Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 26 / Tuesday, February 8, 2000 / Notices 6193

INVITATION TO COMMENT: The public is

invited to provide comments on the

Draft EIS during the comment period

that ends on February 28, 2000. DOE

will consider comments received during

the comment period in preparation of

the Final EIS. Comments received after

February 28, 2000 will be considered to

the extent practicable.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.

Wendy R. Dixon, EIS Program Manager,

M/S 010, U.S. Department of Energy,

Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste

Management, Yucca Mountain Site

Characterization Office, P.O. Box 30307,

North Las Vegas, NV 89036–0307,

Telephone 1–800–967–3477, Facsimile

1–800–967–0739. Copies of the

document may also be requested by

telephone (1–800–967–3477) or over the

Internet via the Yucca Mountain Project

website at http://www.ymp.gov, under

the listing ‘‘Environmental Impact

Statement’’; the Draft EIS also may be

viewed on this website.

Issued in Washington, DC, February 2,

2000.

Ivan Itkin,

Director, Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste

Management.

[FR Doc. 00–2714 Filed 2–7–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6450–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Chicago Operations Office, Office of

Industrial Technologies; Notice of

Solicitation for Financial Assistance

Applcations for Cooperative Research

and Development for Advanced

Microturbine Systems

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 cost-effective

technologies for integration into

Advanced Microturbine Systems that

will be commercialized and used in

power and/or combined heat and power

generation. In order to reach this goal,

component and subsystem

development, testing integration and

demonstration of optimized and fully

integrated microturbine systems will be

performed.

DATES: The solicitation document will

be available on or about February 25,

2000. Applications are due on or about

April 12, 2000. Awards are anticipated

by August 15, 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–

SC02–00CH11016. Completed

applications referencing Solicitation No.

DE–SC02–00CH11016 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: Tonja

L. Stokes, Acquisition and Assistance

Group.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Tonja L. Stokes at 630/252–2136, U.S.

Department of Energy, 9800 South Cass

Avenue, Argonne, IL 60439–4899, by

facsimile at 630/252–5045, or by

electronic mail at

tonja.stokes@ch.doe.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Scope

of Work covers applied research 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 that will identify and quantify the

potential technical market for

microturbine systems. Subtask B will

require the participant to provide a

commercialization plan which supports

the proposed technological

development.

The Tasks represent an increasing

progression of maturation stages for

technology development. Task 1

involves concept research and

development; Task 2 involves

subsystem component design and

development; Task 3 involves

microturbine modifications for

integration of advanced technologies;

Task 4 involves microturbine system

assembly and testing, 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

8000 hours (Task 5). Although it is the

intention of this solicitation to support

development of microturbine systems

that will so culminate, there also is

relevancy in gaining a better

understanding of advanced technologies

and their impact on microturbines. 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 8000 hours (but

more than 4000 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 part 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 five year life

expectancy of this program.

Under Tasks 1 and 2 that follow, the

work may be performed with respect to

any test device or turbines that could

serve as a logical and cost effective

intermediate basis for developing a

technology for microturbines. However,

any such technology developed under

Tasks 1 and 2 must have applicability

to microturbines.

Under Tasks 3, 4 and 5 that follow, all

work must be performed with respect to

microturbines and the demonstration

required under Task 5 must be

performed on a microturbine. In

performing this work, one or more such

turbines may be used.

Work under all tasks 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

user. Long-term demonstration under

Task 5 should be conducted at an end

user that is committed by the applicant.

We encourage the demonstration to be

conducted at an Industry of the Future

Company.

6194 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 26 / Tuesday, February 8, 2000 / Notices

Task 1—The starting point of this task

shall be, as a minimum, a technological

concept(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 will also develop

preliminary designs compatible with the

properties of the advanced material

system(s). The participant will also

develop preliminary designs for the

components. 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 subsystem components. The

design process will include the

investigations of all process and

economic parameters for integrating the

selected components into a viable

microturbine system. The components

will be manufactured and the subsystem will be assembled. Development

and testing will be done to verify and

optimize the overall approach, to

provide operating and control

parameters, and to establish allowable

microturbine operating ranges, energy

efficiency, sensitivity to fuel variability,

and other factors affecting the

performance and competitiveness of the

microturbine system.

Task 3—The design of a microturbine

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 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 such parameters

as energy efficiency and emissions.

Task 4—The applicant shall design

and fabricate a complete microturbine

system that utilizes the subsystems

components developed under Task 2 or

elsewhere. The subsystem components

shall exhibit the form, function, and fit

compatible with the modified

microturbine developed either under

Task 3 or elsewhere. The applicant shall

prove, either by subsystem rig testing or

by demonstrating on a microturbine, 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 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 microturbine

system developed by the completion of

Task 4 or elsewhere. The participant

will integrate the turbine with the

balance of plant equipment that makes

the microturbine system 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 microturbine that can be

reasonably expected to meet one or

more project objectives. At a minimum,

the demonstration shall comprise 4000

hours of operation at a host site that is

compatible with an operating rate of at

least 4000 hours per annum.

The applicant will 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 an

Industry of the Future Company may be

proposed. 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, the result of the

demonstration will be coordinated with

these offices as feasible and appropriate

by the DOE program manager.

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

an interconnection to the existing local

utility transmission and distribution

grid) that impede the widespread

adoption of distributed generation. In

this regard, all hours of operation may

be accumulated under the

demonstration while the host site is

interconnected to the existing local

utility grid that exists for the routine

transmission and distribution of electric

power. Accordingly, the balance of

plant equipment may be sufficient to

generate and condition such electric

power, and all hardware may be

provided for interconnection to the local

utility grid.

Subtask A—Subtask A is required for

any applicant selected for award and

will be performed in conjunction with

the lowest numbered task which the

participant will do work. 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 Companies, but not

excluding other applicants, 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 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 grid connection standards

that will impact on the technical market

will be identified. However, any 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 that

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

will 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) under

which the participant will do work.

This report will be submitted in

accordance with topical report

requirements.

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 26 / Tuesday, February 8, 2000 / Notices 6195

The main impetus for this work is the

commercial implementation of

efficiency, clean, and cost-effective

microturbines in distributed generation

and combined heat and power

system(s). It is essential that a

commercialization plan support the

proposed technological development.

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 microturbine system. The

commercialization plan will emphasize

market applications in the Industries of

the Future Companies.

As applicants may apply under one or

more of the five tasks within the

solicitation’s Scope of Work, there is a

wide range in the number of potential

awards and award values. DOE expects

to award six (6) to ten (10) cooperative

agreements under this solicitation. It is

estimated that individual awards will

range in value between approximately

$500,000.00 and $10,000,000.00 of DOE

funding and will require recipient cost

sharing. A minimum non-federal cost

sharing commitment of 30% of the total

cost for Tasks 1 and 2, 45% of the total

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

total cost for Task 5 is required.

Estimated DOE funding is $40 million

over a five-year period. DOE reserves

the right to fund 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.

Issued in Argonne, Illinois on February 1,

2000.

James R. Bieschke,

Acquisition and Assistance Group, Acting

Group Manager.

[FR Doc. 00–2796 Filed 2–7–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6450–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Science, Basic Energy

Sciences Advisory Committee

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of Open Meeting.

SUMMARY: This notices announces a

meeting of the Basic Energy Sciences

Advisory Committee (BESAC). Federal

Advisory Committee Act (Public Law

92–463, 86 Stat. 770) requires that

public notice of these meetings be

announced in the Federal Register.

DATES: Monday, February 28, 2000, 8:15

a.m. to 5:15 p.m.; Tuesday, February 29,

2000, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; and

Wednesday, March 1, 2000, 8:30 a.m. to

12:00 p.m.

ADDRESS: Gaithersburg Washingtonian

Marriott Center, 9751 Washingtonian

Boulevard, Gaithersburg, MD 20878.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Sharon Long; Office of Basic Energy

Sciences; U.S. Department of Energy;

19901 Germantown Road; Germantown,

MD 20874–1290; Telephone: (301) 903–

5565.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Purpose of the Meeting: The purpose

of this meeting is to provide advice and

guidance with respect to the basic

energy sciences research program.

Tentative Agenda: Agenda will

include discussions of the following:

Monday, February 28, 2000

• Welcome and Introduction

• Remarks from Acting Director, Office

of Science

• News from Basic Energy Sciences

• President’s R&D Focus Areas for FY

2001

• BES Discussion of R&D Focus Areas

for FY 2001

• Report of the Neutron Scattering

Subpanel

• Update on 4th Generation

Synchrotron Light Source Activities

Tuesday, February 29, 2000

• Report of the Electron Beam

Microcharacterization Center

Review Subpanel

• Report of the Advanced Light Source

Subpanel

• Brief overviews of BES programs

Wednesday, March 1, 2000

• Advisory Committee Discussion of

Issues

• Review of Calendar Year 2000

Calendar

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 of

the items on the agenda, you should

contact Sharon Long at 301–903–6594

(fax) or sharon.long@science.doe.gov (email). 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 comment will follow

the 10-minute rule.

Minutes: The minutes of this meeting

will be available for public review and

copying within 30 days at the Freedom

of Information Public Reading Room;

1E–190, Forrestal Building; 1000

Independence Avenue, SW;

Washington, DC 20585; between 9:00

a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through

Friday, except holidays.

Issued in Washington, D.C. on February 3,

2000.

Rachel Samuel,

Deputy Advisory Committee Management

Officer.

[FR Doc. 00–2794 Filed 2–7–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6450–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Energy Efficiency and

Renewable Energy

Building Energy Codes Program:

Workshop on Analysis of Standard

90.1–1999

AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and

Renewable Energy, Department of

Energy.

ACTION: Notice of public workshop.

SUMMARY: The Department of Energy is

in the process of making a

determination as to whether ASHRAE/

IESNA Standard 90.1–1999 would save

energy in commercial buildings. In

doing so, we are performing a

comparative analysis of the 1989 edition

of that standard to the 1999 edition and

seeking input on our proposed approach

to carrying out that analysis.

DATES: The Department will hold a

public workshop on February 17, 2000,

in Washington, DC. Please send requests

to speak at the workshop so that we

receive them by 4:00 p.m., February 14,

2000. The Department must also receive

ten (10) copies of statements to be given

at the public workshop no later than

4:00 p.m., February 15, 2000, and we

request that you provide a computer

diskette of each statement in

WordPerfect TM at that time.

ADDRESSES: Please address requests for

the proposed methodology for the

comparative analysis or requests to

make statements at the public workshop

and copies of those statements to

Brenda Edwards-Jones at the following

address: U.S. Department of Energy,

Office of Energy Efficiency and

Renewable Energy, EE–41, 1000

Independence Avenue, SW,