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The Department of Energy (DOE) is delaying the effective date of new energy conservation standards for walk-in coolers and freezers. Originally, these standards were set to take effect on March 21, 2025, but now the date is pushed to May 20, 2025, to allow more time for reviewing legal, factual, and policy concerns. This change is in line with a government-wide directive for examining rules more closely, although the final compliance dates remain unchanged: December 23, 2027, for non-display doors, and December 31, 2028, for refrigeration systems. The delay is classified as procedural, so public notice or a hearing were not legally necessary for its implementation.

The Office of Fossil Energy of the Department of Energy has received an application from Southern LNG Company, L.L.C. seeking permission to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) that was previously imported into the United States. They want to export up to 182.5 billion cubic feet per year over a two-year period from the Elba Island Terminal in Georgia to countries that do not have a free trade agreement with the U.S. The public has until March 5, 2021, to submit comments, protests, or motions to intervene in response to this application. The Department will evaluate the application by considering domestic gas needs, environmental effects, and alignment with policy promoting market competition.

The Department of Energy announced that it is ending three Federal Advisory Committees. These are the Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee, the Methane Hydrate Advisory Committee, and the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technical Advisory Committee. The termination is effective from January 7, 2021, and is carried out under the Federal Advisory Committee Act and the Government in the Sunshine Act.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is updating its Privacy Act System of Records, specifically the DOE-26 Official Travel Records, to meet new requirements and better protect personal information. Changes include updating system locations, removing old system sites, and adding new routine uses to improve response to data breaches. The notice also updates information on safeguarding records, which can be stored in secure cloud-based environments, and describes procedures for individuals to access or contest their records. These modifications aim to enhance privacy protections and ensure compliance with federal policies.

The Department of Energy has announced an open meeting of the Environmental Management Site-Specific Advisory Board (EM SSAB) for Oak Ridge, which will be held both in-person and virtually on May 14, 2025, from 6–8 p.m. EDT. The meeting aims to discuss issues such as clean-up activities, environmental restoration, and waste management, and will include a presentation, discussion, and a public comment period where attendees can provide feedback orally or in writing. The meeting is open to the public, and special accommodations can be arranged for those with disabilities. Minutes from the meeting will later be available online.

The Department of Energy's Office of Environmental Management announced a public meeting for the Environmental Management Site-Specific Advisory Board in Paducah. This meeting is scheduled for February 20, 2025, at the West Kentucky Community and Technical College in Paducah, Kentucky, with the purpose of discussing clean-up activities and various environmental issues related to the EM site. The meeting allows public participation and comments, with a period set aside for oral comments. Minutes will be publicly available after the meeting.

The Department of the Interior is informing the public about its decision to adopt certain categorical exclusions (CXs) for environmental reviews from the Department of Energy and the National Telecommunications Information Administration. These CXs will be used by the Bureau of Land Management and the Bureau of Indian Affairs to streamline actions like setting up fences, roads, or communication towers without needing full environmental assessments if no special circumstances exist. This decision is aimed at improving efficiency in managing public and Tribal lands, while ensuring actions don't harm the environment. The adoption became effective on January 16, 2025.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) plans to draft an environmental assessment as part of the process to dispose of contaminated equipment, including a drill string, bubblers, and pumps, from the Savannah River Site. These items, contaminated with radioactive waste, are being considered for commercial low-level radioactive waste disposal at facilities outside South Carolina. This action is part of the DOE's efforts to manage waste efficiently, improve worker safety, and assist in the environmental cleanup of the site. The proposed evaluation will explore environmental impacts, including health, safety, and transportation concerns, associated with moving the waste to licensed facilities, potentially in Utah or Texas.

The Department of Energy (DOE) is proposing changes to its existing Privacy Act System of Records, known as DOE-28 General Training Records. This update aims to meet new formatting guidelines from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and enhance the protection of personal information. The proposal includes removing certain office locations, updating and adding new ones, and altering how such systems operate, especially with the implementation of cloud storage. Additionally, several routine uses of personal information are being revised or newly introduced to ensure better management of data and assist in responses to potential data breaches.

The Department of Energy is announcing an open virtual meeting for the Industrial Technology Innovation Advisory Committee (ITIAC), scheduled for January 16, 2025, from 12 to 5 p.m. EST. This meeting will focus on developing a strategic plan to achieve the goals of reducing industrial emissions through technology development. Public participation is welcome, but attendees must register in advance, and 15 minutes will be dedicated to public comments. To participate or provide comments, individuals should visit the ITIAC website or contact Dr. Zachary Pritchard for more information.