Department of Energy 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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.

The Department of Energy (DOE or the Department) is proposing to amend its current chronic beryllium disease prevention program regulation. The proposed amendments would improve and strengthen the current provisions and continue to be applicable to DOE Federal and contractor employees who are, were, or potentially were exposed to beryllium at DOE sites.

On Mary 11, 2016, the Department of Energy (DOE) published a notice of open meeting announcing a meeting on June 8, 2016, of the Methane Hydrate Advisory Committee. This notice announces the cancellation of this meeting. The meeting is being cancelled because the board will not have a quorum due to scheduling conflicts by members and presenters. DATES: The meeting scheduled for June 8, 2016, announced in the May 11, 2016, issue of the Federal Register (81 FR 29257), is cancelled.

This notice announces a meeting of the DOE/NSF Nuclear Science Advisory Committee (NSAC). The Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463, 86 Stat. 770) requires that public notice of these meetings be announced in the Federal Register.

This notice announces receipt of and publishes a petition for waiver from Raypak Inc. (Raypak) seeking an exemption from specified provisions applicable to standby loss of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) test procedure for commercial water heating equipment. The waiver request pertains to Raypak's specified models of commercial instantaneous water heaters containing 10 gallons or more of water. In its petition, Raypak contends that its specified water heater models that employ tube-type heat exchangers and are designed to be flow activated cannot be accurately tested using the currently applicable DOE test procedure. Consequently, Raypak seeks to use an alternate test procedure to address certain issues involved in testing the specific basic models identified in its petition. DOE solicits comments, data, and information concerning Raypak's petition and its suggested alternate test procedure.

This notice announces receipt of and publishes a petition for waiver from HTP, Inc. (HTP) seeking an exemption from specified provisions applicable to standby loss of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) test procedure for commercial water heating equipment. The waiver request pertains to HTP's specified models of commercial instantaneous water heaters containing 10 gallons or more of water. In its petition, HTP contends that its specified water heater models that employ tube- type heat exchangers and are designed to be flow activated cannot be accurately tested using the currently applicable DOE test procedure. Consequently, HTP seeks to use an alternate test procedure to address certain issues involved in testing the specific basic models identified in its petition. DOE solicits comments, data, and information concerning HTP's petition and its suggested alternate test procedure.