[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 93 (Friday, May 14, 2010)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 27227-27228]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-11571]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

10 CFR Part 431

[Docket Number: EE-2008-BT-STD-0006]
RIN 1904-AB47


Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for 
Residential Central Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of extension of public comment period.

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SUMMARY: On March 25, 2010, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) 
announced that it would hold a public meeting to discuss and receive 
comments on the product classes that DOE plans to analyze for purposes 
of establishing energy conservation standards for residential central 
air conditioners and heat pumps; the analytical framework, models, and 
tools that DOE is using to evaluate amended standards for these 
products; the results of preliminary analyses performed by DOE for 
these products; and potential energy conservation standard levels 
derived from these analyses that DOE could consider for these products. 
DOE also encouraged written comments on these subjects. This document 
announces an extension of the time period for submitting comments on 
the energy conservation standards notice of public meeting (NOPM) and 
availability of the preliminary technical support document for central 
air conditioners and heat pumps. The comment period is extended to May 
17, 2010.

DATES: DOE will accept comments, data, and information regarding the 
energy conservation standards NOPM for residential central air 
conditioners and heat pumps received no later than May 17, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Any comments submitted must identify the ``NOPM for Energy 
Conservation Standards for Residential Central Air Conditioners and 
Heat Pumps'' and provide the appropriate docket number EE-2008-BT-STD-
0006 and/or RIN number 1904-AB47. Comments may be submitted using any 
of the following methods:

[[Page 27228]]

     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     E-mail: [email protected] (NOPM). Include 
docket number EE-2008-BT-STD-0006 and/or RIN 1904-AB47, as appropriate, 
in the subject line of the message. Submit electronic comments in 
WordPerfect, Microsoft Word, PDF, or ASCII file format and avoid the 
use of special characters or any form of encryption.
     Postal Mail: Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department of 
Energy, Building Technologies Program, Mailstop EE-2J, 1000 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121. Telephone: (202) 
586-2945. Please submit one signed original paper copy.
     Hand Delivery/Courier: Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department 
of Energy, Building Technologies Program, 950 L'Enfant Plaza, SW., 6th 
Floor, Washington, DC 20024. Please submit one signed original paper 
copy.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received, visit the U.S. Department of Energy, Resource Room 
of the Building Technologies Program, 950 L'Enfant Plaza, SW., 6th 
Floor, Washington, DC 20024, (202) 586-2945, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Please call Ms. Brenda 
Edwards at the above telephone number for additional information 
regarding visiting the Resource Room.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Wes Anderson, U.S. Department of 
Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building 
Technologies Program, EE-2J, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, 
DC 20585-0121. Telephone: (202) 586-7335. E-mail: 
[email protected].
    Ms. Elizabeth Kohl, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the 
General Counsel, GC-71, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC, 
20585-0121. Telephone: (202) 586-7796. E-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 25, 2010, DOE published a Federal 
Register notice announcing the availability of its preliminary 
technical support document for energy conservation standards for 
residential central air conditioners and heat pumps, as well as a 
public meeting to discuss and receive comment on the preliminary 
analysis. 75 FR 14368. The NOPM provides for the submission of comments 
by May 10, 2010. The public meeting to discuss the preliminary analysis 
was held on for May 5, 2010. A number of commenters stated at the 
public meeting that the time between the public meeting on May 5, 2010 
and the end of the comment period on May 10, 2010 was not sufficient to 
address any issues that arose during the public meeting. DOE has 
determined that an extension of the public comment period is 
appropriate and is hereby extending the comment period. DOE will 
consider any comments received by May 17, 2010, and deems any comments 
received between publication of the NOPM and May 17, 2010 to be timely 
submitted.

Further Information on Submitting Comments

    Under 10 CFR part 1004.11, any person submitting information that 
he or she believes to be confidential and exempt by law from public 
disclosure should submit two copies: one copy of the document including 
all the information believed to be confidential, and one copy of the 
document with the information believed to be confidential deleted. DOE 
will make its own determination about the confidential status of the 
information and treat it according to its determination.
    Factors of interest to DOE when evaluating requests to treat 
submitted information as confidential include (1) a description of the 
items, (2) whether and why such items are customarily treated as 
confidential within the industry, (3) whether the information is 
generally known by or available from other sources, (4) whether the 
information has previously been made available to others without 
obligation concerning its confidentiality, (5) an explanation of the 
competitive injury to the submitting person which would result from 
public disclosure, (6) when such information might lose its 
confidential character due to the passage of time, and (7) why 
disclosure of the information would be contrary to the public interest.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on May 7, 2010.
Cathy Zoi,
Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
[FR Doc. 2010-11571 Filed 5-13-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P