Department of Energy April 2010 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This document contains a technical correction to the final rule regarding the energy conservation standards for small electric motors, which was published on March 9, 2010. In that final rule, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) adopted regulations to establish energy conservation standards for small electric motors. Due to a drafting error, an incorrect compliance date for this equipment was inadvertently inserted into the regulation. This correction notice

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will hold a public meeting to discuss and receive comments on: The equipment classes that DOE plans to analyze for establishing energy conservation standards for walk-in coolers and walk-in freezers; the analytical framework, models, and tools that DOE is using to evaluate standards for this equipment; the results of preliminary analyses performed by DOE for this equipment; and the potential energy conservation standard levels derived from these analyses that DOE could consider for this equipment. In addition, DOE encourages written comments on these subjects. To inform interested parties and facilitate this process, DOE has prepared an agenda, a preliminary technical support document (preliminary TSD), and briefing materials, which are available at: https:// www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliancestandards/commercial/ wicf.html.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, has initiated through the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) the mandatory Compliance Certification information collection request for certain 1 through 200 horsepower electric motors covered under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA), as amended, Public Law 94-163, codified at, 42 U.S.C. 6291 et seq. Under EPCA, a manufacturer or private labeler must certify its compliance with energy efficiency standards for certain commercial and industrial electric motors. 42 U.S.C. 6316(c) and 10 CFR 431.36.

Pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Department of Energy (DOE) invites public comment on a proposed emergency collection of information that DOE is developing to collect data on the status of activities, project progress, jobs created and retained, spend rates and performance metrics under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) proposes major revisions to its test procedures for battery chargers and external power supplies. In particular, DOE proposes to insert a new active mode energy consumption test procedure for battery chargers, to assist in the development of energy conservation standards as directed by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. DOE also proposes to amend portions of its existing standby and off mode battery charger test procedure to shorten the measurement time. DOE is also considering amending its existing active mode single-voltage external power supply test procedure to permit testing of certain types of external power supplies that the existing test procedure may be unable to test.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) is amending its regulations that establish standards for interstate natural gas pipeline business practices and electronic communications to incorporate by reference into its regulations the most recent version of the standards, Version 1.9, adopted by the Wholesale Gas Quadrant (WGQ) of the North American Energy Standards Board (NAESB) applicable to natural gas pipelines, with certain enumerated exceptions. This rule upgrades the Commission's current business practice and communication standards to include standards governing Index-Based Capacity Release and Flexible Delivery and Receipt Points and to reflect the Commission's findings in Order Nos. 698, 712, 717, and 682. This rule will increase the efficiency of the pipeline grid and make pipelines' electronic communications more secure.