[Federal Register: January 15, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 10)]
[Notices]               
[Page 2371-2372]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15ja98-37]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

 
Public Hearings on a Comprehensive National Energy Strategy

AGENCY: Office of Policy and International Affairs, U.S. Department of 
Energy.

ACTION: Notice of Public Hearing.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy is announcing a series of public 
hearings to solicit input from state and local officials, utility 
representatives, industry representatives, public interest groups and 
other interested parties in the development of a statutorily required 
national energy policy plan, hereinafter referred to as the 
``Comprehensive National Energy Strategy'' or ``Strategy''. The 
Department also invites interested parties to submit written comments 
for use in developing the Strategy.

Dates and Locations:

Houston, Texas. February 12, 1998. 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Venue TBD)
Davis, California. February 13, 1998. 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Venue 
TBD)
Detroit, Michigan. February 17, 1998. 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Venue 
TBD)
Washington, D.C. February 19, 1998. 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Venue TBD)

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be sent to the U.S. Department of 
Energy, Office of Policy and International Affairs, (PO-4), 1000 
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, D.C. 20585, ATTN: CNES-Hearings. 
Written comments and input are encouraged via the INTERNET at http://
www.eren.doe.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions regarding the public 
hearings, participation or written submissions, please visit the 
website at http://www.eren.doe.gov or send fax inquiries to CNES-
HEARINGS at 202-586-4025.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 801 of the Department of Energy 
Organization Act of 1977 requires the President to submit a National 
Energy Policy Plan to Congress. The President plans to submit a 
National Energy Policy Plan to Congress in 1998. Section 801 also 
states that the President shall

[[Page 2372]]

``seek the active participation by regional, State, and local agencies 
and instrumentalities and the private sector through public hearings in 
cities and rural communities and other appropriate means to insure that 
the views and proposals of all segments of the economy are taken into 
account in the formulation and review of such proposed Plan.''
    The hearings are expected to facilitate public input on a broad 
range of energy issues with major regional, national and international 
impacts including:
    <bullet> Reducing vulnerability of the U.S. economy to disruptions 
in energy supplies;
    <bullet> Producing and using energy in efficient and 
environmentally responsible ways, including strategies for meeting U.S. 
greenhouse gas emission reductions proposed in December 1997 at Kyoto, 
Japan;
    <bullet> Promoting international cooperation in energy use and 
supply to further U.S. economic, environmental, and security goals; and
    <bullet> Maintaining a diverse set of energy options, particularly 
for the longer-term, to ensure adequate, clean energy at reasonable 
costs.
    Participants wishing to speak at the hearings must register on-
site. The speaker registry will open one-half hour before each hearing 
and will close one-half hour after the hearing begins. In addition, a 
website has been identified both to accept comments and to distribute 
information on the Strategy as it is developed.

    Issued in Washington D.C. on January 9, 1998.
Robert W. Gee,
Assistant Secretary for Policy and International Affairs, U.S. 
Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 98-1058 Filed 1-14-98; 8:45 am]
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