Energy Conservation Standards and Test Procedure for Miscellaneous Refrigeration Products: Notice of Data Availability; Request for Information, 77589-77591 [2015-31566]
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77589
Proposed Rules
Federal Register
Vol. 80, No. 240
Tuesday, December 15, 2015
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER
contains notices to the public of the proposed
issuance of rules and regulations. The
purpose of these notices is to give interested
persons an opportunity to participate in the
rule making prior to the adoption of the final
rules.
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
10 CFR Part 430
[Docket Number EERE–2011–BT–STD–
0043]
RIN 1904–AC51
Energy Conservation Standards and
Test Procedure for Miscellaneous
Refrigeration Products: Notice of Data
Availability; Request for Information
Office of Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy, Department of
Energy.
ACTION: Notice of data availability
(NODA); request for information (RFI).
AGENCY:
The U.S. Department of
Energy (DOE) is currently weighing
whether and how to regulate the energy
efficiency of certain refrigeration
products such as wine chillers and
beverage centers (collectively,
‘‘coolers’’). These ‘‘miscellaneous
refrigeration products’’ (‘‘MREFs’’)
include coolers that do not operate
using a conventional compressor/
condenser-based system, particularly
those products that use a
thermoelectric-based refrigeration
system. In support of this effort, DOE
has collected and analyzed a variety of
data to better understand the
composition of the MREF industry and
its products. To ensure its
understanding of this market and its
products, DOE is requesting additional
information from the public related to
the manufacturers of thermoelectricbased MREFs.
DATES: DOE will accept comments, data,
and information regarding the NODA no
later than January 14, 2016. Details
regarding the data referenced in this
document are provided in docket EERE–
2011–BT–STD–0043, available at
www.regulations.gov.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be
submitted to the addresses provided in
section IV. of the SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION.
The docket, EERE–2011–BT–STD–
0043, is available for review at
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
SUMMARY:
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www.regulations.gov, including Federal
Register notices, comments, and other
supporting documents or 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.
A link to the docket Web page can be
found at: https://www.regulations.gov/
#!docketDetail;D=EERE-2011-BT-STD0043. The regulations.gov Web page
contains instructions on how to access
all documents in the docket, including
public comments. For further
information on how to review the
docket, contact Ms. Brenda Edwards at
(202) 586–2945 or by email:
Brenda.Edwards@ee.doe.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Direct requests for additional
information may be sent to Mr. Joseph
Hagerman, 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: 202–586–4549. Email:
Joseph.Hagerman@ee.doe.gov.
In the office of the General Counsel,
contact Mr. Michael Kido, Esq., U.S.
Department of Energy, Office of General
Counsel, GC–33, 1000 Independence
Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585–
0121, (202) 586–8145, Michael.Kido@
hq.doe.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
I. Miscellaneous Refrigeration Products—
Background
II. Results and Analyses Summary
III. Request for Information and Specific
Issues for Which DOE Is Seeking
Comment
IV. Public Participation
I. Miscellaneous Refrigeration
Products—Background
In November 2011, the Department of
Energy (‘‘DOE’’) began a process to
consider whether to include as covered
products and establish energy
conservation standards for certain types
of refrigeration products that largely fall
outside of DOE’s regulations pertaining
to refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, and
freezers.1 See 76 FR 69147 (November 8,
1 For a narrow sliver of products that combined
a wine storage compartment with a fresh food or
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
2011) (Notice of Proposed
Determination) and 10 CFR 430.32(a)
(setting out energy conservation
standards for each class of refrigerator,
refrigerator-freezer, and freezer
currently regulated by DOE). Chief
among the products garnering DOE’s
attention were products such as wine
chillers (‘‘coolers’’)—which typically
provide storage temperatures exceeding
those used in those products already
addressed by DOE’s regulations. Cooling
the storage areas of these products can
be accomplished using different
methods. One method is to use a
conventional compressor/condenserbased system that feeds cold air into the
internal storage compartment of the
product. Another method—
thermoelectric-based cooling—relies on
the use of a solid-state heat pump that
creates a cooling effect when electric
current passes through two conductors.
Under this approach, a temperature
difference is created between the
junction of two different types of
materials as voltage is applied to the
free ends of each material. Both of these
technologies were considered in DOE’s
approach to regulating miscellaneous
refrigeration equipment.
Pursuant to the Energy Policy and
Conservation Act of 1975, as amended
(‘‘EPCA’’), DOE may add a new product
to its scope of regulatory coverage when
certain criteria are met. See 42 U.S.C.
6292(b) (laying out specific criteria to
satisfy when classifying a consumer
product not already statutorily-covered
as a covered product). Similarly, DOE
may set energy conservation standards
for those newly covered products if
additional criteria are met. See 42 U.S.C.
6295(l) (detailing additional
requirements to meet prior to
prescribing standards for newly covered
products). As part of its continuing
efforts to improve consumer product
and industrial equipment energy
efficiency, DOE is considering including
miscellaneous refrigeration products
(‘‘MREFs’’), such as coolers that do not
use a compressor/condenser-based
system, to its list of products for
freezer compartment (‘‘combination coolers’’), DOE
had previously issued guidance indicating that
these products may fall within the electric
refrigerator and electric refrigerator-freezer
definitions. See Refrigerators and Freezers
Guidance (February 10, 2011) (discussing the
treatment of ‘‘hybrid’’ refrigeration products—i.e.,
cominbation coolers).
E:\FR\FM\15DEP1.SGM
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77590
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 240 / Tuesday, December 15, 2015 / Proposed Rules
regulatory coverage authority and to set
energy conservation standards for them.
To help better inform its potential
regulation of these items, DOE
announced its intention to establish a
negotiated rulemaking working group
that would operate under the Appliance
Standards and Rulemaking Federal
Advisory Committee (‘‘ASRAC’’) with
the purpose of exploring possible energy
efficiency requirements for MREFs. See
80 FR 17355 (April 1, 2015). DOE
solicited the public for participants to
help serve on the MREF Working Group
and identified various groups who
would be significantly affected by a
rulemaking that would address MREF
energy efficiency. See id. at 17357. The
Working Group ultimately reached
consensus among its members on a
variety of issues, including the potential
scope of coverage, applicable
definitions, test procedure details, and
energy conservation standards that
would apply to these products. This
effort, which was conducted in
accordance with the Federal Advisory
Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App. 2) and the
Negotiated Rulemaking Act (5 U.S.C.
561–570), produced a consensus
agreement addressing the above issues.
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
II. Results and Analyses Summary
The consensus agreement reached by
the various participating parties was
based on research and testing data
related to MREF products. The data
from this effort were used to create a
comprehensive technical analysis that
the Working Group used to develop the
recommendations in its consensus
agreement. The agreement was prepared
for submission to ASRAC, which would
then weigh its merits for approval for
further consideration by DOE.
Among the issues considered by the
Working Group were the potential
impacts related to manufacturers of
thermoelectric-based MREF products.
While DOE believes that the MREF
Working Group, which included one
manufacturer who currently sells
thermoelectric-based products and other
manufacturers who have sold
thermoelectric coolers in the past,
comprised a group of persons that are
fairly representative of relevant points
of view, including manufacturers of
thermoelectric-based MREF products,
DOE is seeking comment and any
additional information regarding the
nature of these manufacturers, and the
marketing nuances and other issues
specifically facing the manufacturers of
thermoelectric-based MREF products.
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III. Request for Information and
Specific Issues for Which DOE Is
Seeking Comment
DOE welcomes comments on all
aspects of this notice of data availability
and request for information. DOE is
particularly interested in receiving
comments from interested parties on the
following data and questions related to
the manufacturers of thermoelectricbased MREF products:
(1) The number, location, size,
product offering, and business structure
of the original equipment manufacturers
(‘‘OEMs’’) producing thermoelectric
coolers for sale in the U.S. market.
(2) The sales channels of the
thermoelectric cooler OEMs serving the
U.S. market. Which of these OEMs sell
products directly to the U.S. market and
which serve the U.S. market indirectly
through private labelers?
(3) The U.S. market shares (in terms
of total shipments) of both the
thermoelectric cooler private labelers
and OEMs.
(4) Using a database of models
generated from publicly available
information (including existing product
databases and manufacturer and vendor
Web sites), DOE identified over 30
brands of cooler models offered for sale
in the U.S. that utilize thermoelectric
refrigeration systems—all of which
appear to be manufactured overseas. In
DOE’s view, the current market is
competitive with no one dominant
player and includes such private
labelers as Vinotemp, Wine Enthusiast,
Koolatron, and Haier. DOE seeks
comment on whether this description of
the thermoelectric cooler market is
accruate and whether using the number
of cooler models available on the U.S.
market can be used as a proxy for
market share for the cooler
industry.DOE considered thermoelectric
coolers when generating engineering
analysis information included in the
preliminary analysis (79 FR 71705 (Dec.
3, 2014)) and updated its analysis
documents based on the Working Group
discussions. (DOE’s engineering
analysis documents developed in
support of the Working Group meetings
are available at https://
www.regulations.gov in Docket ID
EERE–2011–BT–STD–0043.) These
analyses indicated that thermoelectric
cooler energy efficiency performance
could be improved to a level that would
be on-par (or exceed) the efficiency
levels recommended by the Working
Group by using a variety of options
including, but not limited to, adding
cabinet insulation, incorporating heat
pipes, using solid rather than glass
doors, or using glass or other translucent
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
door material with higher insulating
values. DOE requests comment on these
engineering results and related
estimates.
(5) DOE seeks comment as to whether
there are any substantive issues with
relying on information furnished by
private labelers who purchase
thermoelectric-based MREFs for
purposes of DOE’s manufacturer
impacts analysis. If there are no issues
with relying on this information (or its
source), please so state.
(6) DOE also seeks any additional
feedback relating to its analyses that it
is making available as part of this NODA
as it relates to thermoelectric
manufacturers.
IV. Public Participation
Submission of Comments
DOE welcomes comments on all
aspects of this NODA and on other
relevant issues that participants believe
would affect the eventual test
procedures and energy conservation
standards applicable to MREF products.
Interested persons are encouraged to
submit comments using the Federal
eRulemaking Portal at https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
Alternatively, interested persons may
submit comments, identified by docket
number EERE–2011–BT–STD–0043, by
any of the following methods:
• Email: To WineChillers-2011-STD0043@ee.doe.gov. Include EERE–2011–
BT–STD–0043 in the subject line of the
message.
• Mail: Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S.
Department of Energy, Building
Technologies Office, Mailstop EE–5B,
1000 Independence Avenue SW.,
Washington, DC 20585–0121. Phone:
(202) 586–2945. Please submit one
signed paper original.
• Hand Delivery/Courier: Ms. Brenda
Edwards, U.S. Department of Energy,
Building Technologies Program, 6th
Floor, 950 L’Enfant Plaza SW.,
Washington, DC 20024. Phone: (202)
586–2945. Please submit one signed
paper original.
All submissions received must
include the agency name and docket
number or RIN for this rulemaking.
After the close of the comment period,
DOE will begin reviewing the public
comments and making any necessary
adjustments to its standards analysis
supporting its rulemaking proceeding
concerning potential energy
conservation standards for MREF
products.
DOE considers public participation to
be a very important part of the process
for developing test procedures and
E:\FR\FM\15DEP1.SGM
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 240 / Tuesday, December 15, 2015 / Proposed Rules
energy conservation standards. DOE
actively encourages the participation
and interaction of the public during the
comment period in each stage of the
rulemaking process. Interactions with
and between members of the public
provide a balanced discussion of the
issues and assist DOE in the rulemaking
process. Anyone who wishes to be
added to the DOE mailing list to receive
future notices and information about
this rulemaking should contact Mr.
Joseph Hagerman at (202) 586–4549, or
via e-mail at joseph.hagerman@
ee.doe.gov.
Issued in Washington, DC, on December 4,
2015.
Kathleen B. Hogan,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy
Efficiency, Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy.
[FR Doc. 2015–31566 Filed 12–14–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY
COMMISSION
16 CFR Ch. II
[Docket No. CPSC–2015–0022]
Petition Requesting Rulemaking on
Products Containing Organohalogen
Flame Retardants; Notice of
Opportunity for Oral Presentation of
Comments
Correction
In proposed rule document 2015–
30694 beginning on page 75955 in the
issue of Monday, December 7, 2015,
make the following correction:
On page 75956, in the first column, in
the second paragraph, in the fifth and
sixth lines ‘‘is 866–623–8636 and
participant code is 4816474’’ should
read ‘‘will be provided to remote
participants prior to the December 9,
2015 hearing.’’.
[FR Doc. C1–2015–30694 Filed 12–14–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 1505–01–D
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
Objections to the information
referenced in this notice of availability
must be received on or before January
14, 2016.
[FRL–9940–10–OAR]
Allocations of Cross-State Air
Pollution Rule Allowances From New
Unit Set-Asides for 2015 Control
Periods
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
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16:48 Dec 14, 2015
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The Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) is providing notice of the
availability of preliminary lists of units
eligible for allocations of emission
allowances under the Cross-State Air
Pollution Rule (CSAPR). Under the
CSAPR federal implementation plans
(FIPs), portions of each covered state’s
annual emissions budgets for each of the
four CSAPR emissions trading programs
are reserved for allocation to electricity
generating units that commenced
commercial operation on or after
January 1, 2010 (new units) and certain
other units not otherwise obtaining
allowance allocations under the FIPs.
The quantities of allowances allocated
to eligible units from each new unit setaside (NUSA) under the FIPs are
calculated in an annual one- or tworound allocation process. EPA
previously completed the first round of
NUSA allowance allocations for the
2015 control periods for all four CSAPR
trading programs, as well as the second
round of allocations for the CSAPR NOX
Ozone Season Trading Program, and is
now making available preliminary lists
of units eligible for allocations in the
second round of the NUSA allocation
process for the CSAPR NOX Annual,
SO2 Group 1, and SO2 Group 2 Trading
Programs. EPA has posted spreadsheets
containing the preliminary lists on
EPA’s Web site. EPA will consider
timely objections to the lists of eligible
units contained in the spreadsheets and
will promulgate a notice responding to
any such objections no later than
February 15, 2016, the deadline for
recording the second-round allocations
of CSAPR NOX Annual, SO2 Group 1,
and SO2 Group 2 allowances in sources’
compliance accounts. This notice of
availability may concern CSAPRaffected units in the following states:
Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana,
Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland,
Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri,
Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North
Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South
Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia,
West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
SUMMARY:
DATES:
40 CFR Part 97
AGENCY:
Notice of data availability
(NODA).
ACTION:
Submit your objections via
email to CSAPR_NUSA@epa.gov.
Include ‘‘2015 NUSA allocations’’ in the
email subject line and include your
name, title, affiliation, address, phone
number, and email address in the body
of the email.
ADDRESSES:
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 4702
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77591
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Questions concerning this action should
be addressed to Robert Miller at (202)
343–9077 or miller.robertl@epa.gov or
Kenon Smith at (202) 343–9164 or
smith.kenon@epa.gov.
Under the
CSAPR FIPs, the mechanisms by which
initial allocations of emission
allowances are determined differ for
‘‘existing’’ and ‘‘new’’ units. For
‘‘existing’’ units—that is, units
commencing commercial operation
before January 1, 2010—the specific
amounts of CSAPR FIP allowance
allocations for all control periods have
been established through rulemaking.
EPA has announced the availability of
spreadsheets showing the CSAPR FIP
allowance allocations to existing units
in previous notices.1
‘‘New’’ units—that is, units
commencing commercial operation on
or after January 1, 2010—as well as
certain older units that would not
otherwise obtain FIP allowance
allocations do not have pre-established
allowance allocations. Instead, the
CSAPR FIPs reserve a portion of each
state’s total annual emissions budget for
each CSAPR emissions trading program
as a new unit set-aside (NUSA) 2 and
establish an annual process for
allocating NUSA allowances to eligible
units. States with Indian country within
their borders have separate Indian
country NUSAs. The annual process for
allocating allowances from the NUSAs
and Indian country NUSAs to eligible
units is set forth in the CSAPR
regulations at 40 CFR 97.411(b) and
97.412 (NOX Annual Trading Program),
97.511(b) and 97.512 (NOX Ozone
Season Trading Program), 97.611(b) and
97.612 (SO2 Group 1 Trading Program),
and 97.711(b) and 97.712 (SO2 Group 2
Trading Program). Each NUSA
allowance allocation process involves
up to two rounds of allocations to new
units followed by the allocation to
existing units of any allowances not
allocated to new units. EPA provides
public notice at certain points in the
process.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1 The latest spreadsheet of CSAPR FIP allowance
allocations to existing units, updated in 2014 to
reflect changes to CSAPR’s implementation
schedule but with allocation amounts unchanged
since June 2012, is available at https://www.epa.gov/
crossstaterule/actions.html. See Availability of Data
on Allocations of Cross-State Air Pollution Rule
Allowances to Existing Electricity Generating Units,
79 FR 71674 (December 3, 2014).
2 The NUSA amounts range from two percent to
eight percent of the respective state budgets. The
variation in percentages reflects differences among
states in the quantities of emission allowances
projected to be required by known new units at the
time the budgets were set or amended.
E:\FR\FM\15DEP1.SGM
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 240 (Tuesday, December 15, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 77589-77591]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-31566]
========================================================================
Proposed Rules
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
========================================================================
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 240 / Tuesday, December 15, 2015 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 77589]]
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
10 CFR Part 430
[Docket Number EERE-2011-BT-STD-0043]
RIN 1904-AC51
Energy Conservation Standards and Test Procedure for
Miscellaneous Refrigeration Products: Notice of Data Availability;
Request for Information
AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of
Energy.
ACTION: Notice of data availability (NODA); request for information
(RFI).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is currently weighing
whether and how to regulate the energy efficiency of certain
refrigeration products such as wine chillers and beverage centers
(collectively, ``coolers''). These ``miscellaneous refrigeration
products'' (``MREFs'') include coolers that do not operate using a
conventional compressor/condenser-based system, particularly those
products that use a thermoelectric-based refrigeration system. In
support of this effort, DOE has collected and analyzed a variety of
data to better understand the composition of the MREF industry and its
products. To ensure its understanding of this market and its products,
DOE is requesting additional information from the public related to the
manufacturers of thermoelectric-based MREFs.
DATES: DOE will accept comments, data, and information regarding the
NODA no later than January 14, 2016. Details regarding the data
referenced in this document are provided in docket EERE-2011-BT-STD-
0043, available at www.regulations.gov.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted to the addresses provided in
section IV. of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
The docket, EERE-2011-BT-STD-0043, is available for review at
www.regulations.gov, including Federal Register notices, comments, and
other supporting documents or 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.
A link to the docket Web page can be found at: https://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=EERE-2011-BT-STD-0043. The
regulations.gov Web page contains instructions on how to access all
documents in the docket, including public comments. For further
information on how to review the docket, contact Ms. Brenda Edwards at
(202) 586-2945 or by email: Brenda.Edwards@ee.doe.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Direct requests for additional
information may be sent to Mr. Joseph Hagerman, 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: 202-586-4549. Email:
Joseph.Hagerman@ee.doe.gov.
In the office of the General Counsel, contact Mr. Michael Kido,
Esq., U.S. Department of Energy, Office of General Counsel, GC-33, 1000
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121, (202) 586-8145,
Michael.Kido@hq.doe.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
I. Miscellaneous Refrigeration Products--Background
II. Results and Analyses Summary
III. Request for Information and Specific Issues for Which DOE Is
Seeking Comment
IV. Public Participation
I. Miscellaneous Refrigeration Products--Background
In November 2011, the Department of Energy (``DOE'') began a
process to consider whether to include as covered products and
establish energy conservation standards for certain types of
refrigeration products that largely fall outside of DOE's regulations
pertaining to refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, and freezers.\1\
See 76 FR 69147 (November 8, 2011) (Notice of Proposed Determination)
and 10 CFR 430.32(a) (setting out energy conservation standards for
each class of refrigerator, refrigerator-freezer, and freezer currently
regulated by DOE). Chief among the products garnering DOE's attention
were products such as wine chillers (``coolers'')--which typically
provide storage temperatures exceeding those used in those products
already addressed by DOE's regulations. Cooling the storage areas of
these products can be accomplished using different methods. One method
is to use a conventional compressor/condenser-based system that feeds
cold air into the internal storage compartment of the product. Another
method--thermoelectric-based cooling--relies on the use of a solid-
state heat pump that creates a cooling effect when electric current
passes through two conductors. Under this approach, a temperature
difference is created between the junction of two different types of
materials as voltage is applied to the free ends of each material. Both
of these technologies were considered in DOE's approach to regulating
miscellaneous refrigeration equipment.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ For a narrow sliver of products that combined a wine storage
compartment with a fresh food or freezer compartment (``combination
coolers''), DOE had previously issued guidance indicating that these
products may fall within the electric refrigerator and electric
refrigerator-freezer definitions. See Refrigerators and Freezers
Guidance (February 10, 2011) (discussing the treatment of ``hybrid''
refrigeration products--i.e., cominbation coolers).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pursuant to the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975, as
amended (``EPCA''), DOE may add a new product to its scope of
regulatory coverage when certain criteria are met. See 42 U.S.C.
6292(b) (laying out specific criteria to satisfy when classifying a
consumer product not already statutorily-covered as a covered product).
Similarly, DOE may set energy conservation standards for those newly
covered products if additional criteria are met. See 42 U.S.C. 6295(l)
(detailing additional requirements to meet prior to prescribing
standards for newly covered products). As part of its continuing
efforts to improve consumer product and industrial equipment energy
efficiency, DOE is considering including miscellaneous refrigeration
products (``MREFs''), such as coolers that do not use a compressor/
condenser-based system, to its list of products for
[[Page 77590]]
regulatory coverage authority and to set energy conservation standards
for them.
To help better inform its potential regulation of these items, DOE
announced its intention to establish a negotiated rulemaking working
group that would operate under the Appliance Standards and Rulemaking
Federal Advisory Committee (``ASRAC'') with the purpose of exploring
possible energy efficiency requirements for MREFs. See 80 FR 17355
(April 1, 2015). DOE solicited the public for participants to help
serve on the MREF Working Group and identified various groups who would
be significantly affected by a rulemaking that would address MREF
energy efficiency. See id. at 17357. The Working Group ultimately
reached consensus among its members on a variety of issues, including
the potential scope of coverage, applicable definitions, test procedure
details, and energy conservation standards that would apply to these
products. This effort, which was conducted in accordance with the
Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App. 2) and the Negotiated
Rulemaking Act (5 U.S.C. 561-570), produced a consensus agreement
addressing the above issues.
II. Results and Analyses Summary
The consensus agreement reached by the various participating
parties was based on research and testing data related to MREF
products. The data from this effort were used to create a comprehensive
technical analysis that the Working Group used to develop the
recommendations in its consensus agreement. The agreement was prepared
for submission to ASRAC, which would then weigh its merits for approval
for further consideration by DOE.
Among the issues considered by the Working Group were the potential
impacts related to manufacturers of thermoelectric-based MREF products.
While DOE believes that the MREF Working Group, which included one
manufacturer who currently sells thermoelectric-based products and
other manufacturers who have sold thermoelectric coolers in the past,
comprised a group of persons that are fairly representative of relevant
points of view, including manufacturers of thermoelectric-based MREF
products, DOE is seeking comment and any additional information
regarding the nature of these manufacturers, and the marketing nuances
and other issues specifically facing the manufacturers of
thermoelectric-based MREF products.
III. Request for Information and Specific Issues for Which DOE Is
Seeking Comment
DOE welcomes comments on all aspects of this notice of data
availability and request for information. DOE is particularly
interested in receiving comments from interested parties on the
following data and questions related to the manufacturers of
thermoelectric-based MREF products:
(1) The number, location, size, product offering, and business
structure of the original equipment manufacturers (``OEMs'') producing
thermoelectric coolers for sale in the U.S. market.
(2) The sales channels of the thermoelectric cooler OEMs serving
the U.S. market. Which of these OEMs sell products directly to the U.S.
market and which serve the U.S. market indirectly through private
labelers?
(3) The U.S. market shares (in terms of total shipments) of both
the thermoelectric cooler private labelers and OEMs.
(4) Using a database of models generated from publicly available
information (including existing product databases and manufacturer and
vendor Web sites), DOE identified over 30 brands of cooler models
offered for sale in the U.S. that utilize thermoelectric refrigeration
systems--all of which appear to be manufactured overseas. In DOE's
view, the current market is competitive with no one dominant player and
includes such private labelers as Vinotemp, Wine Enthusiast, Koolatron,
and Haier. DOE seeks comment on whether this description of the
thermoelectric cooler market is accruate and whether using the number
of cooler models available on the U.S. market can be used as a proxy
for market share for the cooler industry.DOE considered thermoelectric
coolers when generating engineering analysis information included in
the preliminary analysis (79 FR 71705 (Dec. 3, 2014)) and updated its
analysis documents based on the Working Group discussions. (DOE's
engineering analysis documents developed in support of the Working
Group meetings are available at https://www.regulations.gov in Docket ID
EERE-2011-BT-STD-0043.) These analyses indicated that thermoelectric
cooler energy efficiency performance could be improved to a level that
would be on-par (or exceed) the efficiency levels recommended by the
Working Group by using a variety of options including, but not limited
to, adding cabinet insulation, incorporating heat pipes, using solid
rather than glass doors, or using glass or other translucent door
material with higher insulating values. DOE requests comment on these
engineering results and related estimates.
(5) DOE seeks comment as to whether there are any substantive
issues with relying on information furnished by private labelers who
purchase thermoelectric-based MREFs for purposes of DOE's manufacturer
impacts analysis. If there are no issues with relying on this
information (or its source), please so state.
(6) DOE also seeks any additional feedback relating to its analyses
that it is making available as part of this NODA as it relates to
thermoelectric manufacturers.
IV. Public Participation
Submission of Comments
DOE welcomes comments on all aspects of this NODA and on other
relevant issues that participants believe would affect the eventual
test procedures and energy conservation standards applicable to MREF
products. Interested persons are encouraged to submit comments using
the Federal eRulemaking Portal at https://www.regulations.gov. Follow
the instructions for submitting comments. Alternatively, interested
persons may submit comments, identified by docket number EERE-2011-BT-
STD-0043, by any of the following methods:
Email: To WineChillers-2011-STD-0043@ee.doe.gov. Include
EERE-2011-BT-STD-0043 in the subject line of the message.
Mail: Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department of Energy,
Building Technologies Office, Mailstop EE-5B, 1000 Independence Avenue
SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121. Phone: (202) 586-2945. Please submit
one signed paper original.
Hand Delivery/Courier: Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department
of Energy, Building Technologies Program, 6th Floor, 950 L'Enfant Plaza
SW., Washington, DC 20024. Phone: (202) 586-2945. Please submit one
signed paper original.
All submissions received must include the agency name and docket
number or RIN for this rulemaking.
After the close of the comment period, DOE will begin reviewing the
public comments and making any necessary adjustments to its standards
analysis supporting its rulemaking proceeding concerning potential
energy conservation standards for MREF products.
DOE considers public participation to be a very important part of
the process for developing test procedures and
[[Page 77591]]
energy conservation standards. DOE actively encourages the
participation and interaction of the public during the comment period
in each stage of the rulemaking process. Interactions with and between
members of the public provide a balanced discussion of the issues and
assist DOE in the rulemaking process. Anyone who wishes to be added to
the DOE mailing list to receive future notices and information about
this rulemaking should contact Mr. Joseph Hagerman at (202) 586-4549,
or via e-mail at joseph.hagerman@ee.doe.gov.
Issued in Washington, DC, on December 4, 2015.
Kathleen B. Hogan,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency, Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy.
[FR Doc. 2015-31566 Filed 12-14-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P