[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 9 (Friday, January 12, 2018)]
[Unknown Section]
[Pages 1854-1857]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-28209]
[[Page 1853]]
Vol. 83
Friday,
No. 9
January 12, 2018
Part VI
Department of Energy
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Fall 2017 Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions
Federal Register / Vol. 83 , No. 9 / Friday, January 12, 2018 /
Unified Agenda
[[Page 1854]]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
10 CFR Chs. II, III, and X
48 CFR Ch. 9
Fall 2017 Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions
AGENCY: Department of Energy.
ACTION: Semiannual regulatory agenda.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE) has prepared and is making
available its portion of the semiannual Unified Agenda of Federal
Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions (Agenda), including its Regulatory
Plan (Plan), pursuant to Executive Order 12866, ``Regulatory Planning
and Review,'' and the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Agenda is a government-wide compilation
of upcoming and ongoing regulatory activity, including a brief
description of each rulemaking and a timetable for action. The Agenda
also includes a list of regulatory actions completed since publication
of the last Agenda. The Department of Energy's portion of the Agenda
includes regulatory actions called for by statute, including amendments
contained in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 and the
American Energy Manufacturing Technical Corrections Act, and
programmatic needs of DOE offices.
The internet is the basic means for disseminating the Agenda and
providing users the ability to obtain information from the Agenda
database. DOE's entire Fall 2017 Agenda can be accessed online by going
to www.reginfo.gov.
Publication in the Federal Register is mandated by the Regulatory
Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 602) only for Agenda entries that require
either a regulatory flexibility analysis or periodic review under
section 610 of that Act. DOE's regulatory flexibility agenda is made up
of two rulemakings that will set energy conservation standards for the
following products:
General Service Fluorescent Lamps (1904-AD09).
Residential Conventional Cooking Products (1904-AD15).
The Plan appears in both the online Agenda and the Federal Register
and includes the most important of DOE's significant regulatory actions
and a Statement of Regulatory and Deregulatory Priorities.
John T. Lucas,
Acting, General Counsel.
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy--Prerule Stage
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Regulation
Sequence No. Title Identifier No.
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217....................... Modifying the Energy 1904-AE11
Conservation Program to
Implement a Market-Based
Approach.
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Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy--Proposed Rule Stage
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Regulation
Sequence No. Title Identifier No.
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218....................... Energy Conservation 1904-AD09
Standards and Definition
for General Service Lamps
(Reg Plan Seq No. 23).
219....................... Energy Conservation 1904-AD15
Standards for Residential
Conventional Cooking
Products (Reg Plan Seq
No. 24).
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References in boldface appear in The Regulatory Plan in part II of this
issue of the Federal Register.
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy--Long-Term Actions
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Regulation
Sequence No. Title Identifier No.
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220....................... Energy Conservation 1904-AD01
Standards for Commercial
Packaged Boilers.
221....................... Energy Conservation 1904-AD20
Standards for Residential
Non-Weatherized Gas
Furnaces and Mobile Home
Gas Furnaces.
222....................... Energy Conservation 1904-AD34
Standards for Commercial
Water Heating Equipment.
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Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy--Completed Actions
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Regulation
Sequence No. Title Identifier No.
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223....................... Energy Conservation 1904-AD59
Standards for Walk-In
Coolers and Walk-In
Freezers.
224....................... Energy Conservation 1904-AD71
Program: Test Procedures
for Central Air
Conditioners and Heat
Pumps.
225....................... Energy Conservation 1904-AD72
Program: Test Procedures
for Walk-In Cooler and
Freezer Refrigeration
Systems.
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Departmental and Others--Final Rule Stage
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Regulation
Sequence No. Title Identifier No.
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226....................... Small-Scale Natural Gas 1901-AB43
Exports (Section 610
Review).
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[[Page 1855]]
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (DOE)
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EE)
Prerule Stage
217. Modifying the Energy Conservation Program to Implement a Market-
Based Approach
E.O. 13771 Designation: Deregulatory.
Legal Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6291
Abstract: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is evaluating the
potential use of some form of a market-based approach such as an
averaging, trading, fee-base or other type of market-based policy
mechanism for the U.S. Appliance and Equipment Energy Conservation
Standards (ECS) program.
Timetable:
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Action Date FR Cite
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Request for Information............. 12/00/17
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Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: John Cymbalsky, Building Technologies Office, EE-
5B, Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, 1000
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585, Phone: 202 287-1692,
Email: [email protected].
RIN: 1904-AE11
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (DOE)
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EE)
Proposed Rule Stage
218. Energy Conservation Standards and Definition For General Service
Lamps
Regulatory Plan: This entry is Seq. No. 23 in part II of this issue
of the Federal Register.
RIN: 1904-AD09
219. Energy Conservation Standards for Residential Conventional Cooking
Products
Regulatory Plan: This entry is Seq. No. 24 in part II of this issue
of the Federal Register.
RIN: 1904-AD15
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (DOE)
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EE)
Long-Term Actions
220. Energy Conservation Standards for Commercial Packaged Boilers
E.O. 13771 Designation: Other.
Legal Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6313(a)(6)(C); 42 U.S.C. 6311(11)(B)
Abstract: EPCA, as amended by AEMTCA, requires the Secretary to
determine whether updating the statutory energy conservation standards
for commercial packaged boilers is technically feasible and
economically justified and would save a significant amount of energy.
If justified, the Secretary will issue amended energy conservation
standards for such equipment. DOE last updated the standards for
commercial packaged boilers on July 22, 2009. DOE issued a NOPR
pursuant to the 6-year-look-back requirement on March 24, 2016. Under
EPCA, DOE has two years to issue a final rule after publication of the
NOPR.
Timetable:
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Action Date FR Cite
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Notice of Proposed Determination 08/13/13 78 FR 49202
(NOPD).
NOPD Comment Period End............. 09/12/13 .......................
Notice of Public Meeting and 09/03/13 78 FR 54197
Framework Document Availability.
Framework Document Comment Period 10/18/13 .......................
End.
Notice of Public Meeting and 11/20/14 79 FR 69066
Preliminary Analysis.
Preliminary Analysis Comment Period 01/20/15 .......................
End.
Withdrawal of NOPD.................. 08/25/15 80 FR 51487
NPRM................................ 03/24/16 81 FR 15836
NPRM Comment Period End............. 05/23/16 .......................
NPRM Comment Period Extended........ 05/04/16 81 FR 26747
NPRM Comment Period Extended End.... 06/22/16 .......................
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Next Action Undetermined............ To Be Determined
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Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: James Raba, Phone: 202 586-8654, Email:
[email protected].
RIN: 1904-AD01
221. Energy Conservation Standards for Residential Non-Weatherized Gas
Furnaces and Mobile Home Gas Furnaces
E.O. 13771 Designation: Regulatory.
Legal Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6295(f)(4)(C); 42 U.S.C. 6295(m)(1); 42
U.S.C. 6295(gg)(3)
Abstract: The Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 (EPCA), as
amended, prescribes energy conservation standards for various consumer
products and certain commercial and industrial equipment, including
residential furnaces. EPCA also requires the DOE to periodically
determine every six years whether more-stringent amended standards
would be technologically feasible and economically justified and would
save a significant amount of energy. DOE is considering amendments to
its energy conservation standards for residential non-weatherized gas
furnaces and mobile home gas furnaces in partial fulfillment of a
court-ordered remand of DOE's 2011 rulemaking for these products. DOE
published a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking on September 23,
2016.
Timetable:
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Action Date FR Cite
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Notice of Public Meeting............ 10/30/14 79 FR 64517
NPRM and Notice of Public Meeting... 03/12/15 80 FR 13120
NPRM Comment Period Extended........ 05/20/15 80 FR 28851
NPRM Comment Period Extended End.... 07/10/15 .......................
Notice of Data Availability (NODA).. 09/14/15 80 FR 55038
NODA Comment Period End............. 10/14/15 .......................
NODA Comment Period Reopened........ 10/23/15 80 FR 64370
NODA Comment Period Reopened End.... 11/06/15 .......................
Supplemental NPRM and Notice of 09/23/16 81 FR 65720
Public Meeting.
Supplemental NPRM Comment Period End 11/22/16 .......................
SNPRM Comment Period Reopened....... 12/05/16 81 FR 87493
SNPRM Comment Period End............ 01/06/17 .......................
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Next Action Undetermined............ To Be Determined
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Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: John Cymbalsky, Phone: 202 287-1692, Email:
[email protected].
[[Page 1856]]
RIN: 1904-AD20
222. Energy Conservation Standards for Commercial Water Heating
Equipment
E.O. 13771 Designation: Regulatory.
Legal Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6313(a)(6)(C)(i) and (vi)
Abstract: Once completed, this rulemaking will fulfill DOE's
statutory obligation under EPCA to either propose amended energy
conservation standards for commercial water heaters and hot water
supply boilers, or determine that the existing standards do not need to
be amended. (Unfired hot water storage tanks and commercial heat pump
water heaters are being considered in a separate rulemaking.) DOE must
determine whether national standards more stringent than those that are
currently in place would result in a significant additional amount of
energy savings and whether such amended national standards would be
technologically feasible and economically justified.
Timetable:
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Action Date FR Cite
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Request for Information (RFI)....... 10/21/14 79 FR 62899
RFI Comment Period End.............. 11/20/14 .......................
NPRM................................ 05/31/16 81 FR 34440
NPRM Comment Period End............. 08/01/16 .......................
NPRM Comment Period Reopened........ 08/05/16 81 FR 51812
NPRM Comment Period Reopened End.... 08/30/16 .......................
Notice of Data Availability (NODA).. 12/23/16 81 FR 94234
NODA Comment Period End............. 01/09/17 .......................
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Next Action Undetermined............ To Be Determined
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Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Catherine Rivest, Phone: 202 586-7335, Email:
[email protected].
RIN: 1904-AD34
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (DOE)
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EE)
Completed Actions
223. Energy Conservation Standards for Walk-In Coolers And Walk-In
Freezers
E.O. 13771 Designation: Regulatory.
Legal Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6311; 42 U.S.C. 6313(f)
Abstract: In 2014, the Department of Energy (DOE) issued a rule
setting performance-based energy conservation standards for a variety
of walk-in cooler and freezer (walk-in) components. See 79 FR 32050
(June 3, 2014). That rule was challenged by a group of walk-in
refrigeration system manufacturers and walk-in installers, which led to
a settlement agreement regarding certain refrigeration equipment
classes addressed in that 2014 rule and certain aspects related to that
rule's analysis. See Lennox Int'l v. DOE, Case No. 14-60535 (5th Cir.
2014). Consistent with the settlement agreement, and in accordance with
the Federal Advisory Committee Act, a working group was established
under the Appliance Standards and Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ASRAC)
to engage in a negotiated rulemaking to develop energy conservation
standards to replace those that had been vacated by the U.S. Court of
Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. As a result of those negotiations, a
Term Sheet was produced containing a series of recommendations to ASRAC
for its approval and submission to DOE for the agency's further
consideration. Using the Term Sheet's recommendations, DOE is
establishing energy conservation standards for the six equipment
classes of walk-in coolers and walk-in freezers that were vacated by
the Fifth Circuit and remanded to DOE for further action. Those
standards at issue involve: (1) The two standards applicable to
multiplex condensing refrigeration systems operating at medium and low
temperatures; and (2) the four standards applicable to dedicated
condensing refrigeration systems operating at low temperatures. Also
consistent with the settlement agreement, DOE explicitly considered the
potential impacts of these six standards on installers. DOE also
considered and addressed the potential impacts of these six standards
on installers in its Manufacturer Impact Analysis, consistent with its
regulatory definition of ``manufacturer,'' and, as appropriate, in its
analysis of impacts on small entities under the Regulatory Flexibility
Act. As part of this rulemaking (and consistent with its obligations
under the settlement agreement), DOE provided an opportunity for all
interested parties to submit comments concerning any proposed
standards.
Completed:
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Reason Date FR Cite
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Final Action........................ 07/10/17 82 FR 31808
Final Action Effective.............. 09/08/17 .......................
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Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: John Cymbalsky, Phone: 202 287-1692, Email:
[email protected].
RIN: 1904-AD59
224. Energy Conservation Program: Test Procedures for Central Air
Conditioners and Heat Pumps
E.O. 13771 Designation: Other.
Legal Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6291 et seq.
Abstract: This rulemaking pertaining to test procedures for Central
Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps includes revisions to the test methods
to improve test repeatability and reduce the test burden of the test
procedure. These revisions will be required for demonstration of
compliance with the current energy conservation standards starting 180
days after publication of the final rule. These amendments include: (1)
Establishing a delay time prior to off mode power measurements for some
systems and limiting the internal volume of refrigerant pressure
measurement lines; (2) requiring bin-by-bin EER and COP interpolations
for all variable speed units; (3) requiring that the official test for
a unit using the outdoor enthalpy method as a secondary check of
capacity be the test without the outdoor enthalpy apparatus connected.
DOE is also amending the test procedure to improve field
representativeness. These amendments will take effect coincident with
updated energy conservation standards and would be part of a new
Appendix M1. The new Appendix M1 includes: (1) New higher external
static pressure requirements for all units, including unique minimum
external static pressure requirements for certain kinds of products;
(2) new default fan power values for rating coil-only units; revisions
to the heating load line in the calculation of HSPF; and (3) amendments
to the test procedures for variable speed heat pumps to allow better
representation of their low-ambient-temperature performance, including
an optional 5[emsp14][deg]F heating mode test.
Completed:
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Reason Date FR Cite
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Final Rule Effective................ 07/08/17 .......................
Final Rule; Delay of Effective Date. 02/02/17 82 FR 8985
[[Page 1857]]
Final Rule; Delay of Effective Date 03/21/17 .......................
Effective.
Final Rule; Further Delay of 03/21/17 82 FR 14425
Effective Date.
Final Rule; Correction to Delayed 03/29/17 82 FR 15457
Effective Date.
Final Rule; Further Delay of 07/03/17 .......................
Effective Date Effective.
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Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Ashley Armstrong, Phone: 202 586-6590, Email:
[email protected].
RIN: 1904-AD71
225. Energy Conservation Program: Test Procedures for Walk-In Cooler
and Freezer Refrigeration Systems
E.O. 13771 Designation: Other.
Legal Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6311 et seq.
Abstract: DOE established a Working Group to negotiate amended
energy conservation standards for six classes of walk-in cooler and
freezer (walk-in) refrigeration systems. After holding a series of
meetings as part of a negotiated rulemaking, the Working Group
developed a Term Sheet containing a series of recommendations regarding
potential energy conservation standards for these refrigeration systems
and the current test procedure for evaluating the energy efficiency of
a walk-in refrigeration system. This rulemaking proposed several test
procedure amendments to implement these recommendations. These
amendments include certain changes to improve test procedure clarity,
updating related certification and enforcement provisions to address
the performance-based energy conservation standards for walk-in cooler
and freezer equipment, and establishing labeling requirements that will
aid manufacturers in determining which components would be considered
for compliance purposes as intended for walk-in cooler and freezer
applications. The rule also adds certain equipment-specific
definitions, removes the test method for refrigeration systems with hot
gas defrost, and includes a method to accommodate refrigeration
equipment that use adaptive defrost and on-cycle variable-speed
evaporator fan control.
Completed:
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Reason Date FR Cite
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Final Rule.......................... 12/28/16 81 FR 95758
Final Rule Effective................ 01/27/17 .......................
Final Rule; Delay of Effective Date. 03/21/17 82 FR 8805
Final Rule; Delay of Effective Date 03/21/17 .......................
Effective.
Final Rule; Further Delay of 03/21/17 82 FR 14426
Effective Date.
Final Rule; Further Delay of 06/26/17 .......................
Effective Date Effective.
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Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Ashley Armstrong, Phone: 202 586-6590, Email:
[email protected].
RIN: 1904-AD72
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (DOE)
Departmental and Others (ENDEP)
Final Rule Stage
226. Smal-Scale Natural Gas Exports (Section 610 Review)
E.O. 13771 Designation: Deregulatory.
Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 717b(a); 42 U.S.C. 7151(b), 7172(f), and
7254
Abstract: This rule would revise DOE regulations implementing
section 3(a) of the Natural Gas Act, 15 U.S.C. 717b(a), for
``qualifying small-scale'' exports of natural gas, including liquefied
natural gas. Under this rule, DOE would issue an order upon receipt of
any application that seeks to export natural gas to non-FTA countries,
provided the application meets the criteria for small-scale exports. In
promulgating this rule, DOE would clarify its interpretation of
``public interest'' under NGA section 3(a). The intent of the rule is
to improve DOE's application procedures related to natural gas exports,
reduce the administrative burdens associated with the small-scale
natural gas export market, and result in more efficient processing of
applications for small-scale natural gas exports.
Timetable:
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Action Date FR Cite
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NPRM................................ 09/01/17 82 FR 41570
NPRM Comment Period End............. 10/16/17 .......................
Final Action........................ 02/00/18 .......................
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Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No.
Agency Contact: Betsy Kohl, Attorney Advisor, Department of Energy,
1000 Independence Avenue SW, Room 6A-179, Washington, DC 20585, Phone:
202 586-7796, Email: [email protected].
RIN: 1901-AB43
[FR Doc. 2017-28209 Filed 1-11-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P