Department of Energy February 2019 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or Agency) is amending its Rules of Practice and Procedure to update its provisions regarding the computation of time. This final rule will modify the Commission's regulations to cover situations in which the Commission is closed due to adverse conditionsincluding inclement weathereven though some official duties may continue through telework-ready employees. This change will prevent unintended Commission action by operation of law and will provide clarity as to filing deadlines and deadlines for action by the Commission.

This notice announces an open meeting of the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board (SEAB). The SEAB was reestablished pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act. This notice is provided in accordance with the Act.

The U.S. Department of Energy (``DOE'' or ``the Department'') proposes to update and modernize the Department's current rulemaking methodology titled, ``Procedures, Interpretations, and Policies for Consideration of New or Revised Energy Conservation Standards for Consumer Products'' (``Process Rule''). In overview, in this document, DOE is proposing to clarify that the Process Rule applies to the establishment of new or revised energy conservation standards and test procedures for both consumer products and commercial/industrial equipment. This proposed rule would make the specified rulemaking procedures binding on DOE, and it would also revise language in certain provisions to make it consistent with the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 (``EPCA''), as amended, and other applicable law. It also proposes to expand early opportunities for public input on the Appliance Program's priority setting and rulemaking activities, to define a significant energy savings threshold for updating energy conservation standards, to commit to publishing final test procedures at least 180 days in advance of a standards proposal, and to delineate procedures for rulemaking under the separate direct final rule and negotiated rulemaking authorities, among other issues. DOE may consider additional changes to the Process Rule in a future proceeding. In addition to requesting written comments on its proposal, DOE will also hold a public meeting at DOE Headquarters to discuss this proposal and obtain additional input.

Western Area Power Administration announces proposed power allocations from the 2025 Resource Pool for the Central Valley and Washoe projects. Under the final 2025 Power Marketing Plan, 2 percent of the existing marketable resource, otherwise known as Base Resource, of the Central Valley and Washoe Projects will be allocated to new and existing eligible preference customers beginning January 1, 2025 and ending December 31, 2054. This notice provides a list of the allottees and seeks comments from the public on the proposed resource pool allocations.

On January 19, 2017, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) published two final rules adopting revised definitions of general service lamp (GSL), general service incandescent lamp (GSIL) and other supplemental definitions, effective January 1, 2020. DOE has since determined that the legal basis underlying those revisions misconstrued existing law. As a result, DOE is issuing this notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) proposing to withdraw the definitions established in the January 19, 2017, final rules. DOE proposes to maintain the existing regulatory definitions of GSL and GSIL, which are the same as the statutory definitions of those terms.

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