Appliance Standards and Rulemaking Federal Advisory Committee: Notice of Intent To Establish the Fans and Blowers Working Group To Negotiate a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) for Energy Conservation Standards, 17359-17363 [2015-07470]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 62 (Wednesday, April 1, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 17359-17363]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-07470]


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

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

10 CFR Part 430

[EERE-2013-BT-STD-0006]


Appliance Standards and Rulemaking Federal Advisory Committee: 
Notice of Intent To Establish the Fans and Blowers Working Group To 
Negotiate a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) for Energy 
Conservation Standards

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

ACTION: Notice of intent and announcement of public meetings.

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

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE or the Department) is 
giving notice that it intends to establish a negotiated rulemaking 
working group under the Appliance Standards and Rulemaking Federal 
Advisory Committee (ASRAC) in accordance with the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act (FACA) and the Negotiated Rulemaking Act (NRA) to 
negotiate proposed definitions, certain aspects of a proposed test 
procedure (if applicable), and proposed energy conservation standards 
for fans and blowers. The purpose of the working group will be to 
discuss and, if possible, reach consensus on the scope of the 
rulemaking, certain key aspects of a proposed test procedure, and 
proposed energy conservation standard for fans and blowers, as 
authorized by the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) of 1975, as 
amended. As part of its negotiations, the working group will consider 
scope of coverage and system interaction impacts of potential standards 
for fans and blowers. The working group will consist of representatives 
of parties having a defined stake in the outcome of the regulations, 
including the proposed standards, and will consult as appropriate with 
a range of experts on technical issues. The working group is expected 
to make a concerted effort to negotiate a final term sheet within three 
(3) months of its first meeting. At the completion of negotiation, the 
term sheet will be presented to ASRAC at an open meeting for their 
deliberation and decision on whether or not to pass it on as a formal 
recommendation to DOE. Lastly, DOE is announcing the first Working 
Group session, which is open to the public, on Wednesday, May 6, and 
Thursday, May 7, 2015.

DATES: DOE will hold the first meeting for the Fans and Blowers Working 
Group on Wednesday, May 6, and Thursday, May 7, 2015, from 9 a.m. to 5 
p.m., in Washington, DC. Written comments and request to be appointed 
as members of the working group are welcome and should be submitted by 
April 15, 2015.

ADDRESSES: The first Fans and Blowers Working Group meeting, which is 
also open to the public, will be held at the U.S. Department of Energy, 
Forrestal Building, Room 8E-089, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., 
Washington, DC 20585. To attend, please notify asrac@ee.doe.gov. 
Persons can attend the public meeting via webinar. For more 
information, refer to section V of this document (Public 
Participation).
    Interested person may submit comments, identified by docket number 
EERE-2013-BT-STD-0006 by any of the following methods:
    1. Federal eRulemaking Portal: www.regulations.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments.
    2. Email: ASRAC@ee.doe.gov. Include docket number EERE-2013-BT-STD-
0006 in the subject line of the message.
    3. Mail: Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department of Energy, Building 
Technologies Office, Mailstop EE-5B, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., 
Washington, DC 20585-0121. If possible, please submit all items on a 
compact disc (CD), in which case it is not necessary to include printed 
copies.
    4. Hand Delivery/Courier: Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department of 
Energy, Building Technologies Program, 950 L'Enfant Plaza SW., Suite 
600, Washington, DC 20024. Telephone: (202) 586-2945. If possible, 
please submit all items on a CD, in which case it is not necessary to 
include printed copies.
    No telefacsimilies (faxes) will be accepted.
    Docket: The docket is available for review at www.regulations.gov, 
including Federal Register notices, 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. 
However, not all documents listed in the index may be publicly 
available, such as information that is exempt from public disclosure.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ashley Armstrong, U.S. Department of 
Energy, Office of Building Technologies (EE-5B), 950 L'Enfant Plaza 
SW., Washington, DC 20024. Phone: 202-586-6590. Email: 
asrac@ee.doe.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Authority
II. Background
III. Proposed Negotiating Procedures
IV. Comments Requested
V. Public Participation
VI. Approval of the Office of the Secretary

I. Authority

    This notice of intent, announcing DOE's intent to negotiate a 
proposed rule for fans and blowers energy conservation standards, was 
developed under the authority of sections 563 and 564 of the NRA (5 
U.S.C. 561-570, Pub. L. 104-320). The regulation of fans and blowers 
for energy conservation standards that DOE is proposing to develop 
under a negotiated rulemaking will be developed under the authority of 
EPCA, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 6311(1)(A) and 42 U.S.C. 6291 et seq.

II. Background

    As required by the NRA, DOE is giving notice that it is 
establishing a working group under ASRAC to develop proposed energy 
conservation standards, including the applicability of those standards 
for various categories of fans and blower currently found on the 
market. EPCA, as amended, directs DOE to adopt energy conservation 
standards for fans and blowers for which standards would be 
technologically feasible and economically justified, and would result 
in significant energy savings. There currently are no Federal energy 
conservation standards for fans and blowers.

A. Negotiated Rulemaking

    DOE has decided to use the negotiated rulemaking process to develop 
proposed energy conservation standards for fans and blowers. Under 
EPCA, Congress mandated that DOE develop regulations

[[Page 17360]]

establishing energy conservation standards for covered consumer and 
commercial appliances that are designed to achieve the maximum 
improvement in energy efficiency that are technologically feasible and 
economically justified. 42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(2)(A). The primary reason for 
using the negotiated rulemaking process for developing a proposed 
Federal standard is that stakeholders strongly support a consensual 
rulemaking effort. DOE believes such a regulatory negotiation process 
will be less adversarial and better suited to resolving complex 
technical issues. An important virtue of negotiated rulemaking is that 
it allows expert dialog that is much better than traditional techniques 
at getting the facts and issues right and will result in a proposed 
rule that will effectively reflect Congressional intent.
    A regulatory negotiation will enable DOE to engage in direct and 
sustained dialog with informed, interested, and affected parties when 
drafting the regulation, rather than obtaining input during a public 
comment period after developing and publishing a proposed rule. Gaining 
this early understanding of all parties' perspectives allows DOE to 
address key issues at an earlier stage of the process, thereby allowing 
more time for an iterative process to resolve issues. A rule drafted by 
negotiation with informed and affected parties is expected to be 
potentially more pragmatic and more easily implemented than a rule 
arising from the traditional process. Such rulemaking improvement is 
likely to provide the public with the full benefits of the rule while 
minimizing the potential negative impact of a proposed regulation 
conceived or drafted without the full prior input of outside 
knowledgeable parties. Because a negotiating working group includes 
representatives from the major stakeholder groups affected by or 
interested in the rule, the number of public comments on the proposed 
rule may be decreased. DOE anticipates that there will be a need for 
fewer substantive changes to a proposed rule developed under a 
regulatory negotiation process prior to the publication of a final 
rule.

B. The Concept of Negotiated Rulemaking

    Usually, DOE develops a proposed rulemaking using Department staff 
and consultant resources. Typically, a preliminary analysis is vetted 
for stakeholder comments after a Framework Document is published and 
comments taken thereon. After the notice of proposed rulemaking is 
published for comment, affected parties may submit arguments and data 
defining and supporting their positions with regard to the issues 
raised in the proposed rule. Congress noted in the NRA, however, that 
regulatory development may ``discourage the affected parties from 
meeting and communicating with each other, and may cause parties with 
different interests to assume conflicting and antagonistic positions * 
* *.'' 5 U.S.C. 561(2)(2). Congress also stated that ``adversarial 
rulemaking deprives the affected parties and the public of the benefits 
of face-to-face negotiations and cooperation in developing and reaching 
agreement on a rule. It also deprives them of the benefits of shared 
information, knowledge, expertise, and technical abilities possessed by 
the affected parties.'' 5 U.S.C. 561(2)(3).
    Using negotiated rulemaking to develop a proposed rule differs 
fundamentally from the Department centered process. In negotiated 
rulemaking, a proposed rule is developed by an advisory committee or 
working group, chartered under FACA, 5 U.S.C. App. 2, composed of 
members chosen to represent the various interests that will be 
significantly affected by the rule. The goal of the advisory committee 
or working group is to reach consensus on the treatment of the major 
issues involved with the rule. The process starts with the Department's 
careful identification of all interests potentially affected by the 
rulemaking under consideration. To help with this identification, the 
Department publishes a notice of intent such as this one in the Federal 
Register, identifying a preliminary list of interested parties and 
requesting public comment on that list. Following receipt of comments, 
the Department establishes an advisory committee or working group 
representing the full range of stakeholders to negotiate a consensus on 
the terms of a proposed rule. Representation on the advisory committee 
or working group may be direct; that is, each member may represent a 
specific interest, or may be indirect, such as through trade 
associations and/or similarly-situated parties with common interests. 
The Department is a member of the advisory committee or working group 
and represents the Federal government's interests. The advisory 
committee or working group chair is assisted by a neutral mediator who 
facilitates the negotiation process. The role of the mediator, also 
called a facilitator, is to apply proven consensus-building techniques 
to the advisory committee or working group process.
    After an advisory committee or working group reaches consensus on 
the provisions of a proposed rule, the Department, consistent with its 
legal obligations, uses such consensus as the basis of its proposed 
rule, which then is published in the Federal Register. This publication 
provides the required public notice and provides for a public comment 
period. Other participants and other interested parties retain their 
rights to comment, participate in an informal hearing (if requested), 
and request judicial review. DOE anticipates, however, that the pre-
proposal consensus agreed upon by the advisory committee or working 
group will narrow any issues in the subsequent rulemaking.

C. Proposed Rulemaking for Fans and Blowers Energy Conservation 
Standards

    The NRA enables DOE to establish an advisory committee or working 
group if it is determined that the use of the negotiated rulemaking 
process is in the public interest. DOE intends to develop Federal 
regulations that build on the depth of experience accrued in both the 
public and private sectors in implementing standards and programs.
    DOE has determined that the regulatory negotiation process will 
provide for obtaining a diverse array of in-depth input, as well as an 
opportunity for increased collaborative discussion from both private-
sector stakeholders and government officials who are familiar with 
energy efficiency of fans and blowers.

D. Department Commitment

    In initiating this regulatory negotiation process to develop energy 
conservation standards for fans and blowers, DOE is making a commitment 
to provide adequate resources to facilitate timely and successful 
completion of the process. This commitment includes making the process 
a priority activity for all representatives, components, officials, and 
personnel of the Department who need to be involved in the rulemaking, 
from the time of initiation until such time as a final rule is issued 
or the process is expressly terminated. DOE will provide administrative 
support for the process and will take steps to ensure that the advisory 
committee or working group has the dedicated resources it requires to 
complete its work in a timely fashion. Specifically, DOE will make 
available the following support services: Properly equipped space 
adequate for public meetings and caucuses; logistical support; word 
processing and

[[Page 17361]]

distribution of background information; the service of a facilitator; 
and such additional research and other technical assistance as may be 
necessary.
    To the maximum extent possible consistent with the legal 
obligations of the Department, DOE will use the consensus of the 
advisory committee or working group as the basis for the rule the 
Department proposes for public notice and comment.

E. Negotiating Consensus

    As discussed above, the negotiated rulemaking process differs 
fundamentally from the usual process for developing a proposed rule. 
Negotiation enables interested and affected parties to discuss various 
approaches to issues rather than asking them only to respond to a 
proposal developed by the Department. The negotiation process involves 
a mutual education of the various parties on the practical concerns 
about the impact of standards. Each advisory committee or working group 
member participates in resolving the interests and concerns of other 
members, rather than leaving it up to DOE to evaluate and incorporate 
different points of view.
    A key principle of negotiated rulemaking is that agreement is by 
consensus of all the interests. Thus, no one interest or group of 
interests is able to control the process. The NRA defines consensus as 
the unanimous concurrence among interests represented on a negotiated 
rulemaking committee or working group, unless the committee or working 
group itself unanimously agrees to use a different definition. 5 U.S.C. 
562. In addition, experience has demonstrated that using a trained 
mediator to facilitate this process will assist all parties, including 
DOE, in identifying their real interests in the rule, and thus will 
enable parties to focus on and resolve the important issues.

III. Proposed Negotiating Procedures

A. Key Issues for Negotiation

    The following issues and concerns will underlie the work of the 
Negotiated Rulemaking Committee on Fans and Blowers Equipment Energy 
Conservation Standards for fans and blowers:
     Scope of coverage (including any system interaction 
effects);
     Key test procedure conditions, as applicable; and
     Proposed energy conservation standard.
    To examine the underlying issues outlined above, and others not yet 
articulated, all parties in the negotiation will need DOE to provide 
data and an analytic framework complete and accurate enough to support 
their deliberations. DOE's analyses must be adequate to inform a 
prospective negotiation--for example, a notice of data availability or 
equivalent must be available and timely.

B. Formation of Working Group

    A working group will be formed and operated in full compliance with 
the requirements of FACA and in a manner consistent with the 
requirements of the NRA. DOE has determined that the working group not 
exceed 25 members. The Department believes that more than 25 members 
would make it difficult to conduct effective negotiations. DOE is aware 
that there are many more potential participants than there are 
membership slots on the working group. The Department does not believe, 
nor does the NRA contemplate, that each potentially affected group must 
participate directly in the negotiations; nevertheless, each affected 
interest can be adequately represented. To have a successful 
negotiation, it is important for interested parties to identify and 
form coalitions that adequately represent significantly affected 
interests. To provide adequate representation, those coalitions must 
agree to support, both financially and technically, a member of the 
working group whom they choose to represent their interests.
    DOE recognizes that when it establishes energy conservation 
standards for residential products and commercial equipment, various 
segments of society may be affected in different ways, in some cases 
producing unique ``interests'' in a proposed rule based on income, 
gender, or other factors. The Department will pay attention to 
providing that any unique interests that have been identified, and that 
may be significantly affected by the proposed rule, are represented.
    FACA also requires that members of the public have the opportunity 
to attend meetings of the full committee and speak or otherwise address 
the committee during the public comment period. In addition, any member 
of the public is permitted to file a written statement with the 
advisory committee. DOE plans to follow these same procedures in 
conducting meetings of the working group.

C. Interests Involved/Working Group Membership

    DOE anticipates that the working group will comprise no more than 
25 members who represent affected and interested stakeholder groups, at 
least one of whom must be a member of the ASRAC. As required by FACA, 
the Department will conduct the negotiated rulemaking with particular 
attention to ensuring full and balanced representation of those 
interests that may be significantly affected by the proposed rule 
governing rules of fans and blowers energy conservation standards. 
Section 562 of the NRA defines the term interest as ``with respect to 
an issue or matter, multiple parties which have a similar point of view 
or which are likely to be affected in a similar manner.'' Listed below 
are parties the Department to date has identified as being 
``significantly affected'' by a proposed rule regarding the energy 
conservation standards of fans and blowers.
     The Department of Energy
     Manufacturers of Fans and Blowers
     Manufacturers of Equipment that Purchase Fans and Blowers
     Trade Associations Representing Manufacturers of Fans and 
Blowers or Equipment that Purchase Fans and Blowers
     Utilities
     Energy Efficiency/Environmental Advocacy Groups
     Consumers
    One purpose of this notice of intent is to determine whether 
Federal regulations regarding fans and blowers energy conservation 
standards will significantly affect interests that are not listed 
above. DOE invites comment and suggestions on its initial list of 
significantly affected interests.
    Members may be individuals or organizations. If the effort is to be 
fruitful, participants on the working group should be able to fully and 
adequately represent the viewpoints of their respective interests. This 
document gives notice of DOE's process to other potential participants 
and affords them the opportunity to request representation in the 
negotiations. Those who wish to be appointed as members of the working 
group, should submit a request to DOE, in accordance with the public 
participation procedures outlined in the DATES and ADDRESSES sections 
of this notice of intent. Membership of the working group is likely to 
involve:
     Attendance at approximately ten (10); one (1) to two (2) 
day meetings;
     Travel costs to those meetings; and
     Preparation time for those meetings.
    Members serving on the working group will not receive compensation 
for their services. Interested parties who are not selected for 
membership on the working group may make valuable contributions to this 
negotiated rulemaking effort in any of the following ways:

[[Page 17362]]

     The person may request to be placed on the working group 
mailing list and submit written comments as appropriate.
     The person may attend working group meetings, which are 
open to the public; caucus with his or her interest's member on the 
working group; or even address the working group during the public 
comment portion of the working group meeting.
     The person could assist the efforts of a workgroup that 
the working group might establish.
    A working group may establish informal workgroups, which usually 
are asked to facilitate committee deliberations by assisting with 
various technical matters (e.g., researching or preparing summaries of 
the technical literature or comments on specific matters such as 
economic issues). Workgroups also might assist in estimating costs or 
drafting regulatory text on issues associated with the analysis of the 
costs and benefits addressed, or formulating drafts of the various 
provisions and their justifications as previously developed by the 
working group. Given their support function, workgroups usually consist 
of participants who have expertise or particular interest in the 
technical matter(s) being studied. Because it recognizes the importance 
of this support work for the working group, DOE will provide 
appropriate technical expertise for such workgroups.

D. Good Faith Negotiation

    Every working group member must be willing to negotiate in good 
faith and have the authority, granted by his or her constituency, to do 
so. The first step is to ensure that each member has good 
communications with his or her constituencies. An intra-interest 
network of communication should be established to bring information 
from the support organization to the member at the table, and to take 
information from the table back to the support organization. Second, 
each organization or coalition therefore should designate as its 
representative a person having the credibility and authority to ensure 
that needed information is provided and decisions are made in a timely 
fashion. Negotiated rulemaking can require the appointed members to 
give a significant sustained for as long as the duration of the 
negotiated rulemaking. Other qualities of members that can be helpful 
are negotiating experience and skills, and sufficient technical 
knowledge to participate in substantive negotiations.
    Certain concepts are central to negotiating in good faith. One is 
the willingness to bring all issues to the bargaining table in an 
attempt to reach a consensus, as opposed to keeping key issues in 
reserve. The second is a willingness to keep the issues at the table 
and not take them to other forums. Finally, good faith includes a 
willingness to move away from some of the positions often taken in a 
more traditional rulemaking process, and instead explore openly with 
other parties all ideas that may emerge from the working group's 
discussions.

E. Facilitator

    The facilitator will act as a neutral in the substantive 
development of the proposed standard. Rather, the facilitator's role 
generally includes:
     Impartially assisting the members of the working group in 
conducting discussions and negotiations; and
     Impartially assisting in performing the duties of the 
Designated Federal Official under FACA.

F. Department Representative

    The DOE representative will be a full and active participant in the 
consensus building negotiations. The Department's representative will 
meet regularly with senior Department officials, briefing them on the 
negotiations and receiving their suggestions and advice so that he or 
she can effectively represent the Department's views regarding the 
issues before the working group. DOE's representative also will ensure 
that the entire spectrum of governmental interests affected by the 
standards rulemaking, including the Office of Management and Budget, 
the Attorney General, and other Departmental offices, are kept informed 
of the negotiations and encouraged to make their concerns known in a 
timely fashion.

G. Working Group and Schedule

    After evaluating the comments submitted in response to this notice 
of intent and the requests for nominations, DOE will either inform the 
members of the working group that they have been selected or determine 
that conducting a negotiated rulemaking is inappropriate.
    The working group is expected to make a concerted effort to 
negotiate a final term sheet within three (3) months of its first 
meeting. At the completion of negotiation, the term sheet will be 
presented to ASRAC at an open meeting for their deliberation and 
decision on whether or not to pass it on as a formal recommendation to 
DOE. As part of its negotiations, the working group should consider 
scope of coverage and system interaction impacts of potential 
standards.
    DOE will advise working group members of administrative matters 
related to the functions of the working group before beginning. DOE 
will establish a meeting schedule based on the settlement agreement and 
produce the necessary documents so as to adhere to that schedule. While 
the negotiated rulemaking process is underway, DOE is committed to 
performing much of the same analysis as it would during a normal 
standards rulemaking process and to providing information and technical 
support to the working group.

IV. Comments Requested

    DOE requests comments on which parties should be included in a 
negotiated rulemaking to develop draft language pertaining to the 
energy conservation standards of fans and blowers and suggestions of 
additional interests and/or stakeholders that should be represented on 
the working group. All who wish to participate as members of the 
working group should submit a request for nomination to DOE.

V. Public Participation

Attendance at the Public Meeting
    The time, date, and location of the public meeting are listed in 
the DATES and ADDRESSES sections. If you plan to attend the public 
meeting, please notify asrac@doe.gov. Please note that foreign 
nationals participating in the public meeting are subject to advance 
security screening procedures which require advance notice prior to 
attendance at the public meeting. If a foreign national wishes to 
participate in the public meeting, please inform DOE as soon as 
possible by contacting regina.washington@ee.doe.gov so that the 
necessary procedures can be completed. Please also note that those 
wishing to bring laptops into the Forrestal Building will be required 
to obtain a property pass. Visitors should avoid bringing laptops, or 
allow an extra 45 minutes.
    In addition, you can attend the public meeting via webinar. Webinar 
registration information, participant instructions, and information 
about the capabilities available to webinar participants will be 
published on DOE's Web site at: https://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/rulemaking.aspx?ruleid=25. Participants are 
responsible for ensuring their systems are compatible with the webinar 
software.
Conduct of the Public Meeting
    DOE will designate a DOE official to preside at the public meeting 
and may also use a professional facilitator to aid discussion. The 
meeting will not be a judicial or evidentiary-type public

[[Page 17363]]

hearing, but DOE will conduct it in accordance with section 336 of 
EPCA. (42 U.S.C. 6306) A court reporter will be present to record the 
proceedings and prepare a transcript. DOE reserves the right to 
schedule the order of presentations and to establish the procedures 
governing the conduct of the public meeting. After the public meeting, 
interested parties may submit further comments on the proceedings as 
well as on any aspect of the rulemaking until the end of the comment 
period.
    The public meeting will be conducted in an informal, conference 
style. DOE will present summaries of comments received before the 
public meeting, allow time for prepared general statements by 
participants, and encourage all interested parties to share their views 
on issues affecting this rulemaking. Each participant will be allowed 
to make a general statement (within time limits determined by DOE), 
before the discussion of specific topics. DOE will allow, as time 
permits, other participants to comment briefly on any general 
statements.

VI. Approval of the Office of the Secretary

    The Secretary of Energy has approved publication of today's notice 
of proposed rulemaking.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on March 26, 2015.
Kathleen B. Hogan,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
[FR Doc. 2015-07470 Filed 3-31-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P