[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 24 (Friday, February 4, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 6436-6437]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-02281]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

10 CFR Part 429 and 431

[EERE-2020-BT-TP-0011]
RIN 1904-AE62


Energy Conservation Program: Test Procedure for Electric Motors; 
Extension of Comment Period

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

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking; extension of public comment 
period.

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SUMMARY: On December 17, 2021, the U.S. Department of Energy (``DOE'') 
published a notice of proposed rulemaking (``NOPR'') on potential 
amendments to its test procedure for electric motors. The NOPR provided 
an opportunity for submitting written comments, data, and information 
on the proposal by February 15, 2022. DOE received requests from the 
National Electrical Manufacturers Association (``NEMA'') and the 
Hydraulic Institute (``HI'') on January 25, 2022, and January 26, 2022, 
respectively, asking DOE to extend the public comment period for 30 
additional days. DOE has reviewed these requests and is granting an 
extension of the public comment period to allow public comments to be 
submitted until February 28, 2022.

DATES: The comment period for the NOPR published on December 17, 2021 
(86 FR 71710), is extended. DOE will accept comments, data, and 
information regarding this request for information (RFI) received no 
later than February 28, 2022.

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-2020-BT-TP-0011, 
by any of the following methods:
    (1) Federal eRulemaking Portal: www.regulations.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments.
    (2) Email: [email protected]. Include the docket 
number EERE-2020-BT-TP-0011 or regulatory information number (``RIN'') 
1904-AE62 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 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 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, which includes Federal Register notices, public 
meeting attendee lists and transcripts (if a public meeting is held), 
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?D=EERE-2020-BT-TP-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

[[Page 6437]]

Technologies Office, EE-5B, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 
20585-0121. Telephone: (202) 586-9870. Email: 
[email protected].
    Mr. Michael Kido, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the General 
Counsel, GC-33, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585-0121. 
Telephone: (202) 586-8145. 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 December 17, 2021, DOE published a NOPR 
proposing to amend the existing scope of the DOE test procedures for 
electric motors consistent with related industry changes for 
nomenclature and test procedure developments (i.e., for air-over 
electric motors, submersible electric motors, electric motors greater 
than 500 horsepower, electric motors considered small, inverter-only 
electric motors, and synchronous electric motors); add test procedures, 
metric, and supporting definitions for additional electric motors 
covered under the proposed scope; and update references to industry 
standards to reference current versions. (86 FR 71710) Furthermore, DOE 
proposed to adopt industry provisions related to the prescribed test 
conditions to further ensure the comparability of testing. In addition, 
DOE proposed to update certain testing instructions to reduce 
manufacturer burden. Further, DOE proposed to amend the provisions 
pertaining to certification testing and determination of represented 
values for electric motors other than dedicated-purpose pool pump 
motors, apply these provisions to the additional electric motors 
proposed for inclusion in the scope of the test procedure, and to move 
both provisions consistent with the location of other certification 
requirements for other covered products and equipment. Finally, DOE 
proposed to add provisions pertaining to certification testing and 
determination of represented values for dedicated-purpose pool pump 
motors. DOE is seeking comment from interested parties on these 
proposals.
    Interested parties in the matter, NEMA (on January 25, 2022) and 
the Hydraulic Institute (on January 26, 2022) requested an extension of 
the public comment period for 30 additional days (NEMA, No. 9 at p. 1; 
HI, No. 11 at p.1).\1\ NEMA commented that the extension is necessary 
due to delays in developing their responses given the proposed scope of 
products along with the extent of information to be gathered. HI 
commented more time is needed for the pump industry to review and 
provide comment relating to the testing of submersible motors.
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    \1\ The parenthetical reference provides a reference for 
information located in DOE's rulemaking docket. (Docket No. EERE-
2020-BT-TP-0011, which is maintained at www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=EERE-2020-BT-TP-0011). 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. The 
proposed rule was published in the Federal Register on December 17, 
2021, and a 60-day comment period was provided from the date of 
publication. In light of the submitted requests, DOE believes that 
additional time is warranted, and that extending the comment period 
until the end of the month of February is sufficient. Therefore, DOE is 
extending the comment period until February 28, 2022.

Signing Authority

    This document of the Department of Energy was signed on January 28, 
2022, by Kelly J. Speakes-Backman, Principal Deputy 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 January 31, 2022.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2022-02281 Filed 2-3-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P