Department of Energy October 12, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of Energy (DOE), pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, intends to extend for three years, an information collection request with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the extended 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 the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Through this Request for Information (RFI), the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is initiating a rulemaking and data collection process to consider amendments to DOE's test procedures for residential water heaters, direct heating equipment, and pool heaters. This rulemaking is intended to fulfill DOE's statutory obligation to review its test procedures for covered products at least once every seven years. To inform interested parties and to facilitate the process, DOE has gathered data and has identified several issues that might warrant modifications to the current applicable test procedures, including topics on which DOE is particularly interested in receiving comment. In overview, the issues outlined in this document mainly concern the scope, draw patterns, and test conditions for residential water heaters, possible clarifications and improvement of the direct heating equipment test procedures as applied to vented hearth heaters, and coverage of electric pool heaters. Additionally, this RFI briefly discusses and seeks input on certain potential changes to the test procedures for these products that DOE anticipates may be included in a subsequent notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR). DOE welcomes written comments from the public on any subject related to the test procedures for residential heating products (including topics not specifically raised in this RFI).