### 73996 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 239 / Wednesday, December 12, 2012 / Notices

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :**  The Department of Education (ED), in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed, revised, and continuing collections of information. This helps the Department assess the impact of its information collection requirements and minimize the public’s reporting burden. It also helps the public understand the Department’s information collection requirements and provide the requested
data in the desired format. ED is soliciting comments on the proposed information collection request (ICR) that is described below. The Department of Education is especially interested in public comment addressing the following issues: (1) Is this collection necessary to the proper functions of the Department; (2) will this information be processed and used in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden accurate; (4) how might the Department enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (5) how might the Department minimize the
burden of this collection on the respondents, including through the use of information technology. Please note
that written comments received in response to this notice will be considered public records.

Title of Collection: Title I State Plan
for Vocational Rehabilitation Services and Title VI–Part B Supplement for Supported Employment Services.

OMB Control Number: 1820–0500. Type of Review: Extension without change of an existing collection of information,

Respondents/Affected Public: State, Local, or Tribal Governments,

Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 80,

Total Estimated Number of Annual
Burden Hours: 1,002,000,

Abstract: The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, requires each state to
submit to the Commissioner of the
Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) a State Plan for the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services program, and the State Supported Employment (SE) Services program, that meets requirements of Sections 101(a) and 625 of the Act. Program funding is contingent on Departmental approval of the State Plan and its supplement. Dated: December 6, 2012. Tomakie Washington, Acting Director, Information Collection Clearance Division, Privacy, Information and Records Management Services, Office of Management.

[FR Doc. 2012–29922 Filed 12–11–12; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 4000–01–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY**

**Notice of Availability for the Draft Programmatic Environmental**  **Assessment for the Recycling of Scrap Metals Originating From Radiological** 

**Areas**

**AGENCY :**  Department of Energy.

**ACTION :**  Notice of availability.

**SUMMARY :**  The Department of Energy (DOE) announces the availability for public review and comment of the Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) for the Recycling of Scrap Metals Originating from Radiological Areas. On September 28, 2011, the Secretary of Energy approved a recommendation, contingent on the completion of the appropriate National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review, to delegate authority to manage radiological clearance and release of scrap metal from radiological areas to each Under Secretary for sites under his or her cognizance, in accordance with the processes contained in DOE Order 458.1 (which replaces the order previously governing release procedures). This Draft PEA for the Recycling of Scrap Metals Originating from Radiological Areas analyzes the potential environmental impacts associated with resuming the clearance of scrap metal, originating from DOE radiological areas, for recycling pursuant to improved procedures designed to assure that clearance for release is limited to metals meeting stringent criteria. This Draft PEA also analyzes the reasonable alternatives to this proposal. Metals with volumetric radiological contamination, and scrap metals resulting from Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), are not included in the scope of this PEA.

**DATES :**  DOE invites Federal agencies, state and local governments, Native American tribes, industry, other interested organizations, and members of the public to submit comments on the Draft PEA during the public comment period which starts with the publication of the Notice of Availability in the Federal Register and extends for 30 days until January 11, 2013. DOE will
consider comments received after this date to the extent practicable.

**ADDRESSES :**  The Draft PEA for the Recycle of Scrap Metal Originating from Radiological Areas is available for
review on the DOE NEPA Web site at: http://www.energy.gov/nepa and on the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) NEPA Web site

at: http://nnsa.energy.gov/nepa

. Comments on the Draft PEA for the Recycle of Scrap Metal Originating from Radiological Areas may be submitted electronically via email to Scrap

_PEA comments@hq.doe.gov. Alternatively, written comments may be sent by postal mail to: Dr. Jane Summerson, DOE NNSA, P.O. Box 5400, Bldg 401, K.AFB East, Albuquerque, NM 87185.

For general information about the DOE NEPA process, please contact: Ms. Carol Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance (GC–54), U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585, telephone (202) 586–4600, or leave a message at 1–800–
472–2756. Additional information regarding DOE NEPA activities and access to many of DOE’s NEPA
documents are available on the Internet through the DOE NEPA Web site at http://www.energy.gov/nepa

. **SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :**  DOE has prepared the Draft PEA for Recycling of Scrap Metals Originating from Radiological Areas in accordance with Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR Parts 1500—1508) that implement NEPA and DOE’s NEPA Implementing Procedures (10 CFR Part 1021).

Background: On July 13, 2000, theSecretary of Energy imposed an agencywide suspension on the unrestricted release of scrap metal originating from radiological areas at DOE facilities for the purpose of recycling. The suspension was imposed in response to public concerns about the potential effects of radioactivity in or on metal recycled from the Department’s
facilities. Other materials continued to
be controlled and cleared for release under the requirements of DOE Order

5400.5, Radiation Protection of the
Public and the Environment. Initially, the suspension was to remain in effect until December 31, 2000, while the Department developed and implemented improvements, revised its directives and associated guidance documents applicable to scrap metal releases, and engaged the public in a dialogue regarding DOE radiological release practices through the NEPA process. In 2001, DOE announced its


### 73997 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 239 / Wednesday, December 12, 2012 / Notices

intention to prepare a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) on the policy alternatives for disposition of metals from its sites. Although the suspension was considered to be a temporary measure, it has been in force since 2000, and the PEIS was not completed. From 2008 through 2010, the Department, through an effort lead by the NNSA and supported by the Offices of Health, Safety and Security; Science; and Environmental Management, reviewed numerous DOE programs across the complex that involved improved monitoring and proposed release practices to determine how these practices could be implemented. In April 2010, NNSA hosted an inter-site workshop that developed a DOE wide consensus regarding how sites would implement these practices. In February 2011, in part to implement the improved monitoring and release practices recommended in 2001, DOE replaced
DOE Order 5400.5 with DOE Order

458.1, Radiation Protection of the Public and the Environment, which incorporated an improved scrap metals clearance process. Consequently, DOE has determined that a Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) is appropriate to consider the alternatives for the disposition of uncontaminated scrap metal originating from these areas.

Purpose and Need for Agency Action: The purpose and need for agency action is to allow DOE to better manage materials no longer needed by the Department and to allow for the recycle, where appropriate, of materials originating from DOE radiological areas. These scrap metals have, and continue to be, accumulated at DOE sites since the 2000 Department-wide suspension on any unrestricted release for recycle of scrap metals originating from radiological areas at DOE facilities (DOE 2000). The proposed action is consistent with the principles of sustainable materials management as presented in Executive Order (E.O.) 13423, Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy, and Transportation Management (January 27, 2007) and E.O. 13514, Federal Leadership in Environmental Energy, and Economic Performance (October 5, 2009).

Alternatives Analyzed: This PEA analyzes the potential human health and environmental impacts associated with the proposed action, a disposal alternative, and a no-action (continued storage) alternative.

Potential Outcome: The proposed action would allow DOE to modify its policy to allow the delegation of authority from the Secretary to the Under Secretaries to manage the radiological clearance process for uncontaminated scrap metals originating in DOE radiological areas for
sites demonstrated to have robust monitoring and release practices in place. Scrap metal that meets these robust practices for unrestricted release would be candidates for recycle. Scrap
metal that does not meet these requirements would be identified as contaminated and maintained by DOE or disposed of as waste in an appropriate manner. This PEA also evaluates potential human health and environmental impacts associated with a disposal alternative, and a no-action (continued storage) alternative.

Metal with volumetric radiological contamination, and scrap metal resulting from RCRA and CERCLA clean-up activities, are not included in the scope of the PEA. Impacts associated with scrap metal releases from any such clean-up activities would be evaluated separately under NEPA as appropriate. In addition, sites under the Office of Legacy Management are not included since these facilities do not generate potentially radiologically contaminated scrap metal that would be recycled.

Following the end of the public comment period, DOE will consider all comments received while completing the PEA, and as appropriate, issue a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) or prepare a PEIS prior to deciding whether to implement a revision to the policy for clearance and release of scrap metal from radiological

areas.

Issued in Washington, DC, on December 6,

2012. Thomas P. D’Agostino, Under Secretary for Nuclear Security and Administrator, National Nuclear Security
Administration.

[FR Doc. 2012–30028 Filed 12–11–12; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 6450–01–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY**

**Federal Energy Regulatory**
**Commission**

**Combined Notice of Filings**

Take notice that the Commission has received the following Natural Gas Pipeline Rate and Refund Report filings:

Filings Instituting Proceedings

Docket Numbers: RP98–25–000. Applicants: West Texas Gas, Inc. Description: Monthly Spot Index Price
of WEST TEXAS GAS INC.

Filed Date: 12/4/12.
Accession Number: 20121204–5137.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 12/17/12. Docket Numbers: RP13–369–000. Applicants: Eastern Shore Natural Gas Company.

Description: Tariff Revisions—
General Terms and Conditions to be
effective 1/4/2013.

Filed Date: 12/4/12.
Accession Number: 20121204–5074.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 12/17/12.

Docket Numbers: RP13–370–000. Applicants: Iroquois Gas Transmission System, L.P.

Description: Iroquois Gas Transmission System, L.P. submits tariff filing per 154.204: 12/04/12 HUB Negotiated Rate Blanket Filing— ConocoPhillips to be effective 12/4/

2012.

Filed Date: 12/4/12.
Accession Number: 20121204–5099.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 12/17/12. Any person desiring to intervene or protest in any of the above proceedings
must file in accordance with Rules 211
and 214 of the Commission’s Regulations (18 CFR 385.211 and 385.214) on or before 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on the specified comment date. Protests may be considered, but intervention is necessary to become a party to the proceeding.

Filings in Existing Proceedings

Docket Numbers: RP12–1075–001. Applicants: Arlington Storage Company, LLC.

Description: Arlington Storage Company, LLC—Compliance with Order Accepting 587–V Filing to be effective
12/1/2012.

Filed Date: 12/4/12.
Accession Number: 20121204–5075.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 12/17/12.

Docket Numbers: RP12–1080–002. Applicants: Steuben Gas Storage Company.

Description: Steuben Gas Storage Company submits tariff filing per 154.203: Steuben Gas Storage Co.— Compliance with Order Accepting Order No. 587–V Filing to be effective
12/1/2012.

Filed Date: 12/4/12.
Accession Number: 20121204–5100.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 12/17/12. Any person desiring to protest in any the above proceedings must file in
accordance with Rule 211 of the Commission’s Regulations (18 CFR 385.211) on or before 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on the specified comment date.

The filings are accessible in the Commission’s eLibrary system by clicking on the links or querying the
docket number.

eFiling is encouraged. More detailed information relating to filing requirements, interventions, protests,