[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 52 (Friday, March 16, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 15203]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-6570]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

10 CFR Part 430

[Docket Number EE-RM/TP-97-440]
RIN 1904-AA46


Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Test 
Procedures for Central Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period and rescheduling of 
public hearing.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: On January 22, 2001, the Department of Energy published a 
notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) (66 FR 6768) to revise the test 
procedures for central air conditioners and heat pumps. The notice of 
proposed rulemaking announced that the closing date for receiving 
public comments would be March 23, 2001. The Air-Conditioning and 
Refrigeration Institute (ARI) requested that the comment period be 
extended to allow additional time for understanding the lengthy 
revisions to the test procedures. The Department agrees to this 
extension of the comment period to May 23, 2001. The NOPR also 
announced that a public workshop (hearing) would be held on February 7, 
2001. ARI requested that this date be changed to allow more time for 
preparation. The public workshop is now scheduled for March 29, 2001.
    The proposed rule stated that there would be a workshop in the 
spring of 2001 to discuss modifications to the test procedure to 
encourage the use of thermostatic expansion valves (TXVs), and to 
discuss a standard mixed system rating method. This workshop will be 
held immediately following the proposed test procedure rulemaking 
workshop, in the same room, on the afternoon of the same date (March 
29). The outcome of this second workshop will have no effect on this 
proposed test procedure rulemaking.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 23, 2001. The public 
workshop (hearing) on the proposed test procedure rulemaking will be 
held on March 29, 2001, in Washington, DC. The workshop on TXVs and 
mixed system rating methods will immediately follow, on the same date. 
Please send requests to speak at the workshop so that we receive them 
by 4 p.m., March 20, 2001. The Department must also receive ten (10) 
copies of statements to be given at the public workshop no later than 4 
p.m., March 21, 2001, and we request that you provide a computer 
diskette (WordPerfect 8) of each statement at that time.

ADDRESSES: Please submit written comments and requests to speak at the 
public hearing to: Michael Raymond, U.S. Department of Energy, Office 
of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Hearings and Dockets, Test 
Procedures for Central Air Conditioners Including Heat Pumps, Docket 
No. EE-RM-97-440, EE-41, Room 1J-018, Forrestal Building, 1000 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121. You may send an 
email to: [email protected]. The hearing will be at the U.S. 
Department of Energy, Forrestal Building, Room 1E-245, 1000 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Raymond at (202) 586-9611, E-
mail: [email protected], or Eugene Margolis, Esq., (202) 586-
9507, E-mail: [email protected].

    Issued in Washington DC, on March 12, 2001.
Abraham E. Haspel,
Acting Director, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
[FR Doc. 01-6570 Filed 3-15-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P