Public Hearings on a Comprehensive National Energy Strategy

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

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``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:

Reducing vulnerability of the U.S. economy to disruptions

in energy supplies;

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;

Promoting international cooperation in energy use and

supply to further U.S. economic, environmental, and security goals; and

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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