Department of Energy July 2020 – 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 soliciting public comment on the proposed changes to the information collection FERC-725G (Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Bulk-Power System: PRC Reliability Standards) and will be submitting the information collection to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review.

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-510 (Application for Surrender of a Hydropower License) 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 Fusion Energy Sciences Advisory Committee (FESAC). The Federal Advisory Committee Act, requires that public notice of these meetings be announced in the Federal Register.

The Commission is proposing to amend its regulations governing the safety of hydropower projects licensed by the Commission under the Federal Power Act. These regulations are intended to promote the safe operation, effective maintenance, and efficient repair of licensed hydropower projects and project works to ensure the protection of life, health, and property in surrounding communities. Specifically, the Commission proposes to revise its regulations to: Incorporate two tiers of project safety inspections by independent consultants, codify existing guidance requiring certain licensees to develop an owner's dam safety program and a public safety plan, update existing regulations related to public safety incident reporting, and make various minor revisions.

The U.S. Department of Energy (``DOE'') is undertaking an early assessment review for amended energy conservation standards for commercial clothes washers to determine whether to amend applicable energy conservation standards for this equipment. Specifically, through this request for information (``RFI''), DOE seeks data and information that could enable the agency to determine whether DOE should propose a ``no-new-standard'' determination because a more-stringent standard: Would not result in a significant savings of energy; is not technologically feasible; is not economically justified; or any combination of the foregoing. DOE welcomes written comments from the public on any subject within the scope of this document (including those topics not specifically raised in this RFI), as well as the submission of data and other relevant information concerning this early assessment review.

On May 20, 2020, the U.S. Department of Energy (``DOE'') published a request for information (``RFI'') pertaining to the energy conservation standards for external power supplies. The request provided an opportunity for submitting written comments, data, and information by July 6, 2020. Prior to the end of the comment period for the request of information, DOE received a request from a group of industry trade groups seeking additional time to consider the applicability and impact of an updated energy conservation standard for this equipment.