Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 232 / Friday, December 1, 2000 / Notices 75271

modeling/simulation tools necessary to

understand, predict, and control

nanoscale phenomena.

Two recent reports prepared by the

BES program, which address both NSET

research and broader program goals that

are dependent on nanoscale

understanding, are available on the

internet. These reports are Complex

Systems: Science for the 21st Century

(1999) available at: http://

www.sc.doe.gov/production/bes/

complexsystems.htm and Nanoscale

Science, Engineering and Technology

Research Directions (1999) available at:

http://www.sc.doe.gov/production/bes/

nanoscale.html. These reports detail

current topics supported by BES in the

area of NSET, describe future research

directions, and should be used as a

guide to appropriate proposal topics.

Applications in these areas will be

accepted from individual investigators

or groups of 2–4 investigators.

Program Funding

It is anticipated that up to $18 million

will be available for grant awards during

FY 2001, contingent upon the

availability of appropriated funds.

Multiple year funding of grant awards is

expected, also contingent upon the

availability of appropriated funds,

progress of the research and continuing

program need. Applications received by

the Office of Science, Office of Basic

Energy Sciences, under its current

competitive application mechanisms

may be deemed appropriate for

consideration under this notice and may

be funded under this program.

Preapplications

A brief preapplication may be

submitted. The preapplication should

identify on the cover sheet the

institution, principal investigator name,

address, telephone, fax and e-mail

address, title of the project, and the field

of scientific research. The

preapplication should consist of no

more than a three-page narrative

describing the research project

objectives and methods of

accomplishment. These will be

reviewed relative to the scope and

research needs of the Nanoscale

Science, Engineering, and Technology

initiative and DOE programmatic needs.

Preapplications are strongly encouraged

but not required prior to submission of

a formal application. Please note that

notification of a successful

preapplication is not an indication that

an award will be made in response to

the formal application.

Merit Review

Applications will be subjected to

scientific merit review (peer review) and

will be evaluated against the following

evaluation criteria listed in descending

order of importance as codified at 10

CFR Part 605.10(d) (www.sc.doe.gov/

production/grants/605index.html):

1. Scientific and/or technical merit of

the project;

2. Appropriateness of the proposed

method or approach;

3. Competency of applicant’s

personnel and adequacy of proposed

resources; and

4. Reasonableness and

appropriateness of the proposed budget.

The evaluation will include program

policy factors such as the relevance of

the proposed research to the terms of

the announcement and an agency’s

programmatic needs. Note, external peer

reviewers are selected with regard to

both their scientific expertise and the

absence of conflict-of-interest issues.

Non-federal reviewers may be used and

submission of an application constitutes

agreement that this is acceptable to the

investigator(s) and the submitting

institution. Applicants are encouraged

to collaborate with researchers in other

institutions, such as universities,

industry, non-profit organizations,

federal laboratories and Federally

Funded Research and Development

Centers (FFRDCs), including the DOE

National Laboratories. A parallel

invitation with a similar potential total

amount of funds has been sent to DOE

FFRDCs. All projects will be evaluated

using the same criteria, regardless of the

submitting institution.

Information about the development

and submission of applications,

eligibility, limitations, evaluation,

selection process, and other policies and

procedures may be found in 10 CFR Part

605 and in the Application Guide for

the Office of Science Financial

Assistance Program. Electronic access to

the Guide and required forms is

available via the World Wide Web at:

http://www.sc.doe.gov/production/

grants/grants.html. On the grant face

page, form DOE F 4650.2, block 15,

provide the principal investigator’s

phone number, fax number and e-mail

address. The research description must

be 20 pages or less, exclusive of figure

illustrations, and must contain an

abstract or summary of the proposed

research. Attachments include

curriculum vitae, a listing of all current

and pending federal support, and letters

of intent when collaborations are part of

the proposed research.

The Catalog of Federal Domestic

Assistance Number for this program is

81.049, and the solicitation control number is

ERFAP 10 CFR Part 605.

Issued in Washington, DC on November 17,

2000.

John Rodney Clark,

Associate Director of Science for Resource

Management.

[FR Doc. 00–30640 Filed 11–30–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6450–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa

AGENCY: Office of International Affairs,

DOE.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of

Energy (DOE) and the Overseas Private

Investment Corporation (OPIC)

announce the creation of the U.S.-Africa

Sustainable Energy Program. Using

$400,000.00 in grants and loans to U.S.

not-for-profit entities, non-governmental

organizations, and small businesses, the

program will facilitate investment in

sustainable energy projects in Africa.

Interested parties should submit

applications to OPIC. Applications will

be reviewed by OPIC and DOE and

applicants that meet OPIC Requirements

and the Program’s Selection Criteria,

will be considered for the program.

Specific information on OPIC

Requirements and Program’s Selection

Criteria is available on the OPIC website

(http://www.opic.gov).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Michelle Billig, IA–32, International

Affairs Specialist, U.S. Department of

Energy, Office of American and African

Affairs, 1000 Independence Ave., SW,

Washington, DC 20585, Phone: (202)

586–3209; Sam Smoots, Investment

Development, Overseas Private

Investment Corporation 1100 New York

Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20527,

Phone: (202) 336–8645.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: At the

DOE-sponsored U.S.-Africa Energy

Ministers conference in Tucson,

Arizona, in December 1999, U.S. Energy

Secretary Bill Richardson and Overseas

Private Investment Corporation’s

President and CEO George Mun ̃oz

unveiled the U.S. Africa Sustainable

Energy Program. This program promotes

U.S. clean energy technologies and

services in an effort to bring private

capital and skills to Africa in a

partnering relationship. Using

$400,000.00 in grants and loans to U.S.

not-for-profit entities, non-governmental

organizations, and small businesses, the

program will facilitate investment in

sustainable energy projects in Africa.

Interested parties should submit

75272 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 232 / Friday, December 1, 2000 / Notices

applications to OPIC. Applications will

be reviewed by OPIC and DOE and

applicants that meet OPIC Requirements

and the Program’s Selection Criteria,

will be considered for the program.

Specific information on OPIC

Requirements and Program’s Selection

Criteria is available on the OPIC website

(http://www.opic.gov).

Dated: November 9, 2000.

Theresa Fariello,

Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of

International Energy Policy, Office of

International Affairs.

[FR Doc. 00–30639 Filed 11–30–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6450–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Secretary of Energy Advisory Board;

Meeting

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of open meeting.

SUMMARY: This notice announces an

open meeting of the Secretary of Energy

Advisory Board’s Laboratory Operations

Board (LOB). The Federal Advisory

Committee Act (Public Law 92–463, 86

Stat. 770), requires that agencies publish

these notices in the Federal Register to

allow for public participation.

NAME: Secretary of Energy Advisory

Board—Laboratory Operations Board.

DATES: Thursday, December 7, 2000,

8:30 a.m.–3:15 p.m., Eastern Standard

Time.

ADDRESSES: Hilton Washington Embassy

Row Hotel, 2015 Massachusetts Ave.,

NW., Washington, DC 20036

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mary Louise Wagner, Executive

Director, or Laurie Keaton, LOB Staff

Director, Office of Secretary of Energy

Advisory Board (AB–1), US Department

of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue,

SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586–

7162 or (202) 586–6279 (fax).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

purpose of the Laboratory Operations

Board is to provide independent

external advice to the Secretary of

Energy Advisory Board regarding the

strategic direction of the Department’s

laboratories, the coordination of budget

and policy issues affecting laboratory

operations, and the reduction of

unnecessary and counterproductive

management burdens on the

laboratories. The Laboratory Operations

Board’s goal is to facilitate the

productive and cost-effective utilization

of the Department’s laboratory system

and the application of best business

practices.

Tentative Agenda

Thursday, December 7, 2000

8:30 a.m.–9 a.m.—Co-Chairs Opening

Remarks

9 a.m.–9:45 a.m.—Budget and

Appropriations Update

9:45 a.m.–10 a.m.—Break

10 a.m.–11 a.m.—Presentation on

Hamre Commission: Study of the

Science and Security Functions of

the Department

11 a.m.–12 p.m.—Presentation on

Transition Planning at DOE

12 p.m.–1 p.m.—Lunch

1 p.m.–3 p.m.—LOB Work Plan—Status

Reports

—Implementation of Performance

Based Management at DOE

—LOB Retrospective

—Laboratory Profile Report Update

3 p.m.–3:15 p.m.—Public Comment

Period

3:15 p.m.—Adjourn

This tentative agenda is subject to

change.

Public Participation: In keeping with

procedures, members of the public are

welcome to monitor the business of the

Laboratory Operations Board and to

submit written comments or comment

during the scheduled public comment

period. The meeting will be conducted

in a fashion that will, in the Co-Chairs’

judgment, facilitate the orderly conduct

of business. During its open meeting,

the Laboratory Operations Board

welcomes public comment. Members of

the public will be heard in the order in

which they sign up at the beginning of

the meeting. The Board will make every

effort to hear the views of all interested

parties. You may submit written

comments to Mary Louise Wagner,

Executive Director, Secretary of Energy

Advisory Board, AB–1, US Department

of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue,

SW., Washington, DC 20585. This notice

is being published less than 15 days

before the date of the meeting due to the

late resolution of programmatic issues.

Minutes: A copy of the minutes and

a transcript of the meeting will be made

available for public review and copying

approximately 30 days following the

meeting at the Freedom of Information

Public Reading Room, 1E–190 Forrestal

Building, 1000 Independence Avenue,

SW., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m.

and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday

except Federal holidays. Further

information on the Laboratory

Operations Board is available at the

Secretary of Energy Advisory Board’s

web site, located at http://

www.hr.doe.gov/seab.

Issued at Washington, DC, on November

28, 2000.

Rachel M. Samuel,

Deputy Advisory Committee Management

Officer.

[FR Doc. 00–30681 Filed 11–30–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6450–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Bonneville Power Administration

Bonneville Power Administration’s

Proposed Amendments to 2002

Wholesale Power Rate Adjustment

Proposal

AGENCY: Bonneville Power

Administration, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of proposed amendments

to 2002 wholesale power rate

adjustment proposal: public hearing,

and opportunity for public review and

comment proposal BPA File No: WP–02.

SUMMARY: The Pacific Northwest

Electric Power Planning and

Conservation Act (Northwest Power

Act) provides that Bonneville Power

Administration (BPA) must establish

and periodically review its rates so that

they are adequate to recover, in

accordance with sound business

principles, the costs associated with the

acquisition, conservation, and

transmission of electric power, and to

recover the Federal investment in the

Federal Columbia River Power System

(FCRPS) and other costs incurred by

BPA. By this notice, BPA announces a

proposed amendment to the 2002 rate

proposal (BPA Docket WP–02),

consideration of which has been stayed

by Federal Energy Regulatory

Commission (FERC) in Docket No.

EF00–2012–000. The 2002 rates replace

the current 1996 rates, which expire on

October 1, 2001, at the same time that

most of BPA’s current power supply

contracts terminate.

DATES: Proposed hearing dates are

supplied in the Supplementary

Information Section I.C. below. Close of

public comments is February 14, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should

be submitted to: Mr. Michael Hansen,

Public Involvement and Information

Specialist, Bonneville Power

Administration, P.O. Box 12999,

Portland, Oregon 97212. Documents

will be available for public viewing after

December 12, 2000, at BPA’s Public

Information Center, BPA Headquarters

Building, 1st Floor; 905 NE. 11th,

Portland, Oregon, and will be provided

to parties at the prehearing conference

to be held on December 12, 2000, from

9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Room 223, 911 NE.