; and (2) published in final form in the Federal Register not later than 45 days after the date of initial preparation of the notice. (b) Preparation The preparation of Federal Register notices required by law associated with the issuance of a critical mineral exploration or mine permit shall be delegated to the organizational level within the agency responsible for issuing the critical mineral exploration or mine permit. (c) Transmission All Federal Register notices regarding official document availability, announcements of meetings, or notices of intent to undertake an action shall be originated in, and transmitted to the Federal Register from, the office in which, as applicable— (1) the documents or meetings are held; or (2) the activity is initiated. 106. Department of Energy Critical Minerals Research and Development Program (a) In general The Secretary of Energy shall carry out a crosscutting research and development program to accelerate innovation in advanced critical minerals development strategies and technologies for the purpose of making better use of domestic resources and eliminating national reliance on minerals and mineral materials that are subject to supply disruptions. (b) Execution In carrying out this program, the Secretary of Energy shall— (1) develop innovative technologies and practices to diversify commercially viable domestic sources of critical minerals and identify new uses for co-products and by-products; (2) advance new mapping and mining technologies and techniques that can accelerate the robust characterization of domestic critical minerals resources, including advanced critical mineral extraction, production, separation, alloying, or processing technologies that can decrease the energy intensity, potential environmental impact and costs of those activities