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

In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or FERC) is submitting its information collection FERC-725P1 (Mandatory Reliability Standards: PRC-005-6 Reliability Standard) 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 published a Notice in the Federal Register on May 31, 2019, requesting public comments. The Commission received no comments and is making this notation in its submittal to OMB.

On July 23, 2019, the U.S. Department of Energy (``DOE'') published in the Federal Register a notice of proposed rulemaking (``NOPR'') regarding proposals to amend the test procedures for clothes dryers and to request comment on the proposals and other aspects of clothes dryer testing. This notice also announced a webinar to be held on August 14, 2019, and stated that DOE would hold a public meeting on the proposal if one was requested by August 6, 2019. On July 29, 2019, DOE received a comment requesting a public meeting. On August 12, 2019, DOE published a Federal Register notice announcing a public meeting and webinar that will be held on August 28, 2019 and cancelled the previously announced webinar scheduled for August 14, 2019. On August 2, 2019 and August 5, 2019, DOE received subsequent comments requesting to move the webinar and public meeting into September 2019; therefore, DOE is changing the public meeting from August 28, 2019 to September 17, 2019 and extending the public comment period for submitting comments and data on the NOPR by 14 days to October 7, 2019.

The U.S. Department of Energy (``DOE'') is initiating a data collection process through this request for information (``RFI'') to consider whether to amend DOE's test procedure for consumer dishwashers. As part of this RFI, DOE seeks comment on whether there have been changes in product testing methodology or new products on the market since the last test procedure update that may create the need to make amendments to the test procedure for dishwashers. Specifically, DOE seeks data and information that could enable the agency to propose that the current test procedure produces results that are representative of an average use cycle for the product and is not unduly burdensome to conduct, and therefore does not need amendment. To inform interested parties and to facilitate this process, DOE has also gathered data, identifying several issues associated with the currently applicable test procedures on which DOE is interested in receiving comment. The issues outlined in this document mainly concern consumer usage patterns; appropriate testing conditions and methods; efficiency metrics; and any additional topics that may inform DOE's decision whether to conduct a future test procedure rulemaking. DOE welcomes written comments from the public on any subject within the scope of this document (including topics not raised in this RFI).

On February 13, 2019, the U.S. Department of Energy (``DOE'') published a notice of proposed rulemaking (``NOPR'') to update and modernize the Process Rule (``Process Rule NOPR''). On July 26, 2019, DOE published a notice of data availability (``NODA'') regarding national energy savings estimates from past DOE energy conservation standards rulemakings that were used in support of the NOPR and requested comments on these data. Prior to the end of the comment period for the NODA, DOE received a request from stakeholders on August 6, 2019, seeking additional time to analyze the NODA's data and to supplement their comments accordingly. In light of this request, DOE is re-opening the comment period for an additional 21 days and announcing that decision in this document.

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, App. 2, and Code of Federal Regulations, and following consultation with the Committee Management Secretariat, General Services Administration, notice is hereby given that the High Energy Physics Advisory Panel (HEPAP) has been renewed for a two-year period. The Committee will provide advice and recommendations to the Director, Office of Science (DOE), and the Assistant Director, Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (NSF), on scientific priorities within the field of basic high energy physics research. Additionally, the Secretary of Energy has determined that renewal of the HEPAP is essential to conduct business of the Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation and is in the public interest in connection with the performance duties imposed by law upon the Department of Energy. The Committee will continue to operate in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the Department of Energy Organization Act (Pub. L. 95-91), and the rules and regulations in implementation of these acts.

Through this notice, the Department of Energy (DOE) seeks comments and information from the public on enhancements to the Cybersecurity Capability Maturity Model (C2M2) Version 2.0. C2M2 Version 2.0 incorporates enhancements to align model domains and functional questions with internationally-recognized cyber standards and best practices, including the NIST Cybersecurity Framework Version 1.1 released in April 2018. Since C2M2's last update, new cybersecurity standards have been developed and existing standards have improved. Both technology and threat actors have become more sophisticated, creating new attack vectors and introducing new risks. DOE intends to address these challenges in version 2.0 of C2M2.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) invites public comment on its Request for Information (RFI) number regarding FY 2019 Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) research priorities, as part of its annual planning process. The purpose of this RFI is to solicit feedback from industry, academia, research laboratories, government agencies, and other stakeholders to help ensure research areas are relevant, timely, appropriate for federal government funding, and aligned with Administration priorities.

In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or FERC) is soliciting public comment on the currently approved information collection, FERC-725J (Definition of the Bulk Electric System) which will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a review of the information collection requirements.