Department of Energy December 23, 2019 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of Energy publishes a final rule to establish a fee for long-term management and storage of elemental mercury in accordance with the Mercury Export Ban Act.

The U.S. Department of Energy (``DOE'') proposes to amend the test procedures for consumer refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, and freezers, and miscellaneous refrigeration products (collectively ``consumer refrigeration products''). The proposed test procedure amendments would, among other things, define the term ``compartment,'' and revise the method for including the energy use of automatic icemakers and certain other energy-using functions. DOE is also proposing to adjust the standards for these products to ensure that this change in test methodology does not require manufacturers to increase the efficiency of already compliant products or allow previously non-compliant products to meet the current energy conservation standard. DOE is announcing a public meeting and comment period to collect comments and data on its proposal, and methods to reduce regulatory burden while ensuring the test procedures' representativeness of energy use during an average use cycle or period of use.