Energy Conservation Program: Test Procedures for Consumer Products; Early Assessment Review; Faucets and Showerheads, 53013-53014 [2021-20756]
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<![CDATA[
53013
Proposed Rules
Federal Register
Vol. 86, No. 183
Friday, September 24, 2021
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
[EERE–2019–BT–TP–0021]
RIN 1904–AE75
Energy Conservation Program: Test
Procedures for Consumer Products;
Early Assessment Review; Faucets
and Showerheads
Office of Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy, Department of
Energy.
ACTION: Request for information;
extension of public comment period.
AGENCY:
The U.S. Department of
Energy (‘‘DOE’’) is extending the public
comment period for the early
assessment request for information
(‘‘RFI’’) regarding proposals to amend
the test procedures for faucets and
showerheads. DOE published the RFI in
the Federal Register on September 2,
2021, establishing a 32-day public
comment period ending October 4,
2021. On September 9, 2021, DOE
received a comment requesting
extension of the comment period to at
least 30 days. DOE is extending the
public comment period for submitting
comments and data on the RFI
document by an additional 15 days, to
October 19, 2021, for a total of a 47 day
comment period.
DATES: The comment period for the RFI
published on September 2, 2021 (86 FR
49261), is extended. DOE will accept
comments, data, and information
regarding this RFI received no later than
October 19, 2021.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are
encouraged to submit comments using
the Federal eRulemaking Portal at
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
Alternatively, interested persons may
submit comments by email to the
following address:
FaucetShowerhead2019TP0021@
ee.doe.gov. Include ‘‘Energy
Conservation Program: Test Procedures
for Consumer Products; Early
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:14 Sep 23, 2021
Jkt 253001
Assessment Review; Faucets and
Showerheads’’ and docket number
EERE–2019–BT–TP–0021 and/or RIN
number 1904–AE75 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.
Although DOE has routinely accepted
public comment submissions through a
variety of mechanisms, including postal
mail and hand delivery/courier, the
Department has found it necessary to
make temporary modifications to the
comment submission process in light of
the ongoing corona virus (COVID–19)
pandemic. DOE is currently accepting
only electronic submissions at this time.
If a commenter finds that this change
poses an undue hardship, please contact
Appliance Standards Program staff at
(202) 586–1445 to discuss the need for
alternative arrangements. Once the
COVID–19 pandemic health emergency
is resolved, DOE anticipates resuming
all of its regular options for public
comment submission, including postal
mail and hand delivery/courier.
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
www.regulations.gov. All documents in
the docket are listed in the
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
www.regulations.gov/docket?D=EERE2019-BT-TP-0021. The docket web page
contains instructions on how to access
all documents, including public
comments in the docket.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Bryan Berringer, 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–
0371. Email:
ApplianceStandardsQuestions@
ee.doe.gov.
Ms. Amelia Whiting, U.S. Department
of Energy, Office of the General Counsel,
GC–33, 1000 Independence Avenue SW,
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
Washington, DC 20585–0121.
Telephone: (202) 586–2588. Email:
Amelia.Whiting@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:
ApplianceStandardsQuestions@
ee.doe.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On
September 2, 2021, DOE published a
RFI in the Federal Register soliciting
public comment on its test procedures
for faucets and showerheads. 86 FR
49261. Comments were originally due
on October 4, 2021. On September 9,
2021, DOE received a comment from
Plumbing Manufacturers International
(PMI) to extend at least 30 days the DOE
comment period for the RFI for faucets
and showerheads test procedure,
extending the comment submission
deadline from October 4, 2021 up to
November 3, 2021.1
DOE has reviewed the request and
considered the benefit to stakeholders in
providing additional time to review the
RFI, and gather information/data that
DOE is seeking. As noted, the RFI was
issued as part of the preliminary stage
of a rulemaking to consider
amendments to the energy conservation
standards for faucets and showerheads.
If DOE determines that amended energy
conservation standards may be
appropriate, additional notices will be
published (e.g., a notice of proposed
rulemaking), providing interested
parties additional opportunity to submit
comments. Accordingly, DOE has
determined that an extension of the
comment period is appropriate, and is
hereby extending the comment period
by an additional 15 days, until October
19, 2020 for a total of a 47-day comment
period.
Signing Authority
This document of the Department of
Energy was signed on September 19,
2021, by Kelly Speakes Backman,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary
and Acting Assistant Secretary for
Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy, pursuant to delegated authority
from the Secretary of Energy. That
document with the original signature
1 DOE has posted this comment to the docket at
www.regulations.gov/document/EERE-2019-BT-TP0021-0002.
E:\FR\FM\24SEP1.SGM
24SEP1
53014
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 183 / Friday, September 24, 2021 / Proposed Rules
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 September
21, 2021.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S.
Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2021–20756 Filed 9–23–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
10 CFR Parts 430 and 431
[EERE–2018–BT–STD–0018]
RIN 1904–AE39
Energy Conservation Program for
Appliance Standards: Energy
Conservation Standards for
Residential Furnaces and Commercial
Water Heaters: Notification of
Proposed Interpretive Rule
Office of Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy, Department of
Energy.
ACTION: Notification of proposed
interpretive rule; extension of public
comment period.
AGENCY:
On January 15, 2021, the U.S.
Department of Energy (DOE or the
Department) published in the Federal
Register a final interpretive rule
determining that, in the context of
residential furnaces, commercial water
heaters, and similarly-situated products
or equipment, use of non-condensing
technology (and associated venting)
constitutes a performance-related
‘‘feature’’ under the Energy Policy and
Conservation Act, as amended (EPCA),
that cannot be eliminated through the
adoption of an energy conservation
standard. On August 27, 2021, DOE
published in the Federal Register a
notification of proposed interpretive
rule (NOPIR) that proposes to return to
its previous and long-standing
interpretation, under which the
technology used to supply heated air or
hot water is not a performance related
‘‘feature’’ that provides a distinct
consumer utility under EPCA. The
NOPIR provided an opportunity for
submission of written comments, data,
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:14 Sep 23, 2021
Jkt 253001
and information to the DOE no later
than September 27, 2021. Prior to the
end of that comment period, several
stakeholders submitted a joint request
seeking additional time to consider the
issues raised in the NOPIR. In light of
this request, DOE is extending the
comment period on the subject NOPIR
for an additional 15 days.
The comment period for the
NOPIR published in the Federal
Register on August 27, 2021 (86 FR
48049) is extended to October 12, 2021.
Written comments, data, and
information are requested and will be
accepted on and before October 12,
2021.
DATES:
Interested persons are
encouraged to submit comments using
the Federal eRulemaking Portal at
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
Alternatively, interested persons may
submit comments by email to the
following address: Email: ResFurnace
CommWaterHeater2018STD0018@
ee.doe.gov. Include docket number
EERE–2018–BT–STD–0018 and/or RIN
1904–AE39 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. No telefacsimiles (faxes)
will be accepted.
Although DOE has routinely accepted
public comment submissions through a
variety of mechanisms, including postal
mail and hand delivery/courier, the
Department has found it necessary to
make temporary modifications to the
comment submission process in light of
the ongoing COVID–19 pandemic. DOE
is currently accepting only electronic
submissions at this time. If a commenter
finds that this change poses an undue
hardship, please contact Appliance
Standards Program staff at (202) 586–
1445 to discuss the need for alternative
arrangements. Once the COVID–19
pandemic health emergency is resolved,
DOE anticipates resuming all of its
regular options for public comment
submission, including postal mail and
hand delivery/courier.
Docket: The docket for this activity,
which includes Federal Register
notices, comments, and other
supporting documents/materials, is
available for review at
www.regulations.gov. All documents in
the docket are listed in the
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.
ADDRESSES:
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
The docket web page can be found at:
www.regulations.gov/
#!docketDetail;D=EERE-2018-BT-STD0018. The docket web page contains
instructions on how to access all
documents, including public comments,
in the docket.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ms. Catherine Rivest, 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–
7335. Email:
ApplianceStandardsQuestions@
ee.doe.gov.
Mr. Eric Stas, U.S. Department of
Energy, Office of the General Counsel,
GC–33, 1000 Independence Avenue SW,
Washington, DC 20585–0121.
Telephone: (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:
ApplianceStandardsQuestions@
ee.doe.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On
January 15, 2021, the U.S. Department
of Energy (DOE or the Department)
published in the Federal Register a final
interpretive rule determining that, in the
context of residential furnaces,
commercial water heaters, and
similarly-situated products or
equipment, use of non-condensing
technology (and associated venting)
constitutes a performance-related
‘‘feature’’ under EPCA (42 U.S.C. 6291
et seq.), as amended, that cannot be
eliminated through the adoption of an
energy conservation standard. 86 FR
4776. On August 27, 2021, DOE
published in the Federal Register a
NOPIR that proposes to return to its
previous and long-standing
interpretation (in effect prior to the
January 2021 final interpretive rule),
under which the technology used to
supply heated air or hot water is not a
performance related ‘‘feature’’ that
provides a distinct consumer utility
under EPCA. 86 FR 48049. The NOPIR
provided an opportunity for submission
of written comments, data, and
information to the Department no later
than September 27, 2021.
Prior to the end of the comment
period for the NOPIR, DOE received a
joint comment from the American Gas
Association (AGA), the American Public
Gas Association (APGA), Spire Inc. and
Spire Missouri (Spire), and the National
Propane Gas Association (NPGA),
E:\FR\FM\24SEP1.SGM
24SEP1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 183 (Friday, September 24, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 53013-53014]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-20756]
========================================================================
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. 86, No. 183 / Friday, September 24, 2021 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 53013]]
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
10 CFR Part 430
[EERE-2019-BT-TP-0021]
RIN 1904-AE75
Energy Conservation Program: Test Procedures for Consumer
Products; Early Assessment Review; Faucets and Showerheads
AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of
Energy.
ACTION: Request for information; extension of public comment period.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (``DOE'') is extending the
public comment period for the early assessment request for information
(``RFI'') regarding proposals to amend the test procedures for faucets
and showerheads. DOE published the RFI in the Federal Register on
September 2, 2021, establishing a 32-day public comment period ending
October 4, 2021. On September 9, 2021, DOE received a comment
requesting extension of the comment period to at least 30 days. DOE is
extending the public comment period for submitting comments and data on
the RFI document by an additional 15 days, to October 19, 2021, for a
total of a 47 day comment period.
DATES: The comment period for the RFI published on September 2, 2021
(86 FR 49261), is extended. DOE will accept comments, data, and
information regarding this RFI received no later than October 19, 2021.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are encouraged to submit comments using
the Federal eRulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments. Alternatively, interested persons
may submit comments by email to the following address:
[email protected]. Include ``Energy Conservation
Program: Test Procedures for Consumer Products; Early Assessment
Review; Faucets and Showerheads'' and docket number EERE-2019-BT-TP-
0021 and/or RIN number 1904-AE75 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.
Although DOE has routinely accepted public comment submissions
through a variety of mechanisms, including postal mail and hand
delivery/courier, the Department has found it necessary to make
temporary modifications to the comment submission process in light of
the ongoing corona virus (COVID-19) pandemic. DOE is currently
accepting only electronic submissions at this time. If a commenter
finds that this change poses an undue hardship, please contact
Appliance Standards Program staff at (202) 586-1445 to discuss the need
for alternative arrangements. Once the COVID-19 pandemic health
emergency is resolved, DOE anticipates resuming all of its regular
options for public comment submission, including postal mail and hand
delivery/courier.
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 www.regulations.gov. All documents in the
docket are listed in the 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 www.regulations.gov/docket?D=EERE-2019-BT-TP-0021. The docket web page contains
instructions on how to access all documents, including public comments
in the docket.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Bryan Berringer, 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) 586-0371. Email: [email protected].
Ms. Amelia Whiting, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the
General Counsel, GC-33, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC
20585-0121. Telephone: (202) 586-2588. 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: On September 2, 2021, DOE published a RFI in
the Federal Register soliciting public comment on its test procedures
for faucets and showerheads. 86 FR 49261. Comments were originally due
on October 4, 2021. On September 9, 2021, DOE received a comment from
Plumbing Manufacturers International (PMI) to extend at least 30 days
the DOE comment period for the RFI for faucets and showerheads test
procedure, extending the comment submission deadline from October 4,
2021 up to November 3, 2021.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ DOE has posted this comment to the docket at
www.regulations.gov/document/EERE-2019-BT-TP-0021-0002.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
DOE has reviewed the request and considered the benefit to
stakeholders in providing additional time to review the RFI, and gather
information/data that DOE is seeking. As noted, the RFI was issued as
part of the preliminary stage of a rulemaking to consider amendments to
the energy conservation standards for faucets and showerheads. If DOE
determines that amended energy conservation standards may be
appropriate, additional notices will be published (e.g., a notice of
proposed rulemaking), providing interested parties additional
opportunity to submit comments. Accordingly, DOE has determined that an
extension of the comment period is appropriate, and is hereby extending
the comment period by an additional 15 days, until October 19, 2020 for
a total of a 47-day comment period.
Signing Authority
This document of the Department of Energy was signed on September
19, 2021, by Kelly Speakes Backman, Principal Deputy Assistant
Secretary and Acting Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy, pursuant to delegated authority from the Secretary of
Energy. That document with the original signature
[[Page 53014]]
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 September 21, 2021.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2021-20756 Filed 9-23-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
