[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 26 (Friday, February 7, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 5782-5783]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-3063]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
 
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 

  Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 26 / Friday, February 7, 1997 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 5782]]



DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

10 CFR Part 430

[Docket No. EE-RM-97-500]
RIN 1904-AA75


Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Public 
Workshop on Revised Life Cycle Cost and Engineering Analysis of 
Fluorescent Lamp Ballasts

AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of 
Energy (DOE)

ACTION: Notice of availability and public workshop.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (the Department or DOE) today gives 
notice that copies of the ``Revised Draft Report on Potential Impact of 
Possible Energy Efficiency Levels for Fluorescent Lamp Ballasts,'' and 
``Summary Report of Interviews'' are available for review and comment. 
In addition, the Department will hold a public workshop to discuss the 
reports and other relevant topics pertaining to possible revised energy 
efficiency levels for fluorescent lamp ballasts.

DATES: Written comments in response to this notice must be received by 
April 1, 1997. The public workshop will be held on Tuesday, March 18, 
1997, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the reports entitled ``Revised Draft Report on 
Potential Impact of Possible Energy Efficiency Levels for Fluorescent 
Lamp Ballasts,'' and ``Summary Report of Interviews'' may be obtained 
from Sandy Beall at: U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy 
Efficiency and Renewable Energy, EE-43, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, 
Washington, DC 20585-0121, (202) 586-7574. These documents may be read 
at the DOE Freedom of Information Reading Room, U.S. DOE, Room 1E-190, 
1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-3142, 
between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays.
    Written comments are welcomed. Please submit 10 copies to: U.S. 
Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, 
``Ballast Docket No. EE-RM-97-500,'' EE-43, Room 1J-018, 1000 
Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585.
    The workshop will be held at the U.S. Department of Energy, 
Forrestal Building, Room 1E-245, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, 
Washington, DC 20585.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mr. Anthony T. Balducci, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy 
Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Mail Station EE-43, 1000 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121, Phone: (202) 586-8459, Fax: 
(202) 586-4617, E-mail: [email protected]
Ms. Sandy Beall, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency 
and Renewable Energy, Mail Station EE-43, 1000 Independence Avenue, 
SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121, (202) 586-7574

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Energy has initiated an 
extensive standards rulemaking process improvement effort to expedite 
and improve the procedures for developing appliance efficiency 
standards. This effort includes priority setting for various products, 
and the Department has determined that the fluorescent lamp ballast 
standards rulemaking be assigned a ``High Priority.'' The new process 
is described in the July 15, 1996, Federal Register, and includes a 
planning and prioritization process, data collection and analysis, and 
decision making criteria. (61 FR 36973).
    The Department is making available the following documents: 
``Revised Draft Report on Potential Impact of Possible Energy 
Efficiency Levels for Fluorescent Lamp Ballasts,'' and ``Summary Report 
of Interviews.'' The revised analysis of energy efficiency levels 
identifies product categories and includes life cycle cost (LCC) and 
engineering analyses of the options being considered as potential 
standards levels for ballasts. The report is a revision of a February 
1996 report and incorporates comments from the June 1996 workshop and 
stakeholder interviews. The interview summary report contains summaries 
of discussions that DOE held with manufacturers and other interested 
parties regarding technical, economic and ballast industry issues.
    In order to determine how to proceed with a rulemaking concerning 
standards for fluorescent lamp ballasts, the Department is taking steps 
consistent with the new process for developing efficiency standards. To 
obtain information from stakeholders and interested parties relative to 
the revised LCC and engineering analyses, the interview summaries, and 
other relevant topics pertaining to the energy efficiency levels for 
fluorescent lamp ballasts, a workshop will be held on Tuesday, March 
18, 1997. The workshop will be held at the U.S. Department of Energy, 
1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121 in Room 1E-245 
from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. In addition, the Department invites the 
submission of written comments on the Draft Report and on the Report of 
Interviews.
    The tentative list of major topics for discussion at the workshop 
is as follows:
A. The Life Cycle Cost (LCC) discussion will focus on the comparison of 
the LCC for:
    1. Energy Efficient Magnetic (EEM) Ballasts v. Cathode Cutout 
Ballasts
    2. EEM Ballasts v. Electronic Rapid Start Ballasts
B. The Engineering Analysis discussion will focus on:
    1. Ballast Life
    2. Ballast Prices
    3. Energy Prices
C. The Interviews discussion will focus on how DOE will use the 
qualitative data it has gathered.

    The Department will use the information in the revised draft 
report, the stakeholder interviews, comments from the workshop, and 
written comments to guide its approach to development of new efficiency 
standards for fluorescent lamp ballasts.
    Copies of the two above mentioned reports and this notice are 
available in the DOE Freedom of Information Reading Room. A copy of the 
workshop transcript and comments received will be available in the DOE 
public reading room.

[[Page 5783]]

    Please notify Sandy Beall at the above address of your intention to 
attend the workshop or if you have written comments.

    Issued in Washington, DC on January 31, 1997.
Christine A. Ervin,
Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
[FR Doc. 97-3063 Filed 2-6-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P