81 FR 89449 - President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 238 (December 12, 2016)

Page Range		89449-89450
FR Document		2016-29657

This notice sets forth the schedule and summary agenda for a partially-closed meeting of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), and describes the functions of the Council. The Federal Advisory Committee Act requires that public notice of these meetings be announced in the Federal Register.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 238 (Monday, December 12, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 238 (Monday, December 12, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 89449-89450]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-29657]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology

AGENCY: Office of Science, Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of partially-closed meeting.

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SUMMARY: This notice sets forth the schedule and summary agenda for a 
partially-closed meeting of the President's Council of Advisors on 
Science and Technology (PCAST), and describes the functions of the 
Council. The Federal Advisory Committee Act requires that public notice 
of these meetings be announced in the Federal Register.

DATES: January 6, 2017, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the National Academy of 
Sciences, 2101 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC in the Lecture 
Room.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Information regarding the meeting 
agenda, time, location, and how to register for the meeting is 
available on the PCAST Web site at: http://whitehouse.gov/ostp/pcast. A 
live video webcast and an archive of the webcast after the event are 
expected to be available at http://whitehouse.gov/ostp/pcast. The 
archived video will be available within one week of the meeting. 
Questions about the meeting should be directed to Ms. Jennifer Michael 
at [email protected], (202) 456-4444. Please note that public 
seating for this meeting is limited and is available on a first-come, 
first-served basis.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The President's Council of Advisors on 
Science and Technology (PCAST) is an advisory group of the nation's 
leading scientists and engineers, appointed by the President to augment 
the science and technology advice available to him from inside the 
White House, cabinet departments, and other Federal agencies. See the 
Executive Order at http://www.whitehouse.gov/ostp/pcast. PCAST is 
consulted about and provides analyses and recommendations concerning a 
wide range of issues where understandings from the domains of science, 
technology, and innovation may bear on the policy choices before the 
President. PCAST is co-chaired by Dr. John P. Holdren, Assistant to the 
President for Science and Technology, and Director, Office of Science 
and Technology Policy, Executive Office of the President, The White 
House; and Dr. Eric S. Lander, President, Broad Institute of the 
Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard.
    Type of Meeting: Open and Closed.
    Proposed Schedule and Agenda: The President's Council of Advisors 
on Science and Technology (PCAST) is scheduled to meet in open session 
on January 6, 2017 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
    Open Portion of Meeting: During this open meeting, PCAST is 
scheduled to discuss its study semiconductors as well as its review on 
the National Nanotechnology Initiative, and other science and 
technology topics. Additional information and the agenda, including any 
changes that arise, will be posted at the PCAST Web site at: http://whitehouse.gov/ostp/pcast.
    Closed Portion of the Meeting: PCAST may hold a closed meeting of 
approximately one hour with the President on January 6, 2017, which 
must take place in the White House for

[[Page 89450]]

the President's scheduling convenience and to maintain Secret Service 
protection. This meeting will be closed to the public because such 
portion of the meeting is likely to disclose matters that are to be 
kept secret in the interest of national defense or foreign policy under 
5 U.S.C. 552b(c)(1).
    Public Comments: It is the policy of the PCAST to accept written 
public comments of any length, and to accommodate oral public comments 
whenever possible. The PCAST expects that public statements presented 
at its meetings will not be repetitive of previously submitted oral or 
written statements.
    The public comment period for this meeting will take place on 
January 6, 2017 at a time specified in the meeting agenda posted on the 
PCAST Web site at http://whitehouse.gov/ostp/pcast. This public comment 
period is designed only for substantive commentary on PCAST's work, not 
for business marketing purposes.
    Oral Comments: To be considered for the public speaker list at the 
meeting, interested parties should register to speak at http://whitehouse.gov/ostp/pcast, no later than 9:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) on 
December 30, 2016. Phone or email reservations will not be accepted. To 
accommodate as many speakers as possible, the time for public comments 
will be limited to two (2) minutes per person, with a total public 
comment period of up to 15 minutes. If more speakers register than 
there is space available on the agenda, PCAST will randomly select 
speakers from among those who applied. Those not selected to present 
oral comments may always file written comments with the committee. 
Speakers are requested to bring at least 25 copies of their oral 
comments for distribution to the PCAST members.
    Written Comments: Although written comments are accepted 
continuously, written comments should be submitted to PCAST no later 
than 12:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on December 30, 2016 so that the 
comments may be made available to the PCAST members prior to this 
meeting for their consideration. Information regarding how to submit 
comments and documents to PCAST is available at http://whitehouse.gov/ostp/pcast in the section entitled ``Connect with PCAST.''
    Please note that because PCAST operates under the provisions of 
FACA, all public comments and/or presentations will be treated as 
public documents and will be made available for public inspection, 
including being posted on the PCAST Web site.
    Meeting Accommodations: Individuals requiring special accommodation 
to access this public meeting should contact Ms. Jennifer Michael at 
least ten business days prior to the meeting so that appropriate 
arrangements can be made.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on December 6, 2016.
LaTanya R. Butler,
Deputy Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 2016-29657 Filed 12-9-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6450-01-P

Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 238 / Monday, December 12, 2016 / Notices 89449

registered with the Commission as a institutions is solely incidental to the Constitution Avenue NW., Washington,
commodity trading advisor; 29 or any FCS institutions’ lending activity with DC in the Lecture Room.
person who the Commission, by rule or such eligible borrowers. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
regulation, may include if the Further, the primary business activity Information regarding the meeting
Commission determines that the rule or of FCS institutions is engaging in direct agenda, time, location, and how to
regulation will effectuate the purposes lending to farmers, ranchers, and other register for the meeting is available on
of the CEA.30 eligible borrowers under the regulation the PCAST Web site at: http://
CEA section 1a(12)(B) excludes and supervision of the FCA. This whitehouse.gov/ostp/pcast. A live video
certain types of persons and entities lending activity is generally comparable webcast and an archive of the webcast
from the CTA definition, and permits to the lending activities of banking after the event are expected to be
the Commission to further exclude, such institutions, which are excluded from available at http://whitehouse.gov/ostp/
other persons not within the intent of the CTA definition under section pcast. The archived video will be
the CTA definition as the Commission 1a(12)(B) of the CEA.35 The Commission available within one week of the
may specify by rule, regulation, or believes that it is reasonable under the meeting. Questions about the meeting
order.31 Additionally, CEA section facts and circumstances discussed above should be directed to Ms. Jennifer
1a(12)(C) states that these exclusions, to conclude that granting FCS Michael at jmichael@ostp.eop.gov, (202)
including any additional exclusion institutions an exclusion from CTA 456–4444. Please note that public
adopted through rule, regulation or registration is consistent with the intent seating for this meeting is limited and
order by the Commission, shall apply of section 1a(12) of the CEA. is available on a first-come, first-served
only if the furnishing of such services basis.
by persons referred to in CEA section III. Conclusion and Order
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
1a(12)(B) is solely incidental to the The Commission finds that under the President’s Council of Advisors on
conduct of their business or circumstances set forth above it is Science and Technology (PCAST) is an
profession.32 Therefore, the Commission appropriate to exercise the statutory advisory group of the nation’s leading
must consider whether the potential authority afforded to it under CEA scientists and engineers, appointed by
CTA activity is solely incidental to the section 1a(12)(B)(vii) to exclude FCS the President to augment the science
primary business purposes and conduct institutions from the CTA definition. and technology advice available to him
of the FCS institutions, and whether Accordingly, the Commission is issuing from inside the White House, cabinet
FCS institutions may be properly this Order excluding FCS institutions departments, and other Federal
excluded from the CTA definition. from the CTA definition in CEA section
The Commission agrees with the agencies. See the Executive Order at
1a(12)(A). This Order is based upon the http://www.whitehouse.gov/ostp/pcast.
Petition that the provision of general representations made by the petitioner.
information about interest rate swaps to PCAST is consulted about and provides
The Commission reserves authority, in analyses and recommendations
eligible borrowers of FCS institutions is its discretion, to revisit the Order.
solely incidental to the FCS institutions’ concerning a wide range of issues where
Issued in Washington, DC, on December 6, understandings from the domains of
main business and mission, i.e., 2016, by the Commission.
agricultural lending. This conclusion is science, technology, and innovation
Robert N. Sidman, may bear on the policy choices before
supported by the fact that the
information is provided solely to
Deputy Secretary of the Commission. the President. PCAST is co-chaired by
eligible borrowers of the FCS [FR Doc. 2016–29613 Filed 12–9–16; 8:45 am] Dr. John P. Holdren, Assistant to the
institutions, and also by the strict BILLING CODE 6351–01–P President for Science and Technology,
limitations on the swap activities of FCS and Director, Office of Science and
institutions—FCS institutions may only Technology Policy, Executive Office of
enter into swaps with an eligible DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY the President, The White House; and Dr.
borrower to hedge the risk(s) inherent in Eric S. Lander, President, Broad
the underlying financing transaction President’s Council of Advisors on Institute of the Massachusetts Institute
between that borrower and an FCS Science and Technology of Technology and Harvard.
Type of Meeting: Open and Closed.
institution.33 Additionally, the Petition AGENCY: Office of Science, Department Proposed Schedule and Agenda: The
states that FCS institutions do not incur of Energy. President’s Council of Advisors on
significant costs in providing the ACTION: Notice of partially-closed Science and Technology (PCAST) is
information to eligible borrowers, do not meeting. scheduled to meet in open session on
charge eligible borrowers for the
January 6, 2017 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00
information, do not solicit eligible SUMMARY: This notice sets forth the p.m.
borrowers, do not require eligible schedule and summary agenda for a Open Portion of Meeting: During this
borrowers to hedge their loan risks partially-closed meeting of the open meeting, PCAST is scheduled to
through an FCS institution, and do not President’s Council of Advisors on discuss its study semiconductors as well
hold themselves out to the public as an Science and Technology (PCAST), and as its review on the National
entity providing CTA services.34 Under describes the functions of the Council. Nanotechnology Initiative, and other
these circumstances, the Commission The Federal Advisory Committee Act science and technology topics.
concludes that the provision of requires that public notice of these Additional information and the agenda,
information related to a swap meetings be announced in the Federal including any changes that arise, will be
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES

transaction to eligible borrowers of FCS Register. posted at the PCAST Web site at: http://
DATES: January 6, 2017, 9:00 a.m. to whitehouse.gov/ostp/pcast.
29 7 U.S.C. 1a(12)(A)(iii).
30 7
12:00 p.m. Closed Portion of the Meeting: PCAST
U.S.C. 1a(12)(A)(iv).
31 7 U.S.C. 1a(12)(B); 7 U.S.C. 1a(12)(B)(vii). ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at may hold a closed meeting of
32 7 U.S.C. 1a(12)(C). the National Academy of Sciences, 2101 approximately one hour with the
33 Petition, at 6. President on January 6, 2017, which
34 Id. at 9. 35 See 7 U.S.C. 1a(12)(B)(i). must take place in the White House for

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89450 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 238 / Monday, December 12, 2016 / Notices

the President’s scheduling convenience Meeting Accommodations: Washington, DC 20585; phone 202–586–
and to maintain Secret Service Individuals requiring special 8267; email Brian.Mills@hq.doe.gov.
protection. This meeting will be closed accommodation to access this public FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
to the public because such portion of meeting should contact Ms. Jennifer further information on the NECPL
the meeting is likely to disclose matters Michael at least ten business days prior Project EIS, contact Mr. Brian Mills as
that are to be kept secret in the interest to the meeting so that appropriate indicated in the ADDRESSES section
of national defense or foreign policy arrangements can be made. above. For general information on the
under 5 U.S.C. 552b(c)(1). Issued in Washington, DC, on December 6, DOE NEPA process, contact Carol
Public Comments: It is the policy of 2016. Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA
the PCAST to accept written public LaTanya R. Butler, Policy and Compliance (GC–54), U.S.
comments of any length, and to Deputy Committee Management Officer. Department of Energy, 1000
accommodate oral public comments Independence Avenue SW.,
[FR Doc. 2016–29657 Filed 12–9–16; 8:45 am]
whenever possible. The PCAST expects Washington, DC 20585; email
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
that public statements presented at its askNEPA@hq.doe.gov; or facsimile to
meetings will not be repetitive of 202–586–7031.
previously submitted oral or written DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
statements.
The public comment period for this [OE Docket No. PP 400] Background
meeting will take place on January 6, Executive Order (EO) 10485
2017 at a time specified in the meeting Record of Decision for Issuing a
(September 9, 1953), as amended by EO
agenda posted on the PCAST Web site Presidential Permit to Transmission
12038 (February 7, 1978), requires that
at http://whitehouse.gov/ostp/pcast. Developers, Inc.—New England, for the
a Presidential permit be issued by DOE
This public comment period is designed New England Clean Power Link
before electricity transmission facilities
only for substantive commentary on Transmission Line Project
may be constructed, operated,
PCAST’s work, not for business AGENCY: Office of Electricity Delivery maintained, or connected at the U.S.
marketing purposes. and Energy Reliability, U.S. Department border. DOE may issue or amend a
Oral Comments: To be considered for of Energy. permit if it determines that the permit
the public speaker list at the meeting, ACTION: Record of decision. is in the public interest and after
interested parties should register to obtaining favorable recommendations
speak at http://whitehouse.gov/ostp/ SUMMARY: The Department of Energy from the U.S. Departments of State and
pcast, no later than 9:00 a.m. (Eastern (DOE) announces its decision to issue a Defense. In determining whether
Time) on December 30, 2016. Phone or Presidential permit to Champlain VT, issuance of a permit for a proposed
email reservations will not be accepted. LLC, d/b/a Transmission Developers, action is in the public interest, DOE
To accommodate as many speakers as Inc.—New England (TDI–NE), to considers the potential environmental
possible, the time for public comments construct, operate, maintain, and impacts of the proposed project, the
will be limited to two (2) minutes per connect an electric transmission line project’s impact on electricity reliability
person, with a total public comment across the U.S./Canada international by ascertaining whether the proposed
period of up to 15 minutes. If more border in northern Vermont. The project would adversely affect the
speakers register than there is space potential environmental impacts operation of the U.S. electric power
available on the agenda, PCAST will associated with the transmission line supply system under normal and
randomly select speakers from among are analyzed in the New England Clean contingency conditions, and any other
those who applied. Those not selected Power Link (NECPL) Project Final factors that DOE considers relevant to
to present oral comments may always Environmental Impact Statement (DOE/ the public interest.
file written comments with the EIS–0503). On June 23, 2014, TDI–NE applied to
committee. Speakers are requested to As proposed, the NECPL DOE for a Presidential permit to
bring at least 25 copies of their oral Transmission Line would extend south construct, operate, maintain, and
comments for distribution to the PCAST from the U.S./Canada international connect a high-voltage direct current
members. border approximately 154 miles to a (HVDC) transmission line across the
Written Comments: Although written new converter station in Ludlow, U.S./Canada international border. The
comments are accepted continuously, Vermont and the existing Coolidge proposed transmission line would be
written comments should be submitted Substation in the towns of Ludlow and capable of transmitting up to 1,000
to PCAST no later than 12:00 p.m. Cavendish, Vermont. megawatts (MW) of electricity. The line
(Eastern Time) on December 30, 2016 so ADDRESSES: The Final Environmental would extend south from the U.S./
that the comments may be made Impact Statement (EIS) and this Record Canada international border
available to the PCAST members prior of Decision (ROD) are available on the approximately 154 miles. The
to this meeting for their consideration. DOE National Environmental Policy Act transmission line would be located
Information regarding how to submit (NEPA) Web site at http:// underground in Alburgh, Vermont, for
comments and documents to PCAST is nepa.energy.gov/ and on the NECPL approximately 0.5 miles and would
available at http://whitehouse.gov/ostp/ Project EIS Web site at http:// enter Lake Champlain. The cables
pcast in the section entitled ‘‘Connect necplinkeis.com. Copies of the Final EIS would then be installed in Lake
with PCAST.’’ and ROD are also available for review Champlain, primarily buried in
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES

Please note that because PCAST on the NECPL Project EIS Web site. sediments, for 97.6 miles in a southern
operates under the provisions of FACA, Copies of the Final EIS and this ROD direction. The cables would emerge
all public comments and/or may be requested by contacting Mr. from Lake Champlain in the town of
presentations will be treated as public Brian Mills, Office of Electricity Benson, Vermont, and would be buried
documents and will be made available Delivery and Energy Reliability (OE–20), primarily along town roads and state
for public inspection, including being U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 highway rights-of-way for
posted on the PCAST Web site. Independence Avenue SW., approximately 55.7 miles in a south-

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Document Created: 2018-02-14 09:05:53
Document Modified: 2018-02-14 09:05:53

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice of partially-closed meeting.
Dates		January 6, 2017, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Contact		Information regarding the meeting agenda, time, location, and how to register for the meeting is available on the PCAST Web site at: http://whitehouse.gov/ostp/pcast. A live video webcast and an archive of the webcast after the event are expected to be available at http://whitehouse.gov/ostp/pcast. The archived video will be available within one week of the meeting. Questions about the meeting should be directed to Ms. Jennifer Michael at [email protected], (202) 456-4444. Please note that public seating for this meeting is limited and is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
FR Citation		81 FR 89449