[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 3 (Tuesday, January 6, 2009)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 411-413]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-31405]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
10 CFR Part 431
[Docket No. EERE-2008-BT-STD-0015]
RIN 1904-AB86
Energy Efficiency Program for Consumer Products: Public Meeting
and Availability of the Framework Document for Walk-In Coolers and
Walk-In Freezers
AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of
Energy.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting and availability of the framework
document.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE) is initiating the rulemaking to
consider establishing energy conservation standards for walk-in coolers
and walk-in freezers. Accordingly, DOE will hold an informal public
meeting to discuss and receive comments on its planned analytical
approach and issues it will address in this rulemaking proceeding. DOE
welcomes written comments from the public on our stated approach for
this rulemaking. To inform stakeholders and to facilitate this process,
DOE has prepared a Framework Document which details the analytical
approach and identifies several issues on which DOE is particularly
interested in receiving comment. A copy of the Framework Document is
available at: http://www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/commercial/walkinrefrigeration_equipment.html.
DATES: The Department will hold a public meeting on Wednesday, January
28, 2009, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Washington, DC. Any person
requesting to speak at the public meeting should submit such request
along with a signed original and an electronic copy of the statement to
be given at the public meeting before 4 p.m., Wednesday, January 21,
2009. Written comments on the framework document are welcome,
especially following the public meeting, and should be submitted by
February 5, 2009.
[[Page 412]]
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. Please note that foreign nationals
participating in the public meeting are subject to advance security
screening procedures. If a foreign national wishes to participate in
the public meeting, please inform DOE of this fact as soon as possible
by contacting Brenda Edwards at (202) 586-2945 so that the necessary
procedures can be completed.
Stakeholders may submit comments, identified by docket number EERE-
2008-BT-STD-0015 and/or Regulation Identifier Number (RIN) 1904-AB86,
by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
E-mail: [email protected]. Include EERE-2008-
BT-STD-0015 and/or RIN 1904-AB86 in the subject line of the message.
Mail: Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department of Energy, Building
Technologies Program, Mailstop EE-2J, Framework Document for Walk-In
Coolers and Walk-In Freezers, EERE-2008-BT-STD-0015 and/or RIN 1904-
AB86, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121. Please
submit one signed paper original.
Hand Delivery/Courier: Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department of
Energy, Building Technologies Program, Sixth Floor, 950 L'Enfant Plaza,
SW., Washington, DC 20024. Please submit one signed paper original.
Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name
and docket number or RIN for this rulemaking found at the beginning of
this notice.
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, Resource Room of the Building
Technologies Program, Sixth Floor, 950 L'Enfant Plaza, SW., Washington,
DC 20024, (202) 586-2945, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through
Friday, except Federal holidays. Please call Brenda Edwards first at
the above telephone number for additional information regarding
visiting the Resource Room.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charles Llenza, U.S. Department of
Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building
Technologies, EE-2J, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC
20585-0121. Telephone: (202) 586-2192. E-mail:
[email protected].
Michael Kido, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the General
Counsel, GC-72, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-
0121. Telephone: (202) 586-9507. E-mail: [email protected].
For information on how to submit or review public comments and on
how to participate in the public meeting, contact Brenda Edwards, U.S.
Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy,
Building Technologies Program, EE-2J, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20585-0121. Telephone (202) 586-2945. E-mail:
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title III of the Energy Policy and
Conservation Act of 1975 (EPCA) sets forth a variety of provisions
designed to improve energy efficiency. Part A of Title III (42 U.S.C.
6291-6309) provides for the Energy Conservation Program for Consumer
Products Other Than Automobiles.\1\ Part A-1 of Title III (42 U.S.C.
6311-6317) establishes a similar program for ``Certain Industrial
Equipment,'' including walk-in coolers and walk-in freezers, the
subject of this rulemaking.\2\
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\1\ This part was originally titled Part B; however, it was
redesignated Part A after Part B of Title III of EPCA was repealed
by Public Law 109-58.
\2\ This part was originally titled Part C; however, it was
redesignated Part A-1 after Part B of Title III of EPCA was repealed
by Public Law 109-58.
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More recently, EPCA was amended by the Energy Independence and
Security Act of 2007 (EISA), Public Law 110-140. In particular, section
312(a) of EISA amends section 340 of EPCA by adding in new subsection
340(20) (42 U.S.C. 6311(20)), which defines walk-in coolers and walk-in
freezers. In addition, section 312(b) of EISA amends section 342 of
EPCA by adding new subsection 342(f)(1) (42 U.S.C. 6313(f)(1)), which
establishes prescriptive standards for walk-in coolers and freezers
manufactured on or after January 1, 2009. Section 312 of EISA amends
section 342 of EPCA by adding a new subsection 342(f)(2) (42 U.S.C.
6313(f)(2)), which establishes requirements for electronically
commutated motors for walk-in coolers and freezers described in
paragraph (f)(1)(E)(i). Section 312 of EISA amends section 342 of EPCA
by adding new subsection 342(f)(3) (42 U.S.C. 6313(f)(3)), which
establishes additional requirements for walk-in coolers or walk-in
freezers with transparent reach-in doors manufactured on or after
January 1, 2009. Section 312 of EISA amends section 342 of EPCA by
adding new subsection 342(f)(4) (42 U.S.C. 6313(f)(4)), which directs
the Secretary to issue by rule, no later than January 1, 2012,
performance-based standards for walk-in coolers and walk-in freezers
manufactured on or after 3 or 5 years after the final rule is
published. These new requirements are the subjects of this Framework
Document.
Additionally, section 312(c) of EISA amends section 343(a) of EPCA
(42 U.S.C. 6314(a)) by adding new subsection 343(a)(9) (42 U.S.C.
6314(a)(9)), which establishes test procedure definitions for walk-in
cooler and freezer and directs the Secretary to establish test
procedures to measure the energy-use of walk-in coolers and walk-in
freezers. Accordingly, DOE intends to propose such test procedures
under a separate rulemaking.
To initiate this rulemaking to establish energy conservation
standards for this equipment class, DOE has prepared a Framework
Document to explain the issues, analyses, and processes it anticipates
using for the development of energy conservation standards for walk-in
coolers and walk-in freezers. As noted above, DOE will hold a public
meeting on Wednesday, January 28, 2009 in Washington, DC, the main
focus of which will be to discuss the analyses presented and issues
identified in the Framework Document. At the public meeting, the
Department will make a number of presentations, invite discussion on
the rulemaking process as it applies to walk-in coolers and walk-in
freezers, and solicit public comments, data, and information from
participants and other stakeholders.
The Department encourages those who wish to participate in the
public meeting to obtain the Framework Document and to be prepared to
discuss its contents. A copy of the draft Framework Document is
available at: http://www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/commercial/walkinrefrigeration_equipment.html.
Public meeting participants need not limit their comments to the
issues identified in the Framework Document. The Department is also
interested in receiving views concerning other relevant issues that
participants believe would affect energy conservation standards for
this equipment and applicable test procedures. Furthermore, the
Department welcomes all interested parties, whether or not they
participate in the public meeting, to submit in writing by February 5,
2009, comments and information on matters addressed in the Framework
Document and on other matters relevant to consideration of standards
for walk-in coolers and walk-in freezers.
The public meeting will be conducted in an informal, facilitated,
conference
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style. There shall be no discussion of proprietary information, costs
or prices, market shares, or other commercial matters regulated by U.S.
antitrust laws. A court reporter will record the proceedings of the
public meeting, after which a transcript will be available on the
above-referenced Web site.
After the public meeting and the close of the comment period on the
Framework Document, DOE will begin collecting data, conducting the
analyses as discussed in the Framework Document and at the public
meeting, and reviewing the comments received.
DOE considers public participation to be a very important part of
the process for setting energy conservation standards. DOE actively
encourages the participation and interaction of the public during the
comment period in each stage of the rulemaking process. Beginning with
the Framework Document, and during each subsequent public meeting and
comment period, interactions with and between members of the public
provide a balanced discussion of the issues to assist DOE with the
standards rulemaking process. Accordingly, anyone who would like to
participate in the public meeting, receive meeting materials, or be
added to the DOE mailing list to receive future notices and information
regarding this rulemaking on walk-in coolers and walk-in freezers,
should contact Brenda Edwards at (202) 586-2945, or via e-mail at:
[email protected].
Issued in Washington, DC, on December 24, 2008.
John F. Mizroch,
Acting Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
[FR Doc. E8-31405 Filed 1-5-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P