During the month of October 2008, representatives of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) met with representatives from the automobile industry. The primary goal for all meetings was to listen and to ask clarifying questions. DOE representatives did not engage in negotiations; rather, they received information from meeting participants. Meetings were limited to 30 minutes.
Outside parties were encouraged to submit their ideas in writing before their scheduled meeting. Written materials were also received during and after each meeting. It was explicitly explained to all industry representatives that written materials would be made publically available. To the extent that an outside party addressed material issues not already covered by written materials, that aspect would be addressed in a DOE memorandum, also to be made publically available.
Every effort was made to meet with outside parties who requested the opportunity to share comments and suggestions, to the extent that such meetings were reasonable and feasible given the condensed timeframe for the rulemaking.
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