SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

PCAST is an advisory group of the nation's leading scientists and engineers, appointed by the President to augment the science and technology advice available to him from the White House, cabinet departments, and other Federal agencies. See the Executive Order at whitehouse.gov. PCAST is consulted on and provides analyses and recommendations concerning a wide range of issues where understanding of science, technology, and innovation may bear on the policy choices before the President. The Designated Federal Officer is Dr. Sarah Domnitz. Information about PCAST can be found at: www.whitehouse.gov/​PCAST.

Tentative Agenda: PCAST will hear from invited speakers on and discuss various aspects of U.S. international and economic competitiveness in science and technology, and the on-going response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional information and the meeting agenda, including any changes that arise, will be posted on the PCAST ( printed page 53044) website at: www.whitehouse.gov/​PCAST.

Public Participation: The meeting is open to the public. It is the policy of the PCAST to accept written public comments no longer than 10 pages and to accommodate oral public comments, whenever possible. The PCAST expects that public statements presented at its meetings will not be repetitive of previously submitted oral or written statements.

The public comment period for this meeting will take place on Wednesday, September 29, 2021, at a time specified in the meeting agenda. This public comment period is designed only for substantive commentary on PCAST's work, not for business marketing purposes.

This meeting is being published less than 15 days prior to the scheduled meeting to allow the PCAST to convene swiftly in light of the on-going public health crisis and associated supply chain shortages.

Oral Comments: To be considered for the public speaker list at the meeting, interested parties should register to speak at PCAST@ostp.eop.gov, no later than 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday, September 27, 2021. To accommodate as many speakers as possible, the time for public comments will be limited to two (2) minutes per person, with a total public comment period of up to 10 minutes. If more speakers register than there is space available on the agenda, PCAST will select speakers on a first-come, first-served basis from those who registered. Those not able to present oral comments may file written comments with the council.

Written Comments: Although written comments are accepted continuously, written comments should be submitted to PCAST@ostp.eop.gov no later than 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday, September 27, 2021, so that the comments may be made available to the PCAST members for their consideration prior to this meeting.

PCAST operates under the provisions of FACA, all public comments and/or presentations will be treated as public documents and will be made available for public inspection, including being posted on the PCAST website www.whitehouse.gov/​PCAST.

Minutes: Minutes will be available within 45 days by emailing PCAST@ostp.eop.gov.

Signing Authority

This document of the Department of Energy was signed on September 22, 2021, by Miles Fernandez, Acting Committee Management Officer, Office of Management, 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 .