[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 194 (Friday, October 7, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 60941-60942]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-21922]


 ========================================================================
 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.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 194 / Friday, October 7, 2022 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 60941]]



DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

10 CFR Part 430

[EERE-2017-BT-STD-0023]
RIN 1904-AE00


Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for 
Microwave Ovens; Extension of Public Comment Period

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

ACTION: Notice of public meeting and extension of public comment 
period.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: On August 24, 2022 the U.S. Department of Energy (``DOE'') 
published a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (``SNOPR'') to 
amend the energy conservation standards for microwave ovens. (``August 
2022 SNOPR'') This document announces a public meeting to be held in 
support of that SNOPR and extends the public comment period for the 
SNOPR by 14 days to allow public comments to be submitted until 
November 7, 2022.

DATES: DOE will hold a public meeting via webinar on Tuesday, October 
11, 2022, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. See section, ``Public 
Participation,'' for webinar registration information, participant 
instructions, and information about the capabilities available to 
webinar participants. The comment period for the published August 2022 
SNOPR (87 FR 52282) is also extended. DOE will accept comments, data, 
and information regarding the SNOPR that are received no later than 
November 7, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are encouraged to submit comments using 
the Federal eRulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov under docket 
number EERE-2017-BT-STD-0023. Follow the instructions for submitting 
comments. Alternatively, interested persons may submit comments, 
identified by docket number EERE-2017-BT-STD-0023, by any of the 
following methods:
    (1) Email: [email protected]. Include the docket number 
EERE-2017-BT-STD-0023 in the subject line of the message.
    (2) Postal Mail: Appliance and Equipment Standards Program, U.S. 
Department of Energy, Building Technologies Office, Mailstop EE-5B, 
1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585-0121. Telephone: 
(202) 287-1445. If possible, please submit all items on a compact disc 
(``CD''), in which case it is not necessary to include printed copies.
    (3) Hand Delivery/Courier: Appliance and Equipment Standards 
Program, U.S. Department of Energy, Building Technologies Office, 950 
L'Enfant Plaza SW, 6th Floor, Washington, DC 20024. Telephone: (202) 
287-1445. If possible, please submit all items on a CD, in which case 
it is not necessary to include printed copies.
    No telefacsimiles (``faxes'') will be accepted.
    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, not all 
documents listed in the index may be publicly available, such as 
information that is exempt from public disclosure.
    The docket web page can be found at www.regulations.gov/docket?D=EERE-2017-BT-STD-0023. The docket web page contains 
instructions on how to access all documents, including public comments, 
in the docket.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
    Dr. Stephanie Johnson, 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. Email: 
[email protected].
    Ms. Celia Sher, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the General 
Counsel, GC-33, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585-0121. 
Telephone: (202) 287-6122. Email: [email protected].
    For further information on how to submit a comment, review other 
public comments and the docket, or participate in the public meeting, 
contact the Appliance and Equipment Standards Program staff at (202) 
287-1445 or by email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: DOE published a notice of proposed 
determination (``NOPD'') on August 12, 2021, in which DOE initially 
determined that current standards for microwave ovens do not need to be 
amended. 86 FR 44298. DOE provided opportunities for stakeholders to 
provide written comments and held a public meeting on September 13, 
2021, to solicit additional feedback on the analysis. In response to 
comments received on the NOPD, DOE conducted further investigative 
testing and manufacturer discussions resulting in an updated 
engineering analysis. Based on this revised analysis, on August 24, 
2022, DOE published the August 2022 SNOPR proposing amended energy 
conservation standards for microwave ovens. 87 FR 52282. The August 
2022 SNOPR provided for the written submission of comments by October 
24, 2022.
    This notice announces a public meeting that will be held to 
facilitate discussions among interested parties with regards to DOE's 
analysis supporting the August 2022 SNOPR and also extends the comment 
period for that notice until November 7, 2022.

Public Participation

A. Participation in the Webinar

    The time and date for the webinar meeting are listed in the DATES 
section at the beginning of this document. Webinar registration 
information, participant instructions, and information about the 
capabilities available to webinar participants will be published on 
DOE's website: www.energy.gov/eere/buildings/public-meetings-and-comment-deadlines. Participants are responsible for ensuring their 
systems are compatible with the webinar software.

B. Procedure for Submitting Prepared General Statements for 
Distribution

    Any person who has an interest in the topics addressed in this 
document, or who is representative of a group or class of persons that 
has an interest in these issues, may request an opportunity to make an 
oral presentation at the

[[Page 60942]]

webinar. Such persons may submit such request to 
[email protected]. Persons who wish to speak 
should include with their request a computer file in Microsoft Word, 
PDF, or text (ASCII) file format that briefly describes the nature of 
their interest in this rulemaking and the topics they wish to discuss. 
Such persons should also provide a daytime telephone number where they 
can be reached.
    Persons requesting to speak should briefly describe the nature of 
their interest in this document and provide a telephone number for 
contact. DOE requests persons selected to make an oral presentation to 
submit an advance copy of their statements at least two weeks before 
the webinar. At its discretion, DOE may permit persons who cannot 
supply an advance copy of their statement to participate, if those 
persons have made advance alternative arrangements with the Building 
Technologies Office. As necessary, requests to give an oral 
presentation should ask for such alternative arrangements.

C. Conduct of the Webinar

    DOE will designate a DOE official to preside at the webinar and may 
also use a professional facilitator to aid discussion. The meeting will 
not be a judicial or evidentiary-type public hearing, but DOE will 
conduct it in accordance with section 336 of EPCA (42 U.S.C. 6306). A 
court reporter will be present to record the proceedings and prepare a 
transcript. DOE reserves the right to schedule the order of 
presentations and to establish the procedures governing the conduct of 
the webinar. There shall not be discussion of proprietary information, 
costs or prices, market share, or other commercial matters regulated by 
U.S. anti-trust laws. After the webinar and until the end of the 
comment period, interested parties may submit further comments on the 
proceedings and any aspect of the rulemaking.
    The webinar will be conducted in an informal, conference style. DOE 
will present a general overview of the topics addressed in the SNOPR, 
allow time for prepared general statements by participants, and 
encourage all interested parties to share their views on issues 
affecting the SNOPR. Each participant will be allowed to make a general 
statement (within time limits determined by DOE), before the discussion 
of specific topics. DOE will permit, as time allows, other participants 
to comment briefly on any general statements.
    At the end of all prepared statements on a topic, DOE will permit 
participants to clarify their statements briefly. Participants should 
be prepared to answer questions by DOE and by other participants 
concerning these issues. DOE representatives may also ask questions of 
participants concerning other matters relevant to the SNOPR. The 
official conducting the webinar will accept additional comments or 
questions from those attending, as time permits. The presiding official 
will announce any further procedural rules or modification of the above 
procedures that may be needed for the proper conduct of the webinar.
    A transcript of the webinar will be included in the docket, which 
can be viewed as described in the Docket section at the beginning of 
this document. In addition, any person may buy a copy of the transcript 
from the transcribing reporter. DOE invites public participation in 
this process through participation in the submission of written 
comments and information. After the closing of the comment period, DOE 
will consider all timely-submitted comments and additional information 
obtained from interested parties, as well as information obtained 
through further analyses.

Approval of the Office of the Secretary

    The Secretary of Energy has approved publication of this notice of 
public meeting and extension of public comment period.

Signing Authority

    This document of the Department of Energy was signed on October 3, 
2022, by Mr. Francisco Alejandro Moreno, 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 October 4, 2022.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2022-21922 Filed 10-6-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P