[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 59 (Wednesday, March 29, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 15457]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-06202]



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 Rules and Regulations
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  Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 59 / Wednesday, March 29, 2017 / 
Rules and Regulations  

[[Page 15457]]



DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

10 CFR Parts 429 and 430

[Docket No. EERE-2006-BT-TP-0029]
RIN 1904-AD71


Energy Conservation Program: Test Procedures for Central Air 
Conditioners and Heat Pumps; Correction

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

ACTION: Final rule; technical correction.

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SUMMARY: On March 21, 2017, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) 
published in the Federal Register a document that temporarily further 
postponed the effective date of its test procedures for central air 
conditioners and heat pumps. This document corrects a typographical 
error in that document.

DATES: Effective: March 29, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
Ms. Ashley Armstrong, 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) 586-6590. Email: [email protected].
Ms. Johanna Jochum, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the General 
Counsel, GC-33, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585-
0121. Telephone: (202) 287-6307. Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    On March 21, 2017, DOE further temporarily postponed the effective 
date of its final rule amending the test procedures for central air 
conditioners and heat pumps published in the Federal Register on 
January 5, 2017. 82 FR 14425; see also 82 FR 1426.\1\ DOE indicated in 
the March 21 document that the new effective date of the test procedure 
would be the same date as the original compliance date, and stated that 
date as July 3, 2017. However, the January 5 final rule provided that 
the compliance date with appendix M of the test procedure, as 
determined by statute, would be 180 days after publication of the final 
rule in the Federal Register, i.e., July 5, 2017. 82 FR 1426 (Jan. 5, 
2017). DOE did not intend by the March 21 document to change the 
original compliance date, nor does it have authority to do so. As such, 
the statement in the March 21 notice that the compliance date of the 
final rule was July 3, 2017, was in error. Thus, DOE is issuing this 
correction to fix the error and clarify that the compliance date with 
Appendix M of the January 5 final rule has been and remains July 5, 
2017, and, therefore, the effective date of the January 5 final rule is 
also July 5, 2017.
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    \1\ DOE had previously temporarily postponed the effective date 
of this final rule for 60 days from January 20, 2017, i.e., until 
March 21, 2017, see 82 FR 8985 (Feb. 2, 2017).
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II. Need for Correction

    As published, the March 21, 2017, notice may potentially result in 
confusion regarding how to correctly conduct DOE's central air 
conditioners and heat pumps test procedure. Because this final rule 
would simply correct errors in the preamble without making any changes 
to the test procedures, the changes addressed in this document are 
technical in nature. Accordingly, DOE finds that there is good cause 
under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) to not issue a separate document to solicit 
public comment on the changes contained in this document. Issuing a 
separate document to solicit public comment would be impracticable, 
unnecessary, and contrary to the public interest.

III. Procedural Requirements

    DOE has concluded that the determinations made pursuant to the 
various procedural requirements applicable to the January 5, 2017 test 
procedure final rule remain unchanged for this final rule technical 
correction. These determinations are set forth in the January 5, 2017, 
final rule. 82 FR 1426.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on March 23, 2017.
John T. Lucas,
Acting General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2017-06202 Filed 3-28-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6450-01-P