Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy March 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of Energy (DOE) has submitted an information collection request to the OMB for extension under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The information collection requests a three-year extension of its Better Buildings, Better Plants Program Voluntary Pledge Program, OMB Control Number 1910-5141. The proposed collection will be used to evaluate the success of the voluntary agreements made through the DOE's Better Buildings, Better Plants Program. The information to be collected from Partner plants includes: background data, including contact information, information on primary energy consumption and energy saving, high level descriptions of implemented energy projects, and annual and cumulative energy intensity progress. The results of the Better Buildings, Better Plants Voluntary Pledge Report will only be published in program evaluation and metrics documentation. Results will be published in aggregate to report the impact of the DOE program in a report that must be submitted to Congress in 2012 and 2017.

Pursuant to Section 9(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), and in accordance with Title 41, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 102-3.65, and following consultation with the Committee Management Secretariat, General Services Administration, and in accordance with the Negotiated Rulemaking Act of 1996 (NRA), and the Administrative Procedure Act, notice is hereby given that the ASRAC will be established for a two-year period. The Committee will provide advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Energy on matters concerning the DOE's Appliances and Commercial Equipment Standards Program's (Program) test procedures and rulemaking process. Formation of this committee allows the Program to further improve the rulemaking process. The Committee provides advice and makes recommendations on the: (1) Development of minimum efficiency standards for residential appliances and commercial equipment, (2) development of product test procedures, (3) certification and enforcement of standards, (4) labeling for various residential products and commercial equipment, and (5) specific issues of concern to DOE, as requested by the Secretary of Energy, the Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), and the Buildings Technologies Program Manager. Additionally, the establishment of the Appliance Standards and Rulemaking Federal Advisory Committee has been determined to be essential to the conduct of the Department's mission and to be in the public interest in connection with the performance of duties imposed upon the Department of Energy by law and agreement. The Committee will operate in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, and rules and regulations issued in implementation of that Act, the Negotiated Rulemaking Act of 1996 (NRA), and the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). This notice also requests nominations for members on the Committee, to ensure a wide range of member candidates and a balanced committee.

This notice announces receipt of and publishes the Fujitsu General Limited (FUJITSU) petition for waiver and application for interim waiver (hereafter, ``petition'') from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) test procedure for determining the energy consumption of commercial package air-source central air conditioners and heat pumps. Today's notice also grants an interim waiver of the commercial package air-source central air conditioners and heat pumps test procedure. Through this notice, DOE also solicits comments with respect to the FUJITSU petition.