Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for External Power Supplies, 44484-44485 [2020-15079]

Download as PDF 44484 Proposed Rules Federal Register Vol. 85, No. 142 Thursday, July 23, 2020 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 431 [EERE–2020–BT–STD–0006] Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for External Power Supplies Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy. ACTION: Request for information; reopening of the public comment period. AGENCY: On May 20, 2020, the U.S. Department of Energy (‘‘DOE’’) published a request for information (‘‘RFI’’) pertaining to the energy conservation standards for external power supplies. The request provided an opportunity for submitting written comments, data, and information by July 6, 2020. Prior to the end of the comment period for the request of information, DOE received a request from a group of industry trade groups seeking additional time to consider the applicability and impact of an updated energy conservation standard for this equipment. SUMMARY: The comment period for the RFI, published on May 20, 2020 (85 FR 30636), which closed on July 6, 2020, is hereby reopened and extended. DOE will accept written comments, data, and information in response to the RFI no later than August 24, 2020. ADDRESSES: 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–2020–BT–STD–0006, by any of the following methods: 1. Federal eRulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. 2. Email: EPS2020STD006@ ee.doe.gov. Include the docket number jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with PROPOSALS DATES: VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:11 Jul 22, 2020 Jkt 250001 EERE–2020–BT–STD–0006 in the subject line of the message. 3. Postal Mail: Appliance and Equipment Standards Program, U.S. Department of Energy, Building Technologies Office, Mailstop EE–5B, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585–0121. Telephone: (202) 287–1445. 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: Appliance and Equipment Standards Program, U.S. Department of Energy, Building Technologies Office, 950 L’Enfant Plaza SW, 6th Floor, Washington, DC 20024. Telephone: (202) 287–1445. 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 for this activity, which includes Federal Register notices, comments, and other supporting documents/materials, is available for review at https:// www.regulations.gov. All documents in the docket are listed in the https:// www.regulations.gov index. However, some documents listed in the index, such as those containing information that is exempt from public disclosure, may not be publicly available. The docket web page can be found at https://www.regulations.gov/docket? D=EERE-2020-BT-STD-0006. The docket web page contains instructions on how to access all documents, including public comments, in the docket. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Jeremy Dommu, 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– 9870. Email: ApplianceStandardsQuestions@ ee.doe.gov. Mr. Michael Kido, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the General Counsel, GC–33, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585–0121. Telephone: (202) 586– 8145. Email: Michael.Kido@hq.doe.gov. For further information on how to submit a comment, or review other public comments and the docket contact the Appliance and Equipment Standards Program staff at (202) 586– 6636 or by email: PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 ApplianceStandardsQuestions@ ee.doe.gov. DOE published a Request for Information (‘‘RFI’’) pertaining to the energy conservation standards for external power supplies on May 20, 2020. 85 FR 30636. The RFI initiated a data collection process to consider whether to amend DOE’s energy conservation standards for external power supplies, and whether amending the standards for external power supplies would result in significant energy savings and be technologically feasible and economically justified. DOE requested submission of written comment, data, and information pertaining to these standards by July 6, 2020. On June 24, 2020, the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (‘‘AHAM’’), Consumer Technology Association (‘‘CTA’’), and Information Technology Industry Council (‘‘ITI’’), interested parties in the matter, requested a 30-day extension of the public comment period for the RFI that DOE previously published in the Federal Register on May 20, 2020. (AHAM, CTA, and ITI, EERE–2020–BT– STD–0006, No. 2) The comment period for the RFI closed on July 6, 2020.1 After carefully considering this request, DOE has determined that a reopening of the comment period to allow additional time for interested parties to submit comments is appropriate. Therefore, DOE is reopening the comment period and will accept comments until August 24, 2020, to provide interested parties additional time to prepare and submit comments. Accordingly, DOE will consider any comments received by this date, to be timely submitted. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Signing Authority This document of the Department of Energy was signed on July 8, 2020, by Alexander N. Fitzsimmons, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, pursuant to delegated authority from the Secretary of Energy. That document with the original signature and date is maintained by DOE. For administrative purposes only, and in compliance with requirements of the Office of the Federal 1 Available at https://www.regulations.gov/ document?D=EERE-2020-BT-STD-0006-0002. E:\FR\FM\23JYP1.SGM 23JYP1 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 142 / Thursday, July 23, 2020 / Proposed Rules Register, the undersigned DOE Federal Register Liaison Officer has been authorized to sign and submit the document in electronic format for publication, as an official document of the Department of Energy. This administrative process in no way alters the legal effect of this document upon publication in the Federal Register. Signed in Washington, DC, on July 8, 2020. Treena V. Garrett, Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy. [FR Doc. 2020–15079 Filed 7–22–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6450–01–P FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION 16 CFR Part 423 Trade Regulation Rule on Care Labeling of Textile Wearing Apparel and Certain Piece Goods Federal Trade Commission. Supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking. AGENCY: ACTION: The Commission seeks comment on a proposal to repeal its trade regulation rule on Care Labeling of Textile Wearing Apparel and Certain Piece Goods as Amended (‘‘Care Labeling Rule’’ or ‘‘Rule’’). DATES: Written comments must be received on or before September 21, 2020. Parties interested in an opportunity to present views orally should submit a request to do so as explained below, and such requests must be received on or before September 21, 2020. ADDRESSES: Interested parties may file a comment online or on paper by following the instructions in the Request for Comment part of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below. Please write ‘‘Care Labeling Rule, 16 CFR part 423, Project No. R511915’’ on your comment, and file your comment online at https:// www.regulations.gov by following the instructions on the web-based form. If you prefer to file your comment on paper, write ‘‘Care Labeling Rule, 16 CFR part 423, Project No. R511915’’ on your comment and on the envelope and mail your comment to the following address: Federal Trade Commission, Office of the Secretary, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 5610, Washington, DC 20580, or deliver your comment to the following address: Federal Trade Commission, Office of the Secretary, Constitution Center, 400 7th Street SW, 5th Floor, Suite 5610 (Annex C), Washington, DC 20024. jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with PROPOSALS SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:11 Jul 22, 2020 Jkt 250001 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Hampton Newsome, Attorney, Federal Trade Commission, Division of Enforcement, Bureau of Consumer Protection, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20580, (202) 326– 2889. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commission finds that using streamlined procedures in this rulemaking will serve the public interest. Specifically, such procedures support the Commission’s goals of clarifying, updating, or repealing existing regulations, while ensuring that the public has an opportunity to submit data, views, and arguments on whether the Commission should repeal the Rule. Because written comments should adequately present the views of all interested parties, the Commission is not scheduling a public hearing or roundtable. However, if any person would like to present views orally, he or she should follow the procedures set forth in the DATES, ADDRESSES, and SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION sections of this document. Pursuant to 16 CFR 1.20, the Commission will use the procedures set forth in this document, including: (1) Publishing this Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (‘‘SNPRM’’); (2) soliciting written comments on the Commission’s proposal to repeal or amend the Rule; (3) holding an informal hearing (such as a roundtable) if requested by interested parties; (4) obtaining a final recommendation from staff; and (5) announcing final Commission action in a document published in the Federal Register. Any motions or petitions in connection with this proceeding must be filed with the Secretary of the Commission. I. Introduction The Care Labeling Rule requires manufacturers and importers of textile wearing apparel and certain piece goods to attach labels to their products disclosing the care needed for the ordinary use of the product.1 The Rule also requires manufacturers or importers to possess a reasonable basis for care instructions,2 and allows the use of approved care symbols in lieu of words to disclose those instructions.3 The Commission has a long history of seeking comment and considering CFR 423.5 and 423.6(a) and (b). CFR 423.6(c). 3 The Rule provides that the symbol system developed by ASTM International, formerly the American Society for Testing and Materials, and designated as ASTM Standard D5489–96c, ‘‘Guide to Care Symbols for Care Instructions on Consumer Textile Products,’’ may be used on care labels or care instructions in lieu of terms so long as the symbols fulfill the requirements of part 423. 16 CFR 423.8(g). PO 00000 1 16 2 16 Frm 00002 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 44485 concerns about the Rule as well as the amendments proposed by the Commission. It promulgated the Rule in 1971 and has amended it three times since.4 In 1983, the Commission clarified its requirements regarding the disclosure of washing and drycleaning information.5 In 1997, the Commission adopted a conditional exemption to allow the use of symbols in lieu of words.6 In 2000, the Commission clarified what constitutes a reasonable basis for care instructions and revised the Rule’s definitions of ‘‘cold,’’ ‘‘warm,’’ and ‘‘hot’’ water.7 In 2000, the Commission also rejected two proposed amendments. First, it declined to require marketers to provide instructions for home washing on items that one can safely wash at home. The Commission determined that the evidence was not sufficiently compelling to require such instructions and that the benefits of the proposed change were highly uncertain.8 Second, the Commission decided not to establish a definition for ‘‘professional wetcleaning’’ or permit manufacturers to label a garment with a ‘‘Professionally Wetclean’’ instruction.9 The Commission concluded that it was premature to allow such an instruction before the development of a suitable definition and an appropriate test method.10 However, the Commission stated that it would consider such an instruction if a more specific definition and/or test procedure were developed.11 As part of its ongoing regulatory review program, the Commission published an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (‘‘ANPR’’) in July 2011 seeking comment on the economic impact of, and the continuing need for, the Rule; the benefits of the Rule to consumers; and any burdens the Rule places on businesses.12 The ANPR also sought comment on whether and how the Rule should address professional 4 36 FR 23883 (Dec. 16, 1971). FR 22733 (May 20, 1983). 6 62 FR 5724 (Feb. 6, 1997). 7 65 FR 47261 (Aug. 2, 2000). 8 Id. at 47269. 9 The Commission initially proposed a definition of professional wetcleaning, stating, in part, that it is a system of cleaning by means of equipment consisting of a computer-controlled washer and dryer, wetcleaning software, and biodegradable chemicals specifically formulated to safely wetclean wool, silk, rayon, and other natural and man-made fibers. Id. at 47271 n. 99. 10 Id. at 47272. The Commission explained that the definition must either describe all important variables in the process, so that manufacturers can determine that the process would not damage the garment, or be coupled with a specific test procedure that manufacturers can use to establish a reasonable basis for the instruction. Id. 11 Id. at 47273. 12 76 FR 41148 (July 13, 2011). 5 48 E:\FR\FM\23JYP1.SGM 23JYP1

Agencies

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 142 (Thursday, July 23, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 44484-44485]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-15079]


========================================================================
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. 85, No. 142 / Thursday, July 23, 2020 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 44484]]



DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

10 CFR Part 431

[EERE-2020-BT-STD-0006]


Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for 
External Power Supplies

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

ACTION: Request for information; reopening of the public comment 
period.

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

SUMMARY: On May 20, 2020, the U.S. Department of Energy (``DOE'') 
published a request for information (``RFI'') pertaining to the energy 
conservation standards for external power supplies. The request 
provided an opportunity for submitting written comments, data, and 
information by July 6, 2020. Prior to the end of the comment period for 
the request of information, DOE received a request from a group of 
industry trade groups seeking additional time to consider the 
applicability and impact of an updated energy conservation standard for 
this equipment.

DATES: The comment period for the RFI, published on May 20, 2020 (85 FR 
30636), which closed on July 6, 2020, is hereby reopened and extended. 
DOE will accept written comments, data, and information in response to 
the RFI no later than August 24, 2020.

ADDRESSES: 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-2020-BT-
STD-0006, by any of the following methods:
    1. Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow 
the instructions for submitting comments.
    2. Email: [email protected]. Include the docket number EERE-
2020-BT-STD-0006 in the subject line of the message.
    3. Postal Mail: Appliance and Equipment Standards Program, U.S. 
Department of Energy, Building Technologies Office, Mailstop EE-5B, 
1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585-0121. Telephone: 
(202) 287-1445. 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: Appliance and Equipment Standards 
Program, U.S. Department of Energy, Building Technologies Office, 950 
L'Enfant Plaza SW, 6th Floor, Washington, DC 20024. Telephone: (202) 
287-1445. 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 for this activity, which includes Federal 
Register notices, comments, and other supporting documents/materials, 
is available for review at https://www.regulations.gov. All documents in 
the docket are listed in the https://www.regulations.gov index. However, 
some documents listed in the index, such as those containing 
information that is exempt from public disclosure, may not be publicly 
available.
    The docket web page can be found at https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=EERE-2020-BT-STD-0006. The docket web page contains 
instructions on how to access all documents, including public comments, 
in the docket.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Jeremy Dommu, 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) 586-9870. Email: 
[email protected]. Mr. Michael Kido, U.S. 
Department of Energy, Office of the General Counsel, GC-33, 1000 
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585-0121. Telephone: (202) 
586-8145. Email: [email protected].
    For further information on how to submit a comment, or review other 
public comments and the docket contact the Appliance and Equipment 
Standards Program staff at (202) 586-6636 or by email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: DOE published a Request for Information 
(``RFI'') pertaining to the energy conservation standards for external 
power supplies on May 20, 2020. 85 FR 30636. The RFI initiated a data 
collection process to consider whether to amend DOE's energy 
conservation standards for external power supplies, and whether 
amending the standards for external power supplies would result in 
significant energy savings and be technologically feasible and 
economically justified. DOE requested submission of written comment, 
data, and information pertaining to these standards by July 6, 2020.
    On June 24, 2020, the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers 
(``AHAM''), Consumer Technology Association (``CTA''), and Information 
Technology Industry Council (``ITI''), interested parties in the 
matter, requested a 30-day extension of the public comment period for 
the RFI that DOE previously published in the Federal Register on May 
20, 2020. (AHAM, CTA, and ITI, EERE-2020-BT-STD-0006, No. 2) The 
comment period for the RFI closed on July 6, 2020.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Available at https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=EERE-2020-BT-STD-0006-0002.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    After carefully considering this request, DOE has determined that a 
reopening of the comment period to allow additional time for interested 
parties to submit comments is appropriate. Therefore, DOE is reopening 
the comment period and will accept comments until August 24, 2020, to 
provide interested parties additional time to prepare and submit 
comments. Accordingly, DOE will consider any comments received by this 
date, to be timely submitted.

Signing Authority

    This document of the Department of Energy was signed on July 8, 
2020, by Alexander N. Fitzsimmons, Deputy Assistant Secretary for 
Energy Efficiency, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, pursuant to 
delegated authority from the Secretary of Energy. That document with 
the original signature and date is maintained by DOE. For 
administrative purposes only, and in compliance with requirements of 
the Office of the Federal

[[Page 44485]]

Register, the undersigned DOE Federal Register Liaison Officer has been 
authorized to sign and submit the document in electronic format for 
publication, as an official document of the Department of Energy. This 
administrative process in no way alters the legal effect of this 
document upon publication in the Federal Register.

    Signed in Washington, DC, on July 8, 2020.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2020-15079 Filed 7-22-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P

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