October 28, 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) proposes to revise and reorganize its test procedure for commercial refrigeration equipment (CRE) in order to clarify certain terms, procedures, and compliance dates. Specifically, in this notice of proposed rulemaking, DOE addresses several inquiries it has received from interested parties regarding the applicability of DOE's test procedure and current Federal energy conservation standards, the definition of certain terms pertinent to commercial refrigeration equipment, the proper configuration and use of certain components and features of commercial refrigeration equipment when testing according to the DOE test procedure, the proper application of certain test procedure provisions, and the compliance date of certain provisions specified in the DOE test procedure final rule published on February 21, 2012 (hereafter referred to as 2012 test procedure final rule). DOE also proposes a number of test procedure clarifications which have arisen as a result of the negotiated rulemaking process for certification of commercial heating, ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration, and water heating equipment. These provisions are addressed below in more detail. DOE will hold a public meeting to receive and discuss comments on this NOPR.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, propose to designate critical habitat for the the Bi-State distinct population segment (DPS) of greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) under the Endangered Species Act (Act). In total, approximately 755,960 hectares (1,868,017 acres) fall within the boundaries of the proposed critical habitat designation in Carson City, Lyon, Douglas, Mineral, and Esmeralda Counties, Nevada, and Alpine, Mono, and Inyo Counties, California. If we finalize this rule as proposed, it would extend the Act's protections to this DPS's critical habitat.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by a determination that oxygen generators installed on a certain batch of passenger emergency oxygen container assemblies might become detached by extreme pulling of the mask tube at the end of the oxygen supply causing a high temperature oxygen generator and mask to fall down. This AD requires modifying the passenger emergency oxygen container assembly. We are issuing this AD to prevent a high temperature oxygen generator and mask from falling down and possibly resulting in an ignition source in the passenger compartment, injury to passengers, and reduced availability of supplemental oxygen.