Department of Energy April 2, 2010 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) proposes major revisions to its test procedures for battery chargers and external power supplies. In particular, DOE proposes to insert a new active mode energy consumption test procedure for battery chargers, to assist in the development of energy conservation standards as directed by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. DOE also proposes to amend portions of its existing standby and off mode battery charger test procedure to shorten the measurement time. DOE is also considering amending its existing active mode single-voltage external power supply test procedure to permit testing of certain types of external power supplies that the existing test procedure may be unable to test.