Department of Energy June 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3507(a)(1)(D), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or FERC) is submitting its information collection FERC Form 6-Q (Quarterly Financial Report of Oil Pipeline Companies) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review of the information collection requirements. Any interested person may file comments directly with OMB and should address a copy of those comments to the Commission as explained below. The Commission previously issued a Notice in the Federal Register (81 FR 19166, 4/4/2016) requesting public comments. The Commission received no comments on the FERC Form 6-Q and is making this notation in its submittal to OMB.

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 (Commission or FERC) is soliciting public comment on the requirements and burden\1\ of the information collections described below.

The Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 (EPCA), as amended, sets forth various provisions designed to improve energy efficiency for consumer products and certain commercial and industrial equipment. In addition to specifying a list of covered residential products and commercial equipment, EPCA contains provisions that enable the Secretary of Energy to classify additional types of consumer products as covered products. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has previously published a proposed determination of coverage to classify portable air conditioners (ACs) as covered consumer products under the applicable provisions in EPCA. In this document, DOE proposes energy conservation standards for portable ACs following its notice of final determination of coverage. This document also announces a public meeting to receive comment on these proposed standards and associated analyses and results.

The Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975, as amended (``EPCA'' or in context, ``the Act''), prescribes energy conservation standards for various consumer products and certain commercial and industrial equipment, including battery chargers. EPCA also requires the U.S. Department of Energy (``DOE'' or, in context, ``the Department'') to determine whether Federal energy conservation standards for a particular type of product or equipment would be technologically feasible and economically justified, and would save a significant amount of energy. On March 27, 2012, DOE published a notice of proposed rulemaking (``NOPR'') to establish energy conservation standards for battery chargers. Responding to stakeholder comments, DOE updated its analysis and revised its proposed approach, resulting in a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (``SNOPR'') published on September 1, 2015. After considering all the stakeholder comments responding to the SNOPR, DOE is adopting the proposed energy conservation standards for battery chargers in this final rule. DOE has determined that these standards will result in the significant conservation of energy and are technologically feasible and economically justified.

The Office of Fossil Energy (FE) of the Department of Energy (DOE) gives notice of receipt of an application (Application), filed on March 1, 2016, by Venture Global Plaquemines LNG, LLC (Plaquemines LNG), requesting long-term, multi-contract authorization to export domestically produced liquefied natural gas (LNG), up to the equivalent of 1,240 billion cubic feet per year (Bcf/y) of natural gas. Plaquemines LNG requested authority to export this LNG to any country which has, or in future develops, the capacity to import LNG via ocean- going carriers, with which the United States does not have a free trade agreement (FTA) requiring national treatment for trade in natural gas, and with which trade is not prohibited by U. S. law or policy (non-FTA countries).\1\ Plaquemines LNG seeks authorization to export this LNG for a 25-year term commencing on the earlier of the date of first export or seven years from the date the authorization is issued. Plaquemines LNG proposes to conduct its export operations from the Plaquemines LNG Project, a planned natural gas liquefaction and LNG export terminal to be located on the west bank of the Mississippi River, near river mile marker 55, in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana. Plaquemines LNG seeks to export this LNG on its own behalf and as agent for other entities who hold title to the LNG at the time of export. The Application was filed under section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (NGA). Additional details can be found in Plaquemines LNG's Application, posted on the DOE/FE Web site at: https://www.energy.gov/fe/venture- global-plaquemines-lng-llc-plaquemines-lng-fe-dkt-no-16-28-ln g-ftanfta.

On November 9, 2015, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNOPR) to amend the test procedure for central air conditioners and heat pumps. That proposed rulemaking serves as the basis for the final rule. The final rule, in addition to satisfying the agency's obligation to periodically review its test procedures for covered equipment, amends specific certification, compliance, and enforcement provisions related to this product. In the final rule DOE makes the following amendments to the current test procedure: a new basic model definition as it pertains to central air conditioners and heat pumps and revised requirements for represented values; revised alternative efficiency determination methods; termination of active waivers and interim waivers; procedures to determine off mode power consumption; changes to the test procedure that would improve test repeatability and reduce test burden; and clarifications to ambiguous sections of the test procedure intended also to improve test repeatability and reproducibility Some of these amendments also include incorporation by reference of updated industry standards.