[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 157 (Monday, August 15, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 53961]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-19356]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
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 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.
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  Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 157 / Monday, August 15, 2016 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 53961]]



DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

10 CFR Parts 429 and 431

[Docket Number EERE-2013-BT-STD-0033]
RIN 1904-AD02


Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for 
Portable Air Conditioners

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

ACTION: Reopening of public comment period.

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SUMMARY: On June 13, 2016, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) 
published in the Federal Register a notice of proposed rulemaking 
(NOPR) for portable air conditioners. 81 FR 38398. The notice provided 
opportunity for submitting written comments, data, and information by 
August 12, 2016. DOE received a request from the Association of Home 
Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM), dated July 21, 2016, to extend the 
comment period until December 1, 2016.

DATES: The comment period for the proposed rule published on June 13, 
2016 (81 FR 38398), is reopened. DOE will accept comments, data, and 
information regarding this rulemaking received no later than September 
26, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Instructions: Any comments submitted must identify the NOPR 
for Energy Conservation Standards for Portable Air Conditioners, and 
provide docket number EERE-2013-BT-STD-0033 and/or regulatory 
information number (RIN) number 1904-AD02. 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: Mr. Bryan Berringer, 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: The Appliance and Equipment Standards 
Program Staff U.S. Department of Energy, Building Technologies Office, 
950 L'Enfant Plaza SW., 6th Floor, Washington, DC 20024. Telephone: 
(202) 586-6636. If possible, please submit all items on a CD, in which 
case it is not necessary to include printed copies.
    Docket: The docket is available for review at www.regulations.gov, 
including Federal Register notices, framework documents, public meeting 
attendee lists and transcripts, comments, and other supporting 
documents/materials. 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.
    A link to the docket Web page can be found at: https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=EERE-2013-BT-STD-0033. This Web page 
contains a link to the docket for this document 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
    Mr. Bryan Berringer, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy 
Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building Technologies, EE-5B, 1000 
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121. Telephone: (202) 
586-0371. Email: [email protected].
    Ms. Sarah Butler, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the General 
Counsel, Mailstop GC-33, 1000 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 
20585-0121. Telephone: 202-586-1777; Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    On June 13, 2016, DOE published in the Federal Register a notice of 
proposed rulemaking (NOPR) for portable air conditioners. 81 FR 38398. 
The NOPR provided opportunity for submitting written comments, data, 
and information by August 12, 2016. DOE received a request from AHAM, 
dated July 21, 2016, to extend the comment period to December 1, 2016. 
AHAM and its members stated that they need more time to test a 
sufficient number of products using the recently published portable AC 
test procedure in order to provide substantive comments to this 
rulemaking. A reopening of the comment period would allow additional 
time that DOE believes is sufficient for AHAM and its members and other 
interested parties to test existing models to the test procedure, 
examine the data, information, and analysis presented in the portable 
air conditioner Technical Support Document, gather any additional data 
and information to address the proposed standards, and submit comments 
to DOE.
    AHAM's request can be found at: https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=EERE-2013-BT-STD-0033-0024. In view of the request DOE has 
determined that a 45-day extension of the public comment period is 
appropriate. The comment period is reopened until September 26, 2016. 
DOE further notes that any submissions of comments or other information 
submitted between the original comment end date and the reopening of 
the comment period will be deemed timely filed.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on August 8, 2016.
Kathleen B. Hogan,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency, Energy Efficiency and 
Renewable Energy.
[FR Doc. 2016-19356 Filed 8-12-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6450-01-P