Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Office November 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of Energy (DOE) is commencing a rulemaking to amend the existing energy conservation standards for residential water heaters, direct heating equipment, and pool heaters. DOE will hold an informal public meeting to present its proposed methodologies for conducting this rulemaking, discuss issues relevant to the rulemaking proceeding, and initiate stakeholder interaction and the data collection process. DOE is also interested in identifying information that will assist it in establishing amended standards for these products. DOE encourages written comments on these subjects. This effort is the result of provisions in the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) directing the Secretary of Energy (``Secretary'') to publish rules to determine whether the energy conservation standards for such products should be amended. To inform stakeholders and to facilitate this process, DOE has prepared a Framework Document, a draft of which is available at https:// www.eere.doe.gov/building/appliancestandards.

The Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technical Advisory Committee (HTAC) held its first meeting on October 2-3, 2006. At that time, it was suggested that a conference call take place on November 17, 2006. The Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463, 86 Stat. 770) requires that agencies publish these notices in the Federal Register. This notice fulfills that requirement. The public is permitted to listen in but is not permitted to comment until the end of the call at which time public comments will be taken.