[Federal Register: December 29, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 250)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 78389-78390]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr29de06-18]
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Proposed Rules
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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[[Page 78389]]
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
10 CFR Part 430
[Docket No. EERE-2006-DET-0136]
RIN 1904-AB57
Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Energy
Conservation Standards for Battery Chargers and External Power Supplies
AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of
Energy.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting and availability of two documents
relating to DOE's plans for developing energy conservation standards
for battery chargers and external power supplies.
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SUMMARY: As required by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the Department
of Energy (DOE) will hold a ``scoping workshop'' (i.e., an informal
public meeting) to discuss and receive comments on its plans for
developing energy conservation standards for battery chargers and
external power supplies. DOE encourages written comments on these
subjects. To inform stakeholders and facilitate this process, DOE has
prepared two documents, available at: http://www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/residential/battery_external.html
.
DATES: DOE will hold a public meeting on Wednesday, January 24, 2007,
from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Washington, DC. Any person requesting to speak
at the public meeting should submit a request to speak before 4 p.m.,
Friday, January 12, 2007. DOE must receive a signed original and an
electronic copy of statements to be given at the public meeting before
4 p.m., Friday, January 12, 2007. Written comments are welcome and
should be submitted by Friday, February 16, 2007.
ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be held at the U.S. Department of
Energy, Forrestal Building, Room 1E-245, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20585-0121.
Stakeholders may submit comments, identified by docket number EERE-
2006-DET-0136 and/or regulatory information number (RIN) 1904-AB57, by
any of the following methods:
Federal Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
E-mail: BCEPSTP@ee.doe.gov. Include docket number EERE-
2006-DET-0136 and/or RIN 1904-AB57 in the subject line of the message.
Mail: Ms. Brenda Edwards-Jones, U.S. Department of Energy,
Building Technologies Program, Mailstop EE-2J, Framework Document for
Battery Chargers and External Power Supplies, EERE-2006-DET-0136 and/or
RIN 1904-AB57, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-
0121. Please submit one signed paper original.
Hand Delivery/Courier: Ms. Brenda Edwards-Jones, U.S.
Department of Energy, Building Technologies Program, Room 1J-018, 1000
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121. Telephone: (202)
586-2945. Please submit one signed paper original.
Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name
and docket number or RIN for this rulemaking.
Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents, a
copy of the transcript of the public meeting, or comments received, go
to the U.S. Department of Energy, Forrestal Building, Room 1J-018
(Resource Room of the Building Technologies Program), 1000 Independence
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121, (202) 586-9127, between 9 a.m.
and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Please call
Ms. Brenda Edwards-Jones at the above telephone number for additional
information regarding visiting the Resource Room.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Victor Petrolati, U.S. Department of
Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building
Technologies, EE-2J, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC
20585-0121, (202) 586-4549. E-mail: victor.petrolati@ee.doe.gov.
Francine B. Pinto, Esq. or Chris Calamita, Esq., U.S. Department of
Energy, Office of General Counsel, GC-72, 1000 Independence Avenue,
SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121, (202) 586-9507. E-mail:
Francine.Pinto@hq.doe.gov or Christopher.Calamita@hq.doe.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Energy Policy and Conservation Act
(EPCA), as amended established an energy conservation program for major
household appliances. (42 U.S.C. 6291-6309) Section 135(c)(4) of the
Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT 2005), Pub. L. 109-58, amended section
325 of EPCA in part, by adding a new subsection 325(u). Section
325(u)(1)(E) directs DOE to determine whether energy conservation
standards are warranted for battery chargers and external power
supplies. (42 U.S.C. 6295(u)(1)(E)) As part of that process, EPCA
requires that DOE hold a scoping workshop not later than February 8,
2007, to discuss and receive comments on plans for developing energy
conservation standards for energy use of battery chargers and external
power supplies. (42 U.S.C. 6295(u)(1)(D))
Section 135(a)(3) of EPACT 2005 amends section 321 of EPCA, by
adding subsection 321(32), which defines the term ``battery charger''
as a ``device that charges batteries for consumer products, including
battery chargers embedded in other consumer products.'' (42 U.S.C.
6291(32)) Similarly, section 135(a)(3) of EPACT 2005 amends section 321
of EPCA, by adding subsection 321(36), which defines the term
``external power supply'' as ``an external power supply circuit that is
used to convert household electric current into DC [direct current] or
lower-voltage AC [alternating current] to operate a consumer product.''
(42 U.S.C. 6291(36)) DOE incorporated these two definitions into 10 CFR
part 430 in a final rule published on December 8, 2006. (71 FR 71340)
As required by EPCA, DOE has scheduled a scoping workshop to be
held on January 24, 2007, to discuss plans for developing energy
conservation standards for battery chargers and external power
supplies. In addition, DOE prepared two documents that constitute
supporting material for this scoping workshop. The first is called
``Plans for Developing Energy Conservation Standards for Battery
Chargers and External Power Supplies.'' This document describes the
procedural and analytical approach DOE anticipates using to evaluate
whether
[[Page 78390]]
energy conservation standards are warranted for battery chargers and
external power supplies, and to develop such standards should the DOE
make a positive determination. The second is called ``The Current and
Projected Future Market for Battery Chargers and External Power
Supplies.'' This document presents an initial market and technology
assessment for battery chargers and external power supplies. It also
discusses potential product classes and criteria DOE is considering in
establishing product classes. Copies of both documents are available
at: http://www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/residential/battery_external.html
.
DOE encourages those who wish to participate in the scoping
workshop to obtain the two documents and be prepared to discuss their
contents. Throughout each document, DOE identifies various issues on
which it particularly seeks comments from stakeholders. These issues
are summarized in an appendix to each document. As the two documents
identify separate issues, one must read both documents in order to
identify all of the issues on which DOE seeks comment. During the
scoping workshop, DOE will address each item and provide an opportunity
for discussion. However, stakeholders should not feel limited to
comment on only those items identified by DOE. Stakeholders are welcome
to comment on any part of either document. DOE is also interested in
receiving viewpoints on all relevant issues that participants believe
would affect DOE's action on energy conservation standards for these
products.
The scoping workshop will be conducted in an informal, facilitated,
conference style. A court reporter will be present to prepare a
transcript of the meeting. There shall be no discussion of proprietary
information, costs or prices, market shares, or other commercial
matters regulated by the U.S. antitrust laws.
DOE welcomes all interested parties, whether or not they
participate in the scoping workshop, to submit in writing by Friday,
February 16, 2007, comments and information on the matters addressed in
the two documents and on other matters relevant to consideration of
energy conservation standards for battery chargers and external power
supplies.
After the scoping workshop and the expiration of the period for
submitting written comments, DOE will review the comments received and
continue its work on determining whether energy conservation standards
are warranted for battery chargers and external power supplies.
Anyone who would like to participate in the scoping workshop,
receive meeting materials, or be added to the DOE mailing list to
receive future notices and information regarding battery chargers and
external power supplies should contact Ms. Brenda Edwards-Jones at
(202) 586-2945, or visit DOE's homepage for battery chargers and
external power supplies (http://www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/residential/battery_external.html
) and click on
the ``Register for E-mail Updates'' link.
Issued in Washington, DC, on December 22, 2006.
Alexander A. Karsner,
Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
[FR Doc. E6-22437 Filed 12-28-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P