[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 198 (Thursday, October 13, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 63566-63567]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-26479]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

10 CFR Part 431

RIN 1904-AC62


Efficiency and Renewables Advisory Committee, Appliance Standards 
Subcommittee, Negotiated Rulemaking Subcommittee/Working Group for 
Liquid-Immersed and Medium- and Low-Voltage Dry-Type Distribution 
Transformers

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

ACTION: Notice of open meeting.

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SUMMARY: This document announces an open meeting of two Negotiated 
Rulemaking Working Groups; one concerning Liquid Immersed and Medium-
Voltage Dry-Type and the second addressing Low-Voltage Dry-Type 
Distribution Transformers. The Liquid Immersed and Medium-Voltage Dry-
Type Group (MV Group) and the Low-Voltage Dry-Type Group (LV Group) are 
working groups within the Appliance Standards Subcommittee of the 
Efficiency and Renewables Advisory Committee (ERAC). The purpose of the 
MV and LV Groups is to discuss and, if possible, reach consensus on a 
proposed rule for regulating the energy efficiency of distribution 
transformers, as authorized by the Energy Policy Conservation Act 
(EPCA) of 1975, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 6313(a)(6)(C) and 6317(a).

DATES: Tuesday, November 8, 2011; 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Wednesday, November 9, 
2011; 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting on November 8, 2011, will be held at the Edison 
Electric Institute, 701 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20004-
2696.
    The meeting on November 9, 2011, will be held at the U.S. 
Department of Energy, 950 L'Enfant Plaza, Room 6097-6098, Washington, 
DC 20024.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Cymbalsky, U.S. Department of 
Energy, Office of Building Technologies (EE-2J), 1000 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121. Telephone: (202) 287-1692. E-
mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Background: DOE has decided to use the negotiated rulemaking 
process to develop proposed energy efficiency standards for 
distribution transformers. The primary reasons for using the negotiated 
rulemaking process for developing a proposed Federal standard is that 
stakeholders strongly support a consensual rulemaking effort and DOE 
believes such a regulatory negotiation process will be less adversarial 
and better suited to resolving the complex technical issues raised by 
this rulemaking. An important virtue of negotiated rulemaking is that 
it allows expert dialog that is much better than traditional techniques 
at getting the facts and issues right and will result in a proposed 
rule that will effectively reflect Congressional intent.
    A regulatory negotiation will enable DOE to engage in direct and 
sustained dialog with informed, interested, and affected parties when 
drafting the proposed regulation that is then

[[Page 63567]]

presented to the public for comment. Gaining this early understanding 
of all parties' perspectives allows DOE to address key issues at an 
earlier stage of the process, thereby allowing more time for an 
iterative process to resolve issues. A rule drafted by negotiation with 
informed and affected parties is more likely to maximize benefits while 
minimizing unnecessary costs than one conceived or drafted without the 
opportunity for sustained dialog among interested and expert parties. 
DOE anticipates that there will be a need for fewer substantive changes 
to a proposed rule developed under a regulatory negotiation process 
prior to the publication of a final rule.
    To the maximum extent possible, consistent with the legal 
obligations of the Department, DOE will use the consensus of the 
advisory committee or subcommittee as the basis for the rule the 
Department proposes for public notice and comment.
    Purpose of the Meeting: To continue the process of seeking 
consensus on a proposed rule for setting standards for the energy 
efficiency of liquid immersed and medium- and low-voltage dry type 
distribution transformers, as authorized by the Energy Policy 
Conservation Act (EPCA) of 1975, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 6313(a)(6)(C) 
and 6317(a).
    Tentative Agenda: The MV Group will meet at 9:00 a.m. and will 
conclude at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, November 8, 2011. The LV Group will meet 
at 9 a.m. through 6 p.m. on Wednesday, November 9, 2011. The tentative 
agenda for the meetings includes continued discussion regarding the 
analyses of alternate standard levels and negotiation efforts to 
address the perceived issues.
    Public Participation: Members of the public are welcome to observe 
the business of the meetings and to make comments related to the issues 
being discussed at appropriate points, when called on by the moderator. 
The facilitator will make every effort to hear the views of all 
interested parties within limits required for the orderly conduct of 
business. To attend the meeting and/or to make oral statements 
regarding any of the items on the agenda, e-mail [email protected]. 
Please include ``MV and LV Work Group 110811'' in the subject line of 
the message. Please be sure to specify which working group discussion 
you will be attending. In the e-mail, please provide your name, 
organization, citizenship and contact information. Space is limited.
    Participation in the meeting is not a prerequisite for submission 
of written comments. ERAC invites written comments from all interested 
parties. If you would like to file a written statement with the 
committee, you may do so either by submitting a hard or electronic copy 
before or after the meeting. Electronic copy of written statements 
should be e-mailed to [email protected].
    Minutes: The minutes of the meeting will be available for public 
review at http://www.erac.energy.gov.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on October 5, 2011.
LaTanya R. Butler,
Acting Deputy Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011-26479 Filed 10-12-11; 8:45 am]
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