[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 22 (Friday, February 1, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 7306-7307]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-02217]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

10 CFR Part 431

[Docket No. EERE-2013-BT-STD-0006]
RIN 1904-AC55


Energy Efficiency Program for Commercial and Industrial 
Equipment: Public Meeting and Availability of the Framework Document 
for Commercial and Industrial Fans and Blowers

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

ACTION: Notice of public meeting and availability of the Framework 
Document.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is considering energy 
conservation standards for commercial and industrial fans and blowers. 
To inform interested parties and to facilitate this process, DOE has 
prepared a Framework Document that details the analytical approach and 
scope for this rulemaking and identifies several issues on which DOE is 
particularly interested in receiving comments. DOE will hold a public 
meeting to discuss and receive comments on its planned analytical 
approach and issues it will address in this rulemaking proceeding. DOE 
welcomes written comments and relevant data from the public on any 
subject within the scope of this rulemaking. A copy of the Framework 
Document is available at: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/rulemaking.aspx/ruleid/25

DATES: Comments: DOE will accept written comments, data, and 
information regarding the Framework Document before and after the 
public meeting, but no later than March 18, 2013.
    Meeting: DOE will hold a public meeting on February 21, 2013, from 
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Washington, DC. Additionally, DOE plans to conduct 
the public meeting via webinar. Registration information, participant 
instructions, and information about the capabilities available to 
webinar participants will be published on DOE's Web site at: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/rulemaking.aspx/ruleid/25. Participants are responsible for ensuring their systems are 
compatible with the webinar software.
    DOE must receive requests to speak at the public meeting before 
4:00 p.m., February 13, 2013. DOE must receive an electronic copy of 
the statement with the name and, if appropriate, the organization of 
the presenter to be given at the public meeting before 4:00 p.m., 
February 15, 2013.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be held at the U.S. Department of 
Energy, Forrestal Building, Room 8E-089 1000 Independence Avenue SW., 
Washington, DC 20585-0121. Please note that foreign nationals planning 
to participate in the public meeting are subject to advance security 
screening procedures. If a foreign national wishes to participate in 
the public meeting, please inform DOE of this fact as soon as possible 
by contacting Ms. Brenda Edwards at (202) 586-2945 so that the 
necessary procedures can be completed. Please note that any person 
wishing to bring a laptop computer into the Forrestal Building will be 
required to obtain a property pass. Visitors should avoid bringing 
laptops, or allow an extra 45 minutes. As noted above, persons may also 
attend the public meeting via webinar.
    Interested parties are encouraged to submit comments electronically 
by the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: www.regulations.gov. Follow 
the instructions for submitting comments.
     Email to the following address: 
[email protected]. Include docket number EERE-2013-BT-STD-0006 
and/or RIN 1904-AC55 in the subject line of the message. All comments 
should clearly identify the name, address, and, if appropriate, 
organization of the commenter. 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, Framework 
Document for Commercial and Industrial Fans and Blowers, Docket No. 
EERE-2013-BT-STD-0006 and/or RIN 1904-AC55, 1000 Independence Avenue 
SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121. If possible, please submit all items on 
a compact disc (CD), in which case it is not necessary to include 
printed copies. [Please note that comments sent by mail are often 
delayed and may be damaged by mail screening processes.]
     Hand Delivery/Courier: Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department 
of Energy, Building Technologies Program, Sixth Floor, 950 L'Enfant 
Plaza SW., Washington, DC 20024. Telephone: (202) 586-2945. If 
possible, please submit all items on a CD, in which case it is not 
necessary to include printed copies.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name 
and docket number and/or RIN for this rulemaking. No telefacsimilies 
(faxes) will be accepted.
    Docket: The docket is available for review at http://www.regulations.gov, and will include Federal Register notices, 
framework document, notice of proposed rulemaking, public meeting 
attendee lists and transcripts, comments, and other supporting 
documents/materials generated throughout the rulemaking process. The 
regulations.gov Web page contains instructions on how to access all 
documents, including public comments, in the docket. The docket can be 
accessed by searching for docket number EERE-2013-BT-STD-0006 on the 
regulations.gov Web site. All documents in the docket are listed in the 
www.regulations.gov index. However, not all documents listed in the 
index may be publicly available, such as information that is exempt 
from public disclosure.
    For information on how to submit a comment, review other public 
comments and the docket, or participate in the public meeting, contact 
Ms. Brenda Edwards at (202) 586-2945 or by email: 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Mr. Charles Llenza, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy 
Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building Technologies, EE-2J, 1000 
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121. Telephone: (202) 
586-2192. Email: [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. Email: [email protected].


[[Page 7307]]


    For information on how to submit or review public comments and on 
how to participate in the public meeting, contact Ms. Brenda Edwards, 
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) 586-2945. Email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title III of the Energy Policy and 
Conservation Act of 1975 (EPCA), as amended (42 U.S.C. 6291 et seq.), 
sets forth various provisions designed to improve energy efficiency. 
Part C of Title III of EPCA (42 U.S.C. 6311-6317), which was 
redesignated for editorial reasons as Part A-1 upon codification in the 
U.S. Code, establishes the ``Energy Conservation Program for Certain 
Industrial Equipment,'' which covers certain commercial and industrial 
equipment (hereafter referred to as ``covered equipment'').
    EPCA specifies a list of equipment that constitutes covered 
commercial and industrial equipment. (42 U.S.C. 6311(1)(A)-(L). The 
list includes 11 types of equipment and a catch-all provision for 
certain other types of industrial equipment classified as covered the 
Secretary of Energy (Secretary). EPCA also specifies the types of 
equipment that can be classified as covered in addition to the 
equipment enumerated in 42 U.S.C. 6311(1). This equipment includes fans 
and blowers. (42 U.S.C. 6311(2)(B)) Industrial equipment must also be 
of a type that:
    (1) Consumes, or is designed to consume, energy in operation;
    (2) To any significant extent, is distributed in commerce for 
industrial or commercial use;
    (3) Is not a covered product as defined in 42 U.S.C. 6291(a)(2) of 
EPCA, other than a component of a covered product with respect to which 
there is in effect a determination under 42 U.S.C. 6312(c).

(42 U.S.C. 6311 (2)(A)).
    To classify equipment as covered commercial or industrial 
equipment, the Secretary must determine that classifying the equipment 
as covered equipment is necessary for the purposes of Part A-1 of EPCA. 
The purpose of Part A-1 is to improve the efficiency of electric 
motors, pumps and certain other industrial equipment to conserve the 
energy resources of the nation. (42 U.S.C. 6312 (b))
    DOE has proposed to determine that the commercial and industrial 
fans and blowers (which DOE considers to be a type of fan with a 
specific ratio between 1.11 and 1.20) are covered equipment (76 FR 
37678 (June 28, 2011)). DOE has developed a Framework Document in 
further consideration of that determination and any associated energy 
conservation standards for fans. DOE may consider standby and off mode 
energy use for commercial and industrial fans as part of this 
rulemaking because many commercial and industrial fans do not operate 
continuously.
    DOE has prepared the Framework Document to explain the relevant 
issues, analyses, and processes it anticipates using to determine 
whether to establish energy conservation standards, and, if so, for the 
development of such standards. The focus of the public meeting noted 
above will be to discuss the information presented and issues 
identified in the Framework Document. At the public meeting, DOE will 
make presentations and invite discussion on the rulemaking process as 
it applies to commercial and industrial fans. DOE will also solicit 
comments, data, and information from participants and other interested 
parties.
    DOE is planning to conduct in-depth technical analyses in the 
following areas: (1) Engineering, (2) energy-use characterization, (3) 
equipment price, (4) life-cycle cost and payback period, (5) national 
impacts, (6) manufacturer impacts, (7) utility impacts, (8) employment 
impacts, (9) emission impacts, and (10) regulatory impacts. DOE will 
also conduct several other analyses that support those previously 
listed, including the market and technology assessment, the screening 
analysis (which contributes to the engineering analysis), and the 
shipments analysis (which contributes to the national impact analysis).
    DOE encourages those who wish to participate in the public meeting 
to obtain the Framework Document and to be prepared to discuss its 
contents. A copy of the Framework Document is available at: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/rulemaking.aspx/ruleid/25.
    Public meeting participants need not limit their comments to the 
issues identified in the Framework Document. DOE is also interested in 
comments on other relevant issues that participants believe would 
affect energy conservation standards for this equipment, applicable 
test procedures, or the preliminary determination on the scope of 
coverage. DOE invites all interested parties, whether or not they 
participate in the public meeting, to submit in writing by March 18, 
2013, comments and information on matters addressed in the Framework 
Document and on other matters relevant to DOE's consideration of 
coverage and standards for commercial and industrial fans.
    The public meeting will be conducted in an informal, facilitated, 
conference style. There shall be no discussion of proprietary 
information, costs or prices, market shares, or other commercial 
matters regulated by U.S. antitrust laws. A court reporter will record 
the proceedings of the public meeting, after which a transcript will be 
placed on the DOE Web site at: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/rulemaking.aspx/ruleid/25 and available for 
purchase from the court reporter.
    After the public meeting and the close of the comment period on the 
Framework Document, DOE will collect additional data, conduct the 
analyses as discussed in the Framework Document and at the public 
meeting and review the public comments received.
    DOE considers public participation to be a very important part of 
the process for determining whether to establish energy conservation 
standards and, if so, in setting those amended standards. DOE actively 
encourages the participation and interaction of the public during the 
comment period in each stage of the rulemaking process. Beginning with 
the Framework Document, and during each subsequent public meeting and 
comment period, interactions with and among members of the public 
provide a balanced discussion of the issues to assist DOE in the 
standards rulemaking process. Accordingly, anyone who wishes to 
participate in the public meeting, receive meeting materials, or be 
added to the DOE mailing list to receive future notices and information 
about this rulemaking should contact Ms. Brenda Edwards at (202) 586-
2945, or via email at [email protected].

    Issued in Washington, DC, on January 28, 2013.
Kathleen B. Hogan,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency, Energy Efficiency and 
Renewable Energy.
[FR Doc. 2013-02217 Filed 1-31-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P