Department of Energy January 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNOPR) proposes to clarify certain terms and language in our regulations for certain commercial and industrial equipment, as follows: revise the definitions of certain terms related to electric motors and small electric motors, clarify the scope of energy conservation standards for electric motors, update references to several industry and testing standards for electric motors, incorporate by reference and update alternative test methods for polyphase and single-phase small electric motors, and specify the determination of efficiency requirements for small electric motors. These actions are being proposed to clarify the scope of regulatory coverage for small electric motors and electric motors and ensure the accurate and consistent measurement of energy efficiency. This notice invites comments on U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) proposals and the issues presented herein, and requests comments, data, and other information that would enable DOE to promulgate a final rule.

The Western Area Power Administration (Western) is proposing new and revised formula rates and information for the following: Western power, the Central Valley Project (CVP) transmission, the California-Oregon Transmission Project (COTP) transmission, the Pacific Alternating Current Intertie (PACI) transmission, ancillary services, custom product power, and information on Path 15 transmission upgrade. In addition to these existing rates for services, Western also is proposing to implement two new rates and services: Unreserved Use Penalties and Generator Imbalance Services (GI). Western is not proposing any changes to its existing formula rate methodologies. The proposed rates will provide sufficient revenue to pay all annual costs including interest expense, investments, and aid to irrigation within the allowable time periods. Western's rate brochure providing detailed information on the proposed formula rates will be available January 11, 2011, to all interested parties upon request. The current rates for existing services expire on September 30, 2011.\1\ If approved, the proposed rates would become effective on October 1, 2011, and remain in effect through September 30, 2016, or until superseded by another rate schedule. Publication of this Federal Register notice begins the formal process for the proposed rate adjustments.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE or the Department) proposes to amend its existing regulations governing compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The majority of the changes are proposed for the categorical exclusions provisions contained in its NEPA Implementing Procedures, with a small number of related changes proposed for other provisions. These proposed changes are intended to better align the Department's regulations, particularly its categorical exclusions, with DOE's current activities and recent experiences, and to update the provisions with respect to current technologies and regulatory requirements. DOE proposes to establish 20 new categorical exclusions, and to remove two categorical exclusion categories, one environmental assessment (EA) category, and two environmental impact statement (EIS) categories. Other proposed changes modify and clarify DOE's existing provisions.