[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 38 (Friday, February 25, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 10751-10752]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-04050]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

10 CFR Part 431

[EERE-2022-BT-TP-0003 and EERE-2022-STD-0001]
RIN 1904-AE95 and 1904-AE97


Energy Conservation Program: Test Procedure for Dedicated-Purpose 
Pool Pumps and Energy Conservation Standards for Dedicated-Purpose Pool 
Pumps; Reopening of Comment Period

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

ACTION: Request for information; reopening of public comment period.

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SUMMARY: On January 24, 2022, the U.S. Department of Energy (``DOE'') 
published two requests for information (``RFIs'') regarding dedicated-
purpose pool pumps. DOE published a RFI regarding test procedures for 
dedicated-purpose pool pumps and a RFI regarding energy conservation 
standards for dedicated-purpose pool pumps. The RFIs each provided an 
opportunity for submitting written comments, data, and information on 
the proposal by February 23, 2022. DOE received a request from the Pool 
and Hut Tub Alliance on February 9, 2022, and a joint request from the 
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, San Diego Gas and Electric, and 
Southern California Edison on February 11, 2022, each asking DOE to 
extend the public comment periods for both RFIs for 30 additional days. 
DOE has reviewed these requests and is reopening the public comment 
periods to allow comments to be submitted until March 9, 2022.

DATES: The comment periods for the RFIs published on January 24, 2022 
(87 FR 3457; 87 FR 3461) is reopened. DOE will accept comments, data, 
and information regarding these RFIs received no later than March 9, 
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-2022-BT-TP-0003 
for the test procedure RFI and EERE-2022-BT-STD-0001 for the energy 
conservation standard RFI, by any of the following methods:
    (1) Federal eRulemaking Portal: www.regulations.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments.
    (2) Email: [email protected] for the test procedure RFI. 
[email protected] for the energy conservation standards RFI. 
For the test procedure RFI, include the docket number EERE-2022-BT-TP-
0003 or regulatory information number (``RIN'') 1904-AE95 in the 
subject line of the message. For the energy conservation standards RFI, 
include the docket number EERE-2022-BT-STD-0001 or regulatory 
information number (``RIN'') 1904-AE97 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 dockets, which includes Federal Register notices, 
public meeting attendee lists and transcripts (if a public meeting is 
held), comments, and other supporting documents/materials, are 
available for review at www.regulations.gov. All documents in the 
dockets 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 pages can be found at www.regulations.gov/docket?D=EERE-2022-BT-TP-0003 and www.regulations.gov/docket?D=EERE-2020-BT-STD-0001 for dedicated-purpose pool pump test procedure and 
energy conservation standards, respectively. The docket web pages 
contain instructions on how to access all documents, including public 
comments, in each 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].

[[Page 10752]]

    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 January 24, 2022, DOE published a RFI 
undertaking a review to determine whether amendments are warranted for 
the test procedure for dedicated-purpose pool pumps. 87 FR 3457. DOE 
identified certain issues associated with the currently applicable test 
procedure on which DOE is interested in receiving comment. 87 FR 3457, 
3459-3461. On this date, DOE also published a RFI initiating an effort 
to determine whether to amend the current energy conservation standards 
for dedicated-purpose pool pumps. 87 FR 3461 (January 24, 2022) The RFI 
solicits information from the public to help DOE determine whether 
amended standards for dedicated-purpose pool pumps would result in 
significant energy savings and whether such standards would be 
technologically feasible and economically justified. 87 FR 3461. Both 
RFIs had a comment period deadline that closed on February 23, 2022.
    Interested parties in the matter, the Pool and Hot Tub Alliance 
(``PHTA'') requested an extension of the public comment period for 30 
additional days to give time to properly respond to the technical 
nature of the questions posed in both RFIs. PHTA explained that without 
the extension, the industry will be unable to provide all the data and 
information being requested within the current comment period. (PHTA, 
EERE-2022-BT-TP-0003, No. 3 at p. 1; PHTA, EERE-2022-BT-STD-0001, No. 3 
at p. 1) \1\ Also, the Pacific Gas and Electric Company, San Diego Gas 
and Electric, and Southern California Edison (``Joint Requesters'') 
requested an extension of the public comment period for both RFIs for 
30 additional days. The joint requestors commented that the extension 
is necessary due to the extent of research and outreach needed to 
adequately respond to the RFIs and that they support PHTA in the 
request for an additional 30-day extension. (Joint Requesters, EERE-
2022-BT-TP-0003, No. 2 at p. 1, Joint Requesters, EERE-2022-BT-STD-
0001, No. 2 at p.1)
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    \1\ The parenthetical reference provides a reference for 
information located in DOE's rulemaking dockets. (Docket No. EERE-
2022-BT-TP-0003 which is maintained at www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=EERE-2022-BT-TP-0003 and Docket No. EERE-2022-BT-
STD-0001 which is maintained at www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=EERE-2022-BT-STD-0001). 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. In 
light of the submitted requests, DOE believes that additional time is 
warranted, and that reopening the comment period until March 9, 2022 is 
sufficient. Therefore, DOE is reopening the comment period for both 
RFIs until March 9, 2022.

Signing Authority

    This document of the Department of Energy was signed on February 
17, 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 February 22, 2022.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2022-04050 Filed 2-24-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P