Department of Energy January 2017 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 (EPCA), as amended, sets forth a variety of provisions designed to improve energy efficiency. Part C of Title III establishes the ``Energy Conservation Program for Certain Industrial Equipment.'' The covered equipment includes pumps. In this document, DOE proposes amended energy conservation standards for dedicated-purpose pool pumps identical to those set forth in a direct final rule published elsewhere in the Federal Register. If DOE receives an adverse comment and determines that such comment may provide a reasonable basis for withdrawing the direct final rule, DOE will publish a notice withdrawing the direct final rule and will proceed with this proposed rule.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is designing a consent- based siting process to establish an integrated waste management system to transport, store, and dispose of commercial spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste. In a consent-based siting approach, DOE will work with communities, tribal governments and states across the country that express interest in hosting federal consolidated interim storage facilities and disposal facilities for spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste as part of an integrated waste management system. The Department is seeking input on the Draft Consent-Based Siting Process for Consolidated Storage and Disposal Facilities for Spent Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Radioactive Wastes.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) is proposing to revise its regulations and the pro forma Large Generator Interconnection Procedures and pro forma Large Generator Interconnection Agreement. The Commission proposes reforms designed to improve certainty, promote more informed interconnection, and enhance interconnection processes. The proposed reforms are intended to ensure that the generator interconnection process is just and reasonable and not unduly discriminatory or preferential.

The Office of Fossil Energy (FE) of the Department of Energy (DOE) gives notice of receipt of an application (Application), filed on September 28, 2016, by Driftwood LNG, LLC (Driftwood LNG), requesting long-term, multi-contract authorization to export domestically produced liquefied natural gas (LNG) in a volume equivalent to 1,496.5 billion cubic feet per year (Bcf/yr) of natural gas (4.1 Bcf per day). Driftwood LNG seeks authorization to export the LNG by vessel from the proposed Driftwood LNG Facility to be located in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, approximately five miles south of the town of Carlyss, Louisiana. Driftwood LNG requests authorization to export LNG to any nation with which the United States does not have a free trade agreement (FTA) that requires national treatment for trade in natural gas and with which trade is not prohibited by U.S. law or policy (non- FTA countries) for a 20-year term to commence on the earlier of the date of first export or seven years from the date the requested authorization is issued. Driftwood 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 the Application, posted on the DOE/FE Web site at: https://www.energy.gov/ fe/downloads/driftwood-lng-llc-fe-dkt-16-144-lng. Protests, motions to intervene, notices of intervention, and written comments are invited.

EIA is announcing revisions to the confidentiality pledge(s) it provides to its respondents under the Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act. These revisions are required by the passage and implementation of provisions of the Federal Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2015 which permit and require the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide Federal civilian agencies' information technology systems with cybersecurity protection for their Internet traffic.