87354 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 212 / Friday, November 1, 2024 / Notices 

concerns and bearing on the proposed 

action or its impacts. DOE’s review 

focused on whether the views and 

information identified that the Project 

would affect the quality of the human 

environment in a significant manner or 

to a significant extent not already 

considered in the Final DOE/EIS–0561 

and related environmental review 

processes. As discussed, the views and 

information did not identify new 

information that showed the Project 

would affect the quality of the human 

environment in a significant manner or 

to a significant extent not already 

encompassed by the analysis considered 

in the Final DOE/EIS–0561 or in the 

preparation of this Record of Decision. 

DOE grouped the views and 

information received into the following 

10 categories: (1) NEPA process (DOE’s 

Record of Decision); (2) DOE’s due 

diligence process for the loan (financial 

and technical viability of the project); 

(3) socioeconomics (viability of lithium 

batteries; lithium and sulfuric acid 

pricing); (4) safety (radioactive 

materials); (5) historic, cultural, and 

Tribal resources (Section 106, historic 

properties; Tribal input on federal 

agency decision making); (6) Electricity 

Use and GHG Emissions; (7) water 

resources (mining and the water table; 

impacts to springs, groundwater; data 

assumptions and groundwater models); 

(8) data gathering and monitoring 

(private land access; monitoring and 

work plans; work outside mine plan 

boundary) (9) air emissions, (10) 

chemical and waste management 

(sulfuric acid; clay tailings). With the 

exception of views and information on 

DOE’s NEPA process, due diligence 

process, and socioeconomics, the views 

and information are addressed in the 

Final DOE/EIS–0561, specifically in 

appendix R (Comment Responses) and 

in consultations for the project 

(specifically, section 106). 

The views and information received 

on DOE’s NEPA process, DOE’s due 

diligence process for the loan, and the 

socioeconomics (viability of lithium 

batteries; lithium and sulfuric acid 

pricing) were not addressed in the Final 

DOE/EIS–0561. DOE performs rigorous 

due diligence related to all aspects of a 

potential loan transaction under the 

ATVM Program. The ATVM Program is 

administered by the DOE LPO. LPO 

originates, underwrites, and services 

loans to eligible automotive 

manufacturers and components 

manufacturers. LPO has reviewed and 

determined that LNC’s application is 

eligible for a potential loan (10 CFR 

611.100, 611.101, and 611.102). The 

purpose and need for DOE’s proposed 

action, the issuance of a Federal loan, is 

to implement DOE’s authority under 

section 136 of the Energy Independence 

and Security Act of 2007, which is to 

finance projects that reequip, expand, or 

establish manufacturing facilities in the 

United States to produce qualified 

advanced technology vehicles or 

qualifying components, and also for 

engineering integration costs associated 

with such projects. (42 U.S.C. 17013, as 

amended). Before LPO issues the 

Federal loan, the due diligence process 

includes an analysis on technical, 

financial, and environmental aspects of 

the project to include completion of 

DOE’s NEPA process (BLM EIS 

adoption, consultations, and Record of 

Decision), the financial and technical 

viability of the project, and the 

socioeconomics (viability of lithium 

batteries; lithium and sulfuric acid 

pricing) involved. The company must 

satisfy certain technical, legal, 

environmental, and financial conditions 

before the Department funds the loan. 

DOE thoroughly reviewed and 

considered all the views and 

information received during and after 

the review period and has concluded 

that none of the comments provide new 

information or identify new 

circumstances that warrant preparation 

of a supplemental EIS. This conclusion 

is based on the following: (1) the 

majority of the views and information 

were addressed in the Final DOE/EIS– 

0561, specifically in Appendix R; (2) the 

additional review conducted by BLM in 

the June 25, 2024, approval letter for 

minor modification to Phase 1 of the 

Mine Plan; (3) review of required 

permits, approvals, and works plans for 

the project and any associated updates 

to those permits, approvals, and work 

plans; (4) the consultations, 

determinations, and coordination 

completed by DOE; and (5) the 

additional analysis described above that 

were considered in the preparation of 

this ROD. 

Decision: DOE has decided to issue a 

loan to LNC, for construction and startup of lithium processing to include a 

sulfuric acid plant, lithium processing 

facility, and supporting infrastructure 

and facilities in Humboldt County, 

Nevada. Approval of the loan for the 

Thacker Pass Project responds to the 

DOE purpose and need pursuant to 

section 136 of the Energy Independence 

and Security Act of 2007, which is to 

finance projects that reequip, expand, or 

establish manufacturing facilities in the 

United States to produce qualified 

advanced technology vehicles or 

qualifying components, and also for 

engineering integration costs associated 

with such projects. (42 U.S.C. 17013, as 

amended). DOE’s Proposed Action 

evaluated in this ROD supports the 

Phase 1 activities at Thacker Pass 

analyzed within the Final DOE/EIS– 

0561. 

Mitigation: All DOE loan agreements 

require that the borrower comply with 

all applicable environmental laws and 

related requirements, as well as required 

approvals and permits. To ensure that 

the recipient complies with the 

requirements of the loan agreement, the 

Loan Programs Office proactively 

monitors and administers all operative 

loan transactions. The loan agreement 

includes a condition requiring that LNC 

must notify DOE if formal or informal 

environmental notices, orders, 

decisions, directives, or determinations 

submitted by any Governmental 

Authority or if there are any changes to 

Required Approvals. These mitigation 

measures are practicable means to avoid 

or minimize environmental harm. A 

recipient’s failure to comply with 

applicable laws, authorizations, and 

approvals may constitute a default, 

upon which DOE would have the right 

under the loan agreement to exercise 

usual and customary remedies. 

Signing Authority 

This document of the Department of 

Energy was signed on October 28, 2024, 

by Jigar Shah, Director, Loan Programs 

Office, pursuant to delegated authority 

from the 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 October 29, 

2024. 

Treena V. Garrett, 

Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. 

Department of Energy. 

[FR Doc. 2024–25481 Filed 10–31–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6450–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 

Proposed Emergency Information 

Collection 

AGENCY: Grid Deployment Office, 

Department of Energy. 

ACTION: Notice and request for 

comments. 


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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 212 / Friday, November 1, 2024 / Notices 87355 

1A census block that (a) has a high percent of 

very low-income households, and (b) experiences 

frequent and prolonged power outages. Solar 

Ambassador organizations will perform outreach 

activities in Last Mile Communities to identify 

qualifying households. 

2https://clausa.app.carto.com/map/f63080c5- 

19c9-47c6-8ac8-74d96358e9ed. 

3This includes responses to a Request for 

Information on the program design issues February 

21, 2023 as well through negotiations with program 

awardees. 

SUMMARY: The Department of Energy 

(DOE) Grid Deployment Office (GDO) 

invites the public to comment on a 

proposed emergency collection of 

information that DOE is developing for 

submission to 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 December 2, 

2024. If you anticipate that you will be 

submitting comments but find it 

difficult to do so within the period 

allowed by this notice, please advise the 

OMB Desk Officer of your intention to 

make a submission as soon as possible. 

The Desk Officer may be telephoned at 

(202) 881–8585. 

ADDRESSES: Written comments and 

recommendations for the proposed 

information collection should be sent 

within 30 days of publication of this 

notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/ 

PRAMain. Find this particular 

information collection by selecting 

‘‘Currently under 30-day Review—Open 

for Public Comments’’ or by using the 

search function. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Aisha Miranda Rivera, Department of 

Energy, Grid Deployment Office, 1000 

Independence Avenue SW, Suite 4H– 

065, Washington, DC 20585; (240) 429– 

5213; aisha.miranda-rivera@hq.doe.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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.: 1910–5200; 

(2) Information Collection Request 

Title: Puerto Rico Energy Resilience 

Fund (PR–ERF), Household Intake 

Form; 

(3) Type of Request: Emergency 

Clearance; 

(4) Purpose: The PR–ERF will support 

the installation of rooftop solar and 

storage solutions for vulnerable Puerto 

Rican households. The purpose of this 

Information Collection Request (ICR) is 

to authorize the ‘PR–ERF Household 

Intake Form’ as the means to collect 

homeowner information necessary to 

qualify households as eligible to 

participate in the deployment phase of 

the PR–ERF. Eligibility is limited to very 

low-income single-family households 1

residing in Puerto Rico that (1) include 

an individual with an energy-dependent 

disability or (2) are located in a Last 

Mile Community.2 On May 15, 2024, 

OMB approved form 1910–5200. GDO is 

seeking a revision of the current intake 

form, specifically the sections related to 

income eligibility and proof of an 

individual with an energy dependent 

disability. DOE has initiated 

installations of solar PV and battery 

storage systems to address the harm and 

risk represented by the fragility of the 

island’s power system. However, DOE 

has received significant public input 

from program awardees and potential 

beneficiaries 3 to expand the types of 

information that may be submitted to 

verify eligibility under the program. 

Many awardees and potential 

beneficiaries of this program have 

requested DOE expand the definition 

‘‘very low-income single-family 

household’’ to consider additional 

income qualifying programs, such as 

Plan de Salud Vital and USDA Sections 

502 and 504 Programs and allow 

potential beneficiaries to submit this 

information as verification of eligibility 

to the program. Also, awardees 

expressed age verification as an 

appropriate modality for verifying 

energy-dependent disability status and 

including temperature control devices 

as eligible medical equipment for 

energy-dependent critical load 

purposes. As a result, it is necessary for 

DOE to modify the program information 

collection practices in response to this 

public feedback. 

(5) Annual Estimated Number of 

Respondents: 40,140; 

(6) Annual Estimated Number of 

Total Responses: 80,000; 

(7) Annual Estimated Number of 

Burden Hours: 56,800; 

(8) Annual Estimated Reporting and 

Recordkeeping Cost Burden: $845,520. 

Statutory Authority: The Consolidated 

Appropriations Act of 2023, Public Law 

117–328, directs the Department of 

Energy to improve the resilience of the 

Puerto Rican electric grid, including 

grants for low-and-moderate-income 

households and households that include 

individuals with disabilities for the 

purchase and installation of renewable 

energy, energy storage, and other grid 

technologies. 

Signing Authority 

This document of the Department of 

Energy was signed on October 28, 2024, 

by Maria D. Robinson, Director, Grid 

Deployment Office, pursuant to 

delegated authority from the 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 October 28, 

2024. 

Jennifer Hartzell, 

Alternate Federal Register Liaison Officer, 

U.S. Department of Energy. 

[FR Doc. 2024–25416 Filed 10–31–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6450–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 

National Nuclear Security 

Administration 

Advisory Committee for Nuclear 

Security 

AGENCY: Office of Defense Programs, 

National Nuclear Security 

Administration, Department of Energy. 

ACTION: Notice of closed meeting. 

SUMMARY: This notice announces a 

closed meeting of the Advisory 

Committee for Nuclear Security (ACNS). 

The Federal Advisory Committee Act 

requires that public notice of meetings 

be announced in the Federal Register. 

Due to national security considerations, 

the meeting will be closed to the public 

and matters to be discussed are exempt 

from public disclosure under the 

Executive order, ‘‘Classified National 

Security Information,’’ and the Atomic 

Energy Act of 1954. 

DATES: December 3, 2024; 8:30 a.m. to 

5 p.m. 

ADDRESSES: In-person meeting. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. 

Watti Hill, Office of Policy for Strategic 


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