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[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 31 (Tuesday, February 17, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 8296]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-03142]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Commission to Review the Effectiveness of the National Energy 
Laboratories

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces an opportunity to comment on the 
proposed Interim Report of the Commission to Review the Effectiveness 
of the National Energy Laboratories (Commission). The Commission was 
created pursuant section 319 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 
2014, Public Law 113-76, and in accordance with the provisions of the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), as amended, 5 U.S.C., App. 2. 
The report will be posted to the Web site: http://energy.gov/labcommission on Friday, February 13, 2015.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments on or 
before Friday, February 20, 2015. There will also be the opportunity to 
provide public comment in person at the Commission meeting on February 
24, 2015 (9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.).

ADDRESSES: Comments should be:
     Emailed to: [email protected].
     Or mailed to: Karen Gibson, Designated Federal Officer, 
U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 
20585.
     For those interested in providing public comment in 
person, the February 24th public meeting will take place at the Hilton 
at Mark Center, Birch Conference Room, 500 Seminary Road, Alexandria 
VA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Gibson, Designated Federal 
Officer; email [email protected]; telephone (202) 586-3787.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Background: The Commission was established to provide advice to the 
Secretary of Energy on the Department's national laboratories. The 
Commission will review the DOE national laboratories for alignment with 
the Department's strategic priorities, clear and balanced missions, 
unique capabilities to meet current energy and national security 
challenges, appropriate size to meet the Department's energy and 
national security missions, and support of other Federal agencies. The 
Commission will also look for opportunities to more effectively and 
efficiently use the capabilities of the national laboratories and 
review the use of laboratory directed research and development (LDRD) 
to meet the Department's science, energy, and national security goals.
    Given the broad scope and aggressive timeline for the report, the 
Secretary of Energy and Congress agreed to split the study into two 
phases. The Interim Report contains the preliminary observations and 
recommendations found in Phase 1 of the study, which consisted of 
literature review, visits to five of the National Laboratories; 
interviews with staff from across the National Laboratories, DOE, other 
Federal agencies, companies, other non-governmental organizations, and 
additional interested parties; and presentations at public Commission 
meetings. In Phase 2, the Commission will refine the conclusions of the 
Interim Report and focus on operational issues affecting the efficiency 
and effectiveness of the work of the National Laboratories in carrying 
out their missions. The commissioners will visit the remaining 12 
National Laboratories. The Final Report is anticipated in early Fall 
2015.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on February 10, 2015.
LaTanya R. Butler,
Deputy Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-03142 Filed 2-13-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
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