[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 225 (Wednesday, November 23, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-28944]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: November 23, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

10 CFR Part 430

[Docket No. EE-RM-93-801]

 

Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products (Energy 
Conservation Standards for Three Types of Consumers Products)

AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of 
Energy.

Action: Supplemental Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking; extending 
comment period and rescheduling public hearing.

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Summary: Because of requests from the Air Conditioning and 
Refrigeration Institute, the Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association, 
the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, the Association of 
Home Appliance Manufacturers, the National Coal Association, the Edison 
Electric Institute, the Center for Energy and Economic Development, the 
National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, and the Southern 
Company, and the complexity of the information contained in the 
Supplemental Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, the Department of 
Energy has decided to extend the comment period by 60 days and 
reschedule the public hearing. This notice announces that the comment 
period that was to be closed on December 6, 1994, will be extended to 
February 6, 1995, and the public hearing that was scheduled for 
November 17, 1994, will be held on January 19, 1995.

DATES: Written comments in response to this document must be received 
by February 6, 1995. Oral views, data, and arguments may be presented 
at a public hearing to be held in Washington, D.C., on January 19, 
1995. Requests to speak at the public hearing must be received by the 
Department no later than 4 p.m. Monday, January 9, 1995. Ten copies of 
statements to be given at the public hearing must be received by the 
Department no later than 4 p.m., Friday, January 13, 1995.
    The length of each presentation is limited to 20 minutes.

ADDRESSES: Written comments, oral statements, requests to speak at the 
hearing, and requests for speaker lists are to be submitted to: U.S. 
Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, 
EE-431, Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products, Docket No. 
EE-RM-93-801, Room 5E-066, Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence 
Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-9127.
    The hearing will begin at 9:30 a.m., on January 19, 1995, and will 
be held at the U.S. Department of Energy, Forrestal Building, Room 1E-
245, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC.
    Requests may be hand delivered to such address between the hours of 
8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. 
Requests should be labeled ``Energy Conservation Program for Consumer 
Products (Energy Conservation Standards for Three Types of Consumers 
Products),'' (Docket No. EE-RM-93-801) both on the document and on the 
envelope.
    Copies of the transcript of the public hearing and public comments 
received may be read and/or photocopied at the DOE Freedom of 
Information Reading Room, U.S. Department of Energy, Forrestal 
Building, Room 1E-190, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC, 
20585, (202) 586-6020 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dr. Barry P. Berlin, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy 
Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Mail Station EE-43, Forrestal 
Building, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 
586-9127
Eugene Margolis, Esq., U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the General 
Counsel, Mail Station GC-72, Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-9507

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department published a Supplementary 
Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (SANOPR) on October 7, 1994, 
entitled ``Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: 
Supplemental Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Regarding Energy 
Conservation Standards for Three Types of Consumer Products.'' (59 FR 
51140).
    In earlier Advance Notices of Proposed Rulemaking (Docket Nos. CE-
RM-93-801 and EE-RM-94-403), the Department expressed its intention to 
consider more explicitly environmental and energy security 
externalities in the development of future appliance efficiency 
standards. In this regard, the Department indicated that it would 
attempt to establish monetary values for these externalities if a sound 
analytical basis could be found. The Supplemental Advance Notice 
identified and requested comment on issues surrounding possible 
analytical bases for such externality values.
    While the Supplemental Advance Notice is referenced in advance 
notices affecting two rulemakings, the Department welcomes comments 
from all parties interested in the energy conservation program for 
consumer products. DOE requests that interested parties focus their 
comments on the use of externalities in the development of appliance 
standards, rather than on the merits of considering externalities in 
formulating other regulations or energy-related policies more 
generally.
    The Department emphasizes that it has not reached conclusions on 
the analytical issues raised in the Supplemental Advance Notice and 
that public comments on these issues will assist the Department in 
determining whether a sound analytical basis exists for establishing 
monetary values for externalities that might be used in developing 
appliance efficiency standards.
    In their letter of October 25, 1994, to the Department, the Air 
Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute, Gas Appliance Manufacturers 
Association, National Electrical Manufacturers Association, and 
Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers had requested that the 
Department withdraw the SANOPR because of alleged legal, theoretical, 
and practical difficulties with proceeding with it. Failing that, their 
letter requested that the Department postpone the hearing date and 
extend the close of the comment period.
    In its letter of October 26, 1994, to the Department, the National 
Coal Association cited the complexity of the issues raised in the 
SANOPR, involving ``economic theory,'' the correct role of regulatory 
process in the U.S., and the scientific basis for the proposed acting, 
among other things, and requested extending the comment period to 
February 6, 1995, and rescheduling the hearing for January 16, 1995.
    In its letter of October 27, 1994, to the Department, the Edison 
Electric Institute cited the need for additional time to evaluate the 
questions raised by the SANOPR, and also suggested extending the 
comment period to February 6, 1995.
    In its letter of October 28, 1994, to the Department, the Center 
for Energy and Economic Development cited the complexity of the issues 
raised by the SANOPR, and requested extending the comment period to 
February 6, 1995.
    In its letter of October 28, 1994, the National Rural Electric 
Cooperative Association noted that the issue raised by the SANOPR is 
highly controversial and complex, and requested an extension of the 
comment period to have time to ``gather sufficient and pertinent 
information to be of service to DOE.''
    In its letter of November 1, 1994, to the Department, the Southern 
Company noted that the SANOPR raises ``numerous and far reaching issues 
that will impact our electric customers and shareholders,'' and 
requested that the Department extend the comment period to February 6, 
1995, and postpone the public hearing for at least thirty days (from 
November 17, 1994).
    Based on these representations, the Department is extending the 
comment period to February 6, 1995, and rescheduling the hearing for 
January 19, 1995. This Notice is being published in the Federal 
Register after November 17, 1994, the originial date of the hearing. 
Prior thereto, the Department contacted by telephone all parties that 
requested to speak at the hearing and informed them of the rescheduled 
date.

    Issued in Washington, D.C., November 18, 1994.
Peter S. Fox-Penner,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable 
Energy.
[FR Doc. 94-28944 Filed 11-22-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P