Energy Conservation Program: Public Meeting and Availability of the Framework Document for High-Intensity Discharge Lamps, 11785-11787 [2012-4639]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 39 / Tuesday, February 28, 2012 / Proposed Rules including in the resolution of audit findings that cut across multiple agencies’ programs? collections for particular program, except where required by statute. III. Questions for Comment The list below includes the questions about these reform ideas that address issues which are of greatest interest to OMB at this stage of the process. Comments addressing any other concerns, and other types of feedback, are also welcome. In addition, as was explained at the beginning of this notice, the public comments received by OMB will be posted on OMB’s Web site and at https:// www.regulations.gov. Accordingly, please do not include in your comments any confidential business information or information of a personal-privacy nature. A. Overarching Questions 1. Which of these reform ideas would result in reduced or increased administrative burden to you or your organization? 2. Which of these reform ideas would be the most or least valuable to you or your organization? 3. Are there any of these reform ideas that you would prefer that OMB not implement? 4. Are there any reform ideas, beyond those included in this notice, that OMB should consider as a way to relieve administrative burden? mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS B. Single Audits 1. In general terms, how important are Single Audits to your entity or to entities you audit for subrecipient monitoring? 2. In general terms, what impacts would the following changes to the Single Audit framework have on your organization in administrative burden and in ability to provide oversight to subrecipients? a. Increasing the Single Audit threshold to $1 million? b. Requiring a more focused Single Audit (with only two compliance requirements) for any entity expending between $1 million and $3 million? c. Requiring full Single Audits for any entity expending more than $3 million? 3. Should the Single Audit threshold(s) be increased, and if so, to what extent? 4. Which types of currently universal Single Audit compliance requirements do you think are most essential to identifying and mitigating waste, fraud, and abuse? 5. What processes or tools should the Federal Government implement in order to ensure better coordination in the Single Audit oversight by Federal agencies and pass-through agencies, VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:48 Feb 27, 2012 Jkt 226001 C. Cost Principles 1. On indirect cost rates: a. Would administrative burden be reduced by having an indirect cost rate in place for 4 years? b. Are there any existing Federal or state level statutory/regulatory/agency requirements that would prohibit recipients from using a ‘‘flat’’ indirect cost rate if it were proposed? 2. What are your views on the following types of indirect cost rates? a. A flat rate b. Longer term for negotiated rates to be in effect c. A flat rate that would be a fixed percentage of the organization’s already existing negotiated rate 3. In general terms, what would be the cost implications of implementing each of the following reforms, and/or of all of them together? a. The proposed clarifications to allowable charges of directly allocable administrative support as a direct cost. As currently envisioned, reforms would clarify that project-specific activities such as managing substances/chemicals, data and image management, and security are allowable. b. Allowing costs associated with recovery of improper payments. c. Allowing excess capacity for telecommunications and public safety projects? 4. Would you be potentially interested in participating in a piloted alternative for time-and-effort reporting? Is there a permanent change to time-and-effort requirements that you recommend OMB consider? 5. If your organization is an educational institution that does not currently receive the Utility Cost Adjustment (UCA), what are the general factors that your organization would likely consider in deciding whether to conduct a cost study, and complete a plan to reduce utility costs, in order to justify receiving the UCA? 6. For organizations with CAScovered contracts, are there differences between what is envisioned here and the standards for CAS-covered contracts in the FAR that you believe could be challenging to address? D. Administrative Requirements 1. What areas of past performance should be considered as part of a Federal agency assessment of recipient risk (e.g., fulfillment of statutory matching requirements, record of sound financial management practices with no significant or material findings or PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 11785 weaknesses, ability to meet established deadlines)? 2. What specific standards should be considered in Federal agencies’ evaluation of merit prior to making Federal awards? a. How should these be applied? b. What elements and what source materials should be looked at? 3. With respect to the existing government-wide standard information collection requests (ICRs) for grant applications and grant reporting— a. Do these ICRs provide necessary information to enable Federal agencies to review grant applications or to monitor the progress of grant awardees? b. Are these ICRs unnecessarily burdensome and, if so, in what way(s)? 4. Should there be sets of standard data elements based on the type of assistance being provided (e.g. research, construction, social services, scholarships or aid program awards, etc.)? 5. Are there any system issues and associated costs that may arise as a result of implementing the new preaward and post award requirements? In general, what is the rough order of relative magnitude of these costs? Daniel I. Werfel, Controller. [FR Doc. 2012–4521 Filed 2–27–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 10 CFR Part 431 [Docket No. EERE–2010–BT–STD–0043] RIN 1904–AC36 Energy Conservation Program: Public Meeting and Availability of the Framework Document for HighIntensity Discharge Lamps Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy. ACTION: Notice of public meeting and availability of the Framework Document. AGENCY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is initiating the rulemaking and data collection process to consider establishing energy conservation standards for highintensity discharge (HID) lamps. Accordingly, DOE will hold a public meeting to discuss and receive comments on its planned analytical approach and the issues it will address in this rulemaking proceeding. DOE welcomes written comments from the SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\28FEP1.SGM 28FEP1 11786 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 39 / Tuesday, February 28, 2012 / Proposed Rules public on this rulemaking. To inform stakeholders and to facilitate this process, DOE has prepared a framework document which details the analytical approach and identifies several issues on which DOE is particularly interested in receiving comment. The framework document is posted at: https:// www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/ appliance_standards/commercial/ high_intensity_discharge_lamps.html. The Department will hold a public meeting on March 29, 2012, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Washington, DC. Additionally, DOE plans to allow for participation in the public meeting via webinar. Any person requesting to speak at the public meeting should submit such request along with a signed original and an electronic copy of the statement to be given at the public meeting before 4 p.m., March 16, 2012. Written comments on the framework document are welcome, especially following the public meeting, and should be submitted by April 5, 2012. ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be held at the U.S. Department of Energy, Forrestal Building, Room 8E–089, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585–0121. Please note that foreign nationals participating in the public meeting are subject to advance security screening procedures. If a foreign national wishes to participate in the public meeting, please inform DOE of this fact as soon as possible by contacting Ms. Brenda Edwards at (202) 586–2945, so that the necessary procedures can be completed. Please also note that those wishing to bring laptops to the meeting will be required to obtain a property pass. Visitors should avoid bringing laptops, or allow an extra 45 minutes. Interested parties may submit comments, identified by docket number EERE–2010–BT–STD–0043 and/or Regulation Identifier Number (RIN) 1904–AC36, by any of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. • Email: HIDLamps–2010–STD– 0043@ee.doe.gov. Include EERE–2010– BT–STD–0043 and/or RIN 1904–AC36 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 High-Intensity Discharge Lamps, EERE–2010–BT–STD– 0043 and/or RIN 1904–AC36, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585–0121. Please submit one signed paper original. mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS DATES: VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:48 Feb 27, 2012 Jkt 226001 • 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. Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name and docket number or RIN for this rulemaking. Docket: The docket for this rulemaking is available for review at www.regulations.gov, and will include Federal Register notices, framework documents, public meeting attendee lists and transcripts, comments, and other supporting documents/materials. All documents in the docket are listed in the www.regulations.gov index. Not all documents listed in the index may be publicly available, however, such as information that is exempt from public disclosure. A link to the docket Web page for this notice can be found at: https:// www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/ appliance_standards/commercial/ high_intensity_discharge_lamps.html. The regulations.gov Web page contains instructions on how to access all documents, including public comments, in the docket. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Lucy deButts, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building Technologies, EE–2J, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585–0121. Telephone: (202) 287–1604. Email: lucy.debutts@ee.doe.gov. Ms. Elizabeth Kohl, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the General Counsel, GC–71, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585–0121. Telephone: (202) 586–7796. Email: elizabeth.kohl@hq.doe.gov. For information on how to submit or review public comments and on how to participate in the public meeting, contact Ms. Brenda Edwards, 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) 586–2945. Email: brenda.edwards@ee.doe.gov. Title III of Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) (42 U.S.C. 6291, et seq.; EPCA or ‘‘the Act’’) sets forth a variety of provisions designed to improve energy efficiency. (All references to EPCA refer to the statute as amended through the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA 2007), Public Law 110– 140 (Dec. 19, 2007).) Under EPCA, this SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 program consists essentially of four parts: (1) Testing; (2) labeling; (3) Federal energy conservation standards; and (4) certification, compliance, and enforcement. Part B of Title III (42 U.S.C. 6291–6309) established the ‘‘Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products Other Than Automobiles.’’ Part C of title III (42 U.S.C. 6311–6317), establishes an energy conservation program for certain industrial and commercial equipment.1 Although HID lamps are defined in 42 U.S.C. 6291(46), DOE is required to set standards for HID lamps in 42 U.S.C. 6317(a)(1). Therefore, DOE has determined that the provisions of Part C are applicable to HID lamps. DOE published a positive final determination for specified HID lamps on July 1, 2010. 75 FR 37975. Pursuant to the positive final determination, DOE must establish testing requirements for the HID lamps specified in the determination. (42 U.S.C. 6317(a)(1)) As directed by EPCA, DOE must complete the HID lamps test procedure final rule within 30 months of the completion of the final determination (by January 1, 2013). DOE recently published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) for the HID lamp test procedures. 76 FR 77914 (December 15, 2011). DOE must also complete the HID lamps energy conservation standards rulemaking within 18 months of the publication of the HID lamps test procedure final rule (by July 1, 2014). (42 U.S.C. 6317(b)) During the standards rulemaking, DOE will decide whether and at what level(s) to promulgate energy conservation standards. The decision, which will incorporate public participation, will be based on consideration of the technological feasibility, economic justification, and energy savings of specific potential standard levels as required by EPCA. (See, e.g., 42 U.S.C. 6295(o)–(p)) DOE has prepared a framework document to explain the issues, analyses, and processes it anticipates using for the development of potential energy conservation standards for HID lamps. Interested parties may obtain the framework document from DOE’s Web site (https://www1.eere.energy.gov/ buildings/appliance_standards/ commercial/ high_intensity_discharge_lamps.html). DOE will hold a public meeting in Washington, DC on the date specified in the DATES section to discuss the analyses presented and issues identified in the framework document prepared 1 For editorial reasons, Parts B and C were redesignated as Parts A and A–1 on codification in the U.S. Code. E:\FR\FM\28FEP1.SGM 28FEP1 mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 39 / Tuesday, February 28, 2012 / Proposed Rules for the development of potential HID lamp energy conservation standards. At the public meeting, the Department will make a presentation, invite discussion on the rulemaking process as it applies to the covered products, and solicit comments, data, and information from participants and other interested parties. Participants can also attend the public meeting via webinar. Registration information, participant instructions, and information about the capabilities available to webinar participants will be published on the following Web site: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/ 221154352. Participants are responsible for ensuring their computer systems are compatible with the webinar software. The Department encourages those who wish to participate in the public meeting to obtain the framework document and to be prepared to discuss its contents. Public meeting participants need not limit their comments to the issues identified in the framework document. The Department is also interested in receiving views concerning other relevant issues that participants believe would affect energy conservation standards for this equipment or that DOE should address in the NOPR. Furthermore, the Department welcomes all interested parties, regardless of whether they participate in the public meeting, to submit in writing by the date specified in the DATES section, comments and information on matters addressed in the framework document and on other matters relevant to consideration of standards for HID lamps. At this time, DOE is tentatively considering setting standards based on the information included in the framework document. DOE will consider modifications to its approach based on the data and comments received in response to the framework document and public meeting. The public meeting will be conducted in an informal, facilitated, conference style. There shall be no discussion of proprietary information, costs or prices, company market shares, or other commercial matters regulated by U.S. antitrust laws. A court reporter will record the proceedings of the public meeting, after which a transcript will be made available on DOE’s Web site at https://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/ appliance_standards/commercial/ high_intensity_discharge_lamps.html. After the public meeting and the close of the comment period on the framework document, DOE will collect data, conduct the analyses as discussed in the framework document and at the public meeting, and review the comments received. VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:48 Feb 27, 2012 Jkt 226001 DOE considers public participation to be a very important part of the process for setting energy conservation standards. DOE actively encourages the participation and interaction of the public during the comment period in each stage of the rulemaking process. Beginning with the framework document, and during each subsequent public meeting and comment period, interactions with and between members of the public provide a balanced discussion of the issues to assist DOE in the standards rulemaking process. Accordingly, anyone who would like to participate in the public meeting, receive meeting materials, or be added to the DOE mailing list to receive future notices and information regarding this rulemaking on HID lamps should contact Ms. Brenda Edwards at (202) 586–2945, or via email at: Brenda.Edwards@ee.doe.gov. Issued in Washington, DC, on February 21, 2012. Kathleen B. Hogan, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. [FR Doc. 2012–4639 Filed 2–27–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6450–01–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part 39 [Docket No. FAA–2012–0177; Directorate Identifier 2009–SW–59–AD] RIN 2120–AA64 Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Helicopters Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM). AGENCY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Eurocopter France Model EC155B and EC155B1 helicopters with a VIP 4-seat bench. This proposed AD is prompted by the determination that the load strength of the seat attachment hardware of the seat installation does not meet certification specifications. The proposed actions are intended to prevent overloading of the seat structure at the attachment point during a hard landing or emergency landing, which could result in the VIP 4-seat bench detaching from the floor and subsequent injury to the seat occupants. DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by April 30, 2012. SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 11787 You may send comments by any of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Docket: Go to https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for sending your comments electronically. • Fax: 202–493–2251. • Mail: Send comments to the U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M–30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590–0001. • Hand Delivery: Deliver to the ‘‘Mail’’ address between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Examining the AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at https://www.regulations.gov or in person at the Docket Operations Office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains this proposed AD, the economic evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street address for the Docket Operations Office (telephone 800–647–5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt. For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact American Eurocopter Corporation, 2701 N. Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, TX 75052, telephone (972) 641–0000 or (800) 232– 0323, fax (972) 641–3775, or at https:// www.eurocopter.com/techpub. You may review a copy of the referenced service information at the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, Texas 76137. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gary Roach, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Regulations and Policy Group, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137; telephone: (817) 222–5130; fax: (817) 222–5961, email gary.b.roach@faa.gov. ADDRESSES: SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Comments Invited We invite you to participate in this rulemaking by submitting written comments, data, or views. We also invite comments relating to the economic, environmental, energy, or federalism impacts that might result from adopting the proposals in this document. The most helpful comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. To ensure the docket does not contain duplicate comments, commenters should send only one copy of written comments, or if comments are E:\FR\FM\28FEP1.SGM 28FEP1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 39 (Tuesday, February 28, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 11785-11787]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-4639]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

10 CFR Part 431

[Docket No. EERE-2010-BT-STD-0043]
RIN 1904-AC36


Energy Conservation Program: Public Meeting and Availability of 
the Framework Document for High-Intensity Discharge Lamps

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

ACTION: Notice of public meeting and availability of the Framework 
Document.

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

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is initiating the 
rulemaking and data collection process to consider establishing energy 
conservation standards for high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps. 
Accordingly, DOE will hold a public meeting to discuss and receive 
comments on its planned analytical approach and the issues it will 
address in this rulemaking proceeding. DOE welcomes written comments 
from the

[[Page 11786]]

public on this rulemaking. To inform stakeholders and to facilitate 
this process, DOE has prepared a framework document which details the 
analytical approach and identifies several issues on which DOE is 
particularly interested in receiving comment. The framework document is 
posted at: https://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/commercial/high_intensity_discharge_lamps.html.

DATES: The Department will hold a public meeting on March 29, 2012, 
from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Washington, DC. Additionally, DOE plans to 
allow for participation in the public meeting via webinar. Any person 
requesting to speak at the public meeting should submit such request 
along with a signed original and an electronic copy of the statement to 
be given at the public meeting before 4 p.m., March 16, 2012. Written 
comments on the framework document are welcome, especially following 
the public meeting, and should be submitted by April 5, 2012.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be held at the U.S. Department of 
Energy, Forrestal Building, Room 8E-089, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, 
Washington, DC 20585-0121. Please note that foreign nationals 
participating in the public meeting are subject to advance security 
screening procedures. If a foreign national wishes to participate in 
the public meeting, please inform DOE of this fact as soon as possible 
by contacting Ms. Brenda Edwards at (202) 586-2945, so that the 
necessary procedures can be completed. Please also note that those 
wishing to bring laptops to the meeting will be required to obtain a 
property pass. Visitors should avoid bringing laptops, or allow an 
extra 45 minutes.
    Interested parties may submit comments, identified by docket number 
EERE-2010-BT-STD-0043 and/or Regulation Identifier Number (RIN) 1904-
AC36, by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: www.regulations.gov. Follow 
the instructions for submitting comments.
     Email: HIDLamps-2010-STD-0043@ee.doe.gov. Include EERE-
2010-BT-STD-0043 and/or RIN 1904-AC36 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 
High-Intensity Discharge Lamps, EERE-2010-BT-STD-0043 and/or RIN 1904-
AC36, 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.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name 
and docket number or RIN for this rulemaking.
    Docket: The docket for this rulemaking is available for review at 
www.regulations.gov, and will include Federal Register notices, 
framework documents, public meeting attendee lists and transcripts, 
comments, and other supporting documents/materials. All documents in 
the docket are listed in the www.regulations.gov index. Not all 
documents listed in the index may be publicly available, however, such 
as information that is exempt from public disclosure.
    A link to the docket Web page for this notice can be found at: 
https://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/commercial/high_intensity_discharge_lamps.html. The regulations.gov Web page 
contains instructions on how to access all documents, including public 
comments, in the docket.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
    Ms. Lucy deButts, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy 
Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building Technologies, EE-2J, 1000 
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121. Telephone: (202) 
287-1604. Email: lucy.debutts@ee.doe.gov.
    Ms. Elizabeth Kohl, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the 
General Counsel, GC-71, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 
20585-0121. Telephone: (202) 586-7796. Email: 
elizabeth.kohl@hq.doe.gov.
    For information on how to submit or review public comments and on 
how to participate in the public meeting, contact Ms. Brenda Edwards, 
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) 586-2945. Email: 
brenda.edwards@ee.doe.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title III of Energy Policy and Conservation 
Act (EPCA) (42 U.S.C. 6291, et seq.; EPCA or ``the Act'') sets forth a 
variety of provisions designed to improve energy efficiency. (All 
references to EPCA refer to the statute as amended through the Energy 
Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA 2007), Public Law 110-140 
(Dec. 19, 2007).) Under EPCA, this program consists essentially of four 
parts: (1) Testing; (2) labeling; (3) Federal energy conservation 
standards; and (4) certification, compliance, and enforcement. Part B 
of Title III (42 U.S.C. 6291-6309) established the ``Energy 
Conservation Program for Consumer Products Other Than Automobiles.'' 
Part C of title III (42 U.S.C. 6311-6317), establishes an energy 
conservation program for certain industrial and commercial 
equipment.\1\ Although HID lamps are defined in 42 U.S.C. 6291(46), DOE 
is required to set standards for HID lamps in 42 U.S.C. 6317(a)(1). 
Therefore, DOE has determined that the provisions of Part C are 
applicable to HID lamps.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ For editorial reasons, Parts B and C were re-designated as 
Parts A and A-1 on codification in the U.S. Code.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    DOE published a positive final determination for specified HID 
lamps on July 1, 2010. 75 FR 37975. Pursuant to the positive final 
determination, DOE must establish testing requirements for the HID 
lamps specified in the determination. (42 U.S.C. 6317(a)(1)) As 
directed by EPCA, DOE must complete the HID lamps test procedure final 
rule within 30 months of the completion of the final determination (by 
January 1, 2013). DOE recently published a notice of proposed 
rulemaking (NOPR) for the HID lamp test procedures. 76 FR 77914 
(December 15, 2011).
    DOE must also complete the HID lamps energy conservation standards 
rulemaking within 18 months of the publication of the HID lamps test 
procedure final rule (by July 1, 2014). (42 U.S.C. 6317(b)) During the 
standards rulemaking, DOE will decide whether and at what level(s) to 
promulgate energy conservation standards. The decision, which will 
incorporate public participation, will be based on consideration of the 
technological feasibility, economic justification, and energy savings 
of specific potential standard levels as required by EPCA. (See, e.g., 
42 U.S.C. 6295(o)-(p))
    DOE has prepared a framework document to explain the issues, 
analyses, and processes it anticipates using for the development of 
potential energy conservation standards for HID lamps. Interested 
parties may obtain the framework document from DOE's Web site (https://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/commercial/high_intensity_discharge_lamps.html). DOE will hold a public meeting in 
Washington, DC on the date specified in the DATES section to discuss 
the analyses presented and issues identified in the framework document 
prepared

[[Page 11787]]

for the development of potential HID lamp energy conservation 
standards. At the public meeting, the Department will make a 
presentation, invite discussion on the rulemaking process as it applies 
to the covered products, and solicit comments, data, and information 
from participants and other interested parties. Participants can also 
attend the public meeting via webinar. Registration information, 
participant instructions, and information about the capabilities 
available to webinar participants will be published on the following 
Web site: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/221154352. Participants 
are responsible for ensuring their computer systems are compatible with 
the webinar software. The Department encourages those who wish to 
participate in the public meeting to obtain the framework document and 
to be prepared to discuss its contents.
    Public meeting participants need not limit their comments to the 
issues identified in the framework document. The Department is also 
interested in receiving views concerning other relevant issues that 
participants believe would affect energy conservation standards for 
this equipment or that DOE should address in the NOPR. Furthermore, the 
Department welcomes all interested parties, regardless of whether they 
participate in the public meeting, to submit in writing by the date 
specified in the DATES section, comments and information on matters 
addressed in the framework document and on other matters relevant to 
consideration of standards for HID lamps. At this time, DOE is 
tentatively considering setting standards based on the information 
included in the framework document. DOE will consider modifications to 
its approach based on the data and comments received in response to the 
framework document and public meeting.
    The public meeting will be conducted in an informal, facilitated, 
conference style. There shall be no discussion of proprietary 
information, costs or prices, company market shares, or other 
commercial matters regulated by U.S. antitrust laws. A court reporter 
will record the proceedings of the public meeting, after which a 
transcript will be made available on DOE's Web site at https://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/commercial/high_intensity_discharge_lamps.html.
    After the public meeting and the close of the comment period on the 
framework document, DOE will collect data, conduct the analyses as 
discussed in the framework document and at the public meeting, and 
review the comments received.
    DOE considers public participation to be a very important part of 
the process for setting energy conservation standards. DOE actively 
encourages the participation and interaction of the public during the 
comment period in each stage of the rulemaking process. Beginning with 
the framework document, and during each subsequent public meeting and 
comment period, interactions with and between members of the public 
provide a balanced discussion of the issues to assist DOE in the 
standards rulemaking process. Accordingly, anyone who would like to 
participate in the public meeting, receive meeting materials, or be 
added to the DOE mailing list to receive future notices and information 
regarding this rulemaking on HID lamps should contact Ms. Brenda 
Edwards at (202) 586-2945, or via email at: Brenda.Edwards@ee.doe.gov.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on February 21, 2012.
Kathleen B. Hogan,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency, Energy Efficiency and 
Renewable Energy.
[FR Doc. 2012-4639 Filed 2-27-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
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