[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 35 (Wednesday, February 22, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 10856-10857]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-03547]
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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. 88, No. 35 / Wednesday, February 22, 2023 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 10856]]
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
10 CFR Part 430
[EERE-2019-BT-STD-0018]
RIN 1904-AE12
Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for
Distribution Transformers; Extension of Public 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 January 11, 2023, the U.S. Department of Energy (``DOE'')
published a notice of proposed rulemaking and announcement of public
meeting (``NOPR'') proposing amended energy conservation standards for
distribution transformers, and also to announce a public meeting to
receive comment on the proposed standards and associated analyses and
results. The notice provided an opportunity for submitting written
comments, data, and information by March 13, 2023. DOE received a
request from Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc.; a joint request from the American
Public Power Association (APPA), Edison Electric Institute (EEI) and
the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA); and a
request from the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace, and
Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) to extend the written
comment period. DOE has reviewed these requests and is granting an
extension of the comment period for 14 days to allow public comments to
be submitted until March 27, 2023.
DATES: The comment period for the NOPR published on January 11, 2023
(88 FR 1722) is extended. DOE will accept comments, data, and
information regarding this NOPR received no later than March 27, 2023.
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:
Email: [email protected]. Include the
docket number EERE-2019-BT-STD-0018 in the subject line of the message.
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.
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/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-2J,
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, 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: On January 11, 2023, DOE published a notice
of proposed rulemaking (``NOPR'') proposing amended energy conservation
standards for distribution transformers, and also announced a public
meeting to receive comment on these proposed standards and associated
analyses and results. The notice provided an opportunity for submitting
written comments, data, and information by March 13, 2023. 88 FR 1722.
On January 12, 2023, Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (``Cleveland Cliffs''),
requested that DOE extend the deadline for the comment period on the
NOPR by a minimum of 30 days. Cleveland Cliffs stated the proposal
requires detailed technical and economic analysis by every facet of the
transformer supply chain. (Cleveland Cliffs, No. 66 at p. 1). On
January 30, 2023, the American Public Power Association (APPA), Edison
Electric Institute (EEI), and the National Rural Electric Cooperative
Association (NRECA) jointly requested an extension of the comment
period extension for 60 additional days stating that an extension will
provide valuable time for all parties to contemplate, consider,
research, and meaningfully respond to the important issues implicated
by the proposed rule. (APPA, EEI, and NRECA, No. 67 at p. 2). On
February 12, 2023, the International Union, United Automobile,
Aerospace, and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW)
requested an extension of the comment period for at least another 30
days. UAW stated that they are working to understand the full extent of
the impact of the proposed standards on both their members and the
communities that rely on electric power. (UAW, No. 68 at p. 1).
DOE has reviewed these requests and is extending the comment period
by 14 days to allow additional time for interested parties to submit
comments. DOE notes the complexities of the current distribution
transformer market, including the intersection with steel
[[Page 10857]]
manufacturing and diversification as well as labor concerns. DOE
believes these complexities provide unique grounds that warrant
additional time, which will allow for meaningful input on DOE's
proposed energy conservation standards for distribution transformers
from all stakeholders. DOE believes 14 days is sufficient for these
purposes. Therefore, DOE is extending the comment period until March
27, 2023.
Signing Authority
This document of the Department of Energy was signed on February
14, 2023, by 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 February 15, 2023.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2023-03547 Filed 2-21-23; 8:45 am]
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