[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 87 (Thursday, May 6, 2010)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 24824-24825]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-10655]
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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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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 87 / Thursday, May 6, 2010 / Proposed
Rules
[[Page 24824]]
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
10 CFR Part 431
[Docket No. EERE-2010-BT-STD-0003]
RIN 1904-AC19
Energy Efficiency Program for Consumer Products: Public Meeting
and Availability of the Framework Document for Commercial Refrigeration
Equipment
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 U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is initiating the
rulemaking and data collection process to consider amended energy
conservation standards for commercial refrigeration equipment (CRE).
DOE will hold a 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 and relevant data
from the public on any subject within the scope of this rulemaking. To
inform interested parties and to facilitate this process, DOE has
prepared a framework document that details the analytical approach and
identifies several issues on which DOE is particularly interested in
receiving comment.
DATES: DOE will hold a public meeting on Tuesday, May 18, 2010, from 9
a.m. to 5 p.m. in Washington, DC. DOE must receive requests to speak at
the public meeting before 4 p.m., Tuesday, May 11, 2010. DOE must
receive an electronic copy of the statement with the name and, if
appropriate, the organization of the presenter to be given at the
public meeting before 4 p.m., Tuesday, May 11, 2010. DOE will accept
written comments, data, and information regarding the framework
document before and after the public meeting, but no later than June 7,
2010. DOE encourages all written comments, data and information to be
submitted in electronic form.
ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be held at the U.S. Department of
Energy, Forrestal Building, Room 8E-089, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20585-0121. Please note that foreign nationals planning
to participate 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 a possible
by contacting Ms. Brenda Edwards at (202) 586-2945 so that the
necessary procedures can be completed.
Interested parties are encouraged to submit comments electronically
by the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
E-mail to the following address: [email protected]. Include docket number EERE-2010-BT-STD-0003 and/or RIN
1904-AC19 in the subject line of the message. All comments should
clearly identify the name, address and, if appropriate, organization of
the commenter.
Alternatively, interested parties may submit comments by the following
methods:
Mail: Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department of Energy,
Building Technologies Program, Mailstop EE-2J, Framework Document for
Commercial Refrigeration Equipment, Docket No. EERE-2010-BT-STD-0003
and/or RIN 1904-AC19, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC
20585-0121. Please submit one signed paper original.
Hand Delivery/Courier: Ms. 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.
Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents, a
copy of the transcript of the public meeting, or comments received, go
to regulations.gov. Alternatively, interested parties may 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 Ms. Brenda Edwards first at the
above telephone number for additional information regarding visiting
the Resource Room.
A copy of the framework document and a link to the Docket Web page
is available at: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/commercial/refrigeration_equipment.html.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. 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].
Mr. Michael Kido or Ms. Elizabeth Kohl, U.S. Department of Energy,
Office of the General Counsel, GC-71, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20585-0121. Telephone: (202) 586-9507. E-mail:
[email protected],[email protected].
For information on how to submit or review public comments and on
how to participate in the public meeting, contact Ms. 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: Part A of the Energy Policy and Conservation
Act of 1975 (EPCA), Public Law 94-163, (42 U.S.C. 6291-6309)
established the Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products Other
Than Automobiles, a program covering most major household appliances.
Part A-1 of Title III (42 U.S.C. 6311-6317) establishes a similar
program for ``Certain Industrial Equipment,'' which includes the
commercial refrigeration equipment that is the focus of this notice.\1\
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\1\ These two parts were titled Parts B and C in EPCA, but were
codified as Parts A and A-1 in the United States Code for editorial
reasons.
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Amendments to EPCA in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT 2005),
Public Law 109-58, prescribed energy conservation standards for some
commercial refrigeration equipment. (42 U.S.C. 6313(c)(2)-(3)) A
summary of
[[Page 24825]]
these standards can also be found in section 1.4 of the framework
document.
In addition, Section 136(c)(4)(A) of EPACT 2005 amended EPCA to
mandate that DOE set standards for the following additional categories
of commercial refrigeration equipment: Ice-cream freezers; self-
contained commercial refrigerators, freezers, and refrigerator-freezers
without doors; and remote condensing commercial refrigerators,
freezers, and refrigerator-freezers (42 U.S.C. 6313(c)(4)(A)). DOE
undertook a rulemaking process beginning in April 2006, when it
published a Rulemaking Framework for Commercial Refrigeration Equipment
Including Ice-Cream Freezers; Self-Contained Commercial Refrigerators,
Freezers, and Refrigerator-Freezers without doors; and Remote
Condensing Commercial Refrigerators, Freezers, and Refrigerator-
Freezers. The final rule was published on January 9, 2009. (74 FR
1091).
The EPACT 2005 amendments to EPCA also require DOE to conduct two
cycles of rulemakings to determine whether to amend the standards for
commercial refrigeration, both those prescribed by EPACT 2005 and those
prescribed by DOE. (42 U.S.C. 6313(c)(5)(A)-(B)). In the first cycle,
the subject of this rulemaking, DOE must publish a final rule
establishing such amended standards by January 1, 2013 if DOE
determines to amend the standards. (42 U.S.C. 6313(c)(5)(A)). Any
amended standards adopted by DOE would apply to products manufactured
three years or more after the date of publication, except that if DOE
decides that a three-year period is inadequate, it shall provide a
longer period not to exceed five years. (42 U.S.C. 6313(c)(5)(C)). This
framework document is being published as a first step in meeting these
statutory requirements.
DOE also considered standby and off mode for commercial
refrigeration equipment and does not currently believe that these modes
of operation are applicable to this equipment. As described in more
detail in the framework document, commercial refrigeration equipment
generally operates continuously. DOE plans, however, to examine the
issue and address standby and off mode energy use in the analyses
conducted over the course of the energy conservation standards
rulemaking.
To initiate this rulemaking cycle for the consideration of amended
energy conservation standards for commercial refrigeration equipment,
DOE has prepared a framework document to explain the relevant issues,
analyses, and processes it anticipates using to determine whether to
amend the standards, and, if so, for the development of such amended
standards. The focus of the public meeting noted above will be to
discuss the analyses presented and issues identified in the framework
document. At the public meeting, DOE will make a number of
presentations, invite discussion on the rulemaking process as it
applies to commercial refrigeration equipment, and solicit comments,
data, and information from participants and other interested parties.
DOE is planning to conduct in-depth technical analyses in the
following areas: (1) Engineering; (2) energy-use characterization; (3)
product price; (4) life-cycle cost (LCC) and payback period (PBP); (5)
national impacts analysis (NIA); (6) manufacturer impact analysis; (7)
utility impact analysis; (8) employment impact analysis; (9)
environmental assessment; and (10) regulatory impact analysis. DOE will
also conduct several other analyses that support those previously
listed, including the market and technology assessment, the screening
analysis (which contributes to the engineering analysis), and the
shipments analysis (which contributes to the national impact analysis).
DOE 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://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/commercial/refrigeration_equipment.html.
Public meeting participants need not limit their comments to the
issues identified in the framework document. DOE is also interested in
comments on other relevant issues that participants believe would
affect energy conservation standards for this equipment, applicable
test procedures, or the preliminary determination on the scope of
coverage. DOE invites all interested parties, whether or not they
participate in the public meeting, to submit in writing by June 7,
2010, comments and information on matters addressed in the framework
document and on other matters relevant to DOE's consideration of
amended standards for commercial refrigeration equipment.
The public meeting will be conducted in an informal, facilitated,
conference 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 for purchase from the court reporter and placed on the DOE
Web site at: http://www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/commercial/refrigeration_equipment.html.
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 public comments it receives.
DOE considers public participation to be a very important part of
the process for determining whether to amend energy conservation
standards, and if so, in setting those amended 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 in the
standards rulemaking process. Accordingly, anyone who wishes to
participate in the public meeting, receive meeting materials, or be
added to the DOE mailing list to receive future notices and information
about this rulemaking should contact Ms. Brenda Edwards at (202) 586-
2945, or via e-mail at [email protected].
Issued in Washington, DC, on April 30, 2010.
Cathy Zoi,
Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
[FR Doc. 2010-10655 Filed 5-5-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P