[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 195 (Friday, October 6, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 59761-59762]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-25770]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

10 CFR Part 430

[Docket Number EE-RM/STD-00-550]
RIN 1904-AB08


Energy Conservation Standards for Distribution Transformers

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

ACTION: Notice of public workshop and availability of the Framework 
Document for Distribution Transformer Efficiency Standards.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE or Department) will hold an 
informal public workshop to discuss and receive comments on issues it 
will address and the process it will follow in considering the adoption 
of energy conservation standards for electric distribution 
transformers. The Department also encourages written comments on these 
subjects. To facilitate this process, the Department prepared a 
Framework Document, a draft of which was made available on October 2, 
2000.

DATES: The public workshop will be held on Wednesday, November 1, 2000, 
from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Written comments should be submitted by 
December 1, 2000.

ADDRESSES: The workshop will be held at the U.S. Department of Energy, 
Forrestal Building, Room 1E-245, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20585. (Please note that foreign nationals visiting DOE 
Headquarters are subject to advance security screening procedures. If 
you are a foreign national and wish to participate in the workshop, 
please inform DOE of this fact as soon as possible by contacting Ms. 
Brenda Edwards-Jones at (202) 586-2945 so that the necessary procedures 
can be completed.)
    On October 2, 2000, the draft Framework Document was placed on the 
DOE website at: http://www.eren.doe.gov/buildings/codes_standards/applbrf/dist_transformer.html.
    Written comments are welcome, especially following the workshop. 
Please submit written comments to: Ms. Brenda Edwards-Jones, U.S. 
Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, 
``Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Energy 
Conservation Standards for Distribution Transformers, Docket No. EE-RM/
STD-00-550'', EE-41, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 
20585-0121. Telephone: (202) 586-2945; Telefax: (202) 586-4617. You 
should label comments both on the envelope and on the documents, and 
submit them for DOE receipt by December 1, 2000. Please submit one 
signed copy and a computer diskette (WordPerfect 8) or 10 copies (no 
telefacsimiles). The Department will also accept electronically-mailed 
comments, e-mail to [email protected],

[[Page 59762]]

but you must supplement such comments with a signed hard copy.
    Copies of the transcript of the public workshop, public comments 
received, the Framework Document, and this notice may be read at the 
Freedom of Information Reading Room, U.S. Department of Energy, 
Forrestal Building, 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carl Adams, U.S. Department of Energy, 
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, EE-41, 1000 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121, (202) 586-9142, 
email: [email protected], or Edward Levy, Esq., U.S. Department of 
Energy, Office of General Counsel, GC-72, 1000 Independence Avenue, 
SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-9507, email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 22, 1997, the Secretary 
determined, based on the best information currently available, that it 
appears energy conservation standards for electric distribution 
transformers would be technologically feasible and economically 
justified, and would result in a significant energy savings. This 
determination initiated the process of establishing, by notice and 
comment rulemaking, test procedures and energy conservation standards 
for this product. Today's notice and the subject Framework Document and 
workshop mark the initial steps in the process for considering the 
energy conservation standards.
    The Department has prepared the Framework Document to explain and 
discuss the process, analyses, and issues concerning the development of 
such standards. For many of the issues and analyses, the Framework 
Document sets forth approaches that the Department is considering.
    The main focus of the workshop will be to discuss the analyses and 
issues contained in Sections 3 and 4 of the Framework Document. For 
each item listed, the Department will make a presentation with a 
discussion to follow. In addition, the Department will also make a 
brief presentation on the rulemaking process for distribution 
transformers contained in Section 2. The Department encourages those 
who wish to participate in the workshop to obtain the Framework 
Document and be prepared to discuss the contents. However, workshop 
participants need not limit their discussions to these topics. The 
Department is also interested in receiving views concerning other 
issues that participants believe would affect energy conservation 
standards for distribution transformers. The Department also welcomes 
all interested parties, whether or not they participate in the 
workshop, to submit in writing by December 1, 2000, comments and 
information on the matters addressed in the Framework Document and on 
other matters relevant to consideration of standards for distribution 
transformers.
    The workshop will be conducted in an informal, conference style. A 
court reporter will be present to record the minutes of the meeting. 
There shall be no discussion of proprietary information, costs or 
prices, market shares, or other commercial matters regulated by 
antitrust law.
    After the workshop and expiration of the period for submitting 
written statements, the Department will begin collecting data and 
conducting the analyses as discussed at the workshop and in 
consideration of the comments received.
    If you would like to participate in the workshop, receive workshop 
materials, or be added to the DOE mailing list to receive future 
notices and information regarding distribution transformers, please 
contact Ms. Brenda Edwards-Jones at (202) 586-2945.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on October 2, 2000.
Dan W. Reicher,
Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
[FR Doc. 00-25770 Filed 10-5-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P