Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Furnace Fans: Reopening of Public Comment Period, 41102 [2010-17212]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 135 (Thursday, July 15, 2010)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 41102]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-17212]


========================================================================
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.

========================================================================


Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 135 / Thursday, July 15, 2010 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 41102]]



DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

10 CFR Part 430

[Docket Number: EE-2010-BT-STD-0011]
RIN 1904-AC22


Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for 
Furnace Fans: Reopening of Public Comment Period

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of public comment period.

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

SUMMARY: This document announces a reopening of the time period for 
submitting comments on the framework document to establish energy 
conservation standards for the use of electricity for purposes of 
circulating air through duct work of residential heating and cooling 
systems (``furnace fans''). The comment period closed on July 6, 2010. 
The comment period is reopened from July 15, 2010 until July 27, 2010.

DATES: Comments, data, and information relevant to the furnace fan 
rulemaking will be accepted until July 27, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties may submit comments, identified by docket 
number EERE-2010-BT-STD-0011 and/or Regulation Identifier Number (RIN) 
1904-AC22, by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     E-mail: FurnFans-2010-STD-0011@ee.doe.gov. Include docket 
number EERE-2010-BT-STD-0011 and/or RIN 1904-AC22 in the subject line 
of the message.
     Mail: Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department of Energy, 
Building Technologies Program, Mailstop EE-2J, Framework Document for 
Furnace Fans, Docket No. EERE-2010-BT-STD-0011 and/or RIN 1904-AC22, 
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, Sixth Floor, 950 L'Enfant 
Plaza, SW., Washington, DC 20024. Please submit one signed paper 
original.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents, a 
copy of the transcript of the public meeting, or comments received, go 
to the U.S. Department of Energy, Resource Room of the Building 
Technologies Program, Sixth Floor, 950 L'Enfant Plaza, SW., Washington, 
DC 20024, (202) 586-2945, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays. Please call Ms. Brenda Edwards first 
at the above telephone number for additional information regarding 
visiting the Resource Room.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Mohammed Khan, U.S. Department of 
Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building 
Technologies Program, EE-2J, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, 
DC 20585-0121. Telephone: (202) 586-7892. E-mail: 
Mohammed.Khan@ee.doe.gov.
    Mr. Eric Stas, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the General 
Counsel, GC-71, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC, 20585-
0121. Telephone: (202) 586-9507. E-mail: Eric.Stas@hq.doe.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) 
initiated a rulemaking to consider establishing new energy conservation 
standards or energy use standards for furnace fans on June 3, 2010 by 
publishing a notice in the Federal Register (75 FR 31323). The notice 
informed interested parties of the availability of a framework document 
that detailed the expected analytical approach and scope of coverage 
for the rulemaking, and identified several issues on which DOE is 
particularly interested in receiving comment. DOE held a public meeting 
on June 18, 2010 to discuss and receive comments on its analytical 
approach and associated issues. (A transcript of the public meeting is 
currently available on the DOE Web page at the following URL: https://www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/residential/furnace_fans_framework.html) DOE announced in the Federal Register 
notice and at the public meeting that it would accept written comments 
through July 6, 2010.
    The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) 
requested an extension of the time to submit comments. In its request, 
AHRI stated that because many AHRI members will be attending the ASHRAE 
meetings, and considering the 4th of July holiday, industry would not 
have adequate time to appropriately respond to all the questions and 
issues raised by DOE in the framework document.
    Based on the number and scope of questions and issues raised in the 
DOE framework document (and during the public meeting), DOE believes 
that reopening the comment period to allow additional time for 
interested parties to submit comments is appropriate. Therefore, DOE is 
reopening the comment period until July 27, 2010 to provide interested 
parties additional time to prepare and submit comments. DOE will accept 
comments received no later than July 27, 2010 and will consider any 
comments received between July 6, 2010 and July 27, 2010 to be timely 
filed.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on July 8, 2010.
Cathy Zoi,
Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
[FR Doc. 2010-17212 Filed 7-14-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P