Energy Efficiency Program for Consumer Products: Energy Conservation Standards for Fluorescent Lamp Ballasts, 35886-35888 [2015-15383]
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35886
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 120 / Tuesday, June 23, 2015 / Proposed Rules
(ii) The upper 95 percent confidence
limit (UCL) of the true mean divided by
1.10, where:
¯
and, x is the sample mean;
s is the sample standard deviation;
n is the number of samples; and
t0.95 is the t statistic for a 95 percent twotailed confidence interval with n-1
degrees of freedom (from Appendix A of
this subpart).
*
*
*
*
*
PART 431—ENERGY EFFICIENCY
PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN
COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL
EQUIPMENT
3. The authority citation for part 431
continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6291–6317.
4. Section 431.262 is revised to read
as follows:
■
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§ 431.262
Definitions.
Basic model means all units of a given
type of covered product (or class
thereof) manufactured by one
manufacturer, having the same primary
energy source, and which have
essentially identical electrical, physical,
and functional (or hydraulic)
characteristics that affect energy
consumption, energy efficiency, water
consumption, or water efficiency.
Commercial prerinse spray valve
means a handheld device, containing a
normally-closed valve, suitable for use
with commercial dishwashing and ware
washing equipment for the purpose of
removing food residue before cleaning
the items.
Normally-closed valve means a valve
that opens when an external force is
exerted upon it and automatically closes
when the external force is removed.
Spray force means the amount of force
exerted onto the spray disc, measured in
ounce-force (ozf).
■ 5. Section 431.263 is amended by
revising paragraph (b)(1) to read as
follows:
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each spray pattern, rounded to one
decimal place.
*
*
*
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(b) * * *
(1) ASTM Standard F2324–13,
(‘‘ASTM F2324–13’’), Standard Test
Method for Prerinse Spray Valves,
approved June 1, 2013; IBR approved as
follows, sections: 6.1—6.9, 9.1–9.5.3.2,
10.1–10.2.5, 10.3.1–10.3.8, and 11.3.1
(replacing ‘‘nozzles’’ with ‘‘nozzle’’),
excluding reference to the Annex, IBR
approved for § 431.264.
*
*
*
*
*
■ 6. Section 431.264 is revised to read
as follows:
[FR Doc. 2015–15376 Filed 6–22–15; 8:45 am]
§ 431.264 Uniform test method to measure
flow rate and spray force of commercial
prerinse spray valves.
AGENCY:
(a) Scope. This section provides the
test procedure to measure the water
consumption flow rate and spray force
of a commercial prerinse spray valve.
(b) Testing and Calculations.—(1)
Flow rate. Test a sample unit in
accordance with the requirements of
sections 6.1 through 6.9 (Apparatus)
except 6.4 and 6.7, 9.1 through 9.4
(Preparation of Apparatus), and 10.1
through 10.2.5 (Procedure), and perform
calculations in accordance with section
11.3.1 (Calculation and Report) of
ASTM F2324–13, (incorporated by
reference, see § 431.263). Disregard any
references to the Annex. Record flow
rate measurements at the resolutions of
the test instrumentation. For the sample
unit, calculate the mean of the flow rate
measurements. Round the final value for
flow rate to two decimal places.
(2) Spray force. Test each sample unit
in accordance with the test
requirements specified in sections 6.2
and 6.4 through 6.9 (Apparatus), 9.1
through 9.5.3.2 (Preparation of
Apparatus), and 10.3.1 through 10.3.8
(Procedure) of ASTM F2324–13.
Disregard any references to the Annex.
Record spray force measurements at the
resolution of the test instrumentation.
For each sample unit, calculate the
mean of the spray force measurements.
Round the spray force to one decimal
place.
(3) Multiple spray patterns. If a
sample unit has multiple spray patterns,
for each possible spray pattern:
(i) Measure both the flow rate and
spray force according to paragraphs
(b)(1) and (b)(2) of this section
(including calculating the mean flow
rate and spray force for each spray
pattern); and
(ii) Record the mean flow rate for each
spray pattern, rounded to two decimal
places. Record the mean spray force for
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BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
10 CFR Part 430
[Docket No. EERE–2015–BT–STD–0006]
RIN 1904–AD51
Energy Efficiency Program for
Consumer Products: Energy
Conservation Standards for
Fluorescent Lamp Ballasts
Office of Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy, Department of
Energy.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting and
availability of the Framework
Document.
The U.S. Department of
Energy (DOE) is initiating this
rulemaking and data collection process
to consider amending energy
conservation standards for fluorescent
lamp ballasts. To inform interested
parties and to facilitate this process,
DOE has prepared a Framework
Document that details the analytical
approach and scope of coverage for the
rulemaking, and identifies several issues
on which DOE is particularly interested
in receiving comments. DOE will hold
a public meeting to discuss and receive
comments on its planned analytical
approach and issues it will address in
this rulemaking proceeding. DOE
welcomes written comments and
relevant data from the public on any
subject within the scope of this
rulemaking. A copy of the Framework
Document is available at: https://
www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/
appliance_standards/
rulemaking.aspx?ruleid=110.
DATES: Comments: DOE will accept
written comments, data, and
information regarding the Framework
Document before and after the public
meeting, but no later than August 7,
2015.
Meeting: DOE will hold a public
meeting on Friday, July 17, 2015, from
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in Washington,
DC. Additionally, DOE plans to conduct
the public meeting via webinar. You
may attend the public meeting via
webinar, and 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/
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\23JNP1.SGM
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EP23JN15.023</GPH>
¯
and, x is the sample mean;
n is the number of samples; and
xi is the ith sample; Or,
§ 431.263 Materials incorporated by
reference.
EP23JN15.022</GPH>
randomly selected and tested to ensure
that any represented value of water
consumption or other measure of water
consumption of a basic model for which
consumers would favor lower values
must be greater than or equal to the
higher of:
(i) The mean of the sample, where:
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 120 / Tuesday, June 23, 2015 / Proposed Rules
rulemaking.aspx?ruleid=110.
Participants are responsible for ensuring
their systems are compatible with the
webinar software.
DOE must receive requests to speak at
the public meeting before 4:00 p.m., July
6, 2015. DOE must receive an electronic
copy of the statement with the name
and, if appropriate, the organization of
the presenter to be given at the public
meeting before 4:00 p.m., July 10, 2015.
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
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 Ms.
Regina Washington at (202) 586–1214 or
by email: Regina.Washington@
ee.doe.gov so that the necessary
procedures can be completed. Please
note that any person wishing to bring a
laptop computer into the Forrestal
Building will be required to obtain a
property pass. Visitors should avoid
bringing laptops, or allow an extra 45
minutes. As noted above, persons may
also attend the public meeting via
webinar.
Interested parties are encouraged to
submit comments electronically.
However, comments may be submitted
by any of the following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal:
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
• Email:
FluorLampBallast2015STD0006@
ee.doe.gov. Include docket number
EERE–2015–BT–STD–0006 and/or
regulatory identification number (RIN)
1904–AD51 in the subject line of the
message. All comments should clearly
identify the name, address, and, if
appropriate, organization of the
commenter. Submit electronic
comments in WordPerfect, Microsoft
Word, PDF, or ASCII file format, and
avoid the use of special characters or
any form of encryption.
• Postal Mail: Ms. Brenda Edwards,
U.S. Department of Energy, Building
Technologies Program, Mailstop EE–5B,
Framework Document for Fluorescent
Lamp Ballasts, Docket No. EERE–2015–
BT–STD–0006 and/or RIN 1904–AD51,
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.
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[Please note that comments sent by mail
are often delayed and may be damaged
by mail screening processes.]
• Hand Delivery/Courier: Ms. Brenda
Edwards, U.S. Department of Energy,
Building Technologies Program, Sixth
Floor, 950 L’Enfant Plaza SW.,
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.
Instructions: All submissions received
must include the agency name and
docket number and/or RIN for this
rulemaking. No telefacsimilies (faxes)
will be accepted.
Docket: The docket is available for
review at https://www.regulations.gov,
and will include Federal Register
notices, framework document, notice of
proposed rulemaking, public meeting
attendee lists and transcripts,
comments, and other supporting
documents/materials throughout the
rulemaking process. The regulations.gov
Web page contains simple instructions
on how to access all documents,
including public comments, in the
docket. The docket can be accessed by
searching for docket number EERE–
2015–BT–STD–0006 on the
regulations.gov Web site. 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.
Ms.
Lucy deButts, U.S. Department of
Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy, Building
Technologies Office, EE–5B, 1000
Independence Avenue SW.,
Washington, DC 20585–0121.
Telephone: (202) 287–1604. Email:
fluorescent_lamp_ballasts@ee.doe.gov.
Ms. Sarah Butler, U.S. Department of
Energy, Office of the General Counsel,
GC–33, 1000 Independence Avenue
SW., Washington, DC 20585–0121.
Telephone: (202) 586–1777. Email:
Sarah.Butler@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 Office, EE–5B,
1000 Independence Avenue SW.,
Washington, DC 20585–0121.
Telephone (202) 586–2945. Email:
Brenda.Edwards@ee.doe.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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35887
Title III, Part Ba of the Energy Policy
and Conservation Act of 1975 (EPCA or
the Act), Public Law 94–163, (42 U.S.C.
6291–6309, as codified) sets forth a
variety of provisions designed to
improve energy efficiency and
established the Energy Conservation
Program for Consumer Products Other
Than Automobiles, a program covering
major household appliances
(collectively referred to as ‘‘covered
products’’).b Part C of title III (42 U.S.C.
6311–6317) establishes an energy
conservation program for certain
industrial and commercial equipment.
EPCA authorizes DOE to establish
technologically feasible, economically
justified energy conservation standards
for covered products or equipment that
would be likely to result in significant
national energy savings. (42 U.S.C.
6295(o)(2)(B)(i)(I)–(VII))
Additional amendments to EPCA
have given DOE the authority to regulate
the energy efficiency of several
products, including certain fluorescent
lamp ballasts—the products that are the
subject of this document. Amendments
to EPCA in the National Appliance
Energy Conservation Amendments of
1988 (NAECA 1988), Public Law 100–
357, established energy conservation
standards for fluorescent lamp ballasts.
(42 U.S.C. 6295(g)(5)) These same
amendments also required that DOE: (1)
Conduct two rulemaking cycles to
determine whether these standards
should be amended; and (2) for each
rulemaking cycle, determine whether
the standards in effect for fluorescent
lamp ballasts should be amended so that
they would be applicable to additional
fluorescent lamp ballasts. (42 U.S.C.
6295(g)(7)(A)–(B)) DOE completed these
two rulemaking cycles in 2000 and
2011. 65 FR 56740 (Sept. 19, 2000) and
76 FR 70548 (Nov. 14, 2011).
EPCA mandates that within six years
of the publication of the previous final
rule, DOE is required to publish either
a notice of determination that standards
do not need to be amended or a notice
of proposed rulemaking including new
proposed standards. (42 U.S.C. 6295(m))
This notice and the associated public
meeting represent the first step in the
process to consider whether to amend
energy conservation standards for
fluorescent ballasts in that six year
review process.
DOE has prepared the Framework
Document to explain the relevant issues,
analyses, and processes it anticipates
a For editorial reasons, upon codification in the
U.S. Code, Part B was redesignated Part A.
b All references to EPCA in this document refer
to the statute as amended through the American
Energy Manufacturing Technical Corrections Act
(AEMTCA), Public Law 112–210 (Dec. 18, 2012).
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35888
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 120 / Tuesday, June 23, 2015 / Proposed Rules
using when considering new or
amended energy conservation standards
for fluorescent lamp ballasts. The focus
of the public meeting noted above will
be to discuss the information presented
and issues identified in the Framework
Document. At the public meeting, DOE
will make presentations and invite
discussion on the rulemaking process as
it applies to fluorescent lamp ballasts.
DOE will also solicit comments, data,
and information from participants and
other interested parties.
DOE is planning to conduct in-depth
technical analyses in the following
areas: (1) Engineering; (2) energy use; (3)
product price; (4) life-cycle cost and
payback period; (5) national impacts; (6)
manufacturer impacts; (7) emission
impacts; (8) utility impacts; (9)
employment impacts; and (10)
regulatory impacts. DOE will also
conduct several other analyses that
support those previously listed,
including the market and technology
assessment, the screening analysis
(which contributes to the engineering
analysis), and the shipments analysis
(which contributes to the national
impact analysis).
DOE encourages those who wish to
participate in the public meeting to
obtain the Framework Document and to
be prepared to discuss its contents. A
copy of the Framework Document is
available at: https://
www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/
appliance_standards/
rulemaking.aspx?ruleid=110.
Public meeting participants need not
limit their comments to the issues
identified in the Framework Document.
DOE is also interested in comments on
other relevant issues that participants
believe would affect energy
conservation standards for these
products, applicable test procedures, or
the preliminary determination on the
scope of coverage. DOE invites all
interested parties, whether or not they
participate in the public meeting, to
submit in writing by August 7, 2015,
comments and information on matters
addressed in the Framework Document
and on other matters relevant to DOE’s
consideration of coverage of and
standards for fluorescent lamp ballasts.
The public meeting will be conducted
in an informal, facilitated, conference
style. There shall be no discussion of
proprietary information, costs or prices,
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 available for
purchase from the court reporter and
placed on the DOE Web site at: https://
www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/
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16:48 Jun 22, 2015
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appliance_standards/
rulemaking.aspx?ruleid=110.
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 public
comments it receives.
DOE considers public participation to
be a very important part of the process
for determining whether to establish or
amend energy conservation standards
and, if so, in setting those new or
amended standards. DOE actively
encourages the participation and
interaction of the public during the
comment period at each stage of the
rulemaking process. Beginning with the
Framework Document, and during each
subsequent public meeting and
comment period, interactions with and
among members of the public provide a
balanced discussion of the issues to
assist DOE in the standards rulemaking
process. Accordingly, anyone who
wishes to participate in the public
meeting, receive meeting materials, or
be added to the DOE mailing list to
receive future notices and information
about this rulemaking should contact
Ms. Brenda Edwards at (202) 586–2945,
or via email at Brenda.Edwards@
ee.doe.gov.
Issued in Washington, DC, on June 17,
2015.
Kathleen B. Hogan,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy
Efficiency, Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy.
[FR Doc. 2015–15383 Filed 6–22–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
FARM CREDIT ADMINISTRATION
12 CFR Parts 607, 614, 615, 620 and
628
RIN 3052–AC81
Regulatory Capital Rules: Regulatory
Capital, Implementation of Tier 1/Tier 2
Framework
Farm Credit Administration.
Proposed rule; reopening of
comment period.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The Farm Credit
Administration (FCA or we) is
reopening the comment period on the
proposed rule that would revise our
regulatory capital requirements for Farm
Credit System (System) institutions to
include tier 1 and tier 2 risk-based
capital ratio requirements, a tier 1
leverage requirement, a capital
conservation buffer, revised risk
SUMMARY:
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weightings, and additional public
disclosure requirements.
DATES: You may send us comments from
June 26, 2015, through July 10, 2015.
ADDRESSES: For accuracy and efficiency
reasons, please submit comments by
email or through the FCA’s Web site.
We do not accept comments submitted
by facsimile (fax), as faxes are difficult
for us to process in compliance with
section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.
Please do not submit your comment
multiple times via different methods.
You may submit comments by any of
the following methods:
• Email: Send us an email at regcomm@fca.gov.
• FCA Web site: https://www.fca.gov.
Select ‘‘Public Commenters,’’ then
‘‘Public Comments,’’ and follow the
directions for ‘‘Submitting a Comment.’’
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
• Mail: Barry F. Mardock, Deputy
Director, Office of Regulatory Policy,
Farm Credit Administration, 1501 Farm
Credit Drive, McLean, VA 22102–5090.
You may review copies of all
comments we receive at our office in
McLean, Virginia, or from our Web site
at https://www.fca.gov. Once you are in
the Web site, select ‘‘Public
Commenters,’’ then ‘‘Public
Comments,’’ and follow the directions
for ‘‘Reading Submitted Public
Comments.’’ We will show your
comments as submitted, but for
technical reasons we may omit items
such as logos and special characters.
Identifying information you provide,
such as phone numbers and addresses,
will be publicly available. However, we
will attempt to remove email addresses
to help reduce Internet spam.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
J.C. Floyd, Associate Director, Finance
and Capital Markets Team, Office of
Regulatory Policy, Farm Credit
Administration, McLean, VA 22102–
5090, (720) 213–0924, TTY (703) 883–
4056;
or
Rebecca S. Orlich, Senior Counsel, or
Jennifer A. Cohn, Senior Counsel,
Office of General Counsel, Farm
Credit Administration, McLean, VA
22102–5090, (703) 883–4020, TTY
(703) 883–4056.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On
September 4, 2014, FCA published a
proposed rule to revise our regulatory
capital requirements for Farm Credit
System (System) institutions to establish
tier 1/tier 2 risk-based capital ratio
requirements (replacing core surplus
and total surplus ratios), a tier 1
E:\FR\FM\23JNP1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 120 (Tuesday, June 23, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 35886-35888]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-15383]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
10 CFR Part 430
[Docket No. EERE-2015-BT-STD-0006]
RIN 1904-AD51
Energy Efficiency Program for Consumer Products: Energy
Conservation Standards for Fluorescent Lamp Ballasts
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 this
rulemaking and data collection process to consider amending energy
conservation standards for fluorescent lamp ballasts. To inform
interested parties and to facilitate this process, DOE has prepared a
Framework Document that details the analytical approach and scope of
coverage for the rulemaking, and identifies several issues on which DOE
is particularly interested in receiving comments. DOE will hold a
public meeting to discuss and receive comments on its planned
analytical approach and issues it will address in this rulemaking
proceeding. DOE welcomes written comments and relevant data from the
public on any subject within the scope of this rulemaking. A copy of
the Framework Document is available at: https://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/rulemaking.aspx?ruleid=110.
DATES: Comments: DOE will accept written comments, data, and
information regarding the Framework Document before and after the
public meeting, but no later than August 7, 2015.
Meeting: DOE will hold a public meeting on Friday, July 17, 2015,
from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in Washington, DC. Additionally, DOE plans
to conduct the public meeting via webinar. You may attend the public
meeting via webinar, and 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/
[[Page 35887]]
rulemaking.aspx?ruleid=110. Participants are responsible for ensuring
their systems are compatible with the webinar software.
DOE must receive requests to speak at the public meeting before
4:00 p.m., July 6, 2015. DOE must receive an electronic copy of the
statement with the name and, if appropriate, the organization of the
presenter to be given at the public meeting before 4:00 p.m., July 10,
2015.
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 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
Ms. Regina Washington at (202) 586-1214 or by email:
Regina.Washington@ee.doe.gov so that the necessary procedures can be
completed. Please note that any person wishing to bring a laptop
computer into the Forrestal Building will be required to obtain a
property pass. Visitors should avoid bringing laptops, or allow an
extra 45 minutes. As noted above, persons may also attend the public
meeting via webinar.
Interested parties are encouraged to submit comments
electronically. However, comments may be submitted by any of the
following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: www.regulations.gov. Follow
the instructions for submitting comments.
Email: FluorLampBallast2015STD0006@ee.doe.gov. Include
docket number EERE-2015-BT-STD-0006 and/or regulatory identification
number (RIN) 1904-AD51 in the subject line of the message. All comments
should clearly identify the name, address, and, if appropriate,
organization of the commenter. Submit electronic comments in
WordPerfect, Microsoft Word, PDF, or ASCII file format, and avoid the
use of special characters or any form of encryption.
Postal Mail: Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department of
Energy, Building Technologies Program, Mailstop EE-5B, Framework
Document for Fluorescent Lamp Ballasts, Docket No. EERE-2015-BT-STD-
0006 and/or RIN 1904-AD51, 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.
[Please note that comments sent by mail are often delayed and may be
damaged by mail screening processes.]
Hand Delivery/Courier: Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department
of Energy, Building Technologies Program, Sixth Floor, 950 L'Enfant
Plaza SW., 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.
Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name
and docket number and/or RIN for this rulemaking. No telefacsimilies
(faxes) will be accepted.
Docket: The docket is available for review at https://www.regulations.gov, and will include Federal Register notices,
framework document, notice of proposed rulemaking, public meeting
attendee lists and transcripts, comments, and other supporting
documents/materials throughout the rulemaking process. The
regulations.gov Web page contains simple instructions on how to access
all documents, including public comments, in the docket. The docket can
be accessed by searching for docket number EERE-2015-BT-STD-0006 on the
regulations.gov Web site. 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: Ms. Lucy deButts, U.S. Department of
Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building
Technologies Office, EE-5B, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington,
DC 20585-0121. Telephone: (202) 287-1604. Email:
fluorescent_lamp_ballasts@ee.doe.gov.
Ms. Sarah Butler, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the General
Counsel, GC-33, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585-
0121. Telephone: (202) 586-1777. Email: Sarah.Butler@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 Office, EE-5B, 1000 Independence Avenue
SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121. Telephone (202) 586-2945. Email:
Brenda.Edwards@ee.doe.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title III, Part B\a\ of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of
1975 (EPCA or the Act), Public Law 94-163, (42 U.S.C. 6291-6309, as
codified) sets forth a variety of provisions designed to improve energy
efficiency and established the Energy Conservation Program for Consumer
Products Other Than Automobiles, a program covering major household
appliances (collectively referred to as ``covered products'').\b\ Part
C of title III (42 U.S.C. 6311-6317) establishes an energy conservation
program for certain industrial and commercial equipment. EPCA
authorizes DOE to establish technologically feasible, economically
justified energy conservation standards for covered products or
equipment that would be likely to result in significant national energy
savings. (42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(2)(B)(i)(I)-(VII))
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\a\ For editorial reasons, upon codification in the U.S. Code,
Part B was redesignated Part A.
\b\ All references to EPCA in this document refer to the statute
as amended through the American Energy Manufacturing Technical
Corrections Act (AEMTCA), Public Law 112-210 (Dec. 18, 2012).
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Additional amendments to EPCA have given DOE the authority to
regulate the energy efficiency of several products, including certain
fluorescent lamp ballasts--the products that are the subject of this
document. Amendments to EPCA in the National Appliance Energy
Conservation Amendments of 1988 (NAECA 1988), Public Law 100-357,
established energy conservation standards for fluorescent lamp
ballasts. (42 U.S.C. 6295(g)(5)) These same amendments also required
that DOE: (1) Conduct two rulemaking cycles to determine whether these
standards should be amended; and (2) for each rulemaking cycle,
determine whether the standards in effect for fluorescent lamp ballasts
should be amended so that they would be applicable to additional
fluorescent lamp ballasts. (42 U.S.C. 6295(g)(7)(A)-(B)) DOE completed
these two rulemaking cycles in 2000 and 2011. 65 FR 56740 (Sept. 19,
2000) and 76 FR 70548 (Nov. 14, 2011).
EPCA mandates that within six years of the publication of the
previous final rule, DOE is required to publish either a notice of
determination that standards do not need to be amended or a notice of
proposed rulemaking including new proposed standards. (42 U.S.C.
6295(m)) This notice and the associated public meeting represent the
first step in the process to consider whether to amend energy
conservation standards for fluorescent ballasts in that six year review
process.
DOE has prepared the Framework Document to explain the relevant
issues, analyses, and processes it anticipates
[[Page 35888]]
using when considering new or amended energy conservation standards for
fluorescent lamp ballasts. The focus of the public meeting noted above
will be to discuss the information presented and issues identified in
the Framework Document. At the public meeting, DOE will make
presentations and invite discussion on the rulemaking process as it
applies to fluorescent lamp ballasts. DOE will also solicit comments,
data, and information from participants and other interested parties.
DOE is planning to conduct in-depth technical analyses in the
following areas: (1) Engineering; (2) energy use; (3) product price;
(4) life-cycle cost and payback period; (5) national impacts; (6)
manufacturer impacts; (7) emission impacts; (8) utility impacts; (9)
employment impacts; and (10) regulatory impacts. DOE will also conduct
several other analyses that support those previously listed, including
the market and technology assessment, the screening analysis (which
contributes to the engineering analysis), and the shipments analysis
(which contributes to the national impact analysis).
DOE encourages those who wish to participate in the public meeting
to obtain the Framework Document and to be prepared to discuss its
contents. A copy of the Framework Document is available at: https://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/rulemaking.aspx?ruleid=110.
Public meeting participants need not limit their comments to the
issues identified in the Framework Document. DOE is also interested in
comments on other relevant issues that participants believe would
affect energy conservation standards for these products, applicable
test procedures, or the preliminary determination on the scope of
coverage. DOE invites all interested parties, whether or not they
participate in the public meeting, to submit in writing by August 7,
2015, comments and information on matters addressed in the Framework
Document and on other matters relevant to DOE's consideration of
coverage of and standards for fluorescent lamp ballasts.
The public meeting will be conducted in an informal, facilitated,
conference style. There shall be no discussion of proprietary
information, costs or prices, 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
available for purchase from the court reporter and placed on the DOE
Web site at: https://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/rulemaking.aspx?ruleid=110.
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 public comments it receives.
DOE considers public participation to be a very important part of
the process for determining whether to establish or amend energy
conservation standards and, if so, in setting those new or amended
standards. DOE actively encourages the participation and interaction of
the public during the comment period at each stage of the rulemaking
process. Beginning with the Framework Document, and during each
subsequent public meeting and comment period, interactions with and
among members of the public provide a balanced discussion of the issues
to assist DOE in the standards rulemaking process. Accordingly, anyone
who wishes to participate in the public meeting, receive meeting
materials, or be added to the DOE mailing list to receive future
notices and information about this rulemaking should contact Ms. Brenda
Edwards at (202) 586-2945, or via email at Brenda.Edwards@ee.doe.gov.
Issued in Washington, DC, on June 17, 2015.
Kathleen B. Hogan,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency, Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy.
[FR Doc. 2015-15383 Filed 6-22-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
