Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 114 / Monday, June 15, 1998 / Notices 32649

Responses: 65.

Burden Hours: 65.

Abstract: The Department of

Education will use this data collection

to generate information that describes

ARC:RWN pilot sites providing summer

and year-round community literacy

programs. The information, collected

from up to 65 project coordinators, will

be used by Department Officials to

inform ARC reauthorization and

proposed RWN legislation, and by

ARC:RWN project coordinators and

other community reading initiatives to

design new projects.

[FR Doc. 98–15848 Filed 6–12–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4000–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Energy Research

Energy Research Financial Assistance

Program Notice 98–19: Human

Genome Program—Ethical, Legal, and

Social Implications

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice inviting grant

applications.

SUMMARY: The Office of Biological and

Environmental Research (OBER) 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, multidisciplinary, 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: Potential applicants are strongly

encouraged to submit a brief

preapplication. All preapplications,

referencing Program Notice 98–19,

should be received by 4:30 p.m., E.D.T.,

July 30, 1998. Early submissions are

encouraged. A response discussing the

potential program relevance and

encouraging or discouraging a formal

application generally will be

communicated within 20 days of

receipt.

Formal applications submitted in

response to this notice must be received

by 4:30 p.m., E.D.T., September 17,

1998, to be accepted for merit review in

November and to permit timely

consideration for award in Fiscal Year

1999.

ADDRESSES: Preapplications, referencing

Program Notice 98–19, should be sent

to: Dr. Daniel W. Drell, Office of

Biological and Environmental Research,

ER–72, 19901 Germantown Road,

Germantown, MD 20874–1290.

Formal applications, referencing

Program Notice 98–19, 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

98–19. 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.

Daniel W. Drell, Office of Biological and

Environmental Research, ER–72, Office

of Energy Research, U.S. Department of

Energy, 19901 Germantown Road,

Germantown, MD 20874–1290,

telephone: (301) 903–6488 or E-mail:

daniel.drell@oer.doe.gov. The full text

of Program Notice 98–19 is available via

the Internet using the following web site

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

production/grants/grants.html.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DOE

encourages the submission of

applications that will address, analyze,

or anticipate ELSI issues associated with

human genome research. The DOE

particularly encourages research in four

broad areas:

I. The uses, impacts, implications of,

and privacy of genetic information in

the workplace, particularly screening

and monitoring programs that involve

the collection and evaluation of genetic

information, and the use of the

workplace as a research venue. Research

is encouraged that would explore

historical experiences, current practices,

and lessons learned as they pertain to

the collection and use of worker genetic

information. This research can include

issues arising from the creation, use,

maintenance, privacy and disclosure of

genetic information obtained in

workplace settings that can include, but

is not limited to, workplaces at which

DOE activities are taking place or have

in the past.

II. Access to, and protection of,

genetic information particularly

information stored in computerized

databases, or obtained from stored

human tissue or sample archives.

Research is encouraged to explore

confidentiality of genetic data in

databanks and databases, the

anonymization of genetic records and

samples, and the intellectual property

protection of genetic information and

genome research tools, technologies,

and resources.

III. The preparation and

dissemination of relevant 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. An interest of this notice is the

education of Institutional Review

Boards (IRB) that review protocols

involving the gathering of genetic

information and genome investigators

who work with human subjects or

materials from which genetic

information can be obtained. Additional

groups of interest could include judges,

the media, policy makers, and DOE

employees and contractors.

IV. The ethical, legal, and societal

implications of advances in the

scientific understanding of complex or

multi-genic characteristics and

conditions, gene-environment

interactions that result in diseases or

disease susceptibilities, and human

polymorphisms. In particular, the DOE

is interested in studies identifying the

responses of institutions (e.g., courts,

employers, companies, schools, etc.)

that must deal with ‘‘genetic

uncertainty,’’ e.g., lack of certainty of

the results of screening for susceptibility

genes, uncertain consequences of yetundefined environmental influences,

and highly polymorphic genes whose

numerous alleles are not fully

characterized.

All applications should demonstrate

knowledge of the relevant literature, any

related completed activities, 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 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. 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. If an educational effort for a
32650 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 114 / Monday, June 15, 1998 / Notices

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., privacy

and access to research materials,

workplace uses of genetic information,

education of targeted groups such as

IRBs and investigators, and

susceptibility/sensitivity genes, and

polymorphisms.

Educational and conference

applications should demonstrate

awareness of the relevant literature,

include detailed plans for the

accomplishment of project goals, and

clearly describe the outcomes or

‘‘deliverables’’ from the activity. For

conference applications, a detailed and

largely complete roster of speakers is

necessary. 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. For all

conferences supported under this

notice, a summary report is required

following the conference. In

applications that propose the

production of 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 requires inclusion of a plan for

assessment of the effectiveness of the

proposed activities.

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. DOE

generally discourages applications for

local efforts (e.g., college or school

curricula that will not be disseminated)

and requests 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 toward the goals of

the DOE Human Genome Program. The

OBER 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 OBER 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 time lines projecting progress

toward achieving proposed goals.

Program Funding

It is anticipated that approximately

$1,500,000 will be available for multiple

grant awards to be made during Fiscal

Year 1999, contingent upon the

availability of appropriated funds.

Multiple year funding of grant awards is

expected, and is also contingent upon

the 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. Generally,

conference awards do not exceed

$25,000 and indirect costs are not

allowed as part of conference grant

awards.

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 multiorganizational 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 should 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 of the DOE’s Human

Genome Program.

Preapplications are strongly

encouraged but not required prior to
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 114 / Monday, June 15, 1998 / Notices 32651

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:

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 June 4, 1998.

John Rodney Clark,

Associate Director for Resource Management,

Office of Energy Research.

[FR Doc. 98–15830 Filed 6–12–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6450–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory

Commission

[Docket No. GT98–47–000]

Canyon Creek Compression Company;

Notice of Proposed Changes in FERC

Gas Tariff

June 8, 1988.

Take notice that on June 3, 1998,

Canyon Creek Compression Company

(Canyon) tendered for filing Title Page

as part of its FERC Gas Tariff, Third

Revised Volume No. 1, to be effective

July 3, 1998.

Canyon states that the purpose of the

filing is to reflect an address change and

a name change regarding the contact

person and the contact person’s

telephone and facsimile numbers.

Canyon requested waiver of the

Federal Energy Regulatory

Commission’s (Commission)

Regulations to the extent necessary to

permit the tendered Title Page to

become effective July 3, 1998, thirty (30)

days from the date of the filing.

Canyon states that copies of the filing

are being mailed to Canyon’s customers

and interested state regulatory agencies.

Any person desiring to be heard or to

protest this filing should file a motion

to intervene or a protest with the

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,

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

20426, in accordance with Sections

385.214 and 385.211 of the

Commission’s Rules and Regulations.

All such motions or protests must be

filed as provided in Section 154.210 of

the Commission’s Regulations. Protests

will be considered by the Commission

in determining the appropriate action to

be taken, but will not serve to make

protestants parties to the proceedings.

Any person wishing 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 in the Public Reference

Room.

Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,

Acting Secretary.

[FR Doc. 98–15788 Filed 6–12–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6717–01–M

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory

Commission

[Docket No. CP98–570–000]

Eastern Shore Natural Gas Company;

Notice of Request Under Blanket

Authorization

June 9, 1998.

Take notice that on May 27, 1998,

Eastern Shore Natural Gas Company

(Eastern Shore), Post Office Box 1769,

Dover, Delaware 19903–1769, filed a

request with the Commission in Docket

No. CP98–570–000, pursuant to

Sections 157–205, and 157.212 of the

Commission’s Regulations under the

Natural Gas Act (NGA) for authorization

to add one new delivery point for

Delaware Division of Chesapeake

Utilities Corporation (Delaware

Division), an existing customer

authorized in blanket certificate issued

in Docket No. CP83–40–000, all as more

fully set forth in the request on file with

the Commission and open to public

inspection.

Eastern Shore proposes to construct

and operate one delivery point and

associated facilities near Greenspring

Road (County Road 47) in Smyrna, New

Castle County, Delaware to serve

Delaware Division.

Eastern Shore states that the delivery

of gas through the new tap would be

within the customer’s existing

entitlement, that there would be no

adverse impact on Eastern Shore’s other

customers’ peak and annual deliveries,

and that no additional facilities would

be required to serve the new delivery

point other than a meter and regulating

station and service lateral. The

estimated cost of the proposed new

delivery point would be $75,000.00

which would be paid for by Delaware

Division.

Any person or the Commission’s staff

may, within 45 days after the

Commission has issued this notice, 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

NGA (18 CFR 157.205) a protest to the

request. If no protest is filed within the

allowed time, 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