[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 120 (Thursday, June 22, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 35836]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-9857]


 ========================================================================
 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. 71, No. 120 / Thursday, June 22, 2006 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 35836]]



DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

10 CFR Part 440

RIN 1904-AB56


Weatherization Assistance Program for Low-Income Persons

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

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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

SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE) is proposing to amend the 
regulations for the Weatherization Assistance Program for Low-Income 
Persons to incorporate statutory changes resulting from the passage of 
the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Specifically, DOE proposes to: define 
renewable energy systems eligible for funding in the Weatherization 
Assistance Program, establish criteria for performance and quality 
standards for eligible renewable energy systems, establish procedures 
for submission of and action on manufacturer petitions for Secretarial 
determinations of eligibility of renewable energy technologies and 
systems, and establish a ceiling for funding of renewable energy 
systems in the Weatherization Assistance Program.

DATES: Public comments on this proposed rule will be accepted until 
July 24, 2006.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by RIN 1904-AB56, by any 
of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     E-Mail: [email protected]. Include RIN 1904-
AB56 in the subject line of the message.
     Mail: Weatherization Assistance Program, U.S. Department 
of Energy, Mail Stop EE2K, 5E-066, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20585.
    You may obtain copies of this notice of proposed rulemaking and 
review comments received by DOE by visiting the DOE Freedom of 
Information Reading Room, Department of Energy, Room 1E-190, Forrestal 
Building, 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: John Atcheson, Weatherization 
Assistance Program, U.S. Department of Energy, Mail Stop EE-2K, 5E-066, 
1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-0771.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) 
proposes to amend the program regulations for the Weatherization 
Assistance Program for Low-Income Persons, which is authorized by Title 
IV, Part A, of the Energy Conservation and Production Act, as amended 
(Act), 42 U.S.C. 6861 et seq. The proposed amendments are necessitated 
by certain changes in the Weatherization Assistance Program mandated in 
the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Pub. L. 109-58) (EPACT 2005). The 
proposed rule would define renewable energy systems eligible for 
funding in the Weatherization Assistance Program, establish criteria 
for performance and quality standards for eligible renewable energy 
systems, establish procedures for submission of and action on 
manufacturer petitions for Secretarial determinations of eligibility of 
renewable energy technologies and systems, and establish a new ceiling 
for funding of renewable energy systems in the Weatherization 
Assistance Program.
    Today, DOE is also publishing, elsewhere in this issue of the 
Federal Register, a direct final rule that makes the amendments to the 
Weatherization Assistance Program for Low-Income Persons that are being 
proposed in this NOPR. As explained in the preamble of the direct final 
rule, DOE considers these amendments not to be controversial and 
unlikely to generate any significant adverse or critical comments. If 
no significant adverse or critical comments are received on the direct 
final rule, the direct final rule will become effective on the date 
specified in that rule, and there will be no further action on this 
proposal. If significant adverse or critical comments are timely 
received on the direct final rule, DOE will withdraw the direct final 
rule. The public comments will then be addressed in a subsequent final 
rule based on the rule proposed in this NOPR (which is the same as the 
rule set forth in the direct final rule). Because DOE will not 
institute a second comment period on this proposed rule, any persons 
interested in commenting should do so during this comment period.
    For further supplemental information, the detailed description of 
the proposed rule, and the proposed rule amendments, see the 
information provided in the notice of direct final rulemaking in this 
Federal Register.

Approval of the Office of the Secretary

    The Secretary of Energy has approved publication of today's notice 
of proposed rulemaking, as well as the accompanying direct final rule.

List of Subjects 10 CFR Part 440

    Administrative practice and procedure, Aged, Energy conservation, 
Grant programs--energy, Grant programs--housing and community 
development, Housing standards, Indians, Individuals with disabilities, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Weatherization.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on June 9, 2006.
Douglas L. Faulkner,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable 
Energy.
 [FR Doc. E6-9857 Filed 6-21-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P