Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) invites public comment on a proposed collection of information that DOE is developing for submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) gives notice of the decision and order (Case No. CR-003) that grants to Hussmann Corporation (Hussmann) a waiver from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) test procedure for determining the energy consumption of its commercial freezers for the basic models set forth in its petition for waiver (petition). Hussmann claims in its petition that the specified basic models cannot be tested in accordance with the DOE test procedure for commercial refrigeration equipment because the equipment cannot operate at the specified integrated average product temperature of 0 [deg]F 2 [deg]F. Under today's decision and order, Hussmann shall be required to test and rate the commercial freezers specified in the petition at their lowest integrated average temperature of 8 2 [deg]F, which DOE confirmed is the lowest temperature at which those models can operate and which is consistent with the lowest application product temperature provision in the DOE test procedure.

This notice announces a final determination by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) classifying UL Verification Services (UL) as a nationally recognized certification program under 10 CFR 431.447 and 431.448.

The Department of Energy (DOE) has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance, a proposal for collection of information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The proposed collection will be used to report the progress of participants in the DOE Better Buildings programs, including the Better Buildings Challenge, Better Buildings, Better Plants program, and the Better Buildings Alliance. These voluntary programs are intended to drive greater energy efficiency in the commercial and industrial marketplace to create cost savings and jobs. This will be accomplished by highlighting the ways participants overcome market barriers and persistent obstacles with replicable, marketplace solutions. These programs will showcase real solutions and partner with industry leaders to better understand policy and technical opportunities. Since the published 60-Day Notice and request for comments on April 11, 2013, Vol. 78, No. 70, page 21602, there are noted changes to the following supplemental information items: (6) Annual Estimated Number of Total Responses are reduced from 3,178 to 2,333; (7) Annual Estimated Number of Burden Hours are reduced from 5,077 to 4,651.89; and (8) Annual Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Cost Burden is reduced from$194,926 to $183,610.

This notice announces receipt of a petition for waiver from Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (Samsung) regarding specified portions of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) test procedure for determining the energy consumption of electric refrigerators and refrigerator-freezers. In its petition, Samsung provides an alternate test procedure that is the same as the test procedure DOE published in a final rule setting out testing requirements for manufacturers to follow starting in 2014. DOE solicits comments, data, and information concerning Samsung's petition and the suggested alternate test procedure. Today's notice also grants Samsung an interim waiver from the electric refrigerator and refrigerator-freezer test procedure, subject to use of the alternative test procedure set forth in this notice.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) gives notice of its decision and order (Case No. RF-031) granting Panasonic Appliances Refrigeration Systems Corporation of America (PAPRSA) a waiver from the DOE electric refrigerator and refrigerator-freezer test procedures for determining the energy consumption of residential refrigerator-freezers for the basic models set forth in its petition for waiver. Under today's decision and order, PAPRSA shall be required to test and rate its hybrid wine chiller/beverage center basic models using an alternate test procedure that requires PAPRSA to test the wine chiller compartment at 55 [deg]F instead of the prescribed temperature of 38 [deg]F. PAPRSA shall also use the K factor (correction factor) value of 0.85 when calculating the energy consumption.

This notice announces receipt of a petition for waiver from Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (Samsung) regarding specified portions of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) test procedure for determining the energy consumption of electric refrigerators and refrigerator-freezers. In its petition, Samsung provides an alternate test procedure that is the same as the test procedure DOE published in a final rule setting out testing requirements for manufacturers to follow starting in 2014. DOE solicits comments, data, and information concerning Samsung's petition and the suggested alternate test procedure. Today's notice also grants Samsung an interim waiver from the electric refrigerator and refrigerator-freezer test procedure, subject to use of the alternative test procedure set forth in this notice.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) gives notice of the decision and order (Case No. CD-007) that grants to BSH Home Appliances Corporation (BSH) a waiver from the DOE clothes dryer test procedure. The waiver pertains to the models of condensing residential clothes dryer specified in BSH's petition. Condensing clothes dryers cannot be tested using the currently applicable DOE test procedure. Under today's decision and order, BSH shall not be required to test and rate its specified models of residential condensing clothes dryer pursuant to the current test procedure.

This notice announces a teleconference call of the State Energy Advisory Board (STEAB). The Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463; 86 Stat.770) requires that public notice of these meetings be announced in the Federal Register.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is hereby granting a nationwide limited waiver of the Buy American requirements of section 1605 of the Recovery Act under the authority of Section 1605(b)(2), (iron, steel, and the relevant manufactured goods are not produced in the United States in sufficient and reasonably available quantities and of a satisfactory quality), with respect to small-horsepower (HP) vertical hollow shaft (VHS) electric motors (less than 40 HP) to be utilized in Recovery Act projects funded by EERE.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is hereby granting a nationwide limited waiver of the Buy American requirements of section 1605 of the Recovery Act under the authority of Section 1605(b)(2), (iron, steel, and the relevant manufactured goods are not produced in the United States in sufficient and reasonably available quantities and of a satisfactory quality), with respect to Recovery Act projects funded by EERE for (1) Energy-efficient impeller (N-impeller) to retrofit existing Flygt pumps, and (2) Expansion Module Assembly to repair existing Johnson Controls Lab and Hood Fume Interface with Phoenix Controls Hood (where utilization of an American made module assembly would require replacement of the existing system).

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is hereby granting an Amended Waiver of section 1605 of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009 (Recovery Act Buy American provisions) in EERE- funded projects for LED tube lights to replace T8/other 4 foot fluorescents.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is soliciting public input on the methodology developed by DOE to assist in assessing compliance with building energy codes at the local, state, and national levels. To provide technical assistance for states implementing building energy codes, DOE developed and piloted a compliance methodology across several U.S. states. The experiences of those participating in these pilot studies have led to a number of recommendations and potential changes to the DOE methodology. DOE is interested in receiving broad public input on not only this methodology, but also on fundamental assumptions and approaches to measuring compliance with building energy codes. This notice identifies several areas in which DOE is particularly interested in receiving information; however, any input and suggestions considered relevant to the topic are welcome.

This notice announces a teleconference call of the State Energy Advisory Board (STEAB). The Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463; 86 Stat.770) requires that public notice of these meetings be announced in the Federal Register.

This notice announces receipt of and publishes the ASKO Appliances Inc. (ASKO) petition for waiver from specified portions of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) test procedure for determining the energy consumption of residential clothes dryers. The waiver request pertains to ASKO's specified models of condensing residential clothes dryers. The existing test procedure does not apply to condensing clothes dryers. In addition, today's notice grants ASKO an interim waiver from the DOE test procedure applicable to residential clothes dryers. DOE solicits comments, data, and information concerning ASKO's petition.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) gives notice of the decision and order (Case No. RF-029) that grants to GE Appliances (GE) a waiver from the DOE electric refrigerator and refrigerator-freezer test procedures for determining the energy consumption of residential refrigerator-freezers for the basic models set forth in its petition for waiver. Under today's decision and order, GE shall be required to test and rate its refrigerator-freezers with dual compressors using an alternate test procedure that takes this technology into account when measuring energy consumption.

The Department of Energy is proposing to merge two information collections into one more broad collection, one of which is approved and one of which was previously proposed pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The approved collection is being used to develop a scorecard that will assist DOE's Clean Cities coalitions and stakeholders in assessing the level of readiness of their communities for plug-in electric vehicles (PEV). Information collected via the scorecard is intended to allow DOE to provide respondents with an objective assessment of their communities' readiness for PEV adoption and an understanding of their commitment to successful deployment of PEVs, and is needed to ensure appropriate evaluation of progress in deploying PEVs. The other, previously proposed information collection would be used to develop information that will enable DOE to measure the impact and progress of DOE's National Clean Fleets Partnership (Partnership). The Partnership is an initiative through which DOE provides large private-sector fleets with technical assistance and expertise to incorporate alternative fuels and fuel saving measures into their operations successfully. The initiative builds on the established success of DOE's Clean Cities Program. The Partnership was developed with input from fleet managers, industry representatives, Clean Cities program staff, and Clean Cities coordinators. DOE is also proposing to amend the PEV Scorecard information collection request by expanding the number of entities estimated to participate in the voluntary PEV Scorecard information collection.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) gives notice of its decision and order in Case No. RF-027 that grants to Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (Samsung) a waiver from the DOE electric refrigerator and refrigerator-freezer test procedures for specific basic models set forth in its petition for waiver. In its petition, Samsung provides an alternate test procedure that is identical to the test procedure DOE published in a final rule dated January 25, 2012 that manufacturers will be required to use starting in 2014. Under today's decision and order, Samsung shall be required to test and rate these refrigerator-freezers using an alternate test procedure as adopted in that January 2012 final rule, which accounts for multiple defrost cycles when measuring energy consumption.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) gives notice of its decision and order in Case No. RF-025 that grants to Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (Samsung) a waiver from the DOE electric refrigerator and refrigerator-freezer test procedures for specific basic models set forth in its petition for waiver. In its petition, Samsung provides an alternate test procedure that is identical to the test procedure DOE published in a final rule dated January 25, 2012 that manufacturers will be required to use starting in 2014. Under today's decision and order, Samsung shall be required to test and rate these refrigerator-freezers using an alternate test procedure as adopted in that January 2012 final rule, which accounts for multiple defrost cycles when measuring energy consumption.

The Department of Energy (DOE) invites public comment on a revision of a currently approved collection of information that DOE is developing for submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the revision of the currently approved collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the reduced burden pertaining to the approved collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to further enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information being collected; and (d) ways to further minimize the burden regarding the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

This notice announces an open meeting of the Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee. The Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463, 86 Stat. 770) requires that public notice of these meetings be announced in the Federal Register.

This notice announces receipt of and publishes a petition for waiver and application for interim waiver from Felix Storch, Inc. (FSI) (hereafter, ``petition'') from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) test procedure for determining the energy consumption of commercial refrigerators, freezers and refrigerator-freezers. Today's notice also grants an interim waiver for specific basic models to FSI from portions of the DOE commercial refrigerator, freezer and refrigerator-freezer test procedure. Through this notice, DOE also solicits comments with respect to the FSI petition.

This notice announces receipt of a petition for waiver from GE Appliances (GE) seeking an exemption from specified portions of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) test procedure for determining the energy consumption of electric refrigerators and refrigerator-freezers. GE asks that it be permitted to use an alternate test procedure to address the difficulties in testing shared dual compressor systems according to the currently applicable DOE test procedure. DOE solicits comments, data, and information concerning GE's petition and the suggested alternate test procedure. Today's notice also grants GE with an interim waiver from the electric refrigerator-freezer test procedure, subject to use of the alternative test procedure set forth in this notice. The waiver request pertains to the basic models set forth in GE's petition that incorporate shared dual compressor systems.

This notice announces a teleconference call of the State Energy Advisory Board (STEAB). The Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463; 86 Stat.770) requires that public notice of these meetings be announced in the Federal Register.

The DOE participates in the code development process of the International Code Council (ICC), which produces the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). DOE will continue to publish code change proposals for the IECC before submitting them to the ICC to allow interested parties an opportunity to provide suggested revisions, enhancements to and comments on DOE code change proposals. This notice outlines the process by which DOE produces code change proposals, and participates in the ICC code development process.