[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 160 (Friday, August 17, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 43123-43124]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-20771]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 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.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 160 / Friday, August 17, 2001 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 43123]]



DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

10 CFR Part 430

[Docket Number: EE-RM/STD-01-375]
RIN: 1904-AB06


Energy Efficiency Program for Consumer Products: Energy 
Conservation Standards for Commercial Unitary Air Conditioners and Heat 
Pumps

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

ACTION: Notice of public workshop and availability of the framework 
document for commercial unitary air conditioner and heat pump 
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 initiate the data collection process for the 
commercial unitary air conditioner and heat pump efficiency standards. 
The data collected will be used in considering the adoption of American 
Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc. 
(ASHRAE)/Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) 
Standard 90.1-1999 or initiating amended energy conservation standards 
for commercial unitary air conditioners and heat pumps. This effort is 
based on the recommendations as addressed in the May 2001, National 
Energy Policy report which supports the appliance standards program for 
covered products, setting higher standards where technologically 
feasible and economically justified. The Department also encourages 
written comments on these subjects. To facilitate this process, the 
Department has prepared a Framework Document, a draft of which was made 
available on June 18, 2001.

DATES: The public workshop will be held on Wednesday, September 12, 
2001, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Written comments should be submitted 
by October 12, 2001.

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 June 18, 2001, the draft Framework Document was placed on the 
DOE website at: http://www.eren.doe.gov/buildings/codes__standards/
index.htm
    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 Commercial Unitary Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps, 
Docket Number: EE-RM/STD-01-375, 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 October 12, 2001. 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-mailed to [email protected], but you must supplement such comments with a signed 
hard copy.
    Copies of the transcript of the public workshop, the 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 a.m. and 4 
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bryan Berringer, U.S. Department of 
Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, EE-41, 1000 
Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585-0121, (202) 586-0371, 
email: [email protected], or Francine Pinto, U.S. Department 
of Energy, Office of General Counsel, GC-72, 1000 Independence Avenue, 
SW, Washington, DC 20585-0103, (202) 586-7432, email: 
[email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The May 2001, National Energy Policy report 
by the National Energy Policy Development Group (NEPD Group) recommends 
support for the appliance standards program for covered products, 
setting higher standards where technologically feasible and 
economically justified. The Energy Policy and Conservation Act, Pub. L. 
94-163, as amended by the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPACT), Pub. L. 
102-486, establishes energy efficiency standards for certain commercial 
heating and air conditioning equipment which includes commercial 
unitary air conditioners and heat pumps. On October 29, 1999, the 
efficiency standards found in American Society of Heating, 
Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc. (ASHRAE)/
Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) Standard 
90.1-1999 (ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-1999) were amended for these 
products. On March 1, 2000, the Department published a notice of 
preliminary screening analysis to decide which of the ASHRAE/IESNA 
Standard 90.1-1999 standards should be adopted immediately and which to 
analyze further. 65 FR 10984. On January 12, 2001, the Department 
published a final rule adopting the ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-1999 
level for 18 product categories and made a decision to further evaluate 
other products. 66 FR 3336. In the final rule, DOE determined that 
further analysis was warranted for commercial unitary air conditioners 
and heat pumps. This conclusion was based on DOE's screening analysis. 
The Department is considering more stringent standards than those 
adopted by ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-1999.
    Today's notice, the subject Framework Document, and workshop

[[Page 43124]]

mark the next steps in collecting additional data to determine whether 
to adopt ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-1999 or amend the energy 
conservation standards for commercial unitary air conditioners and heat 
pumps covered by the statute.
    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 various sections of the Framework Document. For 
each item listed, the Department will make a presentation with 
discussion to follow. In addition, the Department will also make a 
brief presentation on the rulemaking process for commercial unitary air 
conditioners and heat pumps. The Department encourages those who wish 
to participate in the workshop to obtain the Framework Document and be 
prepared to discuss its 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 commercial 
unitary air conditioners and heat pumps. The Department also welcomes 
all interested parties, whether or not they participate in the 
workshop, to submit in writing by October 12, 2001, comments and 
information on the matters addressed in the Framework Document and on 
other matters relevant to consideration of standards for commercial 
unitary air conditioners and heat pumps.
    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 the 
U.S. antitrust laws.
    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 commercial unitary air conditioners 
and heat pumps, please contact Ms. Brenda Edwards-Jones at (202) 586-
2945.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on August 13, 2001.
David K. Garman,
Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
[FR Doc. 01-20771 Filed 8-16-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P