Notice2024-13905
Notice of Request for Information (RFI) Related to the Department of Energy's Equity Action Plan Update
Primary source
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Published
June 25, 2024
Issuing agencies
Energy Department
Abstract
The Department of Energy (DOE or the Department) is seeking information to assist in carrying out certain responsibilities under the Executive order (E.O.), "Further Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government" issued on February 22, 2023. Among other requirements, section 3, subsection (b)(iii) of the E.O. directs Federal agencies to submit an Equity Action plan that includes "strategies, including new or revised policies and programs, to address the barriers described in subsection (b)(ii) of this section, and to ensure equitable access and opportunity for underserved communities." DOE is soliciting information on one or more of the topics outlined in this RFI to address in the next update to the Equity Action Plan. The information provided in response to this RFI will inform the preparation of that update to the plan.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 122 (Tuesday, June 25, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 122 (Tuesday, June 25, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53071-53073]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-13905]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Docket Number DOE-HQ-2024-0019]
Notice of Request for Information (RFI) Related to the Department
of Energy's Equity Action Plan Update
AGENCY: Office of Energy Justice and Equity, Department of Energy.
ACTION: Request for information.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE or the Department) is seeking
information to assist in carrying out certain responsibilities under
the Executive order (E.O.), ``Further Advancing Racial Equity and
Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government''
issued on February 22, 2023. Among other requirements, section 3,
subsection (b)(iii) of the E.O. directs Federal agencies to submit an
Equity Action plan that includes ``strategies, including new or revised
policies and programs, to address the barriers described in subsection
(b)(ii) of this section, and to ensure equitable access and opportunity
for underserved communities.'' DOE is soliciting information on one or
more of the topics outlined in this RFI to address in the next update
to the Equity Action Plan. The information provided in response to this
RFI will inform the preparation of that update to the plan.
DATES: Comments are requested on or before August 9, 2024 and must be
received no later than 11:59 p.m. eastern time (ET). DOE will not reply
individually to responders but will consider all comments submitted by
the deadline.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods:
Electronic submission: Submit electronic public comments via the
Federal e-Rulemaking Portal.
1. Go to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> and enter DOE-HQ-2024-0019 in the
search field,
2. Click the ``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields,
and
3. Enter or attach your comments.
Electronic submissions may also be sent as an attachment to
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#7e3b0f0b170a073b31502c38373e160f501a111b50191108"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="93d6e2e6fae7ead6dcbdc1d5dad3fbe2bdf7fcf6bdf4fce5">[email protected]</span></a> in any of the following unlocked formats: HTML;
ASCII; Word; RTF; Unicode, or PDF.
Written comments may also be submitted by mail to: Department of
Energy, Office of Energy Justice and Equity, 1000 Independence Avenue
SW, Washington, DC 20585.
Response to this RFI is voluntary. Submissions must not exceed 10
pages (when printed) in 12-point or larger font, with a page number
provided on each page. Please include your name, organization's name
(if any), and cite ``DOE Equity Executive Order'' in all
correspondence.
Comments containing references, studies, research, and other
empirical data that are not widely published should include copies of
the referenced materials. All comments and submissions, including
attachments and other supporting materials, will become part of the
public record and subject to public disclosure. Relevant comments will
generally be available on the Federal eRulemaking Portal at
<a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>. DOE will not accept comments accompanied by a
request that part or all of the material be treated confidentially
because of its business proprietary nature or for any other reason.
Therefore, do not submit confidential business information or otherwise
sensitive, protected, or personal information, such as account numbers,
Social Security numbers, or names of other individuals.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions about this RFI contact:
[[Page 53072]]
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#6a2f1b1f031e132f2544382c232a021b440e050f440d051c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="97d2e6e2fee3eed2d8b9c5d1ded7ffe6b9f3f8f2b9f0f8e1">[email protected]</span></a> or Bari Brooks, Department of Energy, Office of
Energy Justice and Equity, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC
20585, (202) 586-1027. Direct media inquiries to DOE's Office of Public
Affairs at (202) 586-5000. Users of telecommunication devices for the
deaf, or a text telephone, may call the Federal Relay Service toll free
at 1-800-877-8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
DOE is issuing this Request for Information (RFI) to receive public
comment to learn about what further work DOE can do to help
underserved/underrepresented groups. The responses to this RFI will
help the Department understand potential barriers that underserved
communities may face in accessing and benefitting from the agency's
policies, programs, and activities, including procurement, contracting,
and grant opportunities, to equity that were not addressed in the 2022
Equity Action Plan (EAP) or the 2023 Equity Action Plan Update and
inform what equity-related activities and performance metrics the
Department should prioritize in the 2024 update to DOE's Equity Action
Plan.
This effort will enable DOE to further execute the President's
Executive orders 13985 and 14091, entitled ``Advancing (and Further
Advancing . . . ) Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities
Through the Federal Government'' (Equity E.O.s), signed by the
President on January 20, 2021, and February 16, 2023, respectively.
E.O. 13985 calls to promote racial equity and support for underserved
communities through the U.S. government--including communities of
color, people with disabilities, LGBTQ people, religious minorities,
people living in rural areas, and people living in poverty. The order
directs federal agencies to eliminate systemic barriers to care, such
as unequal access to services and inadequate or lack of insurance
coverage, and to provide equal access to opportunities and benefits for
underserved and underrepresented communities. E.O. 14091 extends and
strengthens equity-advancing requirements for federal agencies with the
intent to deliver better outcomes for the American people. It also
further defined equity-related terms for the purposes of the order,
including updates to definitions from previous orders and directives to
the following:
<bullet> ``Equity'' means the consistent and systematic treatment
of all individuals in a fair, just, and impartial manner, including
individuals who belong to communities that often have been denied such
treatment, such as Black, Latino, Indigenous and Native American, Asian
American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander persons and other
persons of color; members of religious minorities; women and girls;
LGBTQI+ persons; persons with disabilities; persons who live in rural
areas; persons who live in United States Territories; persons otherwise
adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality; and individuals
who belong to multiple such communities.
<bullet> ``Underserved communities'' refers to those populations as
well as geographic communities that have been systematically denied the
opportunity to participate fully in aspects of economic, social, and
civic life, as exemplified by the list in the preceding definition of
``equity'', as defined in Executive orders 13985 and 14020.
As required by Executive Order 13985, DOE released its first EAP in
April 2022. DOE provided an update to its initial plan pursuant to E.O.
14091 with five new strategies to prioritize in the second plan it
released in February 2024.
The DOE EAP outlines key actions that the Department will undertake
to embed equity throughout its policies and programs. Click here to see
the plans: <a href="http://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2022-04/DOE%20Equity%20Action%20Plan_Letterhead.pdf">www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2022-04/DOE%20Equity%20Action%20Plan_Letterhead.pdf</a> <a href="http://www.energy.gov/justice/articles/doe-equity-action-plan-and-2023-update-2022-plan">www.energy.gov/justice/articles/doe-equity-action-plan-and-2023-update-2022-plan</a>.
The public is encouraged to provide input in response to the
questions listed in section II to help the Department understand the
impact of our equity activities to date and inform what efforts we
prioritize as we update DOE's Equity Action Plan.
II. Questions
A. The Department of Energy seeks public input on the current
strategies listed in the 2023 Equity Action Plan Update. The public is
encouraged to provide input in response to the questions below to help
the Department understand the impact of our equity activities to-date.
Community Benefits Plans Implementation
1. In response to the Executive Order 14091, ``Further Advancing
Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the
Federal Government'', DOE has included a strategic goal to ``establish
a DOE-wide Community Benefits Plan (CBP) framework that builds trust
and improves outcomes for underserved communities, which in turn
supports successful Deployment & Demonstration and R&D projects that
advance an equitable clean energy transition.'' Are there additional
actions that DOE should take to remove barriers for underserved
communities? Are there additional metrics that DOE should be using to
track success towards improved outcomes?
Merit Reviewer Program
2. In response to the Executive Order 14091, DOE has included a
strategic goal to ``update the DOE Merit Review Program to improve
equitable outcomes for DOE awards.'' What additional improvements could
DOE make in the merit reviewer recruitment and communication process to
remove barriers for underrepresented groups?
Procurement and Access
3. DOE is seeking feedback on how communities struggle with
completing applications for funding and how DOE can help. What
resources could DOE provide to better assist underserved communities in
identifying new opportunities to be awarded a contract or grant and
completing applications?
4. What resources could DOE provide to better assist underserved
communities in properly managing and executing DOE grant or cooperative
agreement projects?
5. Have you encountered barriers within DOE's procurement process
that prevent underserved communities from receiving awards of DOE
contracts? Please provide specific examples.
Justice40 Research and Development Metrics
6. In response to Executive Order 14091, ``Further Advancing Racial
Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal
Government'', DOE has included a strategic goal to ``integrate and
track justice considerations through a metrics framework for the
Department's R&D strategy by providing consistent communication of
expectations and efficient coordination and implementation of reporting
requirements across the Department.'' What additional improvements
could DOE make in the collection and distribution of Justice40 R&D
metrics? Are there additional actions or metrics that the Department
should consider?
Outreach/Engagement
7. In response to Executive Order 14091, ``Further Advancing Racial
Equity and Support for Underserved
[[Page 53073]]
Communities Through the Federal Government'', DOE has included a
strategic goal to ``develop an agency-wide framework to effectively
work with Tribal and disadvantaged communities to reimagine their clean
energy future through real investments and technical assistance and
ensure that community voices and decision-making are integrated into
DOE funding, research, and programming.'' How should DOE coordinate,
communicate, and/or engage with these communities? What could
meaningful engagement look like?
B. The Department of Energy is seeking to address additional
barriers in its programs and policies in future equity action plans.
The public is encouraged to provide input in response to the questions
below to inform what efforts we prioritize as we update DOE's Equity
Action Plan.
Energy Jobs/Workforce
1. As America transitions to a clean energy economy, historic
Federal investments can further three interrelated goals: creating more
domestic jobs, attracting and retaining workers in good jobs, and
prioritizing inclusive access to those good jobs, including for
underserved and underrepresented populations. What strategies should
DOE prioritize to achieve these three interrelated goals? What factors
are the most pronounced barriers facing workers, including underserved
and underrepresented populations, to join and succeed in the energy
workforce? How could DOE help to reduce or eliminate those barriers?
Additional Unidentified Barrers
2. What additional barriers in DOE's policies, programs, processes
should the Department consider examining as it continues to develop
strategies for future equity action plans?
Signing Authority
This document of the Department of Energy was signed on June 18,
2024, by Shalanda H. Baker, Director, Office of Energy Justice and
Equity, pursuant to delegated authority from the Secretary of Energy.
That document with the original signature and date is maintained by
DOE. For administrative purposes only, and in compliance with
requirements of the Office of the Federal Register, the undersigned DOE
Federal Register Liaison Officer has been authorized to sign and submit
the document in electronic format for publication, as an official
document of the Department of Energy. This administrative process in no
way alters the legal effect of this document upon publication in the
Federal Register.
Signed in Washington, DC, on June 20, 2024.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2024-13905 Filed 6-24-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
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