Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 75 / Monday, April 20, 1998 / Notices 19479

Correction

In Notice document 98–7155,

beginning on page 13396, in the issue of

Thursday, March 19, 1998, make the

following correction: on page 13397, in

the first column, in the fourth line, ‘‘1–

800–635–4080’’ should read ‘‘1–888–

635–4080.’’

Dated: April 14, 1998.

James M. Owendoff,

Acting Assistant Secretary for Environmental

Management.

[FR Doc. 98–10317 Filed 4–17–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6450–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Energy Research

Energy Research Financial Assistance

Program Notice 98–16; Genome

Instrumentation Research Program

AGENCY: Department of Energy

ACTION: Notice inviting grant

applications.

SUMMARY: The Office of Biological and

Environmental Research (BER) of the

Office of Energy Research (ER) of the

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE),

hereby announces its interest in

receiving applications in

Instrumentation Research supporting

the Human Genome Program.

Applications are sought from a broad

range of scientists with backgrounds in

biology, chemistry, physics, and

engineering including those not

presently involved in the Human

Genome Program. Both substantive

improvements to current systems and

novel and creative new strategies are

needed in preparation for the needs of

biology in the next century. New

instrumentation and technical

approaches are sought for DNA

sequencing, automation and integration

of DNA sequencing systems, validation

of DNA sequencing accuracy, and the

determination of gene function of newly

sequenced DNA. The goals are to reduce

costs and increase the throughput while

maintaining accuracy for production

DNA sequencing and related analyses.

DATES: Potential applicants are strongly

encouraged to submit a brief

preapplication. All preapplications

should be received by DOE by 4:30 p.m.,

e.d.t., June 8, 1998. Early submissions

are encouraged. A response encouraging

or discouraging a formal application

will be communicated to the applicant

within two weeks of receipt.

Formal applications, in response to

this notice, must be received by 4:30

p.m., e.d.t., August 19, 1998, in order to

be accepted for merit review and to

permit timely consideration for award

in Fiscal Year 1999.

ADDRESSES: Preapplications, referencing

Program Notice 98–16, should be

forwarded to: Dr. Charles G. Edmonds,

Medical Applications and Biophysical

Research Division, ER–73, U.S.

Department of Energy, 19901

Germantown Road, Germantown, MD

20874–1290, Attn: Program Notice 98–

16. Preapplications will also be

accepted by Fax and E-mail: Fax

number: (301) 903–0567 and E-mail:

charles.edmonds@oer.doe.gov.

Formal applications, referencing

Program Notice 98–16, 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

98–16. 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. An

original and seven copies of the

application must be submitted.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr.

Charles G. Edmonds, Medical

Applications and Biophysical Research

Division, ER–73, 19901 Germantown

Road, Germantown, MD 20874–1290;

telephone: (301) 903–0042; E-mail:

charles.edmonds@oer.doe.gov. The full

text of Program Notice 98–16 is

available via the Internet using the

following web site address: http://

www.er.doe.gov/production/grants/

grants.html.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office

of Biological and Environmental

Research of the U. S. Department of

Energy and the National Human

Genome Research Institute of the

National Institutes of Health are

participating in a coordinated

international program to ‘‘determine the

complete sequence of the human

genome, discover all the human genes

and render them accessible for further

biological study.’’ As this program

continues, improvement of sequencing

technology is essential to complete the

sequence of the 3 billion subunits of the

human genome by the target year of

2005. Functional analyses of the

displayed genes and their encoded

proteins will continue long thereafter.

In December of 1997 a DOE-sponsored

review of the DOE Human Genome

Program was published by the JASON

Program Office of the MITRE

Corporation. A summary and related

discussion has been printed: Science,

279(5347), (1998) 36–37; Science,

279(5347), (1989) 23; and Science,

279(5354), (1989) 1115–1116. The full

report can be accessed on the Internet

using the following web address: http:/

/www.ornl.gov/hgmis/publicat/

miscpubs/jason/index.html. A more

general discussion of the Human

Genome Program may be found in

Primer on Molecular Genetics available

on the Internet using the following web

address: http://www.ornl.gov/

TechResources/HumanlGenome/

publicat/primer/intro.html.

These documents and companion

references will be particularly useful to

scientists and engineers less

knowledgeable regarding current

genomic technologies and projected

needs.

Production scale sequencing has been

initiated based largely on gel

electrophoresis with data acquisition by

laser induced fluorescence.

Additionally, sequence comparison

tasks are performed using ‘‘sequencing

by hybridization’’ technologies.

However, it may not be possible to

achieve the desired goal within the

available budget and project period

without substantial improvements in

speed and reliability of sequencing

methods and other techniques currently

in widespread use. Continuing

developments of existing approaches to

address the necessities of the

production environment will be

required.

Further, with an eye to the future,

basic research is also needed that will

substantially speed and enhance

genomic analyses in the years following

the projected completion of the human

genome in the year 2005. After this date,

the need for fast and cost-effective

determination of DNA sequence for the

comparison of sequences among human

individuals and also for the

determination of the genomes of

numerous organisms of biomedical and

commercial interest will be ongoing.

Additionally, with the continuing

acquisition of this remarkable base of

biological data, high throughput

experimental tools will be required to

assist conversion into a practical and

useful understanding of the function for

the encoded gene products.

Both substantial evolutionary

improvements in current systems and

also revolutionary technologies for the

post-2005 era are sought under this

solicitation.

Research applications are invited:

• To develop approaches to more

rapidly, accurately, and economically

determine DNA sequence. Cost-effective

approaches that increase current

maximum read lengths of 800–1000

bases by at least a factor of 2.5, i.e., to

at least 2000–2500 bases, are

particularly desired.
19480 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 75 / Monday, April 20, 1998 / Notices

• To develop instrumentation that

integrates and more throughly

automates the current steps of DNA

sequence determination, e.g., sample

preparation, sample loading, sample

analysis, and data analysis. A priority

will be placed on approaches that

emphasize miniaturization and microfabrication.

• To develop approaches that (1)

verify the accuracy of a previously

determined DNA sequence without

having to redetermine its entire

sequence and (2) provide economical

error checking and proofreading of

newly determined DNA sequence.

• To develop tools that enable the

efficient comparison of a known DNA

sequence with a related but previously

undetermined DNA sequence.

• To develop techniques for

determining the functions of large

numbers of genes in parallel.

Techniques that match the speed and

volume of DNA sequence determination

are particularly desired.

The success of devices, methods or

techniques for DNA sequencing is

dependent on downstream data

technologies. Where appropriate,

applications should account for the

necessary link to current information

technology and existing data sets in

their plans to address the technical

challenges enumerated above.

Program Funding

It is anticipated that up to a total of

$2,000,000 will be available for multiple

awards to be made in Fiscal Year 1999

funding grants for the new Genome

Instrumentation Research Program,

contingent on the availability of

appropriated funds. Award sizes are

expected to be on the order of $100,000–

600,000 per year for total project costs

for a typical three-year grant with outyear support contingent on the

availability of funds, progress of

research and programmatic needs.

Collaborative projects involving several

research groups or more than one

institution may receive larger awards if

merited. A similar announcement is

being simultaneously issued to the DOE

National Laboratories.

Collaboration

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, where

appropriate, and to incorporate cost

sharing and/or consortia wherever

feasible.

Collaborative research applications

may be submitted in several ways:

(1) When multiple private sector or

academic organizations intend to

propose collaborative or joint research

projects, the lead organization may

submit a single application which

includes another organization as a

lower-tier participant (subaward) who

will be responsible for a smaller portion

of the overall project. If approved for

funding, DOE may provide the total

project funds to the lead organization

who will provide funding to the other

participant via a subcontract

arrangement. The application should

clearly describe the role to be played by

each organization, specify the

managerial arrangements and explain

the advantages of the multi-organizational effort.

(2) Alternatively, multiple private

sector or academic organizations who

intend to propose collaborative or joint

research projects may each prepare a

portion of the application, then combine

each portion into a single, integrated

scientific application. A separate Face

Page and Budget Pages must be

included for each organization

participating in the collaborative

project. The joint application must be

submitted to DOE as one package. If

approved for funding, DOE will award

a separate grant to each collaborating

organization.

(3) Private sector or academic

organizations who wish to form a

collaborative project with a DOE FFRDC

may not include the DOE FFRDC in

their application as a lower-tier

participant (subaward). Rather, each

collaborator may prepare a portion of

the proposal, then combine each portion

into a single, integrated scientific

proposal. The private sector or academic

organization must include a Face Page

and Budget Pages for its portion of the

project. The FFRDC must include

separate Budget Pages for its portion of

the project. The joint proposal must be

submitted to DOE as one package. If

approved for funding, DOE will award

a grant to the private sector or academic

organization. The FFRDC will be

funded, through existing DOE contracts,

from funds specifically designated for

new FFRDC projects. DOE FFRDCs will

not compete for funding already

designated for private sector or

academic organizations. Other Federal

laboratories who wish to form

collaborative projects may also follow

guidelines outlined in this section.

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 a two

to three page narrative describing the

research project objectives and methods

of accomplishment. These will be

reviewed relative to the scope and

research needs described in this Notice.

Preapplications are strongly

encouraged but not required prior to

submission of a full 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.

Applications will be subjected to a

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 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 may be used, and

submission of an application constitutes

agreement that this is acceptable to the

investigator(s) and the submitting

institution.

Information about 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 Energy Research Financial

Assistance Program. Electronic access to

the Guide and required forms is made

available via the World Wide Web at:

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

grants/grants.html.

Energy Research, as part of its grant

regulations, requires at 10 CFR 605.11(b)

that a recipient receiving a grant to

perform research involving recombinant

DNA molecules and/or organisms and

viruses containing recombinant DNA

molecules shall comply with the

National Institutes of Health

‘‘Guidelines for Research Involving

Recombinant DNA Molecules,’’ which is

available via the World Wide Web at:
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 75 / Monday, April 20, 1998 / Notices 19481

http://www.niehs.nih.gov/odhsb/

biosafe/nih/nih97–1.html, (59 FR 34496,

July 5, 1994), 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 April 9,

1998.

John Rodney Clark,

Associate Director for Resource Management,

Office of Energy Research.

[FR Doc. 98–10318 Filed 4–17–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6450–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory

Commission

[Docket No. CP98–304–000]

Arcadia Midcoast of New York, L.L.C.

Complainant, vs. CNG Transmission

Corporation Respondent; Notice of

Complaint

April 14, 1998.

Take notice that on March 25, 1998,

Arcadia Midcoast of New York, L.L.C.

(Arcadia), 1100 Louisiana, Suite 2950,

Houston, Texas 77002, filed with the

Commission in Docket No. CP98–304–

000 a complaint, pursuant to Rule 206

of the Commission’s Rules of Practice

and Procedure, against CNG

Transmission Corporation (CNGT),

alleging undue discrimination in

violation of the Natural Gas Act,

Commission rules, regulations, orders,

and actions interfering with interstate

commerce.

Arcadia requests that the Commission

issue an order compelling CNGT to

establish an interconnection so that

Arcadia may provide direct natural gas

service to Sabin Metal Corporation

(Sabin) in Scottsville, New York.

Arcadia states that CNGT currently

transports natural gas for Arcadia’s

account to Rochester Gas and Electric

(RG&E), a local distribution company.

RG&E then delivers the gas to Sabin.

Arcadia also states that Sabin estimates

it can save $50,000 annually by

obtaining gas directly from CNGT rather

than via RG&E. Accordingly, Arcadia

further states that Sabin asked Arcadia

to arrange with CNGT to change an

existing receipt tap on CNGT’s system at

Caledonia, New York, to a receipt/

delivery tap so direct deliveries could

be made to Sabin. Sabin would then

construct and own, or have constructed,

a 12,000-foot, 6-inch diameter pipeline

from the CNGT interconnection to

Sabin’s Scottsville metal fabrication

plant. Sabin uses approximately 1,500

Mcf of natural gas per day at the

Scottsville plant.

Arcadia alleges that CNGT by letter

dated January 16, 1998, denied

Arcadia’s request to construct the

proposed interconnection because

CNGT’’ * * * has not offered and is not

proposing to offer customers taps on

CNGT pipeline that bypass its LDC

customers like RG&E.’’ Arcadia further

alleges that CNGT alluded in

subsequent telephone conversations that

the proposed interconnection might

cause CNGT some operational problems,

but the nature of the alleged operational

problems were not clearly identified.

Arcadia alleges that CNGT’s refusal to

provide the interconnection for Sabin,

as requested: (a) is unduly

discriminatory and therefore violates

Section 5 of the NGA; (b) also violates

the Commission’s competition policies

defined in Order Nos. 436 and 636; and,

(c) is not justified by any operational,

environmental, or legal grounds. For

these reasons, Arcadia believes that

CNGT should be compelled to construct

the proposed interconnection.

Any person desiring to be heard or to

make a protest with reference to

Arcadia’s complaint should file with the

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,

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

20426, a motion to intervene or protest

in accordance with the Commission’s

Rules of Practice and Procedure (18 CFR

385.211 or 385.214). All such motions,

together with the answer of Respondent

to the Complaint, should be filed on or

before April 30, 1998. Any person

desiring to become a party must file a

motion to intervene. Copies of this filing

are on file with the Commission and are

available for public inspection.

Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,

Acting Secretary.

[FR Doc. 98–10290 Filed 4–17–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6717–01–M

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory

Commission

[Docket No. CP98–338–000]

Florida Gas Transmission Company;

Notice of Request Under Blanket

Authorization

April 14, 1998.

Take notice that on April 7, 1998,

Florida Gas Transmission Company

(FGT), P.O. Box 1188, Houston, Texas

77251–1188, filed in Docket No. CP98–

338–000 a request pursuant to Sections

157.205 and 157.212 of the

Commission’s Regulations under the

Natural Gas Act (18 CFR 157.205,

157.212) for authorization to construct,

own, and operate a new delivery point,

located in Orange County, Florida, to

accommodate deliveries of natural gas

to TECO Peoples Gas Inc. (TECO) under

FGT’s blanket certificate issued in

Docket No. CP82–553–000, pursuant to

Section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act, all

as more fully set forth in the request that

is on file with the Commission and open

to public inspection.

FGT proposes to construct, own, and

operate two taps, electronic flow

measurement (EFM) equipment, and

approximately 100 feet of 4-inch

connecting pipeline to serve TECO

under existing transportation service

agreements at a new PGS-Vineland Rd.

Meter Station located in Orange County,

Florida. FGT states TECO will construct,

own, and operate this new meter station

with FGT constructing the taps, EFM,

and connecting line. FGT declares the

proposed delivery capacity at this point

is up to 12,000 MMBtu per day at line

pressure.

FGT states the estimated cost for the

proposed construction of the two taps,

EFM, and connecting pipe is $147,000,

which will be reimbursed to FGT by

TECO. FGT asserts that the end-use will

be residential, industrial, and

commercial.

Any person or the Commission’s staff

may, within 45 days after issuance of

the instant notice by the Commission,

file pursuant to Rule 214 of the

Commission’s Procedural Rules (18 CFR

385.214) a motion to intervene or notice

of intervention and pursuant to Section

157.205 of the Regulations under the

Natural Gas Act (18 CFR 157.205) a

protest to the request. If no protest is

filed within the time allowed therefor,

the proposed activity shall be deemed to

be authorized effective the day after the

time allowed for filing a protest. If a

protest is filed and not withdrawn

within 30 days after the time allowed

for filing a protest, the instant request

shall be treated as an application for

authorization pursuant to Section 7 of

the Natural Gas Act.

Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,

Acting Secretary.

[FR Doc. 98–10292 Filed 4–17–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6717–01–M