Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Room Air Conditioners; Request for Information, 44301 [2015-18329]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 143 (Monday, July 27, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 44301]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-18329]


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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. 80, No. 143 / Monday, July 27, 2015 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 44301]]



DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

10 CFR Part 430

[Docket No. EERE-2014-BT-STD-0059]


Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for 
Room Air Conditioners; Request for Information

AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of 
Energy.

ACTION: Extension of public comment period.

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SUMMARY: On June 18, 2015, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) 
published in the Federal Register a Request for Information (RFI) 
regarding energy conservation standards for room air conditioners (room 
ACs). The RFI provided for the submission of written comments by August 
3, 2015. This notice announces an extension of the public comment 
period for submitting comments in response to the RFI or any other 
aspect of the rulemaking for room ACs. The comment period is extended 
to September 2, 2015.

DATES: The comment period for the Request for Information published in 
the Federal Register on June 18, 2015 (80 FR 34843), is extended. DOE 
will accept comments, data, and information regarding this rulemaking 
received no later than September 2, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons may submit comments, identified by docket 
number EERE-2014-BT-STD-0059, by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: www.regulations.gov. Follow 
the instructions for submitting comments.
     Email: RoomAC2014STD0059@ee.doe.gov. Include the docket 
number EERE-2014-BT-STD-0059 in the subject line of the message.
     Mail: Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department of Energy, 
Building Technologies Program, Mailstop EE-5B, Request for Information 
for Energy Conservation Standards for Room Air Conditioners, Docket No. 
EERE-2014-BT-STD-0059, 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, 950 L'Enfant Plaza SW., Suite 
600, Washington, DC 20024. Telephone (202) 586-2945. Please submit one 
signed paper original.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name 
and docket number for this rulemaking. No telefacsimiles (faxes) will 
be accepted.
    Docket: The docket is available for review at www.regulations.gov, 
including Federal Register notices, comments, and other supporting 
documents/materials. All documents in the docket are listed in the 
www.regulations.gov index. However, not all documents listed in the 
index may be publicly available, such as information that is exempt 
from public disclosure.
    A link to the docket Web page can be found at: https://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=EERE-2014-BT-STD-0059. This Web 
page contains a link to the docket for this notice on the 
regulation.gov site. The www.regulations.gov Web page contains 
instructions on how to access all documents in the docket, including 
public comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
    Mr. Bryan Berringer, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy 
Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building Technologies, EE-5B, 1000 
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121. Telephone: 202-586-
0371. Email: room_air_conditioners@EE.Doe.Gov.
    Ms. Sarah Butler, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the General 
Counsel, GC-33, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585-
0121. Telephone: (202) 586-1777. Email: Sarah.Butler@hq.doe.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 18, 2015, DOE published in the 
Federal Register a request for information regarding energy 
conservation standards for room ACs to solicit information from the 
public to help DOE determine whether amended standards for room ACs 
would result in a significant amount of additional energy savings and 
whether those standards would be technologically feasible and 
economically justified. In addition, DOE identified several issues 
associated with the currently applicable test procedure for room ACs on 
which DOE is particularly interested in receiving comment. 80 FR 34843. 
The notice provided for the written submission of comments by August 3, 
2015. The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) has 
requested a 30 day extension of the comment period to allow additional 
time for the preparation of their comments. Major interested parties 
for this rulemaking include major room AC manufacturers, manufacturer 
association, energy utilities, state agencies, international 
organizations, and energy and environmental advocacy groups. AHAM 
represents the major room AC manufacturers. AHAM has requested this 
extension because the comments for the proposed standards rulemaking 
for residential dehumidifiers are also due on August 3, 2015 and 
comments for proposed oven standards rulemaking are due on August 10, 
2015, thus making it difficult to give these rulemakings the attention 
necessary to provide DOE with meaningful and thoroughly considered 
comments.
    DOE has determined that an extension of the public comment period 
is appropriate based on the foregoing reason. DOE will consider any 
comments received by midnight of September 2, 2015, and deems any 
comments received by that time to be timely submitted.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on July 17, 2015.
Kathleen B. Hogan,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency, Energy Efficiency and 
Renewable Energy.
[FR Doc. 2015-18329 Filed 7-24-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P