Department of Energy February 2020 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of Energy (DOE) is announcing a public workshop entitled, ``Advancing the Bioeconomy: From Waste to Conversion-Ready Feedstocks.'' The Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) seeks to gather input from experts on the present state and future potential of using waste streams, particularly municipal solid waste, as a feedstock for producing fuels, products, and power.

On December 23, 2019, the U.S. Department of Energy (``DOE'') published a test procedure notice of proposed rulemaking (``NOPR'') for consumer refrigeration products. The NOPR stated that written public comments would be accepted until February 21, 2020. On January 27, 2020, DOE received a joint request from the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA), the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), and Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) to extend the comment period for the NOPR by 60 days so that the data their teams are collecting and analyzing could be submitted to the docket and considered by the DOE. On February 5, 2020, DOE received a request from the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) to extend the comment period for the Test Procedure NOPR for Consumer Refrigeration Products by 30 days. DOE has reviewed this request and will be granting a 45 day extension of the public comment period until April 6, 2020.

This notice announces a closed meeting of the Defense Programs Advisory Committee (DPAC). The Federal Advisory Committee Act requires that public notice of meetings be announced in the Federal Register. Due to national security considerations the meeting will be closed to the public and matters to be discussed are exempt from public disclosure under Executive Order 13526 and the Atomic Energy Act of 1954.

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-574 (Gas Pipeline Certificates: Hinshaw Exemption) and submitting the information collection to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. Any interested person may file comments directly with OMB and should address a copy of those comments to the Commission as explained below.

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.

The Office of Fossil Energy (FE) of the Department of Energy (DOE) gives notice of receipt of a Notification Regarding Change in Control (Notification) filed by Mexico Pacific Limited LLC (MPL) in the above-referenced docket on November 18, 2019, and in a Supplement filed on January 14, 2020. The Notification and Supplement describe changes in MPL's ownership. The Notification and Supplement were filed under section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (NGA).

The Assistant Secretary, Office of Electricity, confirms, approves, and places into effect, on an interim basis, the firm power formula rate for the Provo River Project (Provisional Formula Rate). The existing firm power formula rate under Rate Schedule Provo River Formula Rate PR-1 is set to expire on March 31, 2020. This rate action makes no change to the existing formula rate.

The U.S. Department of Energy is updating and modernizing aspects of its current rulemaking method for considering new or revised energy conservation standards for consumer products and certain types of industrial equipment. The rule clarifies the process DOE will follow with respect to its application to these items, makes the specified rulemaking procedures binding on DOE, and revises certain provisions to bring consistency with existing statutory requirements. Other changes include expanding early opportunities for public input on the Appliance Program's priority setting and rulemaking activities, setting a significant energy savings threshold for updating standards, establishing a window between test procedure final rules and standards proposals, and delineating procedures for rulemaking under the separate direct final rule and negotiated rulemaking authorities.

In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or FERC) is soliciting public comment on the currently approved information collection, FERC-725M (Mandatory Reliability Standards: Generator Requirements at the Transmission Interface) and submitting the information collection to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. Any interested person may file comments directly with OMB and should address a copy of those comments to the Commission as explained below.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) approves Reliability Standard CIP-012-1 (Cyber SecurityCommunications between Control Centers). The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), the Commission-certified Electric Reliability Organization, submitted Reliability Standard CIP-012-1 for Commission approval in response to a Commission directive. In addition, the Commission directs NERC to develop modifications to the CIP Reliability Standards to require protections regarding the availability of communication links and data communicated between bulk electric system Control Centers.