[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 168 (Thursday, September 2, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 49266-49267]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-18885]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

10 CFR Part 431

[EERE-2021-BT-STD-0018]
RIN 1904-AE54


Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for 
Certain Commercial and Industrial Equipment; Early Assessment Review; 
Commercial and Industrial Pumps

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

ACTION: Extension of public comment period.

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SUMMARY: On August 9, 2021, the U.S. Department of Energy (``DOE'') 
published a request for information (``RFI'') undertaking an early 
assessment review for amended energy conservation standards for 
commercial and industrial pumps (``pumps''). The RFI provided an 
opportunity for submitting written comments, data, and information by 
September 8, 2021. DOE received requests from Grundfos and Pentair on 
August 10, 2021 and August 12, 2021, respectively, asking DOE to extend 
the public comment period for 60 days until November 8, 2021. 
Additionally, DOE received requests from the Hydraulic Institute 
(``HI''), and a group of California Investor-Owned Utilities (``CA 
IOUs''), comprised of Pacific Gas and Electric Company, San Diego Gas 
and Electric and Southern California Edison, on August 12, 2021 and 
August 13, 2021, respectively, asking DOE to extend the public comment 
period for 30 days until October 8, 2021. DOE has reviewed these 
requests and is granting an extension of the public comment period to 
allow public comments to be submitted until October 8, 2021.

DATES: The comment period for the RFI published on August 9, 2021 (86 
FR 43430) is extended. DOE will accept comments, data, and information 
regarding this RFI received no later than October 8, 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-STD-0018, 
by email to [email protected].
    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.

[[Page 49267]]

    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-0018. 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 August 9, 2021, DOE published a RFI 
undertaking an early assessment review for amended energy conservation 
standards for pumps to determine whether to amend applicable energy 
conservation standards. Specifically, DOE is seeking data and 
information to evaluate whether amended energy conservation standards 
would result in a significant savings of energy; be technologically 
feasible; and be economically justified. 86 FR 43430. Interested 
parties in the matter, Grundfos (on August 10, 2021), HI (on August 12, 
2021), Pentair (on August 12, 2021), and CA IOUs (on August 13, 2021), 
requested an extension of the public comment period for the RFI. 
(Grundfos, No. 2 at p. 1; HI, No. 3 at p. 1; Pentair., No. 4 at p. 1; 
CA IOUs, No. 5, at p. 1).\1\ Grundos, HI, and Pentair commented that 
the extension is necessary to allow ample time to provide adequate 
comments on the issues identified. (Grundfos, No. 2 at p. 1; HI, No. 3 
at p. 1; Pentair., No. 4 at p. 1) The CA IOUs noted that a data set of 
pump performance data was being complied by the Northwest Energy 
Efficiency Alliance (``NEEA'') and additional time was necessary to 
analyze and review the NEEA dataset. (CA IOUs, No. 5, at p. 1)
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    \1\ The parenthetical reference provides a reference for 
information located in DOE's rulemaking docket. (Docket No. EERE-
2021-BT-STD-0018, which is maintained at www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=EERE-2021-BT-STD-0018). The references are arranged 
as follows: (commenter name, comment docket ID number, page of that 
document).
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    DOE has reviewed the requests 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 an early assessment review to 
determine whether to amend energy conservation standards for pumps. 
Based on the information received in response to this RFI, DOE will 
determine whether to proceed with a rulemaking for a new or amended 
energy conservation standard. If DOE makes an initial determination 
that a new or amended energy conservation standard would satisfy the 
applicable statutory criteria or DOE's analysis is inconclusive, DOE 
would undertake the preliminary stages of a rulemaking to issue a new 
or amended energy conservation standard. If DOE makes an initial 
determination based upon available evidence that a new or amended 
energy conservation standard would not meet the applicable statutory 
criteria, DOE will engage in notice and comment rulemaking before 
issuing a final determination that new or amended energy conservation 
standards are not warranted. As such, DOE has determined that an 
extension of 30 days is sufficient for this preliminary stage. 
Therefore, DOE is extending the comment period until October 8, 2021.

Signing Authority

    This document of the Department of Energy was signed on August 27, 
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 August 27, 2021.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2021-18885 Filed 9-1-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P