Department of Energy 2017 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Department of Energy (``DOE'') is initiating a data collection process through this request for information to consider whether to amend DOE's test procedure for room air conditioners (``room ACs''). To inform interested parties and to facilitate this process, DOE has gathered data, identifying several issues associated with the currently applicable test procedure on which DOE is interested in receiving comment. The issues outlined in this document mainly concern issues initially identified in an RFI issued in 2015 considering amendments to the current energy conservation standards and test procedure for room ACs; harmonization with the recently established portable air conditioner (``portable AC'') test procedure; clarification of the test setup and testing conditions; updated industry test procedures for room ACs; and any additional topics that may inform DOE's decisions in a future test procedure rulemaking, including methods to reduce regulatory burden while ensuring the procedure's accuracy. DOE welcomes written comments from the public on any subject within the scope of this document (including topics not raised in this RFI).

This notice announces a meeting of the Environmental Management Site-Specific Advisory Board (EM SSAB), Paducah. The Federal Advisory Committee requires that public notice of this meeting be announced in the Federal Register.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is initiating a data collection process through this request for information to consider whether to amend DOE's test procedure for small electric motors, and whether new test procedures are needed for motors beyond those subject to the existing Federal test procedures. To inform interested parties and to facilitate this process, DOE has gathered data, identifying several issues associated with the currently applicable test procedure on which DOE is interested in receiving comment. The issues outlined in this document mainly concern applicability of the test procedure to additional motor categories (by topology, horsepower, non-standard construction, etc.), definitions, industry test methods, additional test procedure clarifications, and any additional topics that may inform DOE's decisions in a future test procedure rulemaking, including methods to reduce regulatory burden while ensuring the procedure's accuracy. DOE welcomes written comments from the public on any subject within the scope of this document (including topics not raised in this RFI).

EIA has submitted an information collection request to OMB for extension under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The information collection requests a three-year extension with changes of its Petroleum Marketing Program, OMB Control Number 1905-0174. The Petroleum Marketing Program collects and publishes data on the nature, structure, and efficiency of petroleum markets at national, regional, and state levels. Through integration of the program's ten surveys, EIA monitors petroleum volumes and prices as the commodity moves through various stages such as the importation of raw material, physical and financial transfer of material off extraction sites, refinement to finished products, transfer/distribution from refiners to retail outlets, and sales to ultimate consumers.

In response to statutory requirements to review its test procedures in response to any updates of the relevant industry test procedures, as referenced in the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard 90.1 (ASHRAE Standard 90.1), the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is initiating a data collection process to consider amendments to DOE's test procedures for commercial package air conditioning and heating equipment with test procedure updates included in ASHRAE Standard 90.1- 2016specifically, those evaporatively-cooled commercial unitary air conditioners (ECUACs), water-cooled commercial unitary air conditioners (WCUACs), and air-cooled commercial unitary air conditioners (ACUACs) which have a rated cooling capacity greater than or equal to 65,000 Btu/h and less than 760,000 Btu/h; and all classes of computer room air conditioners (CRACs); as well as to consider adopting a new test procedure for dedicated outdoor air systems (DOASes), equipment covered by ASHRAE Standard 90.1 for the first time. In response to other statutory requirements for DOE to review its test procedures at least once every seven years, DOE is also reviewing its test procedures for ECUACs and WCUACs with a rated cooling capacity less than 65,000 Btu/h, as well as all classes of variable refrigerant flow multi-split air conditioners and heat pumps (VRF multi-split systems) but excluding single-phase systems with a rated cooling capacity less than 65,000 Btu/h, which are covered as consumer products. To inform interested parties and to facilitate this process, DOE has gathered data and has identified several issues that might warrant modifications to the currently applicable Federal test procedures, topics on which DOE is particularly interested in receiving comment. In overview, the issues outlined in this document mainly concern incorporation by reference of the most recent version of the relevant industry standard(s); efficiency metrics and calculations; clarification of test methods; and any additional topics that may inform DOE's decisions in a future test procedure rulemaking, including methods to reduce regulatory burden while ensuring the procedures' accuracy. These topics (and others identified by commenters) are ones which may be addressed in proposed test procedure amendments in a subsequent notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR). DOE welcomes written comments and data from the public on any subject related to the test procedures for this equipment, including topics not specifically raised in this RFI.

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