[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 53 (Tuesday, March 21, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 14427]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-05477]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

10 CFR Part 430

[Docket No. EERE-2012-BT-STD-0045]
RIN 1904-AD28


Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for 
Ceiling Fans

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

ACTION: Final rule; further delay of effective date.

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SUMMARY: This document further delays the effective date of a recently 
published final rule amending the energy conservation standards for 
ceiling fans.

DATES: As of March 21, 2017, the effective date of the rule amending 10 
CFR part 430 published in the Federal Register at 82 FR 6826 on January 
19, 2017, delayed until March 21, 2017 at 82 FR 8806 on January 19, 
2017, is further delayed until September 30, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Ashley Armstrong, U.S. Department 
of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building 
Technologies Office, EE-2J, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, 
DC, 20585-0121. Telephone: (202) 586-6590. Email: 
[email protected].
    Elizabeth Kohl, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the General 
Counsel, GC-33, 1000 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121. 
Phone: (202) 586-7796. Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 31, 2017, the United States 
Department of Energy (``DOE'') temporarily postponed the effective date 
of its final rule amending the energy conservation standards for 
ceiling fans published in the Federal Register on January 19, 2017. See 
82 FR 8806. The January 31 rule temporarily postponed the effective 
date of the final rule by 60 days, starting from January 20, 2017. The 
temporary 60-day delay in effective date was necessary to give the 
newly appointed Secretary of Energy (Secretary) the opportunity for 
further review and consideration of new regulations. However, the 
Secretary was not confirmed and did not begin work in his position 
until March 3, 2017. As a result, the Secretary was unable to 
accomplish the review and consideration during the original 
postponement of the effective date of the regulation establishing 
energy conservation standards for ceiling fans. Therefore, DOE hereby 
further temporarily postpones the effective date of that energy 
conservation standards regulation to allow the Secretary the 
opportunity to accomplish this task. The effective date of this test 
procedure is postponed until September 30, 2017.
    To the extent that 5 U.S.C. 553 applies to this action, it is 
exempt from notice and comment because it constitutes a rule of 
procedure under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(A). Alternatively, DOE's implementation 
of this action without opportunity for public comment, effective 
immediately upon publication in the Federal Register, is based on the 
good cause exceptions in 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) and 553(d)(3). Pursuant to 
5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), DOE has determined that good cause exists to forego 
the requirement to provide prior notice and an opportunity for public 
comment thereon for this rule as such procedures would be 
impracticable, unnecessary and contrary to the public interest. DOE is 
temporarily postponing the effective date of this regulation pursuant 
to the previously-noted need for review by the Secretary. The January 
21, 2020, compliance date is unaffected by this action. As a result, 
seeking public comment on this delay is unnecessary and contrary to the 
public interest. It is also impracticable given the timing of the 
Secretary's confirmation and the March 21 effective date established by 
the prior temporary postponement. For these same reasons DOE finds good 
cause to waive the 30-day delay in effective date provided for in 5 
U.S.C. 553(d).

    Issued in Washington, DC, on March 15, 2017.
John T. Lucas,
Acting General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2017-05477 Filed 3-20-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6450-01-P