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

This notice publishes the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) decision and order in Case No. CAC-026, which grants Daikin a waiver from the existing DOE test procedure applicable to commercial package central air conditioners and heat pumps. The waiver is specific to the Daikin variable capacity VRV-WIII (commercial) water-source multi-split heat pumps. As a condition of this waiver, Daikin must use the alternate test procedure set forth in this notice to test and rate its VRV-WIII multi-split products.

Morgan Stanley Capital Group Inc. (MSCG) has applied to renew its authority to transmit electric energy from the United States to Canada pursuant to section 202(e) of the Federal Power Act.

The Department of Energy (DOE) has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance, a proposal for collection of information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The In-Vehicle Driver Feedback study will enable the Department of Energy to establish a rigorous scientific basis for informing consumers about the potential fuel economy benefits of in-vehicle fuel economy feedback devices. The target population consists of 150 volunteer households who are AAA insurance policy holders who carry minimum automobile insurance coverage and hold a valid driver's license. If this testing confirms that fuel economy feedback devices can enable drivers to achieve measurable improvements in fuel economy, the information will be made available to the general public via the Joint Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency Web site, https://www.fueleconomy.gov.

The Commission is revising its regulations to substitute the Commission's Dispute Resolution Service (DRS) for the Commission's Enforcement Hotline as the contact for handling dispute-related calls pertaining to the construction and operation of jurisdictional infrastructure projects, effective May 1, 2010. Currently, the Commission's regulations require that natural gas pipeline companies provide contact information for the Enforcement Hotline when providing notice to affected landowners on a blanket certificate project under the Natural Gas Act. In practice, the Enforcement Hotline also attempts to resolve disputes between individuals and natural gas pipeline companies on all certificated construction projects under the Natural Gas Act. The Enforcement Hotline also receives calls pertaining to hydroelectric projects regulated under the Federal Power Act. The Commission is implementing this Final Rule because the Office of Enforcement's priorities currently are to focus on matters involving: fraud and market manipulation; serious violations of the reliability standards; anticompetitive conduct; and conduct that threatens the transparency of regulated markets.\1\ By transferring the responsibility of dispute-related calls pertaining to the construction and operation of jurisdictional infrastructure projects to DRS, with its expertise in conflict resolution, and allowing the Office of Enforcement to focus on its priorities, the Commission will ensure an efficient allocation of its resources that will better serve the public interest.

The Department of Energy (DOE), pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, intends to extend, for three years, an information collection request with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Comments were invited on: (a) Whether the extended 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.