80 FR 76665 - Third Japan-U.S. Decommissioning and Remediation Fukashima Recovery Forum; February 24-25, 2016

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 237 (December 10, 2015)

The U.S. Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration (ITA), in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy, is organizing the third Japan-United States Decommissioning and Remediation Fukushima Recovery Forum (``Fukushima Recovery Forum'') on February 24-25, 2016 in Tokyo, Japan. Building on the second Fukushima Recovery Forum held in April 2015, the third Fukushima Recovery Forum aims to continue to develop U.S.-Japanese cooperation on Fukushima recovery efforts, the decommissioning of other Japanese reactors, and the restart of Japan's reactor fleet. The event will be a venue for U.S. firms to hear from Japanese Ministries, utilities, and commissioning entities on the status of Japan's civil nuclear energy program. In addition, the event will be a forum for U.S. and Japanese firms to share experiences, expertise, and lessons learned in remediation and decommissioning, including work underway at Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Station, and in Tohoku, the area affected by the accident at Fukushima. The event also aims to address interest in cooperation in areas related to nuclear power as Japan moves forward with its plan for decommissioning or restarting its nuclear reactors. U.S. firms will also be given an opportunity to network with Japanese firms and identify potential business partners. ITA is seeking the participation of a maximum of 25 U.S. companies that produce technology or provide services in the decommissioning or remediation sector as well as in areas related to nuclear restarts. Staff from the U.S. Department of Commerce's Global Markets, Industry & Analysis (I&A), and U.S. & Foreign Commercial Service (CS) units will also be available in Tokyo to provide export counseling and civil nuclear trade policy guidance to participating companies. Support for the Fukushima Recovery Forum was confirmed at meetings of the U.S-Japan Bilateral Commission on Civil Nuclear Cooperation. The Bilateral Commission serves as a senior-level, forum for consultations on mutual issues of concern to further strengthen bilateral cooperation and advance shared interests in the area of civil nuclear cooperation. The Bilateral Commission is chaired by the Department of Energy and Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI). There are five working groups under the Bilateral Commission that coordinate bilateral cooperation in the areas of civil nuclear energy research and development, the decommissioning of the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Station, environmental management, emergency management, nuclear security, and safety and regulatory issues. The Decommissioning and Environmental Management Working Group (DEMWG) under the Bilateral Commission addresses the long-term consequences of the Fukushima accident, including facility decommissioning, spent fuel storage, decontamination, and remediation of contaminated areas. The Fukushima Recovery Forum is under the auspices of the DEMWG to further industry cooperation in support of Fukushima recovery efforts.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 237 (Thursday, December 10, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76665-76666]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-31148]



[[Page 76665]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Third Japan-U.S. Decommissioning and Remediation Fukashima 
Recovery Forum; February 24-25, 2016

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Commerce's International Trade 
Administration (ITA), in partnership with the U.S. Department of 
Energy, is organizing the third Japan-United States Decommissioning and 
Remediation Fukushima Recovery Forum (``Fukushima Recovery Forum'') on 
February 24-25, 2016 in Tokyo, Japan. Building on the second Fukushima 
Recovery Forum held in April 2015, the third Fukushima Recovery Forum 
aims to continue to develop U.S.-Japanese cooperation on Fukushima 
recovery efforts, the decommissioning of other Japanese reactors, and 
the restart of Japan's reactor fleet. The event will be a venue for 
U.S. firms to hear from Japanese Ministries, utilities, and 
commissioning entities on the status of Japan's civil nuclear energy 
program. In addition, the event will be a forum for U.S. and Japanese 
firms to share experiences, expertise, and lessons learned in 
remediation and decommissioning, including work underway at Fukushima 
Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Station, and in Tohoku, the area affected by the 
accident at Fukushima. The event also aims to address interest in 
cooperation in areas related to nuclear power as Japan moves forward 
with its plan for decommissioning or restarting its nuclear reactors. 
U.S. firms will also be given an opportunity to network with Japanese 
firms and identify potential business partners.
    ITA is seeking the participation of a maximum of 25 U.S. companies 
that produce technology or provide services in the decommissioning or 
remediation sector as well as in areas related to nuclear restarts. 
Staff from the U.S. Department of Commerce's Global Markets, Industry & 
Analysis (I&A), and U.S. & Foreign Commercial Service (CS) units will 
also be available in Tokyo to provide export counseling and civil 
nuclear trade policy guidance to participating companies.
    Support for the Fukushima Recovery Forum was confirmed at meetings 
of the U.S-Japan Bilateral Commission on Civil Nuclear Cooperation. The 
Bilateral Commission serves as a senior-level, forum for consultations 
on mutual issues of concern to further strengthen bilateral cooperation 
and advance shared interests in the area of civil nuclear cooperation. 
The Bilateral Commission is chaired by the Department of Energy and 
Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI). There are five 
working groups under the Bilateral Commission that coordinate bilateral 
cooperation in the areas of civil nuclear energy research and 
development, the decommissioning of the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear 
Power Station, environmental management, emergency management, nuclear 
security, and safety and regulatory issues.
    The Decommissioning and Environmental Management Working Group 
(DEMWG) under the Bilateral Commission addresses the long-term 
consequences of the Fukushima accident, including facility 
decommissioning, spent fuel storage, decontamination, and remediation 
of contaminated areas. The Fukushima Recovery Forum is under the 
auspices of the DEMWG to further industry cooperation in support of 
Fukushima recovery efforts.

                                Schedule
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday, February 24.......  [ssquf] Participate in discussions with
                                U.S. and Japanese firms consisting of
                                presentations and dialogues on specific
                                aspects of Fukushima Recovery, including
                                decommissioning, remediation, waste
                                management, and water management.
                               [ssquf] Participate in networking
                                opportunities with Japanese firms.
                               [ssquf] Attend a networking reception
                                with senior leaders from Japan's
                                Government and industry hosted by a
                                senior U.S. Government representative
                                from the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo.
Thursday, February 25........  [ssquf] Participate in briefings by
                                Japanese Government officials and other
                                entities on the status of the situation
                                at the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power
                                Station and surrounding area.
                               [ssquf] Participate in networking
                                activities coordinated by ITA staff.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Web site: Please visit our official mission Web site for more 
information: http://www.export.gov/trademissions/.

Participation Requirements

    U.S. companies, U.S. trade associations, and U.S. academic and 
research institutions interested in participating in the Fukushima 
Recovery Forum must submit an application package for consideration by 
the U.S. Department of Commerce. All applicants will be evaluated based 
on their ability to meet certain conditions and best satisfy the 
selection criteria as outlined below. A maximum of 25 entities will be 
selected to participate in the Forum from the applicant pool. U.S. 
companies already doing business in Japan as well as U.S. companies 
seeking to enter to the Japanese market for the first time may apply. 
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis in the order they are 
received.

Fees and Expenses

    After a U.S. company, U.S. trade association, or U.S. academic and 
research institutions has been selected to participate in the Forum, a 
participation fee is required. The participation fee is $1,130 for a 
large firm, a trade association, or a U.S. university or research 
institution and $860 for small or medium-sized firms or non-profit 
educational institution. The fee for each additional representative is 
$600. As space permits, up to four additional representatives can be 
accommodated per company, trade association, or university or research 
institution. Fees will cover the cost for interpreters, a booklet 
containing information about participating U.S. and Japanese firms, and 
reception costs.

Application

    All interested firms and associations may register via the 
following link: http://export.gov/japan/fukushima/forum/.

Exclusions

    The participation fee does not include personal travel expenses 
such as airfare, lodging, most meals, incidentals, and local ground 
transportation and personal interpreters used during the networking 
sessions. Delegation members will be able to take advantage of U.S. 
Embassy rates for hotel rooms. Business visas may be required. 
Government fees and processing expenses to obtain visas are also not 
included in the Fukushima Recovery

[[Page 76666]]

Forum costs. However, the U.S. Department of Commerce will provide 
instructions to each participant on the procedures required to obtain 
necessary business visas.

Timeline for Recruitment and Applications

    Recruitment for the Fukushima Recovery Forum will be conducted in 
an open and public manner, including publication in the Federal 
Register, posting on CS Japan's Web site, notices by industry trade 
associations and other multiplier groups, and publicity through the ITA 
network. Recruitment will begin immediately and conclude no later than 
January 8, 2016. The U.S. Department of Commerce will review 
applications on a rolling basis beginning on January 8, 2016 until the 
maximum of 25 participants is selected. Applications received after 
January 15, 2016 will be considered only if space and scheduling 
constraints permit.

Conditions for Participation

    Applicants must submit a completed mission application signed by a 
company official, together with supplemental application materials, 
including adequate information on the company's products and/or 
services, interest in doing business in Japan, and goals for 
participation by January 8, 2016. If the U.S. Department of Commerce 
receives an incomplete application, it may reject the application, 
request additional information, or take the lack of information into 
account in its evaluation.
    Each applicant must also certify that the products or services it 
seeks to export through its participation in the Fukushima Recovery 
Forum are either produced in the United States, or, if not, marketed 
under the name of a U.S. firm and that the promotion of the products or 
services the applicant seeks to export would be consistent with ITA's 
mission to strengthen the international competitiveness of U.S. 
industry and promote U.S. exports. In the case of a trade association, 
the applicant must certify that, for each company to be represented by 
the trade association or trade organization, the products and services 
the represented company seeks to export are either produced in the 
United States, or, if not, marketed under the name of a U.S. firm and 
that the promotion of the products or services the applicant seeks to 
export would be consistent with ITA's mission to strengthen the 
international competitiveness of U.S. industry and promote U.S. 
exports. In the case of an academic or research institution, the 
applicant must certify that as part of its activities at the event, it 
will represent the interests of the organization's staff that meet the 
criteria above. Applicants from a company, organization or institution 
that is majority owned or controlled by a foreign government entity 
will not be considered for participation.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
    Mr. Jonathan Chesebro, Senior Nuclear Trade Specialist, Industry & 
Analysis [verbar] Office of Energy and Environmental Industries, U.S. 
Department of Commerce [verbar] International Trade Administration, 
Phone: (202) 482-1297, Email: [email protected].
    Mr. Robert McEntire, Project Officer--Office of Trade Promotion 
Programs, U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, DC, Tel: (202) 482-
5226, Email: [email protected].

Frank Spector,
Acting Director, Trade Missions Program.
[FR Doc. 2015-31148 Filed 12-9-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-DR-P