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

On July 26, 2021, the Department of Energy (the ``Department'' or ``DOE'') published in the Federal Register a notice of inquiry (``NOI'') and request for comment from the public concerning the need for continuation or modification of the provisions of the Price- Anderson Act (``PAA'') as administered by DOE. The PAA establishes a system of financial protection that encourages the safe and secure operation of nuclear power and other nuclear activities and assures equitable compensation of victims in the event of a nuclear incident. Comments from the public will assist the Department in the preparation of its report on the PAA to be submitted to Congress, as required by the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (AEA), as amended. The NOI provided an August 25, 2021, deadline for comments. This notice announces a 60-day extension of the comment period to October 25, 2021.

The Energy Policy and Conservation Act, as amended, prescribes energy conservation standards for various consumer products and certain commercial and industrial equipment, including microwave ovens. EPCA also requires the U.S. Department of Energy (``DOE'') to periodically determine whether more-stringent, amended standards would be technologically feasible and economically justified, and would result in significant energy savings. In this notification of proposed determination (``NOPD''), DOE has initially determined that energy conservation standards for microwave ovens do not need to be amended and requests comment on this proposed determination and the associated analyses and results.

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 collections, FERC-725G1 (Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Bulk-Power System: Reliability Standard PRC-004-6) and FERC- 725G4 (Mandatory Reliability Standards: Reliability Standard PRC-010-2 (Undervoltage Load Shedding)).

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-725A (Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Bulk-Power System). This notice includes the burden totals for proposed Reliability Standard FAC-008-5, which will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review.

On October 30, 2020 and December 16, 2020, the Department of Energy (``DOE'') published two final rules that established product classes for residential dishwashers with a cycle time for the normal cycle of 60 minutes or less, top-loading residential clothes washers and consumer clothes dryers with a cycle time of less than 30 minutes, and front-loading residential clothes washers with a cycle time of less than 45 minutes (``short-cycle product classes''). The rules resulted in amended energy conservation standards for these short cycle product classes, without determining whether the relevant statutory criteria for amending standards were met. Thus, DOE proposes to revoke the two earlier rules that improperly promulgated standards and reinstate the prior product classes and applicable standards for these covered products. DOE requests written comment on its proposal and announces a public meeting to receive comment on this notice of proposed rulemaking (``NOPR'').

This notification announces receipt of and publishes a petition for waiver and interim waiver from RefPlus, Inc. (``RefPlus''), which seeks a waiver for specified carbon dioxide (``CO2'') direct expansion unit cooler basic models from the U.S. Department of Energy (``DOE'') test procedure used for determining the efficiency of walk-in cooler and walk-in freezer refrigeration systems. DOE also gives notification of an Interim Waiver Order that requires RefPlus to test and rate the specified CO2 direct expansion unit cooler basic models in accordance with the alternate test procedure set forth in the Interim Waiver Order. DOE solicits comments, data, and information concerning RefPlus's petition and its suggested alternate test procedure so as to inform DOE's final decision on RefPlus's waiver request.

The U.S. Department of Energy (``DOE'') is undertaking an early assessment review for amended energy conservation standards for commercial and industrial pumps (``pumps'') 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 a 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.

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 725G (Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Bulk-Power System: PRC Reliability Standards), which will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review.

The Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) will host a public meeting to discuss the impacts petrochemical manufacturing, pipelines, and supporting infrastructure have on environmental and health conditions in local communities and on global greenhouse gas emission targets.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission addresses requests for rehearing and clarification of Order No. 871-B.