[Federal Register: June 22, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 120)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 35836]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr22jn06-24]
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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 35836]]
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
10 CFR Part 440
RIN 1904-AB56
Weatherization Assistance Program for Low-Income Persons
AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of
Energy.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE) is proposing to amend the
regulations for the Weatherization Assistance Program for Low-Income
Persons to incorporate statutory changes resulting from the passage of
the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Specifically, DOE proposes to: define
renewable energy systems eligible for funding in the Weatherization
Assistance Program, establish criteria for performance and quality
standards for eligible renewable energy systems, establish procedures
for submission of and action on manufacturer petitions for Secretarial
determinations of eligibility of renewable energy technologies and
systems, and establish a ceiling for funding of renewable energy
systems in the Weatherization Assistance Program.
DATES: Public comments on this proposed rule will be accepted until
July 24, 2006.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by RIN 1904-AB56, by any
of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
E-Mail: Weatherization.rules@ee.doe.gov. Include RIN 1904-
AB56 in the subject line of the message.
Mail: Weatherization Assistance Program, U.S. Department
of Energy, Mail Stop EE2K, 5E-066, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20585.
You may obtain copies of this notice of proposed rulemaking and
review comments received by DOE by visiting the DOE Freedom of
Information Reading Room, Department of Energy, Room 1E-190, Forrestal
Building, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202)
586-3142, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through
Friday, except Federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Atcheson, Weatherization
Assistance Program, U.S. Department of Energy, Mail Stop EE-2K, 5E-066,
1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-0771.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR)
proposes to amend the program regulations for the Weatherization
Assistance Program for Low-Income Persons, which is authorized by Title
IV, Part A, of the Energy Conservation and Production Act, as amended
(Act), 42 U.S.C. 6861 et seq. The proposed amendments are necessitated
by certain changes in the Weatherization Assistance Program mandated in
the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Pub. L. 109-58) (EPACT 2005). The
proposed rule would define renewable energy systems eligible for
funding in the Weatherization Assistance Program, establish criteria
for performance and quality standards for eligible renewable energy
systems, establish procedures for submission of and action on
manufacturer petitions for Secretarial determinations of eligibility of
renewable energy technologies and systems, and establish a new ceiling
for funding of renewable energy systems in the Weatherization
Assistance Program.
Today, DOE is also publishing, elsewhere in this issue of the
Federal Register, a direct final rule that makes the amendments to the
Weatherization Assistance Program for Low-Income Persons that are being
proposed in this NOPR. As explained in the preamble of the direct final
rule, DOE considers these amendments not to be controversial and
unlikely to generate any significant adverse or critical comments. If
no significant adverse or critical comments are received on the direct
final rule, the direct final rule will become effective on the date
specified in that rule, and there will be no further action on this
proposal. If significant adverse or critical comments are timely
received on the direct final rule, DOE will withdraw the direct final
rule. The public comments will then be addressed in a subsequent final
rule based on the rule proposed in this NOPR (which is the same as the
rule set forth in the direct final rule). Because DOE will not
institute a second comment period on this proposed rule, any persons
interested in commenting should do so during this comment period.
For further supplemental information, the detailed description of
the proposed rule, and the proposed rule amendments, see the
information provided in the notice of direct final rulemaking in this
Federal Register.
Approval of the Office of the Secretary
The Secretary of Energy has approved publication of today's notice
of proposed rulemaking, as well as the accompanying direct final rule.
List of Subjects 10 CFR Part 440
Administrative practice and procedure, Aged, Energy conservation,
Grant programs--energy, Grant programs--housing and community
development, Housing standards, Indians, Individuals with disabilities,
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Weatherization.
Issued in Washington, DC, on June 9, 2006.
Douglas L. Faulkner,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy.
[FR Doc. E6-9857 Filed 6-21-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P