Department of Energy July 2021 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Department of Energy (``DOE'') is granting a waiver extension (Case No. 2020-025) to AHT Cooling Systems GmbH and AHT Cooling Systems USA Inc. (``AHT'') from specified portions of the DOE Commercial Refrigerators, Freezers, and Refrigerator-Freezers (collectively ``commercial refrigeration equipment'' or ``CRE'') test procedure for determining the energy consumption of the specified AHT CRE basic models. Under this extension, AHT is required to test and rate the specified basic models in accordance with the alternate test procedure specified in the Order.

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 a renewal of currently approved information collection FERC-552, (Annual Report of Natural Gas Transactions), which will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review.

In this notice of proposed rulemaking (``NOPR''), the U.S. Department of Energy (``DOE'') proposes to revise the current definition of ``showerhead'' adopted in the December 16, 2020 final rule (``December 2020 Final Rule'') by reinstating the prior definition of ``showerhead.'' This reinstatement of the prior definition is consistent with the purposes of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (``EPCA''). Further, DOE has tentatively determined that, in reinstating the prior definition of ``showerhead,'' all showerheads within a product containing multiple showerheads will be considered part of a single showerhead for determining compliance with the 2.5 gallons per minute (``gpm'') standard. In addition, DOE proposes to remove the current definition of ``body spray'' adopted in the December 2020 Final Rule. Finally, DOE does not propose any changes to the definition of ``safety shower showerhead'' adopted in the December 2020 Final Rule. DOE invites comment on all aspects of this proposal, including data and information to assist in evaluating whether the definition of ``showerhead'' from the October 2013 Final Rule should be reinstated, and announces a webinar to collect comments and data on its proposal.

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-921 (Ongoing Electronic Delivery of Data from Regional Transmission Organization and Independent System Operators).

EIA invites public comment on the proposed three-year extension, with changes, to the Generic Clearance for Questionnaire Testing, Evaluation, and Research, as required under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. EIA-882T, Generic Clearance for Questionnaire Testing, Evaluation, and Research, provides EIA with the authority to utilize qualitative and quantitative methodologies to pretest questionnaires and validate the quality of data collected on EIA's surveys. EIA uses EIA-882T to meet its obligation to publish, and otherwise make available independent, high-quality statistical data to federal government agencies, state and local governments, the energy industry, researchers, and the general public.

EIA submitted an information collection request for extension as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The information collection requests a three-year extension of its Form EIA-63C, Densified Biomass Fuel Report, OMB Control Number 1905-0209. The report is part of EIA's comprehensive energy data program. Form EIA-63C collects monthly data on the manufacture, shipment, exports, energy characteristics, and sales of densified biomass fuels and other densified biomass fuel products data from facilities that manufacture densified biomass fuel products (pellet fuels), for energy applications.

The U.S. Department of Energy (``DOE'' or ``the Department'') is undertaking an early assessment review for amended energy conservation standards for commercial refrigerators, freezers, and refrigerator-freezers (``CRE'') to determine whether to amend applicable energy conservation standards for this equipment. Specifically, through this request for information (``RFI''), DOE seeks data and information to evaluate whether amended energy conservation standards would result in significant savings of energy; be technologically feasible; and be economically justified. 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.