[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 250 (Friday, December 29, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 78389-78390]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-22437]


 ========================================================================
 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.
 
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 

  Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 250 / Friday, December 29, 2006 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 78389]]



DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

10 CFR Part 430

[Docket No. EERE-2006-DET-0136]
RIN 1904-AB57


Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Energy 
Conservation Standards for Battery Chargers and External Power Supplies

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

ACTION: Notice of public meeting and availability of two documents 
relating to DOE's plans for developing energy conservation standards 
for battery chargers and external power supplies.

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SUMMARY: As required by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the Department 
of Energy (DOE) will hold a ``scoping workshop'' (i.e., an informal 
public meeting) to discuss and receive comments on its plans for 
developing energy conservation standards for battery chargers and 
external power supplies. DOE encourages written comments on these 
subjects. To inform stakeholders and facilitate this process, DOE has 
prepared two documents, available at: http://www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/residential/battery_external.html.

DATES: DOE will hold a public meeting on Wednesday, January 24, 2007, 
from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Washington, DC. Any person requesting to speak 
at the public meeting should submit a request to speak before 4 p.m., 
Friday, January 12, 2007. DOE must receive a signed original and an 
electronic copy of statements to be given at the public meeting before 
4 p.m., Friday, January 12, 2007. Written comments are welcome and 
should be submitted by Friday, February 16, 2007.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be held at the U.S. Department of 
Energy, Forrestal Building, Room 1E-245, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20585-0121.
    Stakeholders may submit comments, identified by docket number EERE-
2006-DET-0136 and/or regulatory information number (RIN) 1904-AB57, by 
any of the following methods:
     Federal Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     E-mail: [email protected]. Include docket number EERE-
2006-DET-0136 and/or RIN 1904-AB57 in the subject line of the message.
     Mail: Ms. Brenda Edwards-Jones, U.S. Department of Energy, 
Building Technologies Program, Mailstop EE-2J, Framework Document for 
Battery Chargers and External Power Supplies, EERE-2006-DET-0136 and/or 
RIN 1904-AB57, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-
0121. Please submit one signed paper original.
     Hand Delivery/Courier: Ms. Brenda Edwards-Jones, U.S. 
Department of Energy, Building Technologies Program, Room 1J-018, 1000 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121. Telephone: (202) 
586-2945. Please submit one signed paper original.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name 
and docket number or RIN for this rulemaking.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents, a 
copy of the transcript of the public meeting, or comments received, go 
to the U.S. Department of Energy, Forrestal Building, Room 1J-018 
(Resource Room of the Building Technologies Program), 1000 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121, (202) 586-9127, between 9 a.m. 
and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Please call 
Ms. Brenda Edwards-Jones at the above telephone number for additional 
information regarding visiting the Resource Room.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Victor Petrolati, U.S. Department of 
Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building 
Technologies, EE-2J, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 
20585-0121, (202) 586-4549. E-mail: [email protected]. 
Francine B. Pinto, Esq. or Chris Calamita, Esq., U.S. Department of 
Energy, Office of General Counsel, GC-72, 1000 Independence Avenue, 
SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121, (202) 586-9507. E-mail: 
[email protected] or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Energy Policy and Conservation Act 
(EPCA), as amended established an energy conservation program for major 
household appliances. (42 U.S.C. 6291-6309) Section 135(c)(4) of the 
Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT 2005), Pub. L. 109-58, amended section 
325 of EPCA in part, by adding a new subsection 325(u). Section 
325(u)(1)(E) directs DOE to determine whether energy conservation 
standards are warranted for battery chargers and external power 
supplies. (42 U.S.C. 6295(u)(1)(E)) As part of that process, EPCA 
requires that DOE hold a scoping workshop not later than February 8, 
2007, to discuss and receive comments on plans for developing energy 
conservation standards for energy use of battery chargers and external 
power supplies. (42 U.S.C. 6295(u)(1)(D))
    Section 135(a)(3) of EPACT 2005 amends section 321 of EPCA, by 
adding subsection 321(32), which defines the term ``battery charger'' 
as a ``device that charges batteries for consumer products, including 
battery chargers embedded in other consumer products.'' (42 U.S.C. 
6291(32)) Similarly, section 135(a)(3) of EPACT 2005 amends section 321 
of EPCA, by adding subsection 321(36), which defines the term 
``external power supply'' as ``an external power supply circuit that is 
used to convert household electric current into DC [direct current] or 
lower-voltage AC [alternating current] to operate a consumer product.'' 
(42 U.S.C. 6291(36)) DOE incorporated these two definitions into 10 CFR 
part 430 in a final rule published on December 8, 2006. (71 FR 71340)
    As required by EPCA, DOE has scheduled a scoping workshop to be 
held on January 24, 2007, to discuss plans for developing energy 
conservation standards for battery chargers and external power 
supplies. In addition, DOE prepared two documents that constitute 
supporting material for this scoping workshop. The first is called 
``Plans for Developing Energy Conservation Standards for Battery 
Chargers and External Power Supplies.'' This document describes the 
procedural and analytical approach DOE anticipates using to evaluate 
whether

[[Page 78390]]

energy conservation standards are warranted for battery chargers and 
external power supplies, and to develop such standards should the DOE 
make a positive determination. The second is called ``The Current and 
Projected Future Market for Battery Chargers and External Power 
Supplies.'' This document presents an initial market and technology 
assessment for battery chargers and external power supplies. It also 
discusses potential product classes and criteria DOE is considering in 
establishing product classes. Copies of both documents are available 
at:  http://www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/residential/battery_external.html.
    DOE encourages those who wish to participate in the scoping 
workshop to obtain the two documents and be prepared to discuss their 
contents. Throughout each document, DOE identifies various issues on 
which it particularly seeks comments from stakeholders. These issues 
are summarized in an appendix to each document. As the two documents 
identify separate issues, one must read both documents in order to 
identify all of the issues on which DOE seeks comment. During the 
scoping workshop, DOE will address each item and provide an opportunity 
for discussion. However, stakeholders should not feel limited to 
comment on only those items identified by DOE. Stakeholders are welcome 
to comment on any part of either document. DOE is also interested in 
receiving viewpoints on all relevant issues that participants believe 
would affect DOE's action on energy conservation standards for these 
products.
    The scoping workshop will be conducted in an informal, facilitated, 
conference style. A court reporter will be present to prepare a 
transcript 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.
    DOE welcomes all interested parties, whether or not they 
participate in the scoping workshop, to submit in writing by Friday, 
February 16, 2007, comments and information on the matters addressed in 
the two documents and on other matters relevant to consideration of 
energy conservation standards for battery chargers and external power 
supplies.
    After the scoping workshop and the expiration of the period for 
submitting written comments, DOE will review the comments received and 
continue its work on determining whether energy conservation standards 
are warranted for battery chargers and external power supplies.
    Anyone who would like to participate in the scoping workshop, 
receive meeting materials, or be added to the DOE mailing list to 
receive future notices and information regarding battery chargers and 
external power supplies should contact Ms. Brenda Edwards-Jones at 
(202) 586-2945, or visit DOE's homepage for battery chargers and 
external power supplies (http://www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/residential/battery_external.html) and click on 
the ``Register for E-mail Updates'' link.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on December 22, 2006.
Alexander A. Karsner,
Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
[FR Doc. E6-22437 Filed 12-28-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P