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The U.S. Department of Energy is seeking information about handling and disposing of elemental mercury waste, as required by the Mercury Export Ban Act. They are inviting market research from interested parties to help develop strategies for managing this hazardous material. To gather information, the Department is asking entities to submit reports about their capabilities and experiences in treating and managing elemental mercury, as well as any innovative approaches they might have. This request aims to inform future regulatory actions and improve the department's ability to handle mercury efficiently.

The Department of Energy (DOE) has issued a final rule to adjust its civil monetary penalties (CMPs) for inflation, following the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990 and its 2015 amendments. This adjustment ensures the penalties remain effective deterrents by increasing them to the maximum level prescribed by the law. The updated penalties use a multiplier, based on the Consumer Price Index, to calculate the rise for the year 2025. These changes will apply to violations assessed after the rule's effective date of December 27, 2024.

The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), part of the U.S. Department of Energy, plans to prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for enhanced use of the plutonium facility at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) in California. This plan follows the 2023 Site-Wide Environmental Impact Statement, and the SEIS will examine the environmental effects of increasing the facility's operations from Security Category III to Category II to meet national security needs. The NNSA is seeking public input on the SEIS scope, alternatives, and environmental issues, and plans to hold a virtual public meeting for further discussion.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), part of the Department of Energy, announced changes to their system of records related to employee requests for restoring lost annual leave. This notice, published in accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, outlines modifications to routine uses of these records to respond to data breaches and other necessary disclosures. Individuals can comment on these changes within 30 days of publication, and further details are provided on how to access these records or contest them. The updated system is stored electronically, with strict access controls to ensure data security.

On December 9, 2024, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced an extension of the comment period for their request for information about the Frontiers in AI for Science, Security, and Technology (FASST) initiative. Originally, the public could provide input until November 11, 2024, but due to high interest, the deadline has been extended to February 17, 2025. The FASST initiative aims to develop powerful AI systems for scientific research, energy, and security purposes. Participants can submit their comments by email to the DOE.

On December 20, 2024, the Department of Energy (DOE) published a notice about a Draft Energy Storage Strategy and Roadmap, and they are now extending the public comment period by 45 days. This allows more time for public feedback until March 20, 2025. To submit comments, people must send them electronically to the DOE email address provided and follow specific instructions for submission. The DOE is seeking general feedback on the plan to update the Energy Storage Grand Challenge 2020 Roadmap, and more information can be found on their website.

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 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 issued a rule to correct technical errors in the Code of Federal Regulations. Specifically, changes were made to Title 10, Parts 200 to 499. These changes include revising a section regarding household electrical appliances' standby power measurement (IEC 62301) and making specific amendments to Appendix X1 about measuring the energy consumption of dehumidifiers. The amendments clarify the methods and conditions for testing dehumidifiers' energy use.

The Department of Energy's Office of Nuclear Energy has announced an open virtual meeting of the Nuclear Energy Advisory Committee scheduled for January 16, 2025. This meeting will be held online via Teams, and the public is encouraged to participate by registering in advance. The committee's role is to provide advice and recommendations on national nuclear policy and programs. Members of the public can offer comments during the meeting but must register before the deadline. The meeting will include discussions, a public comments segment, and will be documented with minutes available afterward.