2016-25278. Agency Information Collection Extension

AGENCY:

National Nuclear Security Administration, U.S. Department of Energy.

ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Energy (DOE), pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, intends to extend for three years, an information collection request with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the extended collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

DATES:

Comments regarding this proposed information collection must be received on or before December 19, 2016. If you anticipate difficulty in submitting comments within that period, contact the person listed below as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES:

Written comments may be sent to Richard Goorevich, Senior Policy Advisor, Office of Nonproliferation and Arms Control, National Nuclear Security Administration, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20585, or by fax at 202-586-1348 or by email at [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Richard Goorevich, Senior Policy Advisor, Office of Nonproliferation and Arms Control, National Nuclear Security Administration, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20585, or by fax at 202-586-1348 or by email at [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This information collection request contains: (1) OMB No.1910-5173; (2) Information Collection Request Title: The American Assured Fuel Supply Program; (3) Type of Review: Extension; (4) Purpose: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) created the American Assured Fuel Supply (AFS), a reserve of low enriched uranium (LEU) to serve as a backup fuel supply for foreign recipients to be supplied through U.S. persons or for domestic recipients, in the event of fuel supply disruption. DOE is committed to making the AFS available to eligible recipients in the case of supply disruptions in the nuclear fuel market. This effort supports the United States Government's nuclear nonproliferation objectives by supporting civilian nuclear energy development while minimizing proliferation risks. DOE published a Notice of Availability for AFS on August 18, 2011, and published an application on December 2, 2013, in the Federal Register to standardize the information that must be provided in a request to access the material in the AFS as set forth in the Notice of Availability 76 FR 51357, 51358. This application form is necessary in order for DOE to identify if applicants meet basic requirements for use of the AFS and implement this important nonproliferation initiative; (5) Annual Estimated Number of Respondents: 10; (6) Annual Estimated Number of Total Responses: 10; (7) Annual Estimated Number of Burden Hours: 8; (8) Annual Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Cost Burden: $1,800.

Statutory Authority: The Secretary of Energy is authorized pursuant to the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (Pub. L. 83-703), and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Act of 1978 (NNPA) (Pub. L. 95-242) to encourage the widespread use of atomic energy for peaceful purposes, and to cooperate with other nations by distributing nuclear material where appropriate safeguards measures are in place to ensure the material is properly controlled and used for peaceful purposes. In 2005, DOE set aside a portion of its LEU inventory to be used to support the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) International Nuclear Fuel Bank (INFB) initiative, which is envisioned as an LEU reserve that will be administered by the IAEA and that will serve as a back-up for global supply disruptions. Congress later appropriated $49,540,000 in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008 (Pub. L. 110-161) to fund a portion of the INFB. Congress, in the Explanatory Statement accompanying the House Appropriations Committee Print (which in the Act was given the same effect as a joint explanatory statement), noted that the INFB freed up DOE's LEU set-aside, and recommended DOE also “allow U.S. interests to purchase uranium fuel from the Reliable Fuel Supply [now the AFS] in the event of supply disruption.” (H. Approp. Cmte. Print at 592.)

The sale of LEU from the AFS will be conducted consistent with applicable law, the policies and guidance in the “Secretary of Energy's 2008 Policy Statement of Management of the Department of Energy's Excess Uranium Inventory” (March 11, 2008), and the DOE Excess Uranium Inventory Management Plan.

Issued in Washington, DC, on October 3, 2016.

Anne M. Harrington,

Deputy Administrator, Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation, National Nuclear Security Administration.