[Federal Register: November 23, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 225)]
[Notices]
[Page 70800-70801]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr23no05-65]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Request for Member Nominations; Hydrogen Technical and Fuel Cell
Advisory Committee
AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S.
Department of Energy.
ACTION: Notice of request for member nominations for the Hydrogen
Technical and Fuel Cell Advisory Committee.
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SUMMARY: The Hydrogen Technical and Fuel Cell Advisory Committee (HTAC
or Committee) was established by section 807 of Title VIII, Hydrogen
(``Spark M. Matsunaga Act of 2005''), of the 2005 Energy Policy Act
(Pub. L. 109-58). In order to ensure a wide range of candidates for
HTAC and a balanced committee, DOE is using this public announcement as
an avenue to solicit nominations for this Committee.
DATES: Nominations should be submitted by January 23, 2006.
ADDRESSES: Nominations should be submitted in electronic format.
Nominations should be sent via e-mail to htac.nominees@ee.doe.gov. Any
requests for further information should also be sent via e-mail to
htac.nominees@ee.doe.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
The Committee will provide advice and recommendations to the
Secretary of Energy (Secretary) on the program authorized by the Spark
M. Matsunaga Hydrogen Act of 2005 (``the Act''). This Committee
supersedes the Hydrogen Technical Advisory Panel established by the
Spark M. Matsunaga Hydrogen Research, Development, Demonstration
Program Act of 1990, Public Law 101-566, and reauthorized by the
Hydrogen Future Act of 1996, Public Law 104-271.
The Committee's scope is to review and make recommendations to the
Secretary on (1) The implementation of programs and activities under
the Act (42 U.S.C. 16151 et seq.), (2) the safety, economical, and
environmental consequences of technologies for the production,
distribution, delivery, storage, or use of hydrogen energy and fuel
cells and (3) the plan under section 804 of the Act. The Secretary
shall consider, but need not adopt, any recommendations of HTAC.
DOE is hereby soliciting nominations for members of the Committee.
The Committee is expected to be continuing in nature. The Secretary of
Energy will appoint 12 to 25 Committee members. Members will be
selected with a view toward achieving a balanced committee of
representatives of domestic industry, academia, professional societies,
government agencies, Federal laboratories, previous advisory panels,
and financial, environmental and other appropriate organizations based
on the needs of the Committee and DOE. Committee members will serve for
a term of three years or less and may be reappointed. Appointments may
be made in a manner that allows the terms of the members serving at any
time to expire at spaced intervals, so as to ensure continuity in the
functioning of the Committee. The Committee members will elect a
chairperson from among their number. The Committee is expected to meet
twice per year. Subcommittees to address specific agenda items are
anticipated and may meet more frequently. Some Committee members may be
appointed as special Government employees (SGEs) and will be subject to
certain ethical restrictions as a result. Such members will also be
required to submit certain information in connection with the
appointment process.
Process and Deadline for Submitting Nominations
Qualified individuals can self-nominate or be nominated by any
individual or organization. Nominators should submit (via e-mail to
htac.nominees@ee.doe.gov) a description of the nominee's
qualifications, including matters that would enable the Department to
make an informed decision, such as but not limited to the nominee's
education and professional experience. Should more information be
needed, DOE staff will contact the nominee, obtain information from the
nominee's past affiliations, or obtain information from publicly
available sources, such as the internet.
A selection team will review the nomination packages. This team
will be comprised of representatives from several DOE Offices, as well
as at least one representative from the Department of Transportation.
DOE is seeking a balance of appropriate stakeholder viewpoints to
address the broad statutory mandate. (Note that the Committee will
address implementation of the Hydrogen Program activities covered in
the Act; the Committee will not address whether there should be a
[[Page 70801]]
Hydrogen Program.) The selection team will consider many criteria,
including and not limited to: (a) Scientific or technical expertise,
knowledge, and experience; (b) stakeholder representation as described
in the Act; (c) availability and willingness to serve; and (d) skills
working in committees, subcommittees and advisory panels. Structured
interviews with some candidates may also occur.
The selection team will make recommendations regarding membership
to the Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
(EERE). The Assistant Secretary for EERE will submit a list of
recommended candidates to the Secretary for review and selection of
Committee members.
Candidates selected by the Secretary of Energy to serve as SGEs
will be required to fill out the Confidential Financial Disclosure Form
for Special Government Employees Serving on Federal Advisory Committees
at the U.S. Department of Energy and other forms incidental to Federal
appointment. The confidential financial disclosure form allows
government officials to determine whether there is a conflict between
the special Government employee's public responsibilities and private
interests and activities, or the appearance of a lack of impartiality,
as defined by statute and regulation. The form may be viewed from the
following URL address: http://www.hydrogen.energy.gov/advisory_panels.html
.
Issued in Washington, DC, on November 17, 2005.
Douglas L. Faulkner,
Acting Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
[FR Doc. 05-23174 Filed 11-22-05; 8:45 am]
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