[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 105 (Thursday, June 3, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 29704-29705]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-11561]


 ========================================================================
 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. 86, No. 105 / Thursday, June 3, 2021 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 29704]]



DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

10 CFR Part 430

[EERE-2021-BT-STD-0011]
RIN 1904-AE99


Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for 
Ceiling Fans

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

ACTION: Extension of public comment period.

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

SUMMARY: On May 7, 2021, the U.S. Department of Energy (``DOE'') 
published an early assessment request for information (``RFI'') 
undertaking an early assessment review for amended energy conservation 
standards for ceiling fans to determine whether to amend applicable 
energy conservation standards for this product. The notice provided an 
opportunity for submitting written comments, data, and information by 
June 7, 2021. DOE received a request from the Air Movement and Control 
Association (AMCA) and the American Light Association (ALA) for a 
comment period extension of 45 additional days. AMCA and ALA stated 
that an extension would improve the quality of the information industry 
submits to the department and increase the likelihood of presenting the 
department with consensus recommendations on many of the questions it 
is asking. DOE has reviewed these requests and is granting an extension 
of the public comment period for 21 days to allow public comments to be 
submitted until June 28, 2021.

DATES: The comment period for the RFI published on May 7, 2021 (86 FR 
24538) is extended. DOE will accept comments, data, and information 
regarding this RFI received no later than June 28, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are encouraged to submit comments using 
the Federal eRulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments. Alternatively, interested persons 
may submit comments by email to the following address: 
[email protected]. Include ``Ceiling Fans Early 
Assessment Energy Conservation Standard RFI'' and docket number EERE-
2021-BT-STD-0011 and/or RIN number 1904-AE99 in the subject line of the 
message. Submit electronic comments in WordPerfect, Microsoft Word, 
PDF, or ASCII file format, and the use of special characters or any 
form of encryption. No telefacsimilies (``faxes'') will be accepted.
    Although DOE has routinely accepted public comment submissions 
through a variety of mechanisms, including postal mail and hand 
delivery/courier, the Department has found it necessary to make 
temporary modifications to the comment submission process in light of 
the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. DOE is currently accepting only 
electronic submissions at this time. If a commenter finds that this 
change poses an undue hardship, please contact Appliance Standards 
Program staff at (202) 586-1445 to discuss the need for alternative 
arrangements. Once the Covid-19 pandemic health emergency is resolved, 
DOE anticipates resuming all of its regular options for public comment 
submission, including postal mail and hand delivery/courier.
    Docket: The docket for this activity, 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, such as those containing information 
that is exempt from public disclosure, may not be publicly available.
    The docket web page can be found at: www.regulations.gov/docket/EERE-2021-BT-STD-0011. The docket web page contains instructions on how 
to access all documents, including public comments, in the docket.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Jeremy Dommu, 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) 586-9870. Email: 
[email protected].
    Ms. Amelia Whiting, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the 
General Counsel, GC-33, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 
20585-0121. Telephone: (202) 586-2588. Email: 
[email protected].
    For further information on how to submit a comment or review other 
public comments and the docket contact the Appliance and Equipment 
Standards Program staff at (202) 287-1445 or by email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 7, 2021, DOE published a notice that 
it is undertaking an early assessment review for amended energy 
conservation standards for ceiling fans to determine whether to amend 
applicable energy conservation standards for this product. 
Specifically, through the RFI, DOE requested data and information to 
evaluate whether amended energy conservation standards would result in 
significant savings of energy; be technologically feasible; and be 
economically justified. 86 FR 24538. On May 19, 2021, interested 
parties in the matter the Air Movement and Control Association (AMCA) 
and the American Light Association (ALA) jointly requested an extension 
of the comment period extension for an 45 additional days. (AMCA and 
ALA, No. 2 at p. 1).
    DOE has reviewed the request and is extending the comment period to 
allow additional time for interested parties to submit comments. As 
noted, the RFI was issued as part of the early assessment stages of 
rulemaking to consider amendments to the energy conservation standards 
for ceiling fans. If DOE determines that amended energy conservation 
standards may be appropriate, additional notices will be published 
(e.g., a notice of proposed rulemaking) providing interested parties 
with an additional opportunity to submit comment. As such, DOE has 
determined that providing an additional 21 days is sufficient for this 
preliminary stage. Therefore, DOE is extending the comment period to 
June 28, 2021.

Signing Authority

    This document of the Department of Energy was signed on May 26, 
2021, by Kelly Speakes-Backman, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary 
and Acting

[[Page 29705]]

Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, 
pursuant to delegated authority from the Secretary of Energy. That 
document with the original signature and date is maintained by DOE. For 
administrative purposes only, and in compliance with requirements of 
the Office of the Federal Register, the undersigned DOE Federal 
Register Liaison Officer has been authorized to sign and submit the 
document in electronic format for publication, as an official document 
of the Department of Energy. This administrative process in no way 
alters the legal effect of this document upon publication in the 
Federal Register.

    Signed in Washington, DC, on May 27, 2021.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2021-11561 Filed 6-2-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P