[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 218 (Tuesday, November 16, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 63318-63319]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-24929]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
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 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.
 
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 

  Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 218 / Tuesday, November 16, 2021 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 63318]]



DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

10 CFR Parts 429 and 431

[EERE-2019-BT-STD-0018]
RIN 1904-AE12


Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for 
Distribution Transformers, Webinar and Availability of the Preliminary 
Technical Support Document

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

ACTION: Reopening of public comment period.

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SUMMARY: On August 27, 2021, the U.S. Department of Energy (``DOE'') 
published a notification of a webinar and availability of preliminary 
technical support document that DOE conducted for purposes of 
evaluating energy conservation standards for distribution transformers. 
The notification provided an opportunity for submitting written 
comments, data, and information by November 10, 2021. DOE received 
requests from Cleveland-Cliffs Steel Corporation (Cleveland-Cliffs) and 
the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) asking DOE for 
a 30-day extension of the public comment period. DOE has reviewed this 
request and is reopening the public comment period to allow public 
comments to be submitted until December 10, 2021.

DATES: The comment period for the RFI published on August 27, 2021 (86 
FR 48058) is reopened. DOE will accept comments, data, and information 
regarding this notification received no later than December 10, 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-2019-BT-STD-0018, 
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-2019-BT-STD-0018 in the subject line of the 
message.
    No telefacsimiles (``faxes'') will be accepted.
    Although DOE has routinely accepted public comment submissions 
through a variety of mechanisms, including the Federal eRulemaking 
Portal, email, postal mail, or hand delivery/courier, the Department 
has found it necessary to make temporary modifications to the comment 
submission process in light of the ongoing Covid-9 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 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, public meeting transcripts, 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?D=EERE-2019-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-5B, 
1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585-0121. Telephone: 
(202) 586-9870. Email: [email protected].
    Mr. Matthew Ring, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the General 
Counsel, GC-33, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585-0121. 
Telephone: (202) 586-2555. 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 27, 2021, DOE published a 
notification announcing the availability of a technical support 
document and notification of a webinar on the preliminary analysis that 
DOE conducted for purposes of evaluating energy conservation standards 
for distribution transformers. 86 FR 48058. This webinar was held on 
September 29, 2021 and covered the analytical framework, models, and 
tools that DOE is using to evaluate potential standards for this 
equipment; the results of preliminary analyses performed by DOE for 
this equipment; the potential energy conservation standard levels 
derived from these analyses that DOE could consider for this product 
should it determine that proposed amendments are necessary; and any 
issues relevant to the evaluation of energy conservation standards for 
distribution transformers. In addition, the notification announced that 
DOE will be accepting written comments on these subjects on or before, 
November 10, 2021.
    On October 29, 2021, NEMA requested a 30-day extension of the 
public comment period for this preliminary analysis. NEMA commented 
that given the volume of DOE analysis and number of questions posted, 
more time is needed to gather NEMA members together and prepare 
detailed industry responses. NEMA stated that manufacturers continue to 
face challenges in their businesses during the continued global 
pandemic and other supply chain disruptions and that more time will 
give greater opportunity to research and communicate accurate data and 
responses. (NEMA, No. 43 at p. 1) \1\
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    \1\ The parenthetical reference provides a reference for 
information located in DOE's rulemaking docket. (Docket No. EERE-
2019-BT-STD-0018, which is maintained at www.regulations.gov/docket/EERE-2019-BT-STD-0018). The references are arranged as follows: 
(Commenter name, comment docket ID number, page of that document).

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[[Page 63319]]

    Cleveland-Cliffs also requested a 30-day extension of the public 
comment period for this preliminary analysis on November 5, 2021. 
Cleveland-Cliffs stated in their request that they are the only company 
in North America that procures Grain Oriented Electrical Steel, which 
is a critical and irreplaceable material used in distribution and dry-
type transformers. Cleveland Cliff explained in their request that the 
preliminary analysis and technical support document is comprehensive 
and lengthy and that given the potentially significant impacts to 
transformer industry and specifically core steel selection, more time 
is needed to fully understand the impact to Cleveland-Cliffs' customer 
base and their business. (Cleveland-Cliffs, No. 44 at p. 1) \2\
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    \2\ The parenthetical reference provides a reference for 
information located in DOE's rulemaking docket. (Docket No. EERE-
2019-BT-STD-0018, which is maintained at www.regulations.gov/docket/EERE-2019-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 reopening the comment period 
to allow additional time for interested parties to submit comments. 
Therefore, DOE is reopening the comment period until December 10, 2021.

Signing Authority

    This document of the Department of Energy was signed on November 9, 
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 November 10, 2021.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2021-24929 Filed 11-15-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P