Department of Energy March 2010 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of Energy (DOE), pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, has submitted an emergency information collection request package with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) concerning the retrospective Weatherization Assistance Program Evaluation for Program Years 2007 and 2008. Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information collection; they also will become a matter of public record. Information about the operation of the program, energy used before and after weatherization, energy used by control group low-income homes, the effectiveness of specific energy efficiency measures, customer satisfaction with the program, and non- energy benefits is needed for a comprehensive and rigorous evaluation of the program.

Under two separate applications, Noble Energy Marketing and Trade Corp. (NEMT) has applied for authority to transmit electric energy from the United States to Mexico and from the United States to Canada pursuant to section 202(e) of the Federal Power Act.

The Industry Advisory Board (IAB) to the International Energy Agency (IEA) will meet on March 23, 2010, at the headquarters of the IEA in Paris, France, in connection with a joint meeting of the IEA's Standing Group on Emergency Questions (SEQ) and the IEA's Standing Group on the Oil Market on March 23, and on March 24 in connection with a meeting of the SEQ on March 24.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will hold a public meeting to discuss and receive comments on the product classes that DOE plans to analyze for purposes of amending energy conservation standards for certain residential furnaces, and the analytical approach, models, and tools that DOE is using to evaluate amended standards for these products. DOE also encourages written comments on these subjects. A detailed discussion of these topics can be found in the rulemaking analysis plan (RAP) for residential furnaces, which is available at: https://www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/resi dential/ furnaces_boilers.html.

The Fuel Cell Technologies Program, under the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, is inviting the fuel cell research community and other stakeholders to participate in a discussion of the most relevant research, development, and demonstration topics in fuel cells and fuel cell systems appropriate for government funding in stationary and transportation applications as well as cross-cutting stack and balance of plant component technology. Input from workshop participants will be used to assist in the development of a planned Fuel Cell Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) with awards anticipated in Fiscal Year (FY) 2011.

Pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Department of Energy (DOE) invites public comment on a proposed emergency collection of information that DOE is developing to collect data on the status of activities, project progress, jobs created and retained, spend rates and performance metrics under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

This notice announces receipt of and publishes the Haier Group and Haier America Trading, L.L.C. (Haier) petition for waiver (hereafter, ``Petition'') from specified portions of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) test procedure for determining the energy consumption of electric refrigerators and refrigerator-freezers. The waiver request pertains to Haier's product lines that utilize a control logic that changes the wattage of the anti-sweat heaters based upon the ambient relative humidity conditions to prevent condensation. The existing test procedure does not take humidity or adaptive control technology into account. Therefore, Haier has suggested an alternate test procedure that considers adaptive control technology when measuring energy consumption. DOE solicits comments, data, and information concerning Haier's Petition and the suggested alternate test procedure. DOE also publishes notice of the grant of an interim waiver to Haier.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is amending its regulations to require all States and other service providers that participate in the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) to treat all requests for information concerning applicants and recipients of WAP funds in a manner consistent with the Federal government's treatment of information requested under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552, including the privacy protections contained in Exemption (b)(6) of the FOIA, 5 U.S.C. 552(b)(6).

The Office of Fossil Energy announces the availability of the 2010 Annual Plan for the Ultra-Deepwater and Unconventional Natural Gas and Other Petroleum Resources Research and Development Program on the DOE Web site at https://management.energy.gov/FOIA/1480.htm or in print form (see ``Contact'' below).