[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 23 (Friday, February 2, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 8745-8746]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-2887]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

10 CFR Part 431

[Docket No. EE-RM/STD-00-100]
RIN 1904-AB06


Energy Efficiency Program for Commercial and Industrial 
Equipment; Efficiency Standards for Commercial Heating, Air 
Conditioning and Water Heating Equipment

AGENCY: Department of Energy (DOE).

ACTION: Final rule; delay of effective date.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the memorandum of January 20, 2001, from 
the Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff, entitled 
``Regulatory Review Plan,'' published in the Federal Register on 
January 24, 2001 (66 FR 7702), this action temporarily delays for 60 
days the effective date of the rule entitled ``Energy Efficiency 
Program for Commercial and Industrial Equipment; Commercial Heating, 
Air Conditioning and Water Heating Equipment'' published in the Federal 
Register on January 12, 2001 (66 FR 3336).

DATES: The effective date of the rule amending 10 CFR part 431 
published in the Federal Register at 66 FR 3336 on January 12, 2001, is 
delayed for 60 days, from February 12, 2001, until April 13, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael D. Whatley, (202) 586-3410, 
[email protected]; Cyrus H. Nasseri, (202) 586-9138, 
[email protected]; or, Eugene Margolis, (202) 586-9526, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: To the extent that 5 U.S.C. section 553 
applies to this action, it is exempt from notice and comment because it 
constitutes a

[[Page 8746]]

rule of procedure under 5 U.S.C. section 553(b)(A). Alternatively, 
DOE's implementation of this action without opportunity for public 
comment, effective immediately upon publication today in the Federal 
Register, is based on the good cause exceptions in 5 U.S.C. section 
553(b)(B) and 553(d)(3). Seeking public comment is impracticable, 
unnecessary and contrary to the public interest. The temporary 60-day 
delay in effective date is necessary to give DOE officials the 
opportunity for further review and consideration of new regulations, 
consistent with the Assistant to the President's memorandum of January 
20, 2001. Given the imminence of the effective date, seeking prior 
public comment on this temporary delay would have been impractical, as 
well as contrary to the public interest in the orderly promulgation and 
implementation of regulations. The imminence of the effective date is 
also good cause for making this action effective immediately upon 
publication.

    Issued in Washington, D.C. on January 29, 2001.
Spencer Abraham,
Secretary of Energy.
[FR Doc. 01-2887 Filed 2-1-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P