[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 129 (Friday, July 9, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36269-36270]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-14576]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[EERE-2021-BT-BC-0013]


Future of Energy Codes Workshop; Reopening of the Public Comment 
Period

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

ACTION: Reopening of the public comment period.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is reopening the public 
comment period for the request for public comments on its public 
stakeholder workshop on the Future of Energy Codes held June 22 and 24, 
2021. DOE published notice of the workshop on June 14, 2021 and 
requested comments by July 8, 2021. On June 30, 2021, DOE received a 
request from the American Gas Association, American Public Gas 
Association, National Association of Home Builders, and National 
Propane Gas Association to extend the public comment period by 45 days. 
DOE is reopening the public comment period until July 31, 2021.

DATES: The comment period associated with the Future of Energy Codes 
Workshop, held on June 22 and 24, 2021 (86 FR 31491) is reopened. DOE 
will accept stakeholder comments and feedback from the Workshop on or 
before July 31, 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, identified by docket number EERE-2021-BT-BC-0013 
by any of the following methods:
    1. Federal eRulemaking Portal: www.regulations.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments.
    2. Email: To [email protected]. 
Include docket number EERE-2021-BT-

[[Page 36270]]

BC-0013 in the subject line of the message.
    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 suspending receipt of 
public comments via postal mail and hand delivery/courier. If a 
commenter finds that this change poses an undue hardship, please 
contact the parties listed below 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, not all 
documents listed in the index may be publicly available, such as 
information that is exempt from public disclosure. The docket web page 
can be found at: www.regulations.gov/docket/EERE-2021-BT-BC-0013. The 
docket web page contains instructions on how to access all documents, 
including public comments, in the docket.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
    Jeremiah Williams; U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy 
Efficiency and Renewable Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, EE-5B, 
Washington, DC 20585; (202) 287-1941; [email protected].
    For legal issues, please contact Matthew Ring; U.S. Department of 
Energy, Office of the General Counsel, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, GC-
33, Washington, DC 20585; (202) 586-2555; [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 14, 2021, DOE published notice of a 
stakeholder workshop on the Future of Energy Codes (86 FR 31491), which 
was subsequently held on June 22 and 24, 2021. The workshop highlighted 
leading advancements in energy codes, bringing together key 
stakeholders from across the design and construction industry to 
discuss recent code updates, upcoming trends, as well as opportunities 
and challenges facing code implementation. In parallel with the 
workshop, a public docket was made available to provide interested 
stakeholders the option of submitting written comments, in addition to 
participating directly in the workshop, with comments requested by July 
8, 2021. (86 FR 31491) On June 30, 2021, DOE received a request from 
the American Gas Association, American Public Gas Association, National 
Association of Home Builders, and National Propane Gas Association to 
extend the public comment period by 45 days. These interested parties 
asked for additional time to review the workshop materials, consider 
the questions presented, and in recognition that the original comment 
period included a federal holiday.
    After considering the request, DOE finds that a 45-day extension of 
the initial comment period would unnecessarily delay DOE's ability to 
utilize information provided in the workshop and in comments. Such 
delay would also hinder its ability to effectively participate in and 
support the processes for updating building energy codes. However, DOE 
recognizes the concerns presented in the request, and DOE believes that 
a brief reopening of the comment period will enable the public to 
better review and comment on the information presented at the workshop. 
Accordingly, DOE finds it appropriate to reopen the comment period and 
will accept comments until July 31, 2021. DOE will consider any 
comments received by this date to be timely submitted.

Signing Authority

    This document of the Department of Energy was signed on July 2, 
2021, by Kelly Speakes-Backman, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary 
and Acting 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 July 2, 2021.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2021-14576 Filed 7-8-21; 8:45 am]
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