[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 9 (Friday, January 12, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 1854-1857]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-28209]



[[Page 1853]]

Vol. 83

Friday,

No. 9

January 12, 2018

Part VI





Department of Energy





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Fall 2017 Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions

  Federal Register / Vol. 83 , No. 9 / Friday, January 12, 2018 / 
Unified Agenda  

[[Page 1854]]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

10 CFR Chs. II, III, and X

48 CFR Ch. 9


Fall 2017 Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Semiannual regulatory agenda.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE) has prepared and is making 
available its portion of the semiannual Unified Agenda of Federal 
Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions (Agenda), including its Regulatory 
Plan (Plan), pursuant to Executive Order 12866, ``Regulatory Planning 
and Review,'' and the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Agenda is a government-wide compilation 
of upcoming and ongoing regulatory activity, including a brief 
description of each rulemaking and a timetable for action. The Agenda 
also includes a list of regulatory actions completed since publication 
of the last Agenda. The Department of Energy's portion of the Agenda 
includes regulatory actions called for by statute, including amendments 
contained in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 and the 
American Energy Manufacturing Technical Corrections Act, and 
programmatic needs of DOE offices.
    The internet is the basic means for disseminating the Agenda and 
providing users the ability to obtain information from the Agenda 
database. DOE's entire Fall 2017 Agenda can be accessed online by going 
to www.reginfo.gov.
    Publication in the Federal Register is mandated by the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 602) only for Agenda entries that require 
either a regulatory flexibility analysis or periodic review under 
section 610 of that Act. DOE's regulatory flexibility agenda is made up 
of two rulemakings that will set energy conservation standards for the 
following products:
     General Service Fluorescent Lamps (1904-AD09).
     Residential Conventional Cooking Products (1904-AD15).
    The Plan appears in both the online Agenda and the Federal Register 
and includes the most important of DOE's significant regulatory actions 
and a Statement of Regulatory and Deregulatory Priorities.

 John T. Lucas,
Acting, General Counsel.

          Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy--Prerule Stage
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
217.......................  Modifying the Energy               1904-AE11
                             Conservation Program to
                             Implement a Market-Based
                             Approach.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


       Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy--Proposed Rule Stage
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
218.......................  Energy Conservation                1904-AD09
                             Standards and Definition
                             for General Service Lamps
                             (Reg Plan Seq No. 23).
219.......................  Energy Conservation                1904-AD15
                             Standards for Residential
                             Conventional Cooking
                             Products (Reg Plan Seq
                             No. 24).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
References in boldface appear in The Regulatory Plan in part II of this
  issue of the Federal Register.


        Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy--Long-Term Actions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
220.......................  Energy Conservation                1904-AD01
                             Standards for Commercial
                             Packaged Boilers.
221.......................  Energy Conservation                1904-AD20
                             Standards for Residential
                             Non-Weatherized Gas
                             Furnaces and Mobile Home
                             Gas Furnaces.
222.......................  Energy Conservation                1904-AD34
                             Standards for Commercial
                             Water Heating Equipment.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


        Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy--Completed Actions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
223.......................  Energy Conservation                1904-AD59
                             Standards for Walk-In
                             Coolers and Walk-In
                             Freezers.
224.......................  Energy Conservation                1904-AD71
                             Program: Test Procedures
                             for Central Air
                             Conditioners and Heat
                             Pumps.
225.......................  Energy Conservation                1904-AD72
                             Program: Test Procedures
                             for Walk-In Cooler and
                             Freezer Refrigeration
                             Systems.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


                Departmental and Others--Final Rule Stage
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
226.......................  Small-Scale Natural Gas            1901-AB43
                             Exports (Section 610
                             Review).
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 1855]]

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (DOE)

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EE)

Prerule Stage

217. Modifying the Energy Conservation Program to Implement a Market-
Based Approach

    E.O. 13771 Designation: Deregulatory.
    Legal Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6291
    Abstract: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is evaluating the 
potential use of some form of a market-based approach such as an 
averaging, trading, fee-base or other type of market-based policy 
mechanism for the U.S. Appliance and Equipment Energy Conservation 
Standards (ECS) program.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Request for Information.............   12/00/17
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: John Cymbalsky, Building Technologies Office, EE-
5B, Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, 1000 
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585, Phone: 202 287-1692, 
Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 1904-AE11

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (DOE)

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EE)

Proposed Rule Stage

218. Energy Conservation Standards and Definition For General Service 
Lamps

    Regulatory Plan: This entry is Seq. No. 23 in part II of this issue 
of the Federal Register.
    RIN: 1904-AD09

219. Energy Conservation Standards for Residential Conventional Cooking 
Products

    Regulatory Plan: This entry is Seq. No. 24 in part II of this issue 
of the Federal Register.
    RIN: 1904-AD15

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (DOE)

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EE)

Long-Term Actions

220. Energy Conservation Standards for Commercial Packaged Boilers

    E.O. 13771 Designation: Other.
    Legal Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6313(a)(6)(C); 42 U.S.C. 6311(11)(B)
    Abstract: EPCA, as amended by AEMTCA, requires the Secretary to 
determine whether updating the statutory energy conservation standards 
for commercial packaged boilers is technically feasible and 
economically justified and would save a significant amount of energy. 
If justified, the Secretary will issue amended energy conservation 
standards for such equipment. DOE last updated the standards for 
commercial packaged boilers on July 22, 2009. DOE issued a NOPR 
pursuant to the 6-year-look-back requirement on March 24, 2016. Under 
EPCA, DOE has two years to issue a final rule after publication of the 
NOPR.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notice of Proposed Determination       08/13/13  78 FR 49202
 (NOPD).
NOPD Comment Period End.............   09/12/13  .......................
Notice of Public Meeting and           09/03/13  78 FR 54197
 Framework Document Availability.
Framework Document Comment Period      10/18/13  .......................
 End.
Notice of Public Meeting and           11/20/14  79 FR 69066
 Preliminary Analysis.
Preliminary Analysis Comment Period    01/20/15  .......................
 End.
Withdrawal of NOPD..................   08/25/15  80 FR 51487
NPRM................................   03/24/16  81 FR 15836
NPRM Comment Period End.............   05/23/16  .......................
NPRM Comment Period Extended........   05/04/16  81 FR 26747
NPRM Comment Period Extended End....   06/22/16  .......................
                                     -----------------------------------
Next Action Undetermined............           To Be Determined
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: James Raba, Phone: 202 586-8654, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 1904-AD01

221. Energy Conservation Standards for Residential Non-Weatherized Gas 
Furnaces and Mobile Home Gas Furnaces

    E.O. 13771 Designation: Regulatory.
    Legal Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6295(f)(4)(C); 42 U.S.C. 6295(m)(1); 42 
U.S.C. 6295(gg)(3)
    Abstract: 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 
residential furnaces. EPCA also requires the DOE to periodically 
determine every six years whether more-stringent amended standards 
would be technologically feasible and economically justified and would 
save a significant amount of energy. DOE is considering amendments to 
its energy conservation standards for residential non-weatherized gas 
furnaces and mobile home gas furnaces in partial fulfillment of a 
court-ordered remand of DOE's 2011 rulemaking for these products. DOE 
published a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking on September 23, 
2016.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notice of Public Meeting............   10/30/14  79 FR 64517
NPRM and Notice of Public Meeting...   03/12/15  80 FR 13120
NPRM Comment Period Extended........   05/20/15  80 FR 28851
NPRM Comment Period Extended End....   07/10/15  .......................
Notice of Data Availability (NODA)..   09/14/15  80 FR 55038
NODA Comment Period End.............   10/14/15  .......................
NODA Comment Period Reopened........   10/23/15  80 FR 64370
NODA Comment Period Reopened End....   11/06/15  .......................
Supplemental NPRM and Notice of        09/23/16  81 FR 65720
 Public Meeting.
Supplemental NPRM Comment Period End   11/22/16  .......................
SNPRM Comment Period Reopened.......   12/05/16  81 FR 87493
SNPRM Comment Period End............   01/06/17  .......................
                                     -----------------------------------
Next Action Undetermined............           To Be Determined
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: John Cymbalsky, Phone: 202 287-1692, Email: 
[email protected].

[[Page 1856]]

    RIN: 1904-AD20

222. Energy Conservation Standards for Commercial Water Heating 
Equipment

    E.O. 13771 Designation: Regulatory.
    Legal Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6313(a)(6)(C)(i) and (vi)
    Abstract: Once completed, this rulemaking will fulfill DOE's 
statutory obligation under EPCA to either propose amended energy 
conservation standards for commercial water heaters and hot water 
supply boilers, or determine that the existing standards do not need to 
be amended. (Unfired hot water storage tanks and commercial heat pump 
water heaters are being considered in a separate rulemaking.) DOE must 
determine whether national standards more stringent than those that are 
currently in place would result in a significant additional amount of 
energy savings and whether such amended national standards would be 
technologically feasible and economically justified.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Request for Information (RFI).......   10/21/14  79 FR 62899
RFI Comment Period End..............   11/20/14  .......................
NPRM................................   05/31/16  81 FR 34440
NPRM Comment Period End.............   08/01/16  .......................
NPRM Comment Period Reopened........   08/05/16  81 FR 51812
NPRM Comment Period Reopened End....   08/30/16  .......................
Notice of Data Availability (NODA)..   12/23/16  81 FR 94234
NODA Comment Period End.............   01/09/17  .......................
                                     -----------------------------------
Next Action Undetermined............           To Be Determined
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Catherine Rivest, Phone: 202 586-7335, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 1904-AD34

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (DOE)

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EE)

Completed Actions

223. Energy Conservation Standards for Walk-In Coolers And Walk-In 
Freezers

    E.O. 13771 Designation: Regulatory.
    Legal Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6311; 42 U.S.C. 6313(f)
    Abstract: In 2014, the Department of Energy (DOE) issued a rule 
setting performance-based energy conservation standards for a variety 
of walk-in cooler and freezer (walk-in) components. See 79 FR 32050 
(June 3, 2014). That rule was challenged by a group of walk-in 
refrigeration system manufacturers and walk-in installers, which led to 
a settlement agreement regarding certain refrigeration equipment 
classes addressed in that 2014 rule and certain aspects related to that 
rule's analysis. See Lennox Int'l v. DOE, Case No. 14-60535 (5th Cir. 
2014). Consistent with the settlement agreement, and in accordance with 
the Federal Advisory Committee Act, a working group was established 
under the Appliance Standards and Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ASRAC) 
to engage in a negotiated rulemaking to develop energy conservation 
standards to replace those that had been vacated by the U.S. Court of 
Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. As a result of those negotiations, a 
Term Sheet was produced containing a series of recommendations to ASRAC 
for its approval and submission to DOE for the agency's further 
consideration. Using the Term Sheet's recommendations, DOE is 
establishing energy conservation standards for the six equipment 
classes of walk-in coolers and walk-in freezers that were vacated by 
the Fifth Circuit and remanded to DOE for further action. Those 
standards at issue involve: (1) The two standards applicable to 
multiplex condensing refrigeration systems operating at medium and low 
temperatures; and (2) the four standards applicable to dedicated 
condensing refrigeration systems operating at low temperatures. Also 
consistent with the settlement agreement, DOE explicitly considered the 
potential impacts of these six standards on installers. DOE also 
considered and addressed the potential impacts of these six standards 
on installers in its Manufacturer Impact Analysis, consistent with its 
regulatory definition of ``manufacturer,'' and, as appropriate, in its 
analysis of impacts on small entities under the Regulatory Flexibility 
Act. As part of this rulemaking (and consistent with its obligations 
under the settlement agreement), DOE provided an opportunity for all 
interested parties to submit comments concerning any proposed 
standards.
    Completed:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Reason                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Final Action........................   07/10/17  82 FR 31808
Final Action Effective..............   09/08/17  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: John Cymbalsky, Phone: 202 287-1692, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 1904-AD59

224. Energy Conservation Program: Test Procedures for Central Air 
Conditioners and Heat Pumps

    E.O. 13771 Designation: Other.
    Legal Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6291 et seq.
    Abstract: This rulemaking pertaining to test procedures for Central 
Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps includes revisions to the test methods 
to improve test repeatability and reduce the test burden of the test 
procedure. These revisions will be required for demonstration of 
compliance with the current energy conservation standards starting 180 
days after publication of the final rule. These amendments include: (1) 
Establishing a delay time prior to off mode power measurements for some 
systems and limiting the internal volume of refrigerant pressure 
measurement lines; (2) requiring bin-by-bin EER and COP interpolations 
for all variable speed units; (3) requiring that the official test for 
a unit using the outdoor enthalpy method as a secondary check of 
capacity be the test without the outdoor enthalpy apparatus connected.
    DOE is also amending the test procedure to improve field 
representativeness. These amendments will take effect coincident with 
updated energy conservation standards and would be part of a new 
Appendix M1. The new Appendix M1 includes: (1) New higher external 
static pressure requirements for all units, including unique minimum 
external static pressure requirements for certain kinds of products; 
(2) new default fan power values for rating coil-only units; revisions 
to the heating load line in the calculation of HSPF; and (3) amendments 
to the test procedures for variable speed heat pumps to allow better 
representation of their low-ambient-temperature performance, including 
an optional 5[emsp14][deg]F heating mode test.
    Completed:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Reason                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Final Rule Effective................   07/08/17  .......................
Final Rule; Delay of Effective Date.   02/02/17  82 FR 8985

[[Page 1857]]

 
Final Rule; Delay of Effective Date    03/21/17  .......................
 Effective.
Final Rule; Further Delay of           03/21/17  82 FR 14425
 Effective Date.
Final Rule; Correction to Delayed      03/29/17  82 FR 15457
 Effective Date.
Final Rule; Further Delay of           07/03/17  .......................
 Effective Date Effective.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Ashley Armstrong, Phone: 202 586-6590, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 1904-AD71

225. Energy Conservation Program: Test Procedures for Walk-In Cooler 
and Freezer Refrigeration Systems

    E.O. 13771 Designation: Other.
    Legal Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6311 et seq.
    Abstract: DOE established a Working Group to negotiate amended 
energy conservation standards for six classes of walk-in cooler and 
freezer (walk-in) refrigeration systems. After holding a series of 
meetings as part of a negotiated rulemaking, the Working Group 
developed a Term Sheet containing a series of recommendations regarding 
potential energy conservation standards for these refrigeration systems 
and the current test procedure for evaluating the energy efficiency of 
a walk-in refrigeration system. This rulemaking proposed several test 
procedure amendments to implement these recommendations. These 
amendments include certain changes to improve test procedure clarity, 
updating related certification and enforcement provisions to address 
the performance-based energy conservation standards for walk-in cooler 
and freezer equipment, and establishing labeling requirements that will 
aid manufacturers in determining which components would be considered 
for compliance purposes as intended for walk-in cooler and freezer 
applications. The rule also adds certain equipment-specific 
definitions, removes the test method for refrigeration systems with hot 
gas defrost, and includes a method to accommodate refrigeration 
equipment that use adaptive defrost and on-cycle variable-speed 
evaporator fan control.
    Completed:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Reason                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Final Rule..........................   12/28/16  81 FR 95758
Final Rule Effective................   01/27/17  .......................
Final Rule; Delay of Effective Date.   03/21/17  82 FR 8805
Final Rule; Delay of Effective Date    03/21/17  .......................
 Effective.
Final Rule; Further Delay of           03/21/17  82 FR 14426
 Effective Date.
Final Rule; Further Delay of           06/26/17  .......................
 Effective Date Effective.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Ashley Armstrong, Phone: 202 586-6590, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 1904-AD72

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (DOE)

Departmental and Others (ENDEP)

Final Rule Stage

226. Smal-Scale Natural Gas Exports (Section 610 Review)

    E.O. 13771 Designation: Deregulatory.
    Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 717b(a); 42 U.S.C. 7151(b), 7172(f), and 
7254
    Abstract: This rule would revise DOE regulations implementing 
section 3(a) of the Natural Gas Act, 15 U.S.C. 717b(a), for 
``qualifying small-scale'' exports of natural gas, including liquefied 
natural gas. Under this rule, DOE would issue an order upon receipt of 
any application that seeks to export natural gas to non-FTA countries, 
provided the application meets the criteria for small-scale exports. In 
promulgating this rule, DOE would clarify its interpretation of 
``public interest'' under NGA section 3(a). The intent of the rule is 
to improve DOE's application procedures related to natural gas exports, 
reduce the administrative burdens associated with the small-scale 
natural gas export market, and result in more efficient processing of 
applications for small-scale natural gas exports.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   09/01/17  82 FR 41570
NPRM Comment Period End.............   10/16/17  .......................
Final Action........................   02/00/18  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No.
    Agency Contact: Betsy Kohl, Attorney Advisor, Department of Energy, 
1000 Independence Avenue SW, Room 6A-179, Washington, DC 20585, Phone: 
202 586-7796, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 1901-AB43

[FR Doc. 2017-28209 Filed 1-11-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P