new business.

• Public Comment (10-minute rule). Public Participation: The meeting is open to the public. A webcast of this meeting may be available. Please check the ASCAC Web site below for updates and information on how to view the meeting. If you would like to file a written statement with the Committee, you may do so either before or after the meeting. If you would like to make oral statements regarding any of the items on the agenda, you should contact Melea Baker at (301) 903–7486 or e-mail: Melea.Baker@science.doe.gov. You must make your request for an oral statement at least 5 business days prior to the meeting. Reasonable provision will be made to include the scheduled oral statements on the agenda. The Chairperson of the Committee will conduct the meeting to facilitate the orderly conduct of business. Public


### 9766 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 35 / Tuesday, February 22, 2011 / Notices

comment will follow the 10-minute rule.

Minutes: The minutes of this meeting will be available for viewing on the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Advanced Scientific Computing Web site at: http://www.er.doe.gov/ascr/ ASCAC/ASCAC.html.

Issued at Washington, DC on February 15,
2011. LaTanya Butler, Acting Deputy Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011–3848 Filed 2–18–11; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 6450–01–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY**

**Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy** 

**Nationwide Limited Public Interest Waiver Under Section 1605 (Buy**  **American) of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009**  **(Recovery Act)**

**AGENCY :**  Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

**ACTION :**  Notice of extension of limited waiver.

**SUMMARY :**  The U.S. Department ofEnergy (DOE) is hereby granting a sixmonth extension of the amended nationwide limited waiver of the Buy American requirements of section 1605 of the Recovery Act under the authority of section 1605(b)(1) (amended public interest waiver), with respect to the following solar photo-voltaic (PV)equipment: (1) Domesticallymanufactured modules containingforeign-manufactured cells, (2) Foreignmanufactured modules, whencompletely comprised of domesticallymanufactured cells, and (3) Any ancillary items and equipment (including, but not limited to, charge controllers, combiners and disconnect boxes, breakers and fuses, racks, trackers, lugs, wires, cables and all otherwise incidental equipment with the exception of inverters and batteries) when utilized in a solar installation involving a U.S. manufactured PV module, or a module manufactured abroad but comprised exclusively of domestically-manufactured cells until August 6, 2011. This waiver expires August 6, 2011 (six months from the date of expiration of the original waiver). Recipients of EERE Recovery Act funds who have taken substantial steps to commit funds for the purchase of the items covered in this waiver by August 6, 2011 will not be impacted by the expiration of this waiver.

**DATES :**  Effective Date February 4, 2011.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Benjamin Goldstein, Recovery Act Buy American Coordinator, Weatherization and Intergovernmental Program, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), (202) 287–1553, buyamerican@ee.doe.gov, Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Mailstop EE–2K, Washington, DC
20585.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :** 

Under the authority of the Recovery Act, section 1605(b)(1), the head of a Federal department or agency may issue

a ‘‘determination of inapplicability’’ (a waiver of the Buy American provisions) if the application of section 1605 would be inconsistent with the public interest. On September 17, 2010, the Secretary of Energy re-delegated the authority to make all inapplicability determinations to the Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, for EERE Recovery Act projects.

Pursuant to this delegation, the Assistant Secretary has determined that application of section 1605 restrictions would be inconsistent with the public interest for incidental and/or ancillary solar Photovoltaic (PV) equipment, when this equipment is utilized in solar installations containing domestically manufactured PV cells or modules (panels).

This extension of the amended public interest determination extends the amended waiver of the Buy American requirements in EERE-funded Recovery Act projects for the purchase of the following solar PV equipment: (1) Domestically-manufactured modules containing foreign-manufactured cells, (2) Foreign-manufactured modules, when completely comprised of domestically-manufactured cells, and (3) Any ancillary items and equipment (including, but not limited to, charge controllers, combiners and disconnect boxes, breakers and fuses, racks, trackers, lugs, wires, cables and all otherwise incidental equipment with the exception of inverters and batteries) when utilized in a solar installation involving a U.S. manufactured PV module, or a module manufactured abroad but comprised exclusively of domestically-manufactured cells.

This waiver expires August 6, 2011 (six months from the date of expiration of the original waiver). Recipients of EERE Recovery Act funds who have taken substantial steps to commit funds for the purchase of the items covered in this waiver by August 6, 2011 will not be impacted by the expiration of this waiver.

Definitions—Solar cells are the basic building block of PV technologies. The cells are functional semiconductors, made by processing and treatingcrystalline silicon or other photosensitive materials to create a layered product that generates electricity by absorbing light photons. The individual cells are cut and/or assembled into larger groups known as panels or modules. These two terms are synonymous and used interchangeably in this memorandum. The panel is the end product, and consists of a series of solar cells, a backing surface, and a covering to protect the cells from weather and other types of damage. A solar array is created by installing multiple modules in the same location to increase the electrical generating capacity. Operational solar PV modules and arrays use cells to capture and transfer solar-generated electricity.

The Buy American provisions contain no requirement with regard to the origin of components or subcomponents in manufactured goods used in a project, as long as the manufacturing occurs in the United States [2 CFR 176.70(a)(2)(ii)]. However, determining where final manufacturing occurs in the context of the solar production chain is complicated. Under a plain reading of the Recovery Act Buy American provisions, only the PV modules would need to be manufactured in the United States, but the source of the component parts—including the high-value cells— would not be relevant to complying with the Buy American requirements.

EERE and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory have conducted extensive research into the nature of the domestic solar manufacturing industry to determine the best way to apply the Buy American requirements to solar PV projects. EERE considered three basic options: (1) To follow a plain reading of the Buy American provisions and require that only the modules be produced in the United States, irrespective of the origin of the cells contained in the modules; (2) determine that the modules and cells are distinct manufactured goods and thus both must be produced in the United States; and (3) choose a more inclusive approach that allows a solar installation to comply if either the cells or the modules are manufactured in the United States.

Of the options considered, only option (3) recognized EERE’s determination that the manufacture of PV cells and modules represent distinct instances of ‘‘substantial transformation’’ along the solar PV manufacturing chain, and that the public interest is best