[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 69 (Monday, April 11, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 21276-21284]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-08121]


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

  Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 69 / Monday, April 11, 2016 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 21276]]



DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

10 CFR Part 430

[Docket Number EERE-2016-BT-STD-0007]
RIN 1904-AD65


Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for 
Direct Heating Equipment

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

ACTION: Notice of proposed determination (NOPD).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 (EPCA), as 
amended, prescribes energy conservation standards for various consumer 
products and certain commercial and industrial equipment, including 
direct heating equipment (DHE). EPCA also requires the U.S. Department 
of Energy (DOE) to periodically determine whether more-stringent, 
amended standards would be technologically feasible and economically 
justified, and would save a significant amount of energy. In this 
document, DOE has tentatively determined that more stringent DHE 
standards would not be economically justified, and, thus, proposes not 
to amend its energy conservation standards for DHE.

DATES: DOE will accept comments, data, and information regarding this 
NOPD no later than June 10, 2016. See section V, ``Public 
Participation,'' for details.

ADDRESSES: Any comments submitted must identify the NOPD on Energy 
Conservation Standards for Direct Heating Equipment, and provide docket 
number EERE-2016-BT-STD-0007 and/or regulatory information number (RIN) 
1904-AD65. Comments may be submitted using any of the following 
methods:
    1. Federal eRulemaking Portal: www.regulations.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments.
    2. Email: [email protected]. Include the docket number and/
or RIN 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.
    3. Postal Mail: Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department of Energy, 
Building Technologies Office, Mailstop EE-5B, 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.
    4. Hand Delivery/Courier: Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department of 
Energy, Building Technologies Office, 950 L'Enfant Plaza SW., Room 
6094, 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.
    No telefacsimilies (faxes) will be accepted. For detailed 
instructions on submitting comments and additional information on the 
rulemaking process, see section V of this document (``Public 
Participation'').
    Docket: The docket, which includes Federal Register notices, 
comments, and other supporting documents/materials, is available for 
review at www.regulations.gov. All documents in the docket are listed 
in the www.regulations.gov index. However, some documents listed in the 
index may not be publicly available, such as those containing 
information that is exempt from public disclosure.
    A link to the docket Web page can be found at: http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=EERE-2016-BT-STD-0007. This Web 
page contains a link to the docket for this notice on the 
www.regulations.gov site. The www.regulations.gov Web page contains 
simple instructions on how to access all documents, including public 
comments, in the docket. See section V, ``Public Participation,'' for 
further information on how to submit comments through 
www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Cymbalsky, U.S. Department of 
Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building 
Technologies Office, EE-5B, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, 
DC 20585-0121. Telephone: (202) 287-1692. Email: 
[email protected].
    Ms. Sarah Butler, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the General 
Counsel, GC-33, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585-
0121. Telephone: (202) 586-1777. Email: [email protected].
    For further 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].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Table of Contents

I. Summary of the Proposed Determination
    A. Authority
    B. Background
    1. Current Standards
    2. History of Rulemakings for Direct Heating Equipment
II. Rationale
III. Proposed Determination
IV. Procedural Issues and Regulatory Review
    A. Review Under Executive Orders 12866 and 13563
    B. Review Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act
    C. Review Under the Paperwork Reduction Act
    D. Review Under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
    E. Review Under Executive Order 13132
    F. Review Under Executive Order 12988
    G. Review Under the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995
    H. Review Under the Treasury and General Government 
Appropriations Act, 1999
    I. Review Under Executive Order 12630
    J. Review Under the Treasury and General Government 
Appropriations Act, 2001
    K. Review Under Executive Order 13211
    L. Review Under the Information Quality Bulletin for Peer Review
V. Public Participation
    A. Public Meeting Requests
    B. Submission of Comments
    C. Issues on Which DOE Seeks Comment
VI. Approval of the Office of the Secretary

I. Summary of the Proposed Determination

    DOE proposes to determine that energy conservation standards should 
not be amended for direct heating equipment (DHE). DOE has tentatively 
determined that the DHE market characteristics are largely similar to 
those analyzed in the previous rulemaking and the technologies 
available for improving DHE energy efficiency have not advanced 
significantly since the previous

[[Page 21277]]

rulemaking analyses \1\ (concluding with the publication of a final 
rule on April 16, 2010, hereafter ``April 2010 Final Rule''). 75 FR 
20112. In addition, DOE believes the conclusions reached in the April 
2010 Final Rule regarding the benefits and burdens of more stringent 
standards for DHE are still relevant to the DHE market today. 
Therefore, DOE has tentatively determined that amended energy 
conservation standards would not be economically justified.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ With the exception of condensing technology for fan-type 
wall furnaces, discussed in section II.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

A. Authority

    Title III, Part B \2\ of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 
1975 (``EPCA'' or ``the Act''), Public Law 94-163 (codified at 42 
U.S.C. 6291-6309) established the Energy Conservation Program for 
Consumer Products Other Than Automobiles.\3\ This program covers most 
major household appliances (collectively referred to as ``covered 
products'') including the DHE, which are the subject of this document. 
(42 U.S.C. 6292 (a)(9)) EPCA prescribed initial energy conservation 
standards for DHE and directs DOE to conduct future rulemakings to 
determine whether to amend these standards. (42 U.S.C. 6295(e)(3) and 
(4)) DOE is issuing this notice pursuant to that requirement, in 
addition to the requirement under 42 U.S.C. 6295(m), which states that 
DOE must periodically review its already established energy 
conservation standards for a covered product not later than six years 
after issuance of any final rule establishing or amending such 
standards. As a result of such review, DOE must either publish a notice 
of proposed rulemaking to amend the standards or publish a notice of 
determination indicating that the existing standards do not need to be 
amended. (42 U.S.C. 6295(m)(1)(A) and (B))
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ For editorial reasons, upon codification in the U.S. Code, 
Part B was redesignated as Part A.
    \3\ All references to EPCA in this document refer to the statute 
as amended through the Energy Efficiency Improvement Act, Public Law 
114-11 (April 30, 2015).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Pursuant to the requirements set forth under EPCA, any new or 
amended standard for a covered product must be designed to achieve the 
maximum improvement in energy efficiency that is technologically 
feasible and economically justified. (42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(2)(A)) 
Furthermore, DOE may not adopt any standard that would not result in 
the significant conservation of energy. (42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(3)(B)) 
Moreover, DOE may not prescribe a standard: (1) For certain products, 
including DHE, if no test procedure has been established for the 
product,\4\ or (2) if DOE determines by rule that the standard is not 
technologically feasible or economically justified. (42 U.S.C. 
6295(o)(3)(A)(B)) In deciding whether a proposed standard is 
economically justified, DOE must determine whether the benefits of the 
standard exceed its burdens. (42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(2)(B)(i)) DOE must make 
this determination after considering, to the greatest extent 
practicable, the following seven statutory factors:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ The DOE test procedures for DHE appear at title 10 of the 
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 430, subpart B, appendix O 
and 10 CFR 430, subpart B, appendix G (Appendix G).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (1) The economic impact of the standard on manufacturers and 
consumers of the products subject to the standard;
    (2) The savings in operating costs throughout the estimated average 
life of the covered products in the type (or class) compared to any 
increase in the price, initial charges, or maintenance expenses for the 
covered products that are likely to result from the standard;
    (3) The total projected amount of energy (or as applicable, water) 
savings likely to result directly from the standard;
    (4) Any lessening of the utility or the performance of the covered 
products likely to result from the standard;
    (5) The impact of any lessening of competition, as determined in 
writing by the Attorney General, that is likely to result from the 
standard;
    (6) The need for national energy and water conservation; and
    (7) Other factors the Secretary of Energy (Secretary) considers 
relevant. (42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(2)(B)(i)(I)-(VII))
    Further, EPCA, as codified, establishes a rebuttable presumption 
that a standard is economically justified if the Secretary finds that 
the additional cost to the consumer of purchasing a product complying 
with an energy conservation standard level will be less than three 
times the value of the energy savings during the first year that the 
consumer will receive as a result of the standard, as calculated under 
the applicable test procedure. (42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(2)(B)(iii))
    EPCA, as codified, also contains what is known as an ``anti-
backsliding'' provision, which prevents the Secretary from prescribing 
any amended standard that either increases the maximum allowable energy 
use or decreases the minimum required energy efficiency of a covered 
product. (42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(1)) Also, the Secretary may not prescribe 
an amended or new standard if interested persons have established by a 
preponderance of the evidence that the standard is likely to result in 
the unavailability in the United States in any covered product type (or 
class) of performance characteristics (including reliability), 
features, sizes, capacities, and volumes that are substantially the 
same as those generally available in the United States. (42 U.S.C. 
6295(o)(4))
    Federal energy conservation requirements generally supersede State 
laws or regulations concerning energy conservation testing, labeling, 
and standards. (42 U.S.C. 6297(a)-(c)) DOE may, however, grant waivers 
of Federal preemption for particular State laws or regulations, in 
accordance with the procedures and other provisions set forth under 42 
U.S.C. 6297(d).
    Finally, any final rule for new or amended energy conservation 
standards promulgated after July 1, 2010, is required to address 
standby mode and off mode energy use. (42 U.S.C. 6295(gg)(3)) 
Specifically, when DOE adopts a standard for a covered product after 
that date, it must, if justified by the criteria for adoption of 
standards under EPCA (42 U.S.C. 6295(o)), incorporate standby mode and 
off mode energy use into a single standard, or, if that is not 
feasible, adopt a separate standard for such energy use for that 
product. (42 U.S.C. 6295(gg)(3)(A)-(B)) DOE's current test procedures 
for vented home heating equipment address standby mode fossil-fuel 
energy use.

B. Background

1. Current Standards
    In the April 2010 Final Rule, DOE prescribed the current energy 
conservation standards for DHE manufactured on and after April 16, 
2013. 75 FR 20112. These standards are set forth in DOE's regulations 
at 10 CFR 430.32(i)(2) and are shown in Table I-1.\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ DOE notes that DHE is defined at 10 CFR 430.2 as vented home 
heating equipment and unvented home heating equipment; however, the 
existing energy conservation standards apply only to product classes 
of vented home heating equipment. There are no existing energy 
conservation standards for unvented home heating equipment.

[[Page 21278]]



    Table I-1--Federal Energy Conservation Standards for DHE (10 CFR
                              430.32(i)(2))
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Annual fuel
                                                            utilization
                      Product class                         efficiency,
                                                          April 16, 2013
                                                             (percent)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gas wall fan type up to 42,000 Btu/h....................              75
Gas wall fan type over 42,000 Btu/h.....................              76
Gas wall gravity type up to 27,000 Btu/h................              65
Gas wall gravity type over 27,000 Btu/h up to 46,000 Btu/             66
 h......................................................
Gas wall gravity type over 46,000 Btu/h.................              67
Gas floor up to 37,000 Btu/h............................              57
Gas floor over 37,000 Btu/h.............................              58
Gas room up to 20,000 Btu/h.............................              61
Gas room over 20,000 Btu/h up to 27,000 Btu/h...........              66
Gas room over 27,000 Btu/h up to 46,000 Btu/h...........              67
Gas room over 46,000 Btu/h..............................              68
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 

2. History of Rulemakings for Direct Heating Equipment
    EPCA, as codified, initially set forth energy conservation 
standards for certain DHE product classes that are the subject of this 
document and directed DOE to conduct two subsequent rulemakings to 
determine whether the existing standards should be amended. (42 U.S.C. 
6295(e)(3) and (4)) The first of these two rulemakings included both 
DHE and pool heaters and concluded with the April 2010 Final Rule 
(codified at 10 CFR 430.32(i) and (k)). 75 FR 20112. With respect to 
DHE, the first rulemaking amended the energy conservation standards for 
vented home heating equipment, a subset of DHE, and consolidated some 
of the product classes from the previous standards established by EPCA. 
Compliance with the amended standards was required beginning on April 
16, 2013. Id. DOE did not issue standards for unvented home heating 
equipment, a subset of DHE, finding that such standards would produce 
insignificant energy savings. 75 FR 20112, 20130.
    This rulemaking satisfies the statutory requirement under EPCA to 
(1) conduct a second round of review of the DHE standards (42 U.S.C. 
6295(e)(4)(B)) and (2) publish either a notice of determination that 
standards for DHE do not need to be amended or a notice of proposed 
rulemaking proposing to amend the DHE energy conservation standards (42 
U.S.C. 6295(m)(1)). To initiate this rulemaking, DOE issued a Request 
for Information (RFI) in the Federal Register on March 26, 2015 
(hereafter ``March 2015 RFI''). 80 FR 15922. Through that RFI, DOE 
requested data and information pertaining to its planned technical and 
economic analyses for DHE and pool heaters. Although the March 2015 RFI 
and the previous energy conservation standards rulemaking included both 
DHE and pool heaters, going forward DOE has elected to conduct separate 
rulemakings for each of these products. This rulemaking pertains solely 
to the energy conservation standards for DHE. As such, a new docket has 
been created that pertains solely to this DHE rulemaking, which has 
been populated with relevant comments from the March 2015 RFI (the 
docket is available http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=EERE-
2016-BT-STD-0007).
April 2010 Final Rule
    In the most recent DOE rulemaking for DHE energy conservation 
standards, DOE initially proposed standards for vented home heating 
products in a NOPR published on December 11, 2009 (``December 2009 
NOPR'') that represented a six AFUE percentage point (weighted-average 
across all product classes) increase over the standards initially 
established by EPCA and codified at 42 U.S.C. 6295(e)(3). 74 FR 65852 
(December 11, 2009). The December 2009 NOPR proposed standard level, 
TSL 3, represented an improvement in efficiency from the previous 
baseline level of 74-percent AFUE to 77-percent for gas wall fan DHE, 
an improvement in efficiency from the previous baseline level of 64-
percent AFUE to 71-percent AFUE for gas wall gravity units, an 
improvement in efficiency from the previous baseline level of 57-
percent AFUE to 58-percent AFUE for gas floor DHE (the max-tech level), 
and an improvement in efficiency from the previous baseline level of 
64-percent AFUE to 68-percent for gas room DHE at the representative 
input rating ranges. 74 FR 65852, 65943 (December 11, 2009).
    DOE's initial analysis in the December 2009 NOPR showed that TSL 3 
could result in as much as a $6.0 million (33.54%) decrease in the 
Industry Net Present Value, or INPV, with total conversion costs (costs 
for redesigning and retooling product lines not already meeting the 
amended standards) potentially amounting to $6.39 million. 74 FR 65852, 
65942 (December 11, 2009).
    In response to the December 2009 NOPR several commenters 
recommended that DOE not adopt amended standards for DHE due to 
significant impact on manufacturers and low shipments of DHE (and 
therefore low energy savings potential). Commenters indicated that the 
manufacturer investments needed to comply with standards set at TSL 3 
would not be justified due to the large investment needed to upgrade 
product lines and the declining shipments through which DHE 
manufacturers would need to recoup their expenditures. Various comments 
also suggested that product offerings would be reduced or manufacturers 
would leave the market entirely if TSL 3 were selected. The U.S. 
Department of Justice commented that there was significant risk of 
reducing competition resulting from businesses leaving the market and 
requested that DOE consider the possible impact on competition in 
determining standards for the final rule. DOE agreed that TSL 3 posed 
the risk of reduced product lines or manufacturers exiting the market. 
Commenters also expressed concern that employment in the DHE industry 
would be negatively affected by amended energy conservation standards. 
Several manufacturers of DHE believed that the proposed standard would 
harm employment due to elimination of non-compliant product lines and/
or insufficient return on the investment necessary to meet new 
standards.

[[Page 21279]]

    After considering these comments responding to the proposed TSL 3 
in the December 2009 NOPR, DOE ultimately rejected TSL 3 and all higher 
TSLs in the final rule, on the grounds that capital conversion costs 
would lead to a large reduction in INPV and that small businesses would 
be disproportionately impacted. In the analysis for the April 2010 
Final Rule, DOE updated its estimate for the maximum decrease in INPV 
to 42.4% (or $7.0 million) from the 33.54% maximum decrease estimated 
in the December 2009 NOPR. 75 FR 20112, 20218-20219 (April 16, 2010). 
DOE also notes that the life-cycle cost (LCC) and payback period 
analyses (PBP) for TSL 4 and higher suggested that benefits to 
consumers were outweighed by initial costs. 75 FR 20112, 20215-20218 
(April 16, 2010).
    In the previous DHE rulemaking, DOE found that the DHE industry had 
undergone significant consolidation, with three manufacturers, 
including two small businesses, controlling the vast majority of the 
market. DOE determined that a steady decline in shipments drove 
industry consolidation and found that the remaining DHE manufacturers 
maintained a variety of legacy brands and product lines in order to 
meet the needs of consumers replacing their existing DHE products, 
rather than product lines for new construction. DOE determined in the 
April 2010 Final Rule that a standard above TSL 2 would have required 
manufacturers to undertake significant investments in order to upgrade 
a series of product lines intended primarily for replacement 
applications. Because the DHE market is a low-volume market, 
manufacturers would have to spread their product development costs and 
capital investments over relatively few shipments. At levels above TSL 
2, DOE determined that there would be limited opportunity for 
manufacturers to recoup these costs, leading to significant declines in 
industry profitability. Furthermore, DOE found that small business 
manufacturers could be disproportionately disadvantaged by a more 
stringent standard based on a combination of low shipment volumes and a 
high ratio of anticipated investment costs to annual earnings. As a 
result, DOE concluded that TSLs higher than TSL 2 would likely induce 
small business manufacturers to reduce their product offerings or to 
exit the market entirely. 75 FR 20112, 20217-20219 (April 16, 2010). 
DOE, therefore, adopted standards at TSL 2 for vented home heating 
equipment. Compliance with the adopted standards (codified at 10 CFR 
430.32(i)(2)) was required for all vented home heating equipment 
manufactured on or after April 16, 2013.

II. Rationale

    For this rulemaking DOE conducted a review of the current DHE 
market, including product literature and product listings in the DOE 
Compliance Certification Management System (CCMS) database and Air-
Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) product 
directory.\6\ DOE contractors also analyzed current products through 
product teardowns and engaged in manufacturer interviews to obtain 
further information in support of its analysis. Through this analysis, 
DOE has determined that few changes to the industry and product 
offerings have occurred since the April 2010 Final Rule. As such, DOE 
has tentatively determined that the conclusions presented in the April 
2010 Final Rule are still valid. Furthermore, in response to the March 
2015 RFI, DOE received seven comment submissions. Only one submission, 
submitted by AHRI,\7\ contained comments pertaining to DHE.\8\ (Docket 
EERE-2016-BT-STD-0007: AHRI, No. 1 at p. 5-8) \9\ The following 
discussion addresses the status of the current DHE market as well as 
issues raised in the comments submitted by AHRI and during manufacturer 
interviews.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ The AHRI directory for DHE can be found at: https://www.ahridirectory.org/ahridirectory/pages/dht/defaultSearch.aspx. 
The DOE CCMS database can be found at: http://www.regulations.doe.gov/certification-data/.
    \7\ AHRI's comment submission in response to the March 2015 RFI 
contained comments pertaining to DOE's standards NOPR rulemaking 
analyses, including the shipments analysis, life cycle cost (LCC) 
and payback period (PBP) analyses, and energy use analysis. DOE is 
not responding to these particular comments at this time because DOE 
is proposing not to amend its standards for DHE, and therefore is 
not conducting the analyses to which these comments apply. If, in 
response to feedback regarding this document, DOE elects to conduct 
a rulemaking that would amend DHE standards, DOE will respond to 
these comments at that time.
    \8\ The remaining six submissions contained comments only 
relevant to pool heaters.
    \9\ A notation in this form provides a reference for information 
that is in the docket of DOE's rulemaking to develop energy 
conservation standards for DHE (Docket No. EERE-2016-BT-STD-0007), 
which is maintained at www.regulations.gov. This notation indicates 
that the statement preceding the reference was made by AHRI, is from 
document number 1 in the docket, and appears at pages 5-8 of that 
document.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As part of the analysis for this proposed determination, DOE 
reviewed the products offered on the market by analyzing the DOE CCMS 
database \10\ and AHRI product directory \11\ for DHE. DOE found that 
the number of models offered in each of the DHE product classes has 
decreased overall since the previous rulemaking. Table II-1 presents 
the number of models for each product class in the current DOE CCMS 
database along with the number of models identified for the April 2010 
Final Rule.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \10\ This database can be found at: http://www.regulations.doe.gov/certification-data/.
    \11\ This database can be found at: https://www.ahridirectory.org/ahridirectory/pages/home.aspx.

               Table II-1--DHE Model Counts by Product Class for Current and Previous Rulemakings
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      Product class                           2015 model count *     2010 rulemaking model count
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gas floor type with an input capacity over 37,000 Btu/h..                       15                            15
Gas floor type with an input capacity up to 37,000 Btu/h
Gas room type with an input capacity over 20,000 Btu/h up                       28                         ** 29
 to 27,000 Btu/h.........................................
Gas room type with an input capacity over 27,000 Btu/h up
 to 46,000 Btu/h
Gas room type with an input capacity over 46,000 Btu/h
Gas room type with an input capacity up to 20,000 Btu/h
Gas wall fan type with an input capacity over 42,000 Btu/                       68                            82
 h.......................................................
Gas wall fan type with an input capacity up to 42,000 Btu/
 h
Gas wall gravity type with an input capacity over 27,000                        56                            52
 Btu/h up to 46,000 Btu/h................................
Gas wall gravity type with an input capacity over 46,000
 Btu/h
Gas wall gravity type with an input capacity up to 27,000
 Btu/h
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Using DOE CCMS database.
** The total room heater model count for the 2010 Final Rule was 123 models, however 94 of those models would no
  longer be considered DHE and, as such, have been excluded from this count.


[[Page 21280]]

    DOE also examined available technologies used to improve the 
efficiency of DHE. In the previous DHE rulemaking, DOE considered the 
following technology options in the engineering analysis for improving 
the efficiency of vented home heating equipment.

 Improved heat exchanger
 Two-speed blower (fan-type wall furnaces)
 Induced draft
 Electronic ignition

74 FR 65852, 65887 (December 11, 2009).

    AHRI commented in response to the March 2015 RFI that the current 
energy conservation standards are close to if not at the maximum 
technology level for most product classes of DHE. (Docket EERE-2016-BT-
STD-0007: AHRI, No. 1 at p. 4) During confidential manufacturer 
interviews, DOE received similar feedback regarding the small potential 
for improving efficiency over current standards for most product 
classes. Manufacturers suggested that the efficiency of these products 
is at or near the maximum attainable by improving the heat exchanger. 
Manufacturers indicated that because DHE are primarily sold as 
replacement units they are constrained by the footprint of the DHE unit 
which they are replacing, and so the opportunity to increase the heat 
exchanger size (and therefore size of the unit) is limited. They 
indicated that blowers and induced draft technologies requiring 
electricity are not currently found on the market or in any prototypes 
for gravity-type floor furnaces, room heaters, and floor furnaces 
because these products are designed to function entirely without 
electricity. Moreover, they suggested that because these units are 
primarily sold as replacement units, new designs or prototypes are 
generally not being pursued. DOE notes that the same technology options 
were considered as part of the previous DHE rulemaking analysis, and 
agrees that the technology options available for DHE likely have 
limited potential for achieving energy savings.\12\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \12\ DOE notes that for room heaters with input capacity up to 
20,000 Btu/h, the maximum AFUE available on the market increased 
from 59% in 2009 (only one unit at this input capacity was available 
on the market at that time) to 71% in 2015. DOE anticipates that 
this due to heat exchanger improvements only because these units do 
not use electricity. Due to the small input capacity, DOE does not 
believe that this increase in AFUE (based on heat exchanger 
improvements relative to input capacity) is representative of or 
feasible for other room heater product classes.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Furthermore, the costs of these technology options are anticipated 
to be similar or higher than in the previous rulemaking analysis. As 
shipments have continued to decrease, DOE anticipates that the 
purchasing power of DHE manufacturers may have decreased because 
purchasing quantities for materials or parts (e.g. blower motors, 
electronic ignition components) have likely decreased. Therefore the 
incremental costs of manufacturing DHE units at higher efficiency 
levels may be similar or higher as compared to the previous rulemaking.
    DOE seeks comment on its conclusion that the DHE market and 
technology options (except for condensing technology, discussed below) 
are similar to the previous rulemaking. This is identified as Issue 1 
in section V.C.
    In addition to these technology options, DOE notes that a 
condensing fan-type wall furnace has become available since the last 
rulemaking. Two input capacities are available: 17,500 Btu/h with a 
90.2% AFUE rating, and 35,000 Btu/h with a 91.8% AFUE rating. DOE 
considers this basic model the maximum technology (``max-tech'') option 
for fan-type wall furnaces. By statute, DOE must set amended standards 
that result in the maximum improvement in efficiency that is 
technologically feasible (42 U.S.C. 6295(p)(1)) and economically 
justified. (42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(2)(A)) DOE generally considers 
technologies available in the market or in prototype products in its 
list of technologies for improving efficiency. Therefore, DOE considers 
91% AFUE the max-tech efficiency level for fan-type wall furnaces for 
this rulemaking. DOE notes that the max-tech efficiency level for fan-
type wall furnaces in the April 2010 Final Rule was 80% AFUE.
    With respect to the condensing max-tech efficiency level for fan-
type wall furnaces, DOE received feedback during manufacturer 
interviews regarding the manufacturer production cost for the unit, as 
well as information regarding shipments, which indicated that 
condensing models are significantly more expensive to manufacture than 
non-condensing models and that shipments are currently negligible 
compared to overall DHE shipments. DOE conducted a teardown analysis 
(``reverse engineering'') of the condensing fan-type wall furnace to 
confirm the manufacturer production cost. As anticipated, the 
manufacturer production cost for a condensing unit with 91% AFUE is the 
highest among fan-type wall furnaces, and represents a 23% incremental 
cost increase over a unit at 80% AFUE.\13\ Manufacturer feedback 
indicated that shipments of these units are so low as to be negligible, 
as consumers are not willing to pay the high initial cost for such 
products. Furthermore, only one manufacturer currently makes a 
condensing fan-type wall furnace and others would need to make 
substantial investments in order to produce these units on a scale 
large enough to support a Federal minimum standard. Therefore, DOE has 
tentatively concluded that this technology option, which was not 
considered in the analysis for the April 2010 Final Rule, would not be 
economically justified today when analyzed for the Nation as a whole. 
DOE believes that severe manufacturer impacts would be expected if an 
energy conservation standard were adopted at this level. DOE seeks 
feedback on its determination that adopting a condensing efficiency 
level for fan-type wall furnaces would not be economically justified. 
This is identified in Issue 2 in section V.C.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \13\ Manufacturer production costs assumes production volumes in 
the case that 91% AFUE is the energy conservation standard for this 
product class.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Since the April 2010 Final Rule, the DHE industry has seen further 
consolidation, with the total number of manufacturers declining from 
six to four. Furthermore, according to manufacturers,\14\ shipments 
have further decreased since the April 2010 Final Rule, and therefore 
it would be more difficult for manufacturers to recover capital 
expenditures resulting from increased standards. DOE acknowledges that 
DHE units continue to be produced primarily as replacements and that 
the market is small. DOE expects that shipments will continue to 
decrease and amended standards would likely accelerate the trend of 
declining shipments. Moreover, DOE anticipates small business impacts 
may be significant, as two of the four remaining manufacturers subject 
to DHE standards are small businesses. DOE believes that its 
conclusions regarding small businesses from the April 2010 Final Rule 
(i.e., that small businesses would be likely to reduce product 
offerings or leave the DHE market

[[Page 21281]]

entirely if the standard was set above the level adopted in that 
rulemaking) are still valid concerns. In addition, DOE continues to 
believe that an energy conservation standard for unvented home heating 
equipment would produce negligible energy savings, as DOE concluded in 
the April 2010 Final Rule.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \14\ Information obtained during confidential manufacturer 
interviews.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Shipments of DHE have continued to decrease since the last DHE 
energy conservation standards rulemaking. Low and decreasing shipments 
were cited by several commenters in response to the December 2009 NOPR 
as a reason that manufacturers would be unlikely to recoup investments 
after redeveloping product lines to meet more stringent standards. In 
the shipments analysis published in the April 2010 Final Rule, DOE 
forecasted DHE shipments would decrease 30% over the analysis period 
(30 years) from the 2005 level (see Chapter 9 of the TSD for the April 
2010 Final Rule \15\). This analysis predicted total DHE shipments of 
approximately 150,000 units in 2014. Based on feedback obtained during 
confidential manufacturer interviews in 2015, DOE believes actual 
shipments in 2014 were closer to 120,000. DOE notes that low and 
decreasing shipment volume is primarily due to these products being 
sold predominantly as replacements. AHRI commented in response to the 
March 2015 RFI that the DHE market is already shrinking due to DHE 
being a replacement product, and that less than 5 percent of industry 
sales are for new construction. (Docket EERE-2016-BT-STD-0007: AHRI, 
No. 1 at p. 4) DOE has tentatively concluded that low shipment volumes 
remains a primary concern for manufacturers in light of potentially 
amended energy conservation standards. DOE seeks information and data 
related to shipments for DHE and this identified as Issue 3 in section 
V.C.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \15\ This document is available at regulations.gov, docket 
number EERE-2006-STD-0129.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

III. Proposed Determination

    Due to the lack of advancement in the DHE industry since the April 
2010 final rule in terms of product offerings, available technology 
options and associated costs, and declining shipment volumes, DOE 
believes that amending the DHE energy conservation standards would 
impose a substantial burden on manufacturers of DHE, particularly to 
small manufacturers. DOE rejected higher TSLs during the previous DHE 
rulemaking due to significant impacts on industry profitability, risks 
of accelerated industry consolidation, and the likelihood that small 
manufacturers would experience disproportionate impacts that could lead 
them to discontinue product lines or exit the market altogether. DOE 
believes that the market and the manufacturers' circumstances are 
similar to those found when DOE last evaluated amended energy 
conservation standards for DHE for the April 2010 Final Rule. As such, 
DOE believes that amended energy conservation standards for DHE would 
not be economically justified at any level above the current standard 
level because benefits of more stringent standards would not outweigh 
the burdens. Therefore, DOE has tentatively determined not to amend the 
DHE energy conservation standards. DOE seeks comment on its tentative 
determination not to amend its energy conservation standards for DHE 
and this is identified as Issue 4 in section V.C.
    As discussed in section I.A, EPCA requires DOE to incorporate 
standby mode and off mode energy use into a single amended or new 
standard (if feasible) or prescribe a separate standard for standby 
mode and off mode energy consumption in any final rule establishing or 
revising a standard for a covered product, adopted after July 1, 2010. 
(42 U.S.C. 6295(gg)(3)(A)-(B)) Because DOE does not propose to amend 
standards for DHE in this document, DOE is not required to propose 
amended standards that include standby and off mode energy use. DOE 
notes that fossil fuel energy use in standby mode and off mode is 
already included in the AFUE metric, and DOE anticipates that electric 
standby and off mode energy use is small in comparison to fossil fuel 
energy use. DOE seeks comment on its proposal not to amend its 
standards for DHE to include electric standby and off mode energy use. 
This is identified as Issue 5 in section V.C.

IV. Procedural Issues and Regulatory Review

A. Review Under Executive Orders 12866 and 13563

    This proposed determination is not subject to review under 
Executive Order (E.O.) 12866, ``Regulatory Planning and Review.'' 58 FR 
51735 (October 4, 1993).

B. Review Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) requires 
preparation of an initial regulatory flexibility analysis (IRFA) for 
any rule that by law must be proposed for public comment, unless the 
agency certifies that the rule, if promulgated, will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. 
As required by Executive Order 13272, ``Proper Consideration of Small 
Entities in Agency Rulemaking,'' 67 FR 53461 (August 16, 2002), DOE 
published procedures and policies on February 19, 2003, to ensure that 
the potential impacts of its rules on small entities are properly 
considered during the rulemaking process. 68 FR 7990. DOE has made its 
procedures and policies available on the Office of the General 
Counsel's Web site (http://energy.gov/gc/office-general-counsel).
    DOE reviewed this proposed determination under the provisions of 
the Regulatory Flexibility Act and the policies and procedures 
published on February 19, 2003. In this proposed determination, DOE 
finds that amended energy conservation standards for DHE would not be 
economically justified at any level above the current standard level 
because benefits of more stringent standards would not outweigh the 
burdens. If finalized, the determination would not establish amended 
energy conservation standards for DHE. On the basis of the foregoing, 
DOE certifies that the proposed determination, if adopted, would have 
no significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities. Accordingly, DOE has not prepared an IRFA for this proposed 
determination. DOE will transmit this certification and supporting 
statement of factual basis to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the 
Small Business Administration for review under 5 U.S.C. 605(b).

C. Review Under the Paperwork Reduction Act

    This proposed determination, which proposes to determine that 
amended energy conservation standards for DHE would not be economically 
justified at any level above the current standard level because 
benefits of more stringent standards would not outweigh the burdens, 
would impose no new information or record keeping requirements. 
Accordingly, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) clearance is not 
required under the Paperwork Reduction Act. (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.)

D. Review Under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969

    In this NOPD, DOE tentatively determines that amended energy 
conservation standards for DHE would not be economically justified at 
any level above the current standard level because benefits of more 
stringent standards would not outweigh the burdens. DOE has determined 
that review under the National

[[Page 21282]]

Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), Public Law 91-190, codified at 
42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. is not required at this time because standards 
are not being proposed.

E. Review Under Executive Order 13132

    Executive Order 13132, ``Federalism,'' 64 FR 43255 (August 10, 
1999), imposes certain requirements on Federal agencies formulating and 
implementing policies or regulations that preempt State law or that 
have Federalism implications. The Executive Order requires agencies to 
examine the constitutional and statutory authority supporting any 
action that would limit the policymaking discretion of the States and 
to carefully assess the necessity for such actions. The Executive Order 
also requires agencies to have an accountable process to ensure 
meaningful and timely input by State and local officials in the 
development of regulatory policies that have Federalism implications. 
On March 14, 2000, DOE published a statement of policy describing the 
intergovernmental consultation process it will follow in the 
development of such regulations. 65 FR 13735. As this NOPD determines 
that amended standards are not likely to be warranted for DHE, there is 
no impact on the policymaking discretion of the states. Therefore, no 
action is required by Executive Order 13132.

F. Review Under Executive Order 12988

    With respect to the review of existing regulations and the 
promulgation of new regulations, section 3(a) of Executive Order 12988, 
``Civil Justice Reform,'' imposes on Federal agencies the general duty 
to adhere to the following requirements: (1) Eliminate drafting errors 
and ambiguity; (2) write regulations to minimize litigation; (3) 
provide a clear legal standard for affected conduct rather than a 
general standard; and (4) promote simplification and burden reduction. 
61 FR 4729 (Feb. 7, 1996). Regarding the review required by section 
3(a), section 3(b) of Executive Order 12988 specifically requires that 
Executive agencies make every reasonable effort to ensure that the 
regulation: (1) Clearly specifies the preemptive effect, if any; (2) 
clearly specifies any effect on existing Federal law or regulation; (3) 
provides a clear legal standard for affected conduct while promoting 
simplification and burden reduction; (4) specifies the retroactive 
effect, if any; (5) adequately defines key terms; and (6) addresses 
other important issues affecting clarity and general draftsmanship 
under any guidelines issued by the Attorney General. Section 3(c) of 
Executive Order 12988 requires Executive agencies to review regulations 
in light of applicable standards in section 3(a) and section 3(b) to 
determine whether they are met or it is unreasonable to meet one or 
more of them. DOE has completed the required review and determined 
that, to the extent permitted by law, this proposed determination meets 
the relevant standards of Executive Order 12988.

G. Review Under the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995

    Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA) 
requires each Federal agency to assess the effects of Federal 
regulatory actions on State, local, and Tribal governments and the 
private sector. Public Law 104-4, sec. 201 (codified at 2 U.S.C. 1531). 
For a proposed regulatory action likely to result in a rule that may 
cause the expenditure by State, local, and Tribal governments, in the 
aggregate, or by the private sector of $100 million or more in any one 
year (adjusted annually for inflation), section 202 of UMRA requires a 
Federal agency to publish a written statement that estimates the 
resulting costs, benefits, and other effects on the national economy. 
(2 U.S.C. 1532(a), (b)) The UMRA also requires a Federal agency to 
develop an effective process to permit timely input by elected officers 
of State, local, and Tribal governments on a proposed ``significant 
intergovernmental mandate,'' and requires an agency plan for giving 
notice and opportunity for timely input to potentially affected small 
governments before establishing any requirements that might 
significantly or uniquely affect them. On March 18, 1997, DOE published 
a statement of policy on its process for intergovernmental consultation 
under UMRA. 62 FR 12820. DOE's policy statement is also available at 
http://energy.gov/sites/prod/files/gcprod/documents/umra_97.pdf. This 
proposed determination contains neither an intergovernmental mandate 
nor a mandate that may result in the expenditure of $100 million or 
more in any year, so these UMRA requirements do not apply.

H. Review Under the Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act, 
1999

    Section 654 of the Treasury and General Government Appropriations 
Act, 1999 (Pub. L. 105-277) requires Federal agencies to issue a Family 
Policymaking Assessment for any rule that may affect family well-being. 
This proposed determination would not have any impact on the autonomy 
or integrity of the family as an institution. Accordingly, DOE has 
concluded that it is not necessary to prepare a Family Policymaking 
Assessment.

I. Review Under Executive Order 12630

    Pursuant to Executive Order 12630, ``Governmental Actions and 
Interference with Constitutionally Protected Property Rights,'' 53 FR 
8859 (March 15, 1988), DOE has determined that this proposed 
determination would not result in any takings that might require 
compensation under the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

J. Review Under the Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act, 
2001

    Section 515 of the Treasury and General Government Appropriations 
Act, 2001 (44 U.S.C. 3516 note) provides for Federal agencies to review 
most disseminations of information to the public under information 
quality guidelines established by each agency pursuant to general 
guidelines issued by OMB. OMB's guidelines were published at 67 FR 8452 
(Feb. 22, 2002), and DOE's guidelines were published at 67 FR 62446 
(Oct. 7, 2002). DOE has reviewed this NOPD under the OMB and DOE 
guidelines and has concluded that it is consistent with applicable 
policies in those guidelines.

K. Review Under Executive Order 13211

    Executive Order 13211, ``Actions Concerning Regulations That 
Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use,'' 66 FR 28355 
(May 22, 2001), requires Federal agencies to prepare and submit to OIRA 
at OMB, a Statement of Energy Effects for any proposed significant 
energy action. A ``significant energy action'' is defined as any action 
by an agency that promulgates or is expected to lead to promulgation of 
a final rule, and that: (1) Is a significant regulatory action under 
Executive Order 12866, or any successor order; and (2) is likely to 
have a significant adverse effect on the supply, distribution, or use 
of energy, or (3) is designated by the Administrator of OIRA as a 
significant energy action. For any proposed significant energy action, 
the agency must give a detailed statement of any adverse effects on 
energy supply, distribution, or use should the proposal be implemented, 
and of reasonable alternatives to the action and their expected 
benefits on energy supply, distribution, and use.
    Because the NOPD tentatively determines that amended standards for 
DHE are not warranted, it is not a significant energy action, nor has 
it been designated as such by the Administrator

[[Page 21283]]

at OIRA. Accordingly, DOE has not prepared a Statement of Energy 
Effects.

L. Review Under the Information Quality Bulletin for Peer Review

    On December 16, 2004, OMB, in consultation with the Office of 
Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), issued its Final Information 
Quality Bulletin for Peer Review (the Bulletin). 70 FR 2664 (Jan. 14, 
2005). The Bulletin establishes that certain scientific information 
shall be peer reviewed by qualified specialists before it is 
disseminated by the Federal Government, including influential 
scientific information related to agency regulatory actions. The 
purpose of the bulletin is to enhance the quality and credibility of 
the Government's scientific information. Under the Bulletin, the energy 
conservation standards rulemaking analyses are ``influential scientific 
information,'' which the Bulletin defines as ``scientific information 
the agency reasonably can determine will have, or does have, a clear 
and substantial impact on important public policies or private sector 
decisions.'' Id. at FR 2667.
    In response to OMB's Bulletin, DOE conducted formal in-progress 
peer reviews of the energy conservation standards development process 
and analyses and has prepared a Peer Review Report pertaining to the 
energy conservation standards rulemaking analyses. Generation of this 
report involved a rigorous, formal, and documented evaluation using 
objective criteria and qualified and independent reviewers to make a 
judgment as to the technical/scientific/business merit, the actual or 
anticipated results, and the productivity and management effectiveness 
of programs and/or projects. The ``Energy Conservation Standards 
Rulemaking Peer Review Report'' dated February 2007 has been 
disseminated and is available at the following Web site: 
www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/peer_review.html.

V. Public Participation

A. Public Meeting Requests

    Interested parties may submit comments requesting that a public 
meeting discussing this NOPD be held at DOE Headquarters. DOE will 
accept such requests no later than the date provided in the DATES 
section at the beginning of this document. As with other comments 
regarding this determination, interested parties may submit requests 
using any of the methods described in the ADDRESSES section at the 
beginning of this document.

B. Submission of Comments

    DOE will accept comments, data, and information regarding this 
proposed rule before or after the public meeting, but no later than the 
date provided in the DATES section at the beginning of this proposed 
rule. Interested parties may submit comments, data, and other 
information using any of the methods described in the ADDRESSES section 
at the beginning of this document.
    Submitting comments via www.regulations.gov. The 
www.regulations.gov Web page will require you to provide your name and 
contact information. Your contact information will be viewable to DOE 
Building Technologies staff only. Your contact information will not be 
publicly viewable except for your first and last names, organization 
name (if any), and submitter representative name (if any). If your 
comment is not processed properly because of technical difficulties, 
DOE will use this information to contact you. If DOE cannot read your 
comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for 
clarification, DOE may not be able to consider your comment.
    However, your contact information will be publicly viewable if you 
include it in the comment itself or in any documents attached to your 
comment. Any information that you do not want to be publicly viewable 
should not be included in your comment, nor in any document attached to 
your comment. Otherwise, persons viewing comments will see only first 
and last names, organization names, correspondence containing comments, 
and any documents submitted with the comments.
    Do not submit to www.regulations.gov information for which 
disclosure is restricted by statute, such as trade secrets and 
commercial or financial information (hereinafter referred to as 
Confidential Business Information (CBI)). Comments submitted through 
www.regulations.gov cannot be claimed as CBI. Comments received through 
the Web site will waive any CBI claims for the information submitted. 
For information on submitting CBI, see the Confidential Business 
Information section below.
    DOE processes submissions made through www.regulations.gov before 
posting. Normally, comments will be posted within a few days of being 
submitted. However, if large volumes of comments are being processed 
simultaneously, your comment may not be viewable for up to several 
weeks. Please keep the comment tracking number that www.regulations.gov 
provides after you have successfully uploaded your comment.
    Submitting comments via email, hand delivery/courier, or mail. 
Comments and documents submitted via email, hand delivery/courier, or 
mail also will be posted to www.regulations.gov. If you do not want 
your personal contact information to be publicly viewable, do not 
include it in your comment or any accompanying documents. Instead, 
provide your contact information in a cover letter. Include your first 
and last names, email address, telephone number, and optional mailing 
address. The cover letter will not be publicly viewable as long as it 
does not include any comments.
    Include contact information each time you submit comments, data, 
documents, and other information to DOE. If you submit via mail or hand 
delivery/courier, please provide all items on a CD, if feasible, in 
which case it is not necessary to submit printed copies. No 
telefacsimiles (faxes) will be accepted.
    Comments, data, and other information submitted to DOE 
electronically should be provided in PDF (preferred), Microsoft Word or 
Excel, WordPerfect, or text (ASCII) file format. Provide documents that 
are not secured, that are written in English, and that are free of any 
defects or viruses. Documents should not contain special characters or 
any form of encryption and, if possible, they should carry the 
electronic signature of the author.
    Campaign form letters. Please submit campaign form letters by the 
originating organization in batches of between 50 to 500 form letters 
per PDF or as one form letter with a list of supporters' names compiled 
into one or more PDFs. This reduces comment processing and posting 
time.
    Confidential Business Information. Pursuant to 10 CFR 1004.11, any 
person submitting information that he or she believes to be 
confidential and exempt by law from public disclosure should submit via 
email, postal mail, or hand delivery/courier two well-marked copies: 
one copy of the document marked ``confidential'' including all the 
information believed to be confidential, and one copy of the document 
marked ``non-confidential'' with the information believed to be 
confidential deleted. Submit these documents via email or on a CD, if 
feasible. 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)

[[Page 21284]]

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 that 
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.
    It is DOE's policy that all comments may be included in the public 
docket, without change and as received, including any personal 
information provided in the comments (except information deemed to be 
exempt from public disclosure).

C. Issues on Which DOE Seeks Comment

    Although DOE welcomes comments on any aspect of this proposal, DOE 
is particularly interested in receiving comments and views of 
interested parties concerning the following issues:
    1. DOE seeks comment on its assumptions that only minor changes to 
the DHE market have occurred since the last DOE rulemaking and that 
overall shipments of DHE have continued to decrease. See section II.
    2. DOE seeks comment on its determination that adopting a 
condensing efficiency level for fan-type wall furnaces would not be 
economically justified. See section II.
    3. DOE seeks data and information pertaining to DHE shipments. See 
section II.
    4. DOE seeks comment on its proposal not to amend energy 
conservation standards for DHE because more stringent standards would 
not be economically justified. See section III.
    5. DOE seeks comment on its proposal not to amend its standards for 
DHE to include standby and off mode electrical consumption. See section 
III.

VI. Approval of the Office of the Secretary

    The Secretary of Energy has approved publication of this notice of 
proposed rulemaking.

List of Subjects in 10 CFR Part 430

    Administrative practice and procedure, Confidential business 
information, Energy conservation, Household appliances, Imports, 
Incorporation by reference, Intergovernmental relations, Small 
businesses.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on March 25, 2016.
David Friedman,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable 
Energy.
[FR Doc. 2016-08121 Filed 4-8-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6450-01-P