Energy Conservation Program for Appliance Standards: Energy Conservation Standards for Residential Furnaces and Commercial Water Heaters; Notice of Final Interpretive Rule, 67312-67313 [2020-23318]

Download as PDF 67312 Proposed Rules Federal Register Vol. 85, No. 205 Thursday, October 22, 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 430 and 431 [EERE–2020–BT–STD–0018] Energy Conservation Program for Appliance Standards: Energy Conservation Standards for Residential Furnaces and Commercial Water Heaters; Notice of Final Interpretive Rule Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy. ACTION: Extension of public comment period. AGENCY: In response to a petition for rulemaking submitted on October 18, 2018 (Gas Industry Petition), the Department of Energy (DOE) published that petition in the Federal Register on November 1, 2018, for public review and input, and DOE subsequently published a proposed interpretive rule in the Federal Register on July 11, 2019. After carefully considering the public comments on its proposed interpretive rule, DOE tentatively determined to consider a more involved class structure which turns on maintenance of compatibility with existing venting categories, and published a notice of supplemental proposed interpretive rulemaking (‘‘NOPIR’’) on September 24, 2020. On September 25, 2020, and October 6, 2020, DOE received comments requesting extension of the comment period on the NOPIR. On September 29, 2020, DOE received a comment from the submitters of the Gas Industry Petition requesting prompt action on their petition. Balancing these competing requests, DOE is extending the public comment period for submitting comments and data on the NOPIR to November 9, 2020. DATES: The comment period for the NOPIR published on September 24, 2020 (85 FR 60090) is extended until November 9, 2020. DOE will accept comments, data, and information SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:41 Oct 21, 2020 Jkt 253001 regarding this NOPIR received no later than November 9, 2020. ADDRESSES: Interested persons are encouraged to submit comments, identified by ‘‘Energy Conservation Standards for Residential Furnaces and Commercial Water Heaters,’’ by any of the following methods: Federal eRulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. Email: ResFurnaceCommWaterHeater 2018STD0018@ee.doe.gov. Include Docket No. EERE–2018–BT–STD–0018 in the subject line of the message. 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: Appliance and Equipment Standards Program, 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. Hand Delivery/Courier: Appliance and Equipment Standards Program, U.S. Department of Energy, Building Technologies Office, 950 L’Enfant Plaza SW, Suite 600, 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 telefacsimiles (faxes) will be accepted. For detailed instructions on submitting comments and additional information, see section IV of this document (Public Participation). Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents, or comments received, go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal at: https:// www.regulations.gov/docket?D=EERE2018-BT-STD-0018. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Lysia Bowling, Senior Advisor, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585. Telephone: (202) 430–1257. Email: Lysia.Bowling@ ee.doe.gov. Mr. Eris Stas, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the General Counsel, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585. Telephone: PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 (202) 586–5827. Email: Eric.Stas@ 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) 287– 1445 or by email: Appliance StandardsQuestions@ee.doe.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In response to a petition for rulemaking submitted on October 18, 2018, the Department of Energy (DOE) published that petition in the Federal Register on November 1, 2018 (83 FR 54883), for public review and input, and DOE subsequently published a proposed interpretive rule in the Federal Register on July 11, 2019. (84 FR 33011) After carefully considering the public comments on its proposed interpretive rule, DOE tentatively determined to consider a more involved class structure which turns on maintenance of compatibility with existing venting categories, and published a NOPIR on September 24, 2020. (85 FR 60090) On September 25, 2020, and October 6, 2020, DOE received comments from A.O. Smith and Lennox, respectively, requesting extension of the comment period on the NOPIR. Both commenters requested additional time due their assertion that the NOPIR addressed multiple product types and raised complex issues. On September 29, 2020, DOE received a comment from the submitters of the Gas Industry Petition requesting prompt action on their petition. The submitters of the Gas Industry Petition assert that the issues raised in the NOPIR did not have any material bearing on the justification for the specific findings in their Petition, which they claim DOE has already recognized in issuance of the original proposed interpretive rule, and therefore urged prompt action on their Petition. DOE has reviewed these competing requests and considered the benefit to stakeholders in providing additional time to review and comment on the NOPIR. Accordingly, in seeking to balance the interests at issue, DOE has determined that an extension of the comment period is appropriate, and is hereby extending the comment period until November 9, 2020. Signing Authority This document of the Department of Energy was signed on October 16, 2020, E:\FR\FM\22OCP1.SGM 22OCP1 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 205 / Thursday, October 22, 2020 / Proposed Rules 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 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 October 16, 2020. Treena V. Garrett, Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy. [FR Doc. 2020–23318 Filed 10–21–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6450–01–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part 39 [Docket No. FAA–2020–0916; Product Identifier 2015–SW–055–AD] RIN 2120–AA64 Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM). AGENCY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Airbus Helicopters Model AS332C, AS332C1, AS332L, AS332L1, AS332L2, EC 155B, EC155B1, EC225LP, and SA330J helicopters. This proposed AD would require inspecting the snap fasteners on the windows. This proposed AD was prompted by incidents of difficulty unbuttoning the extraction tape on the windows. The proposed actions are intended to address an unsafe condition on these products. DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by December 7, 2020. ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Docket: Go to https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for sending your comments electronically. SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:19 Oct 21, 2020 Jkt 253001 • Fax: 202–493–2251. • Mail: Send comments to the U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M–30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590–0001. • Hand Delivery: Deliver to the ‘‘Mail’’ address between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Examining the AD Docket You may examine the AD docket on the internet at https:// www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA–2020– 0916; or in person at Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains this proposed AD, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) ADs, any comments received, and other information. The street address for Docket Operations is listed above. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt. For service information identified in this proposed rule, contact Airbus Helicopters, 2701 N Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, TX 75052; telephone 972–641– 0000 or 800–232–0323; fax 972–641– 3775; or at https://www.airbus.com/ helicopters/services/technicalsupport.html. You may view the referenced service information at the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Room 6N–321, Fort Worth, TX 76177. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Hatfield, Aviation Safety Engineer, Safety Management Section, Rotorcraft Standards Branch, FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone 817–222–5110; email david.hatfield@faa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Comments Invited The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed under ADDRESSES. Include ‘‘Docket No. FAA–2020–0916; Product Identifier 2015–SW–055–AD’’ at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. The FAA will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this proposal because of those comments. Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in the PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 67313 following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR 11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to https:// www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. The agency will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact received about this proposal. Confidential Business Information CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public disclosure. If your comments responsive to this NPRM contain commercial or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to this NPRM, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing CBI as ‘‘PROPIN.’’ The FAA will treat such marked submissions as confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to David Hatfield, Aviation Safety Engineer, Safety Management Section, Rotorcraft Standards Branch, FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone 817–222–5110; email david.hatfield@faa.gov. Any commentary that the FAA receives which is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket for this rulemaking. Discussion EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued EASA AD No. 2015– 0149, dated July 23, 2015 (EASA AD 2015–0149), to correct an unsafe condition for Airbus Helicopters Model AS 322 and EC 225 LP helicopters; EASA AD No. 2015–0168, dated August 13, 2015 (EASA AD 2015–0168), to correct an unsafe condition for Airbus Helicopters Model EC 155 B and EC 155 B1 helicopters; and EASA AD No. 2015– 0169, dated August 13, 2015 (EASA AD 2015–0169), to correct an unsafe condition for Airbus Helicopters Model SA330 J helicopters, equipped with an extraction tape fitted with ‘‘press-studs’’ (snap fasteners) on the windows. EASA advises of difficulty unbuttoning the extraction tape during the manufacturing of a helicopter. Investigation concluded that the difficulty was caused by a bad male/ female coupling, possibly resulting from miscrimping. This difficulty is known to E:\FR\FM\22OCP1.SGM 22OCP1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 205 (Thursday, October 22, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 67312-67313]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-23318]


========================================================================
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. 205 / Thursday, October 22, 2020 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 67312]]



DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

10 CFR Part 430 and 431

[EERE-2020-BT-STD-0018]


Energy Conservation Program for Appliance Standards: Energy 
Conservation Standards for Residential Furnaces and Commercial Water 
Heaters; Notice of Final Interpretive Rule

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

ACTION: Extension of public comment period.

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

SUMMARY: In response to a petition for rulemaking submitted on October 
18, 2018 (Gas Industry Petition), the Department of Energy (DOE) 
published that petition in the Federal Register on November 1, 2018, 
for public review and input, and DOE subsequently published a proposed 
interpretive rule in the Federal Register on July 11, 2019. After 
carefully considering the public comments on its proposed interpretive 
rule, DOE tentatively determined to consider a more involved class 
structure which turns on maintenance of compatibility with existing 
venting categories, and published a notice of supplemental proposed 
interpretive rulemaking (``NOPIR'') on September 24, 2020. On September 
25, 2020, and October 6, 2020, DOE received comments requesting 
extension of the comment period on the NOPIR. On September 29, 2020, 
DOE received a comment from the submitters of the Gas Industry Petition 
requesting prompt action on their petition. Balancing these competing 
requests, DOE is extending the public comment period for submitting 
comments and data on the NOPIR to November 9, 2020.

DATES: The comment period for the NOPIR published on September 24, 2020 
(85 FR 60090) is extended until November 9, 2020. DOE will accept 
comments, data, and information regarding this NOPIR received no later 
than November 9, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are encouraged to submit comments, 
identified by ``Energy Conservation Standards for Residential Furnaces 
and Commercial Water Heaters,'' by any of the following methods:
    Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments.
    Email: [email protected]. Include 
Docket No. EERE-2018-BT-STD-0018 in the subject line of the message. 
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: Appliance and Equipment Standards Program, 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.
    Hand Delivery/Courier: Appliance and Equipment Standards Program, 
U.S. Department of Energy, Building Technologies Office, 950 L'Enfant 
Plaza SW, Suite 600, 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 telefacsimiles (faxes) will be accepted. For detailed 
instructions on submitting comments and additional information, see 
section IV of this document (Public Participation).
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents, or 
comments received, go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal at: https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=EERE-2018-BT-STD-0018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
    Ms. Lysia Bowling, Senior Advisor, U.S. Department of Energy, 
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, 1000 Independence 
Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585. Telephone: (202) 430-1257. Email: 
[email protected].
    Mr. Eris Stas, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the General 
Counsel, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585. Telephone: 
(202) 586-5827. 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) 287-1445 or by email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In response to a petition for rulemaking 
submitted on October 18, 2018, the Department of Energy (DOE) published 
that petition in the Federal Register on November 1, 2018 (83 FR 
54883), for public review and input, and DOE subsequently published a 
proposed interpretive rule in the Federal Register on July 11, 2019. 
(84 FR 33011) After carefully considering the public comments on its 
proposed interpretive rule, DOE tentatively determined to consider a 
more involved class structure which turns on maintenance of 
compatibility with existing venting categories, and published a NOPIR 
on September 24, 2020. (85 FR 60090) On September 25, 2020, and October 
6, 2020, DOE received comments from A.O. Smith and Lennox, 
respectively, requesting extension of the comment period on the NOPIR. 
Both commenters requested additional time due their assertion that the 
NOPIR addressed multiple product types and raised complex issues. On 
September 29, 2020, DOE received a comment from the submitters of the 
Gas Industry Petition requesting prompt action on their petition. The 
submitters of the Gas Industry Petition assert that the issues raised 
in the NOPIR did not have any material bearing on the justification for 
the specific findings in their Petition, which they claim DOE has 
already recognized in issuance of the original proposed interpretive 
rule, and therefore urged prompt action on their Petition. DOE has 
reviewed these competing requests and considered the benefit to 
stakeholders in providing additional time to review and comment on the 
NOPIR. Accordingly, in seeking to balance the interests at issue, DOE 
has determined that an extension of the comment period is appropriate, 
and is hereby extending the comment period until November 9, 2020.

Signing Authority

    This document of the Department of Energy was signed on October 16, 
2020,

[[Page 67313]]

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 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 October 16, 2020.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2020-23318 Filed 10-21-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
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