Energy Efficiency Program for Consumer Products: California Energy Commission Petition for Exemption From Federal Preemption of California's Water Conservation Standards for Residential Clothes Washers, 35419-35420 [E6-9637]

Download as PDF rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 118 / Tuesday, June 20, 2006 / Notices permit to construct, operate, maintain, and connect an electric transmission line across the U.S. border with Mexico. In the same application, Comision Federal de Electricidad (CFE), the national electric utility of Mexico, has requested a rescission of Presidential Permit No. PP–57. DATES: Comments, protests, or requests to intervene must be submitted on or before July 20, 2006. ADDRESSES: Comments, protests, or requests to intervene should be addressed as follows: Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (OE–20), U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585–0350. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen Russell (Program Office), 202– 586–9624 or Michael T. Skinker (Program Attorney), 202–586–2793. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The construction, operation, maintenance, and connection of facilities at the international border of the United States for the transmission of electric energy between the United States and a foreign country is prohibited in the absence of a Presidential permit issued pursuant to Executive Order (EO) 10485, as amended by EO 12038. On January 24, 1975, the Federal Power Commission, predecessor agency of the Department of Energy, in Docket No. E–8057, now Presidential Permit No. PP–57, authorized CFE to construct, operate, maintain, and connect a 138,000-volt (138-kV) electric transmission line across the U.S.Mexico international border in the vicinity of Loredo, Texas. On June 12, 2006, American Electric Power Service Corporation (AEPSC), acting as the agent for TCC, formerly doing business as Central Power and Light Company (CPL), filed an application with the Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (OE) of the Department of Energy (DOE) for a Presidential permit. TCC proposes to construct a double circuit 230,000-volt (230-kV) electric transmission line across the U.S.-Mexico international border. In the same application CFE requests DOE rescind Presidential Permit No. PP–57 if the TCC-requested permit is issued. The existing international transmission facilities authorized in Presidential Permit No. PP–57 consist of a single-circuit 138-kV transmission line that originates at TCC’s existing Laredo Power Plant Station, in Laredo, Texas. The facilities continue west approximately 0.3 miles to the Rio Grande River, the U.S.-Mexico international border, and continue to VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:31 Jun 19, 2006 Jkt 208001 CFE’s Ciudad Industrial Station in Laredo Nuevo, Mexico. In its application TCC proposes construct a new 230-kV circuit between the Laredo Power Plant and the CFE system and to rebuild and convert the existing 138-kV facilities to a 230-kV transmission circuit to be operated initially at 138-kV. The proposed double circuit facilities are to be operated as an asynchronous tie using a Variable Frequency Transformer (VFT). The VFT equipment would convert the interconnection with CFE from a block-over synchronous radial feed configuration to a continuous asynchronous connection. The proposed facilities would be constructed on steel monopole structures and would be sited along the center-line of the existing right-of-way. The existing wood transmission structures would be replaced with approximately four steel monopole structures. All facilities and equipment to be constructed, including the VFT, would be placed within the existing fence of the Laredo Power Plant. TCC has indicated its intention to operate the proposed facilities as an open access transmission facility. If DOE were to grant the Presidential permit requested in OE Docket No. PP– 317, it would simultaneously rescind Presidential Permit No. PP–57 issued to CFE. Procedural Matters Any person desiring to become a party to this proceeding or to be heard by filing comments or protests to this application should file a petition to intervene, comment or protest at the address provided above in accordance with §§ 385.211 or 385.214 of the FERC’s Rules of Practice and Procedures (18 CFR 385.211, 385.214). Fifteen copies of each petition and protest should be filed with the DOE on or before the date listed above. Additional copies of such petitions to intervene or protests also should be filed directly with: Terri Gallup, Regulatory Case Manager, American Electric Power Service Corporation, 212 East Sixth Street, Tulsa, OK 74119–1295 and Carolyn Y. Thompson, Esq., Jones Day, 51 Louisiana Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20001–2113A. A final decision will be made on this application after the environmental impacts have been evaluated pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and a determination is made by DOE that the proposed action will not adversely impact on the reliability of the U.S. electric power supply system. In addition, DOE must obtain the concurrence of the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 35419 before taking final action on a Presidential permit application. Copies of this application will be made available, upon request, for public inspection and copying at the address provided above. In addition, copies of the application can be obtained from Ms. Odessa Hopkins at 202–586–7751, or by e-mail at Odessa.Hopkins@hq.doe.gov. Issued in Washington, DC, on June 14, 2006. Ellen Russell, Acting Director, Siting and Permitting, Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability. [FR Doc. E6–9634 Filed 6–19–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6450–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy [Docket No. EE–RM–PET–100] Energy Efficiency Program for Consumer Products: California Energy Commission Petition for Exemption From Federal Preemption of California’s Water Conservation Standards for Residential Clothes Washers Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (hereafter ‘‘the Department’’) announces the extension of the time period for evaluation and decision on the disposition of the California Energy Commission’s Petition for Exemption from Federal Preemption of California’s Water Conservation Standards for Residential Clothes Washers (hereafter ‘‘California Petition’’). In accordance with section 327(d)(2) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (hereafter ‘‘EPCA’’), the Department is extending the time period for issuing a decision on the California Petition from June 23, 2006, to December 23, 2006. The Department is extending this time period in order to allow it adequate time to evaluate the California Petition in light of public comments received on the California Petition and the California Energy Commission’s (hereafter ‘‘CEC’’) rebuttal comments received by the Department on May 15, 2006. DATES: The Department is extending the time period of evaluation of the California Petition from June 23, 2006 to December 23, 2006. ADDRESSES: For access to the docket to read background documents relevant to E:\FR\FM\20JNN1.SGM 20JNN1 35420 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 118 / Tuesday, June 20, 2006 / Notices this matter; go to the U.S. Department of Energy, Forrestal Building, Room 1J–018 (Resource Room of the Building Technologies Program), 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585–0121, telephone number (202) 586–9127, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Please call Ms. Brenda Edwards-Jones at the above telephone number for additional information regarding visiting the Resource Room. Please note that the Department’s Freedom of Information Reading Room (formerly Room 1E–190 at the Forrestal Building) is no longer housing rulemaking materials. Electronic copies of the California Petition are available online at either the Department of Energy’s Web site at the following URL address: https:// www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/ appliance_standards/state_ petitions.html or the CEC’s Web site at the following URL address: https:// www.energy.ca.gov/appliances/2005– 09–13_PETITION_ CLOTHES_WASHERS.PDF. An electronic copy of California’s water plan update and related material is available online at the California Department of Water Resources Web site at the following URL address: https:// www.waterplan.water.ca.gov/. Electronic copies of comments received by the Department on California’s Petition and the California Energy Commission’s rebuttal statement are available online at the following URL address: https://www.eere.energy.gov/ buildings/appliance_standards/ state_petitions.html. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bryan Berringer, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building Technologies, EE–2J, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585–0121, (202) 586– 0371. E-mail: bryan.berringer@ee.doe.gov. Thomas DePriest, Esq., U.S. Department of Energy, Office of General Counsel, GC– 72, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585–0121, (202) 586– 9507, e-mail: Thomas.DePriest@hq.doe.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES I. Authority II. Background I. Authority Part B of Title III of EPCA established the Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products Other Than Automobiles. (42 U.S.C. 6291–6309) Products covered under the program, including residential clothes washers, VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:31 Jun 19, 2006 Jkt 208001 and the authority to regulate them, are listed in section 322. (42 U.S.C. 6292) Section 325(g) (42 U.S.C. 6295(g)) establishes standards for certain types of residential clothes washers and requires the Department to issue two rulemakings to consider further amendments. Federal energy efficiency requirements for residential products generally preempt State laws or regulations concerning energy conservation testing, labeling, and standards. (42 U.S.C. 6297(a)–(c)) However, the Department can grant waivers of Federal preemption (hereafter ‘‘waiver’’ or ‘‘exemption’’) for particular State laws or regulations, in accordance with the procedures and other provisions of section 327(d) of EPCA. (42 U.S.C. 6297(d)) In particular, section 327(d)(1)(A) of EPCA provides that any State or river basin commission with a State regulation regarding energy use, energy efficiency, or water use requirements for products regulated by the Energy Conservation Program, may petition for an exemption from Federal preemption and seek to apply its own State regulation. (42 U.S.C. 6297(d)(1)(A)) Section 327(d)(2) of EPCA requires that the Department afford interested persons a reasonable opportunity to make written comments, including rebuttal comments, related to the petition. (42 U.S.C. 6297(d)(2)) In addition, section 327(d)(2) of EPCA provides the Department with the authority to extend its decision date to within one year after the date on which the Department accepted the petition. However, the Department must publish notice of this extension in the Federal Register and note its reasons for delay. (42 U.S.C. 6297(d)(2)) In addition, should the Department decide to grant a petition, section 336(a)(1) of EPCA requires that DOE afford interested persons the opportunity to present written and oral data, views, and arguments with respect to any proposed rules prescribed under section 327. (42 U.S.C. 6306(a)(1)) December 5, 2005, and provided the required information. By letter dated December 23, 2005, the Department notified the CEC that it had accepted the California Petition as supplemented. In accordance with section 327(d)(2) of EPCA (42 U.S.C. 6297(d)(2)) and 10 CFR 430.43, the Department published notice of the California Petition in the Federal Register on February 6, 2006 (hereafter ‘‘February 2006 notice’’). (71 FR 6022) The February 2006 notice provides a summary of the Department’s authority regarding petitions for exemption, the California Petition, and criteria for evaluating petitions for exemption. In the February 2006 notice, to help the Department evaluate the California Petition’s request, the Department also invited the public to submit comments, data, and information regarding the California Petition by April 7, 2006. In order to afford the CEC a reasonable opportunity to review public comments and provide rebuttal, the Department notified the CEC by letter dated April 14, 2006, of its opportunity to provide rebuttal comments. CEC rebuttal comments were received by the Department on May 15, 2006. In this notice, the Department extends the period for evaluation of the California Petition to December 23, 2006, in order to provide the Department adequate time to evaluate the petition in light of public comments and CEC rebuttal comments received. The Department will consider the information and views submitted and make a determination on the California Petition. At such point, the Department will either provide notice of a proposed rule on which it will seek written and oral comment, or provide a notice of, and the reasons for, denial of the California Petition. II. Background On September 16, 2005, the Department received a petition from the CEC, dated September 13, 2005, pursuant to the requirements of section 327(d) of EPCA (42 U.S.C. 6297(d)) and Title 10 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 430, subpart D, and sections 430.41(a)(1) and 430.42 of the CFR. However, by letter dated November 18, 2005, the Department notified the CEC that its petition had failed to comply with certain requirements set out in 10 CFR 430.42(c). The CEC responded on BILLING CODE 6450–01–P PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Issued in Washington, DC, on June 14, 2006. Alexander A. Karsner, Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. [FR Doc. E6–9637 Filed 6–19–06; 8:45 am] ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL–8185–5] National Advisory Council for Environmental Policy and Technology Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of meeting. AGENCY: E:\FR\FM\20JNN1.SGM 20JNN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 118 (Tuesday, June 20, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35419-35420]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-9637]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

[Docket No. EE-RM-PET-100]


Energy Efficiency Program for Consumer Products: California 
Energy Commission Petition for Exemption From Federal Preemption of 
California's Water Conservation Standards for Residential Clothes 
Washers

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

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (hereafter ``the Department'') 
announces the extension of the time period for evaluation and decision 
on the disposition of the California Energy Commission's Petition for 
Exemption from Federal Preemption of California's Water Conservation 
Standards for Residential Clothes Washers (hereafter ``California 
Petition''). In accordance with section 327(d)(2) of the Energy Policy 
and Conservation Act (hereafter ``EPCA''), the Department is extending 
the time period for issuing a decision on the California Petition from 
June 23, 2006, to December 23, 2006. The Department is extending this 
time period in order to allow it adequate time to evaluate the 
California Petition in light of public comments received on the 
California Petition and the California Energy Commission's (hereafter 
``CEC'') rebuttal comments received by the Department on May 15, 2006.

DATES: The Department is extending the time period of evaluation of the 
California Petition from June 23, 2006 to December 23, 2006.

ADDRESSES: For access to the docket to read background documents 
relevant to

[[Page 35420]]

this matter; go to the U.S. Department of Energy, Forrestal Building, 
Room 1J-018 (Resource Room of the Building Technologies Program), 1000 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121, telephone number 
(202) 586-9127, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. Please call Ms. Brenda Edwards-Jones at the 
above telephone number for additional information regarding visiting 
the Resource Room. Please note that the Department's Freedom of 
Information Reading Room (formerly Room 1E-190 at the Forrestal 
Building) is no longer housing rulemaking materials.
    Electronic copies of the California Petition are available online 
at either the Department of Energy's Web site at the following URL 
address: https://www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/
state_petitions.html or the CEC's Web site at the following URL 
address: https://www.energy.ca.gov/appliances/2005-09-13_PETITION_
CLOTHES_WASHERS.PDF. An electronic copy of California's water plan 
update and related material is available online at the California 
Department of Water Resources Web site at the following URL address: 
https://www.waterplan.water.ca.gov/. Electronic copies of comments 
received by the Department on California's Petition and the California 
Energy Commission's rebuttal statement are available online at the 
following URL address: https://www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/
appliance_standards/state_petitions.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bryan Berringer, U.S. Department of 
Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building 
Technologies, EE-2J, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 
20585-0121, (202) 586-0371. E-mail: bryan.berringer@ee.doe.gov. Thomas 
DePriest, Esq., U.S. Department of Energy, Office of General Counsel, 
GC-72, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121, (202) 
586-9507, e-mail: Thomas.DePriest@hq.doe.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    I. Authority
    II. Background

I. Authority

    Part B of Title III of EPCA established the Energy Conservation 
Program for Consumer Products Other Than Automobiles. (42 U.S.C. 6291-
6309) Products covered under the program, including residential clothes 
washers, and the authority to regulate them, are listed in section 322. 
(42 U.S.C. 6292) Section 325(g) (42 U.S.C. 6295(g)) establishes 
standards for certain types of residential clothes washers and requires 
the Department to issue two rulemakings to consider further amendments.
    Federal energy efficiency requirements for residential products 
generally preempt State laws or regulations concerning energy 
conservation testing, labeling, and standards. (42 U.S.C. 6297(a)-(c)) 
However, the Department can grant waivers of Federal preemption 
(hereafter ``waiver'' or ``exemption'') for particular State laws or 
regulations, in accordance with the procedures and other provisions of 
section 327(d) of EPCA. (42 U.S.C. 6297(d)) In particular, section 
327(d)(1)(A) of EPCA provides that any State or river basin commission 
with a State regulation regarding energy use, energy efficiency, or 
water use requirements for products regulated by the Energy 
Conservation Program, may petition for an exemption from Federal 
preemption and seek to apply its own State regulation. (42 U.S.C. 
6297(d)(1)(A))
    Section 327(d)(2) of EPCA requires that the Department afford 
interested persons a reasonable opportunity to make written comments, 
including rebuttal comments, related to the petition. (42 U.S.C. 
6297(d)(2)) In addition, section 327(d)(2) of EPCA provides the 
Department with the authority to extend its decision date to within one 
year after the date on which the Department accepted the petition. 
However, the Department must publish notice of this extension in the 
Federal Register and note its reasons for delay. (42 U.S.C. 6297(d)(2)) 
In addition, should the Department decide to grant a petition, section 
336(a)(1) of EPCA requires that DOE afford interested persons the 
opportunity to present written and oral data, views, and arguments with 
respect to any proposed rules prescribed under section 327. (42 U.S.C. 
6306(a)(1))

II. Background

    On September 16, 2005, the Department received a petition from the 
CEC, dated September 13, 2005, pursuant to the requirements of section 
327(d) of EPCA (42 U.S.C. 6297(d)) and Title 10 Code of Federal 
Regulations (CFR) part 430, subpart D, and sections 430.41(a)(1) and 
430.42 of the CFR. However, by letter dated November 18, 2005, the 
Department notified the CEC that its petition had failed to comply with 
certain requirements set out in 10 CFR 430.42(c). The CEC responded on 
December 5, 2005, and provided the required information. By letter 
dated December 23, 2005, the Department notified the CEC that it had 
accepted the California Petition as supplemented.
    In accordance with section 327(d)(2) of EPCA (42 U.S.C. 6297(d)(2)) 
and 10 CFR 430.43, the Department published notice of the California 
Petition in the Federal Register on February 6, 2006 (hereafter 
``February 2006 notice''). (71 FR 6022) The February 2006 notice 
provides a summary of the Department's authority regarding petitions 
for exemption, the California Petition, and criteria for evaluating 
petitions for exemption. In the February 2006 notice, to help the 
Department evaluate the California Petition's request, the Department 
also invited the public to submit comments, data, and information 
regarding the California Petition by April 7, 2006.
    In order to afford the CEC a reasonable opportunity to review 
public comments and provide rebuttal, the Department notified the CEC 
by letter dated April 14, 2006, of its opportunity to provide rebuttal 
comments. CEC rebuttal comments were received by the Department on May 
15, 2006.
    In this notice, the Department extends the period for evaluation of 
the California Petition to December 23, 2006, in order to provide the 
Department adequate time to evaluate the petition in light of public 
comments and CEC rebuttal comments received. The Department will 
consider the information and views submitted and make a determination 
on the California Petition. At such point, the Department will either 
provide notice of a proposed rule on which it will seek written and 
oral comment, or provide a notice of, and the reasons for, denial of 
the California Petition.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on June 14, 2006.
Alexander A. Karsner,
Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
[FR Doc. E6-9637 Filed 6-19-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P

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