Department of Energy 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice announces a teleconference call of the State Energy Advisory Board (STEAB). The Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463; 86 Stat. 770) requires that public notice of these meetings be announced in the Federal Register.

Powerex Corp. (Powerex) has applied to renew its authority to transmit electric energy from the United States to Mexico pursuant to section 202(e) of the Federal Power Act.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) proposes to revise its test procedure for residential water heaters and certain commercial water heaters established under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act. This rulemaking will fulfill DOE's statutory obligation for residential and certain commercial water heaters to review its test procedure for covered products and equipment at least once every seven years. In addition, this rulemaking will satisfy DOE's statutory obligation to develop a uniform efficiency descriptor for residential and commercial water heaters. The proposed test method would apply the same efficiency descriptor to all residential and certain commercial water heaters, and it would extend coverage to eliminate certain gaps in the current residential test procedure, update the simulated-use-test draw pattern, and update the water delivery temperature requirement. DOE is also announcing a public meeting to discuss and receive comments on issues presented in this test procedure rulemaking.

This notice announces receipt of a petition for waiver from Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (Samsung) regarding specified portions of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) test procedure for determining the energy consumption of electric refrigerators and refrigerator-freezers. In its petition, Samsung provides an alternate test procedure that is the same as the test procedure DOE published in a final rule setting out testing requirements for manufacturers to follow starting in 2014. DOE solicits comments, data, and information concerning Samsung's petition and the suggested alternate test procedure. Today's notice also grants Samsung an interim waiver from the electric refrigerator and refrigerator-freezer test procedure, subject to use of the alternative test procedure set forth in this notice.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announces the availability of the ``Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Champlain Hudson Power Express Transmission Line Project'' (DOE/EIS-0447) for public review and comment. DOE is also announcing four public hearings to receive comments on the Draft EIS. The Draft EIS evaluates the environmental impacts of DOE's proposed Federal action of issuing a Presidential permit to the Applicant, Champlain Hudson Power Express, Inc. (CHPEI), to construct, operate, maintain, and connect a new electric transmission line across the U.S./Canada border in northeastern New York State.

The Office of Fossil Energy (FE) of the Department of Energy gives notice that during August 2013, it issued orders granting authority to import and export natural gas, and to import and export liquefied natural gas. These orders are summarized in the attached appendix and may be found on the FE Web site at https:// www.fossil.energy.gov/programs/gasregulation/authorizations/O rders- 2013.html. They are also available for inspection and copying in the Office of Oil and Gas Global Security and Supply, Office of Fossil Energy, Docket Room 3E-033, Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-9478. The Docket Room is open between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

This notice announces a meeting of the Environmental Management Site-Specific Advisory Board (EM SSAB), Nevada. The Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463, 86 Stat. 770) requires that public notice of this meeting be announced in the Federal Register.

This notice announces an open meeting of the Advanced Scientific Computing Advisory Committee (ASCAC). This meeting replaces the cancelled ASCAC meeting that was to be held in Washington, DC on October 8-9, 2013, due to the government shutdown. The Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463, 86 Stat. 770) requires that public notice of these meetings be announced in the Federal Register.

On September 7, 2011, DOE issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) to propose the first comprehensive updating of regulations concerning Assistance to Foreign Atomic Energy Activities since 1986. The NOPR reflected a need to make the regulations consistent with current global civil nuclear trade practices and nonproliferation norms, and to update the activities and technologies subject to the Secretary of Energy's specific authorization and DOE reporting requirements. It also identified destinations with respect to which most assistance would be generally authorized. Remaining destinations would require a specific authorization by the Secretary of Energy. After careful consideration of all comments received, DOE published a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNOPR) on August 2, 2013, to respond to those comments, propose new or revised rule changes, and afford interested parties an opportunity to comment. A public meeting on the SNOPR was held at DOE's headquarters on August 5, 2013. A second public meeting will be held on November 15, 2013 at the Washington Grand Hyatt, 1000 H St. NW., Washington, DC 20001. In conjunction with the timing of this second public meeting, the Department is extending the comment period to November 29, 2013. The extension will facilitate conducting the second public meeting and afford additional time for the public to review and comment on the proposed regulation. The Department looks forward to hearing feedback from the public on the proposed regulations.