[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 219 (Monday, November 14, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 70376-70377]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-29139]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

10 CFR Part 431

RIN 1904-AC62


Efficiency and Renewables Advisory Committee; Notice of Meeting

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: Wednesday, November 30, 2011; 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
    Thursday, December 1, 2011; 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
    Friday, December 2, 2011; 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The meetings on November 30, 2011, and December 1, 2011, 
will be held at the American Public Power Association, 1875 Connecticut 
Ave. NW., Suite 1200, Washington, DC 20009-5715.
    The meeting on December 2, 2011, will be held at the U.S. 
Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20585, 
Room 8E-089.

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 or 
email: [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 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

[[Page 70377]]

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 a.m. and will 
conclude at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, November 30, 2011, and reconvene from 
9 a.m. through 12 p.m. on Thursday, December 1, 2011. The LV Group will 
meet from 1 p.m. through 5 p.m. on Thursday, December 1, 2011, and 
reconvene from 9 a.m. through 5 p.m. on Friday, December 2, 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, email: [email protected]. 
Please include ``MV and LV Work Group 113011'' in the subject line of 
the message. Please be sure to specify which working group discussion 
you will be attending. In the email, 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 emailed 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 November 3, 2011.
LaTanya R. Butler,
Acting Deputy Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011-29139 Filed 11-10-11; 8:45 am]
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