[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 91 (Wednesday, May 11, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 28782-28783]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-10085]
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Proposed Rules
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
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. 87, No. 91 / Wednesday, May 11, 2022 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 28782]]
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
10 CFR Part 431
[EERE-2022-BT-STD-0014]
RIN 1904-AF39
Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for
Small Electric Motors; Extension of Comment Period
AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of
Energy.
ACTION: Request for information; extension of public comment period.
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SUMMARY: On April 20, 2022, the U.S. Department of Energy (``DOE'')
published a request for information (``RFI'') regarding energy
conservation standards for small electric motors. The RFI provided an
opportunity for submitting written comments, data, and information by
May 20, 2022. DOE received requests from the European Committee of
Manufacturers of Electrical Machines and Power Electronics on April 29,
2022, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association on May 3, 2022,
the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers also on May 3, 2022,
and the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute on May
4, 2022, each asking DOE to extend the public comment period for an
additional 30 days. DOE has reviewed these requests and is granting an
extension of the public comment period to allow comments to be
submitted until June 20, 2022.
DATES: The comment period for the RFI published on April 20, 2022 (87
FR 23471), is extended. DOE will accept comments, data, and information
regarding the RFI received no later than June 20, 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-STD-0014
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-2022-BT-STD-0014 or regulatory information number
(``RIN'') 1904-AF39 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 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-2022-BT-STD-0014. 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. 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 April 20, 2022, DOE published an RFI
undertaking a review to determine whether to amend the current energy
conservation standards for small electric motors. Specifically, the
request for information (``RFI'') sought data and information to help
DOE evaluate whether amended energy conservation standards would result
in significant savings of energy; be technologically feasible; and be
economically justified. 87 FR 23471. The RFI set a comment period
deadline of May 20, 2022.
Interested parties in the matter, the European Committee of
Manufacturers of Electrical Machines and Power Electronics (``CEMEP'')
requested a 30-day extension of the public comment period to review and
comment on the RFI given the global impact of a highly interconnected
motor industry (CEMEP, EERE-2022-BT-STD-0014, No. 2 at p. 1). The
National Electrical Manufacturers Association (``NEMA'') also requested
a 30-day extension of the public comment period because NEMA staff and
members of the Motor and Generator product section are wholly-occupied
with developing responses to, and follow-on items for, the preliminary
Technical Support Document for Electric Motor energy conservation
standards (NEMA, EERE-2022-BT-STD-0003, No. 3 at p. 1). Additionally,
the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (``AHAM'') requested a
30-day extension because of the overlap with several other rulemakings
that AHAM has been involved in reviewing and commenting on (AHAM, EERE-
2022-BT-STD-0014, No. 4 at p. 1). Finally, the Air-Conditioning,
Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (``AHRI'') requested a 30-day
extension of the comment period due to conflicts with
[[Page 28783]]
several other rulemakings affecting AHRI members (AHRI, EERE-2022-BT-
STD-0014, No. 5 at p. 1).
DOE has reviewed the requests and is extending 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 is extending the comment period for 30 additional days,
as requested. Therefore, comments on this RFI will be accepted until
June 20, 2022.
Signing Authority
This document of the Department of Energy was signed on May 5,
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 May 6, 2022.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2022-10085 Filed 5-10-22; 8:45 am]
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