Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 41 / Monday, March 3, 1997 / Notices 9419

Public Reading Room, 1E–190, Forrestal

Building, 1000 Independence Avenue,

SW, Washington, DC 20585 between

9:00 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday–Friday

except Federal holidays. Minutes will

also be available by writing to Gerri

Flemming, Department of Energy

Savannah River Operations Office, P.O.

Box A, Aiken, S.C. 29802, or by calling

her at (803) 725–5374.

Issued at Washington, DC on February 26,

1997.

Rachel M. Samuel,

Acting Deputy Advisory Committee

Management Officer.

[FR Doc. 97–5130 Filed 2–28–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6450–01–P

Office of Energy Research

Energy Research Financial Assistance

Program Notice 97–11: Human

Genome Program—Ethical, Legal, and

Social Implications

AGENCY: U.S. Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice inviting grant

applications.

SUMMARY: The Office of Health and

Environmental Research (OHER) of the

Office of Energy Research (ER), U.S.

Department of Energy (DOE), hereby

announces its interest in receiving

applications in support of the Ethical,

Legal, and Social Implications (ELSI)

subprogram of the Human Genome

Program (HGP). The HGP is a

coordinated, multi disciplinary,

directed research effort aimed at

obtaining a detailed understanding of

the human genome at the molecular

level. This particular research notice

invites research grants that address

ethical, legal, and social implications

from the use of information and

knowledge resulting from the HGP.

DATES: Preapplications referencing

Program Notice 97–11 should be

received by April 17, 1997. Formal

applications submitted in response to

this notice must be received by 4:30

p.m., E.D.T., July 10, 1997, to permit

timely consideration for awards in

Fiscal Year 1998.

ADDRESSES: Preapplications referencing

Program Notice 97–11 should be sent to

Dr. Daniel W. Drell, Health Effects and

Life Sciences Research Division, ER–72,

Office of Health and Environmental

Research, Office of Energy Research,

U.S. Department of Energy, 19901

Germantown Road, Germantown, MD

20874–1290. Formal applications

referencing Program Notice 97–11

should be forwarded to: U.S.

Department of Energy, Office of Energy

Research, Grants and Contracts

Division, ER–64, 19901 Germantown

Road, Germantown, MD, 20874–1290.

ATTN: Program Notice 97–11. This

address also must be used when

submitting applications by U.S. Postal

Service Express Mail or any commercial

mail delivery service, or when hand

carried by the applicant.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Dr. Daniel W. Drell, Health Effects and

Life Sciences Research Division, ER–72,

Office of Health and Environmental

Research, Office of Energy Research,

U.S. Department of Energy, 19901

Germantown Road, Germantown, MD

20874–1290, phone: (301) 903–6488 or

E-mail: daniel.drell@oer.doe.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DOE

encourages the submission of

applications that will address, analyze,

or anticipate ELSI issues arising from

advances in the scientific understanding

of genetically influenced

susceptibilities/sensitivities, complex or

multi-genic characteristics and

conditions, and human polymorphisms.

This may include research on privacy

and confidentiality issues (as well as

ownership and commercialization

issues) arising from the creation, use,

maintenance, and disclosure of genetic

information relevant to such complex or

multi-genic conditions. This may also

include research on the privacy

implications of the development of HGP

materials, resources, databases and

technologies, as well as the privacy

implications of the use of genetic

information obtained in the workplace.

Issues to be examined may also include

(but are not limited to) implications of

advances in the genetic characterization

of complex traits and susceptibility/

sensitivity genes and the impacts of

advances in knowledge about polygenic

conditions for individuals and

communities potentially faced with

these impacts (e.g. courts, schools, etc).

Applications should demonstrate

knowledge of the relevant literature, and

should include detailed plans for the

gathering and analysis of factual

information and the associated ethical,

legal, and social implications. All

applications should include, where

appropriate, detailed discussion of

human subjects protection issues; e.g.,

storage of, manipulation of, and access

to data. Provisions to ensure the

inclusion of women, minorities, and

potentially disabled individuals must be

described, unless specific exclusions are

scientifically necessary and justified in

detail. All proposed research

applications should address the issue of

efficient dissemination of results to the

widest appropriate audience. All

applications should include letters of

agreement to collaborate from potential

collaborators; these letters should

specify the contributions the

collaborators intend to make if the

application is accepted and funded.

The DOE also solicits applications for

the preparation and dissemination of

educational materials in any appropriate

medium that will enhance

understanding of the ethical, legal, and

social aspects of the HGP among the

public or specified groups; a particular

interest of this notice is Institutional

Review Boards (IRBs) and genome

investigators who work with patients.

This may include (but is not limited to)

implications of disease predispositions,

susceptibility genes, increased

knowledge of polygenic conditions,

informed consent issues or Human

Genome Project materals- and resourcesdevelopment and dissemination projects

(e.g. the creation of a human DNA

library, etc.). If an educational effort for

a specific group is proposed, the value

to the Human Genome Program of that

group or community should be

explained in detail. In addition, the

DOE encourages applications for the

support of novel and innovative

conferences focusing on the concerns

addressed in this notice (e.g.

susceptibility/sensitivity genes,

polymorphisms, and education of IRBs

and investigators).

Educational and conference

applications should demonstrate

awareness of the relevant literature, and

include detailed plans for the

accomplishment of project goals. In

applications that propose the

production of series for broadcast,

audio-visuals or other educational

materials, the DOE requests that

samples of previous similar work by the

producers and writers be submitted

along with the application. In

applications for the support of

educational activities, the DOE requests

inclusion of a plan for assessment of the

effectiveness of the proposed activities.

For conference applications, a detailed

and largely complete roster of speakers

is necessary. At the completion of the

conference, a summary or report is

required. Educational and conference

applications must also demonstrate

awareness of the need to reach the

widest appropriate audience, and not be

focused exclusively on a local

community or group.

Possible outcomes of these research

and/or educational efforts may include

(but are not limited to): model

guidelines for research practices for

studies of polygenic conditions and

susceptibility genes; consensus

documents on implications or

significance of the genetic bases for
9420 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 41 / Monday, March 3, 1997 / Notices

complex conditions; privacy and

confidentiality studies of genetic

information pertinent to complex

conditions; model policies for genetic

information about polygenic conditions

for various settings (e.g. the workplace);

exploration of worker/workplace issues;

and materials for IRBs.

In all applications, a clear description

of expected products or ‘‘deliverables’’

should be included, as well as a time

line for their production and

dissemination. In the absence of

tangible products, rigorous assessments

must be included to facilitate evaluation

of progress.

DOE does not encourage applications

dealing with issues consequent to the

initiation or implementation of genetic

testing protocols. Also, DOE does not

encourage survey-based research, unless

a compelling case is made that this

methodology is critical to address an

issue of uncommon significance. For

applications which propose the

development of college-level curricula,

DOE requests both detailed justification

of the need for external support, beyond

normal departmental and college

resources, evidence of commitment

from the parent department or college,

and a dissemination plan. Applications

for the writing of scholarly publications

or books should include justifications

for the relevance of the publications or

book to the goals of the Human Genome

Project as well as discussion of the

estimated readership and impact. DOE

ordinarily will not provide unlimited

support for a funded program and thus

strongly encourages the inclusion of

plans for transition to self-sustaining

status.

The dissemination of materials and

research data in a timely manner is

essential for progress towards the goals

of the DOE Human Genome Program.

The OHER requires the timely sharing of

resources and data. Applicants should,

in their applications, discuss their plans

for disseminating research results and

materials that may include, where

appropriate, publication in the open

literature, wide-scale mailings, etc.

Once OHER and the applicant have

agreed upon a distribution plan, it will

become part of the award conditions.

Funds to defray the costs of

disseminating results and materials are

allowable; however, such requests must

be sufficiently detailed and adequately

justified. Applicants should also

provide timelines projecting progress

toward achieving proposed goals.

Potential applicants are strongly

encouraged to submit a brief

preapplication that consists of two to

three pages of narrative describing the

research project objectives and methods

of accomplishment. These will be

reviewed relative to the scope and

research needs of the DOE’s Human

Genome Program. Principal investigator

address, telephone number, FAX

number and E-mail address are required

parts of the preapplication. A response

to each preapplication discussing the

potential program relevance of a formal

application generally will be

communicated within 20 days of

receipt. ER’s preapplication policy for

submitting preapplications can be found

on ER’s Grants and Contracts Web Site

at: http:/www.er.doe.gov/production/

grants/preapp.html.

It is anticipated that approximately

$1,500,000 will be available for grant

awards in this area during FY 1998,

contingent upon availability of

appropriated funds. Multiple year

funding of grant awards is expected, and

is also contingent upon availability of

funds. Previous awards have ranged

from $50,000 per year up to $500,000

per year with terms from one to three

years; most awards average about

$200,000 per year for two or three years.

Similar award sizes are anticipated for

new grants. Applications will be

subjected to formal merit review (peer

review) and will be evaluated against

the following evaluation criteria which

are listed in descending order of

importance codified at 10 CFR

605.10(d):

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;

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 will often be

used, and submission of an application

constitutes agreement that this is

acceptable to the investigator(s) and the

submitting institution.

To provide a consistent format for the

submission, review and solicitation of

grant applications submitted under this

notice, the preparation and submission

of grant applications must follow the

guidelines given in the Application

Guide for the Office of Energy Research

Financial Assistance Program 10 CFR

Part 605. Access to ER’s Financial

Assistance Application Guide is

possible via the World Wide Web at:

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

grants/grants.html.

DOE policy requires that potential

applicants adhere to 10 CFR 745

‘‘Protection of Human Subjects’’, or

such later revision of those guidelines as

may be published in the Federal

Register.

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 February 25,

1997.

John Rodney Clark,

Associate Director, for Resource Management,

Office of Energy Research.

[FR Doc. 97–5131 Filed 2–28–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6450–01–M

Federal Energy Regulatory

Commission

[Docket No. RP97–165–001]

Alabama-Tennessee Natural Gas

Company; Notice of Compliance Filing

February 25, 1997.

Take notice that on February 19, 1997,

Alabama-Tennessee Natural Gas

Company (Alabama-Tennessee)

tendered for filing the tariff sheets listed

in Appendix B to the filing, to be

effective June 1, 1997.

Alabama-Tennessee states that the

tariff sheets are submitted in

compliance with Order No. 587 and the

Commission’s order issued on January

30, 1997 (78 FERC ¶61,075).

Any person desiring to protest said

filing should file a protest with the

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,

888 First Street, N.E., Washington, D.C.

20426, in accordance with Section

385.211 of the Commission’s

Regulations. All such protests must be

filed on or before March 12, 1997.

Protests will be considered by the

Commission in determining appropriate

action to be taken, but will not serve to

make protestants parties to the

proceedings. Copies of this filing are on

file with the Commission and are

available for public inspection.

Lois D. Cashell,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 97–5103 Filed 2–28–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6717–01–M