[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 1 (Tuesday, January 2, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77-78]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-28814]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

National Nuclear Security Administration


Agency Information Collection Extension

AGENCY: National Nuclear Security Administration, Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE) invites public comment on a 
proposed extension for three years of a collection of information that 
DOE with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) pursuant to the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Comments regarding this proposed information collection must be 
received on or before March 4, 2024. If you anticipate any difficulty 
in submitting comments within that period, contact the person listed in 
the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES: Written comments to Laura Fellow, Foreign Affairs 
Specialist, by mail at Office of Nonproliferation and Arms Control, 
National Nuclear Security Administration, U.S. Department of Energy, 
1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585, or by fax at (865) 
203-3946 or by email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e18d80949380cf87848d8d8e96a18f8f9280cf858e84cf868e97"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="137f726661723d75767f7f7c64537d7d60723d777c763d747c65">[email protected]</span></a>. Due to potential 
delays in DOE's receipt and processing of mail sent through the U.S. 
Postal Service, DOE encourages responders to submit comments 
electronically to ensure timely receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For other questions, contact Laura 
Fellow, Foreign Affairs Specialist, Office of

[[Page 78]]

Nonproliferation and Arms Control, National Nuclear Security 
Administration, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, 
Washington, DC 20585, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e38f82969182cd85868f8f8c94a38d8d9082cd878c86cd848c95"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1e727f6b6c7f30787b727271695e70706d7f307a717b30797168">[email protected]</span></a>, (865) 203-3946.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: DOE published in the Federal Register a 
Notice of Availability for the American Assured Fuel Supply (AAFS), 76 
FR 51357 (Aug. 18, 2011), and an application to standardize the 
information that must be provided in a request to access the material 
in the AAFS. 78 FR 72071 (Dec. 2, 2013). DOE previously submitted 
information collection extension requests to the OMB under the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 in 2017 and 2020. 82 FR 17650 (April 
12, 2017), 85 FR 60451 (Sep. 25, 2020).
    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the extended collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways 
to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, 
including through the use of automated collection techniques or other 
forms of information technology.
    This information collection request contains:
    (1) OMB No.: 1910-NEW;
    (2) Information Collection Request Title: The American Assured Fuel 
Supply Program;
    (3) Type of Review: Extension;
    (4) Purpose: DOE created the AAFS, a reserve of low enriched 
uranium (LEU) to serve as a backup fuel supply for foreign recipients 
to be supplied through U.S. persons, or for domestic recipients, in the 
event of fuel supply disruption. This effort supports the United States 
Government's nuclear nonproliferation objectives by supporting civilian 
nuclear energy development while minimizing proliferation risks. This 
collection of information in the event of supply disruption is 
necessary for DOE to identify if applicants meet basic requirements to 
access the AAFS and implement this important nonproliferation 
initiative;
    (5) Annual Estimated Number of Respondents: 10;
    (6) Annual Estimated Number of Total Responses: 10;
    (7) Annual Estimated Number of Burden Hours: 8 per respondent for a 
total of 80 per year;
    (8) Annual Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Cost Burden: 
$950.74 per respondent for a total of $9057.44 per year.
    Statutory Authority: The Secretary of Energy is authorized, 
pursuant to the Atomic Energy of 1954, as amended (Pub. L. 83-703) (42 
U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Act of 1978 
(Pub. L. 95-242) (22 U.S.C. 3201 et seq.), to encourage the widespread 
use of atomic energy for peaceful purposes, and to enter into 
agreements and distribute nuclear material in cooperation with other 
nations where appropriate safeguard measures are in place to ensure the 
material is properly controlled and used for peaceful purposes.
    DOE published in the Federal Register a notice of availability for 
the AAFS, 76 FR 51357 (Aug. 18, 2011), and a notice of availability of 
application guidance to standardize the information that must be 
provided in an application requesting LEU from the AAFS, 78 FR 72071 
(Dec. 2, 2013). This second notice ``requests that persons or companies 
that seek to purchase low enriched uranium (LEU) from the U.S. 
Department of Energy's American Assured Fuel Supply (AFS) provide 
information sufficient to evaluate the request to the Office of 
Nonproliferation and International Security [now called Office of 
Nonproliferation and Arms Control], National Nuclear Security 
Administration.''

Signing Authority

    This document of the Department of Energy was signed on December 
20, 2023, by Corey Hinderstein, Deputy Administrator for Defense 
Nonproliferation, National Nuclear Security Administration, pursuant to 
delegated authority from the Acting 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 December 27, 2023.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2023-28814 Filed 12-29-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P


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