[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 217 (Tuesday, November 10, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63037-63038]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-30139]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Office of Nonproliferation and National Security
Information Briefing Regarding the Nuclear Cities Initiative
AGENCY: Office of Nonproliferation and National Security, DOE.
ACTION: Notice of public information presentation.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE) will hold an informal public
information workshop to introduce the Nuclear Cities Initiative, a new
joint US-Russia project in nonproliferation commercialization focusing
on the ten closed nuclear cities of the Russian Federation. The
initiative was officially launched with the signing of the government-
to-government agreement on September 22, 1998 in Vienna, Austria by
Energy Secretary Bill Richardson and Russian Minister of Atomic Energy
Evgeny Adamov. DOE staff will explain the goals and objectives of the
Nuclear Cities Initiative, introduce the Nuclear Cities Initiative
staff, and solicit suggestions for parameters of public participation
in this project from those attending.
[[Page 63038]]
DATES: The information presentation will be held on Wednesday, December
2, 1998, with the briefing portion held from 10:00 a.m. until 11:30
a.m. A Questions and Answer session will follow from 11:30-1 p.m. with
members of the Nuclear Cities Initiative staff responsible for specific
aspects of the program. Representatives from the Office of General
Counsel and the Office of Procurement Operations will also be present
to provide program support.
ADDRESSES: The information presentation will be held at the U.S.
Department of Energy, Forrestal building, Main Auditorium, 1000
Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585. It is advisable to
register for attendance in advance by contacting either individual
named above and to provide the program office with the name of the
company or firm that you represent and a list of any other attendees
from your company/firm in advance. All those inquiring will be added to
an Nuclear Cities Initiative database and will receive any additional
information and updates.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Reeshemah Speaks NN-40, U.S.
Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC
20585, (202) 586-6568, email:reeshemah.speaks@hq.doe.gov; or Denise
Tramble, NN40, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Initiatives of
Proliferation Prevention, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC
20585, 202-586-1007, e-mail:denise.tramble@hq.doe.gov. FAXES ARE
WELCOME. Fax number is 202-586-2164.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Energy, together with the
Russian Ministry of Atomic Energy, is the Executive Agent charged with
carrying out the Nuclear Cities Initiative.
The Nuclear Cities Initiative is an agreement between the US and
Russian Federation for mutual cooperation to address the problems faced
by the ten closed cities which house the Russian nuclear weapons
uranium enrichment, plutonium production, weapons design, and weapons
assembly facilities.
The Nuclear Cities Initiative has near term goals to provide
civilian employment for displaced weapons workers in the ten closed
nuclear cities and long term goals to assist the Russian Federation in
reducing the size of its nuclear weapons complex. In its first year the
project will focus on three of the ten nuclear cities designated by
Minatom for assistance. Those cities are Sarov (Arzamas-16), Snezhinsk
(Chelyabinsk-70), and Zheleznogorsk (Krasnoyarsk-26).
The Department of Energy has thus far allocated $15,000,000 for the
Nuclear Cities Initiative in Fiscal Year 1999. Early activities will
feature assessment trips to the first three nuclear cities to yield an
analysis of the strengths, weaknesses opportunities and potential
problems specific to each of the three cities.
Once that is accomplished DOE will be looking to the private sector
to participate in assessing business opportunities and job creation in
these cities.
This information briefing will provide opportunities for interested
parties to find out more about the nuclear cities, the mandate of the
project, and how the public and private sector can participate.
Nongovernmental Organizations within the nonproliferation and social
support communities will also have a role under Nuclear Cities
Initiative and are also welcome.
Information about the Nuclear Cities Initiative including project
description, chronology, mission statement, lists and maps of the
nuclear cities, copies of the Government-to-Government Agreement and
descriptions of the business, commercial development, training and
social support components of the project will be available.
This program is intended to provide general information and will
not necessarily result in any future request for proposals, invitation
for bids, or preapplications or applications for a financial assistance
agreement such as a Grant or Cooperative Agreement. Unsolicited
proposals and/or any offer to enter into a contract with the Department
of Energy will not be invited and shall not be accepted. Matters that
will be considered are described below.
Matters to be Considered: DOE is interested in receiving comments
and views of interested parties, such as statements of capability,
informational brochures and other written materials prepared by
attendees providing relevant information and activities that would
facilitate creation of conditions necessary for business training, job
creation, and the attracting of investment opportunities in the
designated nuclear cities for the purposes prescribed in the
``Agreement Between the Government of the United States of America and
the Government of the Russian Federation on the Nuclear Cities
Initiative'' signed on September 22, 1998, in Vienna, Austria.
After reviewing comments from those attending the information
briefing and the assessment reports of the working groups, the
Department will issue a report on the results, with outlines of how
interested parties can continue to actively participate in the
initiative.
Those unable to attend can receive an information packet about the
Nuclear Cities Initiative by contacting the Nuclear Cities Initiative
program office at the address given above.
Tentative Agenda: Wednesday, December 2, 1998
Welcoming Remarks and Opening of Meeting.
Overview of NCI by Director of Office of Initiative for
Proliferation Prevention and Nuclear Cities Initiative.
Introduction to staff of Nuclear Cities Initiative.
Outline of program activities envisioned under NCI.
Question and Answer period/Public Discussion.
Issued in Washington DC on November 4, 1998.
Louis Licht,
Interagency Coordinator and Federal Liaison, Nuclear Cities Initiative.
[FR Doc. 98-30139 Filed 11-9-98; 8:45 am]
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