### 75425 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 245 / Thursday, December 20, 2012 / Notices

VII. Agency Contact

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Lana Shaughnessy, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 3E231, Washington, DC 20202– 6335. Telephone: (202) 205–2528 or by email: Lana.Shaughnessy@ed.gov.

If you use a TDD or a TTY, call the Federal Relay Service, 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 compact disc) on request to the program contact person listed under **FOR FURTHER INFORMATION**
**CONTACT** in section VII of this notice.

Electronic Access to This Document: 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 via the Federal Digital System
at: www.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this site 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). To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at the site.

You may also access documents of the Department published in the Federal Register by using the article search feature at: www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published by the Department.

Dated: December 17, 2012. Deborah Delisle, Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2012–30703 Filed 12–19–12; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 4000–01–P**

**ELECTION ASSISTANCE COMMISSION**

**Publication of State Plan Pursuant to the Help America Vote Act** 

**AGENCY :**  U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC).

**ACTION :**  Notice.

**SUMMARY :**  Pursuant to Sections 254(a)(11)(A) and 255(b) of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), Public Law 107–252, as amended by Section 622 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2012, the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) hereby causes to be published in the Federal Register this notice in reference to the changes made to the HAVA State plan previously submitted by American Samoa. The revised State plan will be posted on the EAC Web site at www.eac.gov.
**DATES :**  This notice is effective upon publication in the Federal Register

. **FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Bryan Whitener, Telephone 202–566– 3100 or 1–866–747–1471 (toll-free).

Submit Comments: Any comments regarding the plans published herewith should be made in writing to the chief election official of the individual State at the address listed below.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :**  On March 24, 2004, the U.S. Election Assistance Commission published in the Federal Register the original HAVA State plans filed by the fifty States, the District of Columbia and the territories of American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. 69 FR 14002. HAVA anticipated that States, territories and the District of Columbia would change or update their plans from time to time pursuant to HAVA Section 254(a)(11) through (13). HAVA Sections 254(a)(11)(A) and 255 require EAC to publish such updates. This is the second revision to the State plan for American Samoa. This revision is a partial revision updating six (6) sections of the State Plan.

The amendments to American Samoa’s State plan provide for compliance with Title III and with the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act (MOVE Act). In accordance with HAVA Section 254(a)(12), all the State plans submitted for publication provide information on how the respective State succeeded in carrying out its previous State plan. American Samoa confirms that its amendments to the State plan were developed and submitted to public comment in accordance with HAVA Sections 254(a)(11), 255, and 256.

Upon the expiration of thirty days from December 20, 2012, the State is eligible to implement the changes addressed in the plan that is published herein, in accordance with HAVA Section 254(a)(11)(C). EAC wishes to acknowledge the effort that went into revising this State plan and encourages further public comment, in writing, to the State election official listed below.

Chief State Election Official

Mr. Soliai T. Fuimaono, Chief Election Officer, Election Office, American Samoa Government, (684) 699–3570 Fax: (684) 699–3574.

Thank you for your interest in improving the voting process in America. Dated: December 17, 2012. Alice Miller, Chief Operating Officer & Acting Executive Director, U.S. Election Assistance Commission.
[FR Doc. 2012–30685 Filed 12–19–12; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 4810–71–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY**

**Interagency Working Group on Plant Genomics (IWGPG): The National Plant**  **Genome Initiative—What’s Next?**

**AGENCY :**  Office of Science, Office of Biological and Environmental Research, Department of Energy (DOE).

**ACTION :**  Notice of Open Workshop.

**SUMMARY :**  This notice announces a workshop organized by the Interagency Working Group on Plant Genomics (IWGPG).

**DATES :**  Saturday, January 12, 2013, 1:30 p.m. to 3:40 p.m.

**ADDRESSES :**  Town and Country Resort and Conference Center, 500 Hotel Circle North, San Diego, CA 92108 (https:// pag.confex.com/pag/xxi/webprogram/ Session1711.html).

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Dr. Catherine Ronning, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Biological and Environmental Research, SC–23–2/Germantown Building, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585–1290. Phone 301–903–9549, fax (301) 903–5051, email: catherine.ronning@science.doe.gov; Dr. Jane Silverthorne, National Science Foundation, Division of Integrative Organismal Systems, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia 22230. Phone (703) 292–7171, fax (703) 292– 9153, email: jsilvert@nsf.gov. The most current information concerning this workshop can be found on the Web site: https://extwiki.nsf.gov/x/DQAOAQ.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :** 

Purpose of the Workshop: To seek input into the identification of strategic research needs and resource gaps for the development of sustainable systems for food, bioenergy, and industrial feedstock production, with a specific focus on the management of plant genomics data, metadata, and data standardization.

Summary: The National Plant Genome Initiative (NPGI) was established in 1998 as a coordinated national research program by the Interagency Working Group on Plant Genomes (IWGPG) under the Committee on Science of the National Science and Technology Council. The goal of the


### 75426 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 245 / Thursday, December 20, 2012 / Notices

1 For editorial reasons, upon codification in the U.S. Code, Part B was re-designated Part A. NPGI is to develop a basic knowledge of the structures and functions of plant genomes and to translate this knowledge to a comprehensive understanding of all aspects of economically important plants and plant processes of potential economic value. By bridging basic research and plant performance in the field, the NPGI seeks to accelerate basic discovery and innovation in economically important plants and enable enhanced management of agriculture, natural resources, and the environment to meet societal needs.

The activities of the NPGI have been coordinated through three Five Year Plans covering 1998–2001, 2002–2008,and 2009–2013. The IWGPG was reestablished in November 2012 under the Life Sciences Subcommittee of the Committee on Science to engage the plant community in prioritizing genomics tools and resources, define new strategies that will meet community needs and priorities sustainably, advance biological innovation and breakthrough discovery, and improve coordination among Federal agencies and international plant genomics partners. This new working group is composed of representatives from DOE, NSF, the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Smithsonian Institution, the U.S. Dept. of Interior (DOI), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). As part of its activities, the IWGPG has been charged with seeking input from the broader research community, including the public and private sectors as well as the international community, towards the development of the NPGI 2014–2018 Strategic Plan. In this workshop consideration will be given
to:

• Minimization of inputs such as water, energy, pesticides, and fertilizer;

• Effects of climate change and increasing agricultural productivity;

• Minimization of environmental impacts using plant genomics;

• Opportunities for Federal agency coordination, cooperation, public/ private partnerships;

• Associated opportunities to enhance training, education, and public outreach. Short presentations will be given on potential priorities as a starting point for discussion.

Public Participation: The workshop is open to the public. Public comment will be accepted before and after the workshop through the Web site: https://extwiki.nsf.gov/x/DQAOAQ.

Workshop Report: The report produced by this workshop will be available to the public within 60 days at the Web site: https://extwiki.nsf.gov/x/ DQAOAQ.

Issued in Washington, DC, on December 13, 2012. Sharlene C. Weatherwax, Associate Director of Science for Biological and Environmental Research, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2012–30630 Filed 12–19–12; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 6450–01–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY**

**Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy** 

**[Case No. RF–023]**

**Decision and Order Granting a Waiver to GE Appliances From the Department**  **of Energy Residential Refrigerator and Refrigerator-Freezer Test Procedures** 

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

**ACTION :**  Decision and Order.

**SUMMARY :**  The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) gives notice of the decision and order (Case No. RF–023) that grants to GE Appliances (GE) a waiver from the DOE electric refrigerator and refrigerator-freezer test procedures for the basic models set forth in its petition for waiver in Case RF– 023. In its petition, GE provides an alternate test procedure that is the same as the test procedure DOE published in a final rule dated January 25, 2012 (77 FR 3559). Under today’s decision and order, GE shall be required to test and rate these refrigerator-freezers using an alternate test procedure as adopted in DOE’s final rule dated January 25, 2012 (77 FR 3559) that takes multiple defrost cycles into account when measuring energy consumption.

**DATES :**  This Decision and Order is effective December 20, 2012.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Mr. Bryan Berringer, U.S. Department of Energy, Building Technologies Program, Mailstop EE–2J, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585– 0121. Telephone: (202) 586–0371, Email: Bryan.Berringer@ee.doe.gov

.

Ms. Elizabeth Kohl, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the General Counsel, Mail Stop GC–71, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585– 0103, (202) 586–7796, Email: Elizabeth.Kohl@hq.doe.gov

. **SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :**  In accordance with Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR 430.27(l)), DOE gives notice of the issuance of its decision and order as set forth below. The decision and order grants GE a waiver from the applicable residential refrigerator and refrigerator-freezer test procedures in 10 CFR part 430, subpart B, appendix A1 for certain basic models of refrigerator-freezers with multiple defrost cycles, provided that GE tests and rates such products using the alternate test procedure described in this notice. Today’s decision prohibits GE from making representations concerning the energy efficiency of these products unless the product has been tested consistent with the provisions and restrictions in the alternate test procedure set forth in the decision and order below, and the representations fairly disclose the test results.

Distributors, retailers, and private labelers are held to the same standard when making representations regarding the energy efficiency of these products. 42 U.S.C. 6293(c).

Issued in Washington, DC, on November 19, 2012. Kathleen B. Hogan, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

Decision and Order

In the Matter of: GE Appliances (Case No. RF–023). I. Background and Authority

Title III, Part B of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 (EPCA), Public Law 94–163 (42 U.S.C. 6291– 6309, as codified) established the Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products Other Than Automobiles, a program covering most major household appliances, which includes the residential electric refrigerators and refrigerator-freezers that are the focus of this notice. 1 Part B includes definitions, test procedures, labeling provisions, energy conservation standards, and the authority to require information and reports from manufacturers. Further, Part B authorizes the Secretary of Energy to prescribe test procedures that are reasonably designed to produce results which measure energy efficiency, energy use, or estimated operating costs, and that are not unduly burdensome to conduct. (42 U.S.C. 6293(b)(3)) The test procedure for residential electric refrigerators and refrigerator-freezers is set forth in 10 CFR part 430, subpart B, appendix A1.

DOE’s regulations for covered products contain provisions allowing a