Department of Energy March 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of Energy (DOE) has submitted the Electricity Sector Cybersecurity Risk Management Maturity Pilot to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance, a proposal for collection of information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35) and 5 CFR 1320.13.

The Department of Energy (DOE) invites public comment on a proposed collection of information that DOE is developing for submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. 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 proposed collection would involve information for a scorecard that would assist DOE's Clean Cities Coalitions and stakeholders in assessing the level of readiness of their communities for plug-in electric vehicles. Information collected would allow DOE to provide respondents with an objective assessment of their communities' readiness for PEV adoption and an understanding of their commitment to successful deployment of PEVs, and is needed to ensure appropriate evaluation of progress in deploying PEVs.

This document announces an extension of the time period for submitting comments on the Notice of Public Meeting (NOPM) and Availability of Framework Document Regarding Energy Conservation Standards for High-Intensity Discharge (HID) Lamps. The comment period is extended to April 12, 2012.

In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is soliciting public comment on the currently approved information collection, FERC-552, Annual Report of Natural Gas Transactions.

This notice sets forth the schedule and summary agenda for an open conference call of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), and describes the functions of the Council. Notice of this meeting is required under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), Public Law 92-463; 86 Stat. 770. The purpose of this conference call is to discuss PCAST's Advanced Manufacturing Partnership report.

The EIA invites public comment on a proposed collection of information that EIA is developing for submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The EIA is soliciting comments on the proposed reinstatement of the Forms EIA-871A-J, ``2012 Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey.'' The Federal Energy Administration Act of 1974 (Pub. L. 93-275, 15 U.S.C. 761 et seq.) and the DOE Organization Act (Pub. L. 95-91, 42 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.) require the EIA to carry out a centralized, comprehensive, and unified energy information program. This program collects, evaluates, assembles, analyzes, and disseminates information on energy resource reserves, production, demand, technology, and related economic and statistical information. This information is used to assess the adequacy of energy resources to meet near and longer-term domestic demands. The EIA, as part of its effort to comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), provides the general public and other Federal agencies with opportunities to comment on collections of energy information conducted by or in conjunction with the EIA. Any comments received help the EIA to prepare data requests that maximize the utility of the information collected, and to assess the impact of collection requirements on the public. Also, the EIA will later seek approval by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under Section 3507(a) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS) has been conducted nine times covering the years 1979, 1983 and 1986 under the name of the ``Nonresidential Buildings Energy Consumption Survey,'' and years 1989, 1992, 1995, 1999, 2003, and 2007 under the current name, ``Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey.'' CBECS collects baseline data on energy consumption and expenditures in commercial buildings, and on the energy-related characteristics of those buildings. To obtain this information, interviews are conducted for a sample of commercial buildings representing the 50 States and the District of Columbia. For buildings in the survey, data are collected on the types, amount and cost of energy consumed in the building, how the energy is used, structural characteristics of the buildings, activities conducted inside the buildings that relate to energy use, building ownership and occupancy, energy conservation measures, and energy-using equipment. The information will be collected using computer assisted interviewing for the 2012 CBECS; interviews will be conducted both in-person and by telephone. For those buildings that cannot provide energy consumption data for the building, the data will be obtained in a follow-up survey (historically a mail survey) from the suppliers of electricity, natural gas, fuel oil and/or district heat to the building, after receiving permission from the building owner, manager or tenant. This survey to the energy suppliers is mandatory. The data obtained from the CBECS are available to the public in a variety of EIA electronic tables and reports at https://www.eia.gov/ emeu/cbecs. Public use files that have been screened to protect the identity of the individual respondents are also available electronically at the above web address. Selected data from the surveys are also published in the Annual Energy Review.

This notice announces a meeting of the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technical Advisory Committee (HTAC). The Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 92-463, 86 Stat. 770, requires that agencies publish notice of an advisory committee meeting in the Federal Register.

This notice announces an open meeting of the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board (SEAB). The Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463, 86 Stat. 770) requires public notice of this meeting be announced in the Federal Register.

The Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) prescribes energy conservation standards for various consumer products and commercial and industrial equipment, including battery chargers and external power supplies (EPSs). EPCA also requires the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to determine whether more stringent, amended standards for these products are technologically feasible, economically justified, and would save a significant amount of energy. In this notice, DOE proposes amended energy conservation standards for Class A EPSs and new energy conservation standards for non-Class A EPSs and battery chargers. The notice also announces a public meeting to receive comment on these proposed standards and associated analyses and results.

The Department of Energy (DOE) has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance, a proposal for collection of information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The proposed collection will be used to report the progress of participants in the DOE Better Buildings Challenge (BBC) program. The Better Buildings Challenge is a presidential leadership initiative intended to drive greater energy efficiency in the commercial and industrial marketplace to create cost savings and jobs. This will be accomplished by highlighting the ways participants overcome market barriers and persistent obstacles with replicable, marketplace solutions. The program will showcase real solutions and partner with industry leaders to better understand policy and technical opportunities. President Obama launched the Better Buildings Challenge on December 2, 2011.

This notice announces a meeting of the Environmental Management Site-Specific Advisory Board (EM SSAB), Hanford. The Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463, 86 Stat. 770) requires that public notice of this meeting be announced in the Federal Register.

Pursuant to section 215 of the Federal Power Act, the Commission approves Reliability Standard PRC-023-2 (Transmission Relay Loadability) submitted by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), the Electric Reliability Organization certified by the Commission. The Reliability Standard requires transmission owners, generation owners, and distribution providers to set load-responsive phase protective relays according to specific criteria to ensure that the relays reliably detectand protect the electric network from fault conditions, but do not limit transmission loadability or interfere with system operators' ability to protect system reliability. The Commission also approves NERC Rules of Procedure Section 1700 Challenges to Determinations, which provides registered entities a means to challenge determinations made by planning coordinators under Reliability Standard PRC-023.

This notice announces a meeting of the Environmental Management Site-Specific Advisory Board (EM SSAB), Nevada. The Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463, 86 Stat. 770) requires that public notice of this meeting be announced in the Federal Register.