[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 61 (Thursday, March 30, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19122-19123]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-06486]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[EERE-2014-BT-STD-0005]
RIN 1904-AD15


Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for 
Consumer Conventional Cooking Products; Extension of Public Comment 
Period

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

ACTION: Supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking; extension of public 
comment period.

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

SUMMARY: On February 1, 2023, the U.S. Department of Energy (``DOE'') 
published a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (``SNOPR'') and 
announcement of public meeting proposing amended energy conservation 
standards for conventional cooking products and announcing a public 
meeting to receive comment on the proposed standards and associated 
analyses and results. (``February 2023 SNOPR'') The notice provided an 
opportunity for submitting written comments, data, and information by 
April 3, 2023. DOE received a request from the Association of Home 
Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) to extend the written comment period. 
DOE has reviewed this request and is granting a 14-day extension of the 
public comment period to allow comments to be submitted until April 17, 
2023.

DATES: The comment period for the SNOPR published on February 1, 2023 
(88 FR 6818) is extended. Written comments and information regarding 
the SNOPR will be accepted on or before April 17, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are encouraged to submit comments using 
the Federal eRulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov under docket 
number EERE-2014-BT-STD-0005. Follow the instructions for submitting 
comments. Alternatively, interested persons may submit comments, 
identified by docket number EERE-2014-BT-STD-0005, by any of the 
following methods:
    Email: [email protected]. Include 
the docket number EERE-2014-BT-STD-0005 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. If possible, 
please submit all items on a

[[Page 19123]]

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, 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, 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-2014-BT-STD-0005. The docket web page contains instructions on how to 
access all documents, including public comments, in the docket.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
    Dr. Carl Shapiro, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy 
Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building Technologies Office, Mailstop 
EE-5B, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585-0121. 
Telephone: (202) 287-5649. Email: 
[email protected].
    Ms. Celia Sher, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the General 
Counsel, Mail Stop GC-33, Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Avenue 
SW, Washington, DC 20585-0103. 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 December 14, 2020, in which DOE initially 
determined that current standards for consumer conventional cooking 
products do not need to be amended. 85 FR 80982. DOE stated in the 
December 2020 NOPD that it would reevaluate the energy savings 
associated with identified technology options for the product if it 
considered performance standards in a future rulemaking. Id. at 85 FR 
81004. Subsequently, on August 22, 2022, DOE published a final rule 
establishing a test procedure for conventional cooking tops. 87 FR 
51492. As a result of this new test procedure, DOE issued the February 
2023 SNOPR, in which DOE reevaluated its analysis from the December 
2020 NOPD and tentatively concluded that amended energy conservation 
standards for consumer conventional cooking products are 
technologically feasible and economically justified. 88 FR 6818. The 
February 2023 SNOPR announced a public meeting to receive comment on 
the proposed standards and provided for the written submission of 
comments by April 3, 2023. Id.
    On March 10, 2023, DOE received a request from the Association of 
Home Appliance Manufacturers (``AHAM'') to extend the written comment 
period on the February 2023 SNOPR by 45 days. AHAM stated that there 
are a significant number of other regulatory comment periods open 
simultaneously, many of which impact the same manufacturers, and all of 
which impact AHAM's ability to work with their members to discuss and 
analyze the proposed rule and provide meaningful comment to DOE. (AHAM, 
No. 764).
    Given the unique circumstances of this product, which include a 
long rulemaking history, several changes in rulemaking course, and the 
availability of new data, DOE determines that an extension of the 
public comment period is appropriate to allow interested parties 
additional time to submit comments for DOE's consideration. Thus, DOE 
is extending the comment period by 14 days, until April 17, 2023.

Signing Authority

    This document of the Department of Energy was signed on March 22, 
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 March 24, 2023.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2023-06486 Filed 3-29-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P