[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 143 (Thursday, July 27, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 48544-48547]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-14543]



[[Page 48543]]

Vol. 88

Thursday,

No. 143

July 27, 2023

Part VII





 Department of Energy





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Semiannual Regulatory Agenda

  Federal Register / Vol. 88 , No. 143 / Thursday, July 27, 2023 / UA: 
Reg Flex Agenda  

[[Page 48544]]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

10 CFR Chs. II, III, and X

48 CFR Ch. 9


Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Semiannual Regulatory Agenda.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE) has prepared and is making 
available its portion of the semi-annual Unified Agenda of Federal 
Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions (Agenda) pursuant to Executive 
Order 12866, ``Regulatory Planning and Review,'' and the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Agenda is a government-wide compilation 
of upcoming and ongoing regulatory activity, including a brief 
description of each rulemaking and a timetable for action. The Agenda 
also includes a list of regulatory actions completed since publication 
of the last Agenda. The Department of Energy's portion of the Agenda 
includes regulatory actions called for by the Energy Policy and 
Conservation Act, as amended, and programmatic needs of DOE offices.
    The internet is the basic means for disseminating the Agenda and 
providing users the ability to obtain information from the Agenda 
database. DOE's Spring 2023 Agenda can be accessed online by going to 
www.reginfo.gov.
    DOE's regulatory flexibility agenda is made up of rulemakings 
setting energy efficiency standards and requirements applicable to DOE 
sites.

Samuel Walsh,
General Counsel.

        Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy--Final Rule Stage
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
60........................  Energy Conservation                1904-AD15
                             Standards for Residential
                             Conventional Cooking
                             Products.
61........................  Energy Conservation                1904-AD20
                             Standards for Residential
                             Non-Weatherized Gas
                             Furnaces and Mobile Home
                             Gas Furnaces.
62........................  Energy Conservation                1904-AD34
                             Standards for Commercial
                             Water Heating-Equipment.
63........................  Energy Conservation                1904-AD98
                             Standards for Consumer
                             Clothes Washers.
64........................  Test Procedure for                 1904-AE77
                             Consumer Water Heaters
                             and Residential-Duty
                             Commercial Water Heaters.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


        Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy--Long-Term Actions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
65........................  Energy Conservation                1904-AF00
                             Standards for
                             Miscellaneous Residential
                             Refrigeration.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


        Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy--Completed Actions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
66........................  Energy Conservation                1904-AF53
                             Program: Energy
                             Conservation Standards
                             for Manufactured Housing.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


                Departmental and Others--Final Rule Stage
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
67........................  Statutory Updates to the           1901-AB60
                             Advanced Technology
                             Vehicles Manufacturing
                             Incentive Program.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (DOE)

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EE)

Final Rule Stage

60. Energy Conservation Standards for Residential Conventional Cooking 
Products [1904-AD15]

    Legal Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6295(m)(1); 42 U.S.C. 6292 (a)(10); 42 
U.S.C. 6295(h)
    Abstract: The Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA), as amended 
by Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA), prescribes 
energy conservation standards for various consumer products, including 
consumer conventional cooking products. EPCA also requires the U.S. 
Department of Energy (DOE) to periodically determine whether more 
stringent standards would be technologically feasible and economically 
justified and would result in a significant conservation of energy. In 
this rulemaking, DOE proposes new and amended energy conservation 
standards for consumer conventional cooking products and tentatively 
concludes that the proposed standards represent the maximum improvement 
in energy efficiency that is technologically feasible and economically 
justified, and would result in the significant conservation of energy.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Request for Information (RFI).......   02/12/14  79 FR 8337
RFI Comment Period End..............   03/14/14
RFI Comment Period Extended.........   03/03/14  79 FR 11714
RFI Comment Period Extended End.....   04/14/14
NPRM and Public Meeting.............   06/10/15  80 FR 33030
NPRM Comment Period Extended........   07/30/15  80 FR 45452
NPRM Comment Period Extended End....   09/09/15

[[Page 48545]]

 
Supplemental NPRM (SNPRM)...........   09/02/16  81 FR 60784
SNPRM Comment Period Extended.......   09/30/16  81 FR 67219
SNPRM Comment Period Extended End...   11/02/16
Notice of Proposed Determination and   12/14/20  85 FR 80982
 Request for Comment.
Notice of Proposed Determination       03/01/21
 Comment Period End.
Supplemental NPRM...................   02/01/23  88 FR 6818
Supplemental NPRM; Correction.......   02/28/23  88 FR 12603
Supplemental NPRM; Extension of        03/30/23  88 FR 19122
 Public Comment Period.
Supplemental NPRM; Extension of        04/17/23
 Public Comment Period End.
Notification of Data Availability      02/28/23  88 FR 12603
 (NODA).
NODA Comment Period End.............   04/03/23
Final Action........................   01/00/24
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Stephanie Johnson, General Engineer, Department of 
Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, 1000 Independence 
Avenue SW, Building Technologies Office, EE5B, Washington, DC 20585, 
Phone: 202 287-1943, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 1904-AD15

61. Energy Conservation Standards for Residential Non-Weatherized Gas 
Furnaces and Mobile Home Gas Furnaces [1904-AD20]

    Legal Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6295(f)(4)(C); 42 U.S.C. 6295(m)(1); 42 
U.S.C. 6295(gg)(3)
    Abstract: The Energy Policy and Conservation Act, as amended, 
(EPCA) prescribes energy conservation standards for various consumer 
products and certain commercial and industrial equipment, including the 
residential furnaces which are the subject of this rulemaking. (42 
U.S.C. 6292(a)(5)) EPCA also requires the U.S. Department of Energy 
(DOE) to determine whether more-stringent amended standards would be 
technologically feasible and economically justified and would save a 
significant amount of energy (42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(2)(A) and (3)(B)). EPCA 
specifically provides that DOE must conduct two rounds of energy 
conservation standards rulemakings for the residential furnaces at 
issue (42 U.S.C. 6295(f)(4)(B) and (C)), and the statute also requires 
that not later than six years after issuance of any final rule 
establishing or amending a standard, DOE must publish either a notice 
of determination that standards for the product does not need to be 
amended, or a notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) including new 
proposed energy conservation standards (42 U.S.C. 6295(m)(1)). This 
rulemaking is being undertaken pursuant to the statutorily-required 
second round of rulemaking for non-weatherized gas furnaces (NWGFs) and 
mobile home gas furnaces (MHGFs), and once completed, it will also 
satisfy the statutorily-required six-year-lookback review. In the July 
7, 2022 NOPR, DOE proposes amended and new energy conservation 
standards for NWGFs and MHGFs pursuant to a court-ordered remand of 
DOE's 2011 rulemaking for these products and other statutory 
requirements. 87 FR 40590. Specifically, the NOPR proposes amended 
active mode annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) standards at 95 
percent for both NWGFs and MHGFs. It also proposes amended standby mode 
and off mode standards (in watts) at 8.5 watts for both NWGFs and 
MHGFs. If finalized, the proposed standards would apply to all NWGFs 
and MHGFs manufactured in, or imported into, the United States starting 
on the date five years after the publication of the final rule for this 
rulemaking.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notice of Public Meeting............   10/30/14  79 FR 64517
NPRM and Notice of Public Meeting...   03/12/15  80 FR 13120
NPRM Comment Period Extended........   05/20/15  80 FR 28851
NPRM Comment Period Extended End....   07/10/15
Notice of Data Availability (NODA)..   09/14/15  80 FR 55038
NODA Comment Period End.............   10/14/15
NODA Comment Period Reopened........   10/23/15  80 FR 64370
NODA Comment Period Reopened End....   11/06/15
Supplemental NPRM and Notice of        09/23/16  81 FR 65720
 Public Meeting.
Supplemental NPRM Comment Period End   11/22/16
SNPRM Comment Period Reopened.......   12/05/16  81 FR 87493
SNPRM Comment Period End............   01/06/17
Notice of NPRM Withdrawal...........   01/15/21  86 FR 3873
NPRM................................   07/07/22  87 FR 40590
NPRM Comment Period Extended, NODA     08/30/22  87 FR 52861
 and Notice of Public Meeting.
NPRM Comment Period Extended End....   10/06/22
Final Action........................   09/00/23
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Julia Hegarty, Department of Energy, 1000 
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585, Phone: 240 597-6737, 
Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 1904-AD20

62. Energy Conservation Standards for Commercial Water Heating-
Equipment [1904-AD34]

    Legal Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6313(a)(6)(C)(i) and (vi)
    Abstract: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is undertaking a 
rulemaking to amend energy conservation standards for commercial water 
heaters. Once completed, this rulemaking will fulfill DOE's statutory 
obligation under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, as amended, 
(EPCA) to either propose amended energy conservation standards for 
commercial water heaters and hot water supply boilers (CWHs), or 
determine that the existing standards do not need to be amended. 
(Unfired hot water storage tanks and commercial heat pump water heaters 
are being considered in a separate rulemaking.) DOE must determine 
whether national standards more stringent than those that are currently 
in place would result in a significant additional amount of energy 
savings and whether such amended national standards would be 
technologically feasible and economically justified. DOE proposed to 
amend the standards for certain classes of CWH equipment for which DOE 
has

[[Page 48546]]

tentatively determined there is clear and convincing evidence to 
support more-stringent standards. Additionally, DOE has proposed to 
codify standards for electric instantaneous CWH equipment from EPCA 
into the Code of Federal Regulations.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Request for Information (RFI).......   10/21/14  79 FR 62899
RFI Comment Period End..............   11/20/14
NPRM................................   05/31/16  81 FR 34440
NPRM Comment Period End.............   08/01/16
NPRM Comment Period Reopened........   08/05/16  81 FR 51812
NPRM Comment Period Reopened End....   08/30/16
Notice of Data Availability (NODA)..   12/23/16  81 FR 94234
NODA Comment Period End.............   01/09/17
Notice of NPRM Withdrawal...........   01/15/21  86 FR 3873
NPRM................................   05/19/22  87 FR 30610
NPRM Comment Period End.............   07/18/22
NPRM Comment Period Reopened........   07/20/22  87 FR 43226
NPRM Comment Period Reopened End....   08/01/22
Final Action........................   07/00/23
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Julia Hegarty, Department of Energy, 1000 
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585, Phone: 240 597-6737, 
Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 1904-AD34

63. Energy Conservation Standards for Consumer Clothes Washers [1904-
AD98]

    Legal Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6295(g); 42 U.S.C. 6295(m)
    Abstract: Consistent with the requirements under the Energy Policy 
and Conservation Act (EPCA), as amended, the U.S. Department of Energy 
(DOE) is examining whether to amend the current energy conservation 
standards for consumer clothes washers found at 10 CFR 430.32(g). To 
this end, DOE must determine whether standards more stringent than 
those currently in place would result in a significant amount of energy 
savings and whether such amended standards would be technologically 
feasible and economically justified. DOE has tentatively proposed 
standards that represent the maximum improvement in energy efficiency 
that is technologically feasible and economically justified, and would 
result in the significant conservation of energy. Specifically, with 
regards to technological feasibility, products achieving these standard 
levels are already commercially available for all product classes 
covered by this proposal. As for economic justification, DOE's analysis 
shows that the benefits of the proposed standard exceed the burdens. 
Once completed, this rulemaking will fulfill DOE's statutory obligation 
to either propose amended standards for this product or determine that 
the standards do not need to be amended.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Request for Information (RFI).......   08/02/19  84 FR 37794
RFI Comment Period Extended.........   08/26/19  84 FR 44557
RFI Comment Period Extended End.....   10/03/19
RFI Comment Period Reopened.........   10/03/19  84 FR 52818
RFI Comment Period Reopened End.....   10/17/19
Preliminary Analysis and Notice of     09/29/21  86 FR 53886
 Webinar.
Preliminary Analysis Comment Period    10/29/21  86 FR 59889
 Extended.
Preliminary Analysis Comment Period    01/27/22
 Extended End.
Notice of Data Availability (NODA)..   04/13/22  87 FR 21816
NODA Comment Period End.............   05/13/22
NODA Comment Period Reopened........   05/19/22  87 FR 30433
NODA Comment Period Reopened End....   05/27/22
NPRM................................   03/03/23  88 FR 13520
NPRM Comment Period Extended........   05/01/23  88 FR 26511
NPRM Comment Period Extended End....   05/17/23
Final Action........................   12/00/23
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Bryan D. Berringer, Building Technologies Office, 
EE-5B, Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, 
1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585, Phone: 202 586-0371, 
Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 1904-AD98

64. Test Procedure for Consumer Water Heaters and Residential-Duty 
Commercial Water Heaters [1904-AE77]

    Legal Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6293(b)(1)(A); 42 U.S.C. 6314(a)(1)
    Abstract: Consistent with the requirements under the Energy Policy 
and Conservation Act (EPCA), as amended, the U.S. Department of Energy 
(DOE) is examining whether to amend the current test procedure for 
consumer water heaters and certain commercial water heaters found at 10 
CFR 430, subpart B, appendix E and 10 CFR 431.106. As a result of this 
effort, DOE may propose and amend the test procedures for this product/
equipment, or issue a determination that no amendments to the current 
test procedures are required.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Request for Information (RFI).......   04/16/20  85 FR 21104
RFI Comment Period End..............   06/01/20
RFI Comment Period Reopened.........   06/10/20  85 FR 35382
RFI Comment Period Reopened End.....   06/24/20
NPRM................................   01/11/22  87 FR 1554
NPRM; Correction....................   01/19/22  87 FR 2731
NPRM Comment Period End.............   03/14/22
Supplemental NPRM...................   07/14/22  87 FR 42270
Supplemental NPRM Comment Period End   08/04/22
Final Action........................   06/00/23
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Julia Hegarty, Department of Energy, 1000 
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585, Phone: 240 597-6737, 
Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 1904-AE77

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (DOE)

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EE)

Long-Term Actions

65. Energy Conservation Standards for Miscellaneous Residential 
Refrigeration [1904-AF00]

    Legal Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6292(a)(20); 42 U.S.C. 6295(l); 42 
U.S.C. 6295(m)

[[Page 48547]]

    Abstract: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has initiated an 
effort to consider amending the energy conservation standards for 
miscellaneous residential refrigeration (e.g., wine coolers and certain 
other combination consumer refrigeration products). Once completed, 
this rulemaking will fulfill DOE's statutory obligation to either 
propose amended energy conservation standards for these products or 
determine that the existing standards do not need to be amended. To 
this end, DOE must determine whether national standards more stringent 
than those currently in place would result in a significant amount of 
energy savings and whether such amended national standards would be 
technologically feasible and economically justified.
    In the notice of proposed rulemaking, DOE proposed standards that 
represent the maximum improvement in energy efficiency that is 
technologically feasible and economically justified, and would result 
in the significant conservation of energy. Specifically, with regards 
to technological feasibility products achieving these standard levels 
are already commercially available for all product classes covered by 
this proposal. As for economic justification, DOE's analysis shows that 
the benefits of the proposed standard exceed, to a great extent, the 
burdens of the proposed standards.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Request for Information (RFI); Early   12/08/20  85 FR 78964
 Assessment Review.
Comment Period End..................   02/22/21
Notification of Webinar and            01/21/22  87 FR 3229
 Availability of Preliminary
 Technical Support Document.
Notice of rescheduled public meeting   02/09/22  87 FR 7396
 to March 7, 2022.
Preliminary Analysis Comment Period    03/22/22
 End.
NPRM................................   03/31/23  88 FR 19382
NPRM Comment Period End.............   05/30/23
Final Rule..........................   07/00/24
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Stephanie Johnson, Phone: 202 287-1943, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 1904-AF00

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (DOE)

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EE)

Completed Actions

66.  Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards 
for Manufactured Housing [1904-AF53]

    Legal Authority: 42 U.S.C. 17071
    Abstract: The Department of Energy (DOE) is publishing a final rule 
to amend the compliance date for its manufactured housing energy 
conservation standards. Currently, manufacturers must comply with these 
standards on and after May 31, 2023. This final rule delays compliance 
until July 1, 2025, for Tier 2 homes, and until 60 days after issuance 
of enforcement procedures for Tier 1 homes. DOE is delaying the 
compliance date to allow DOE more time to establish enforcement 
procedures that provide clarity for manufacturers and other 
stakeholders regarding DOE's expectations of manufacturers and DOE's 
plans for enforcing the standards. The proposed rule was inadvertently 
published under the incorrect RIN 1904-AC11.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   03/24/23  88 FR 17745
NPRM Comment Period End.............   04/24/23
Final Action........................   05/30/23  88 FR 34411
Final Action Effective..............   05/30/23
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Matthew Ring, Department of Energy, 1000 
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585, Phone: 202 586-2555, 
Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 1904-AF53

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (DOE)

Departmental and Others (ENDEP)

Final Rule Stage

67.  Statutory Updates to the Advanced Technology Vehicles 
Manufacturing Incentive Program [1901-AB60]

    Legal Authority: 42 U.S.C. 17013(d); 42 U.S.C. 17013(e)
    Abstract: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Loan Programs Office 
(LPO) intends to issue a direct final rule to amend the regulations 
applicable to the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing (ATVM) 
Loan Program authorized by section 136 of the Energy Independence and 
Security Act of 2007, as amended (42 U.S.C. 17013) to allow parties to 
apply for direct loans in connection with certain categories projects 
made eligible for such loans by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs 
Act of 2021 and the Inflation Reduction Act. Relatedly, LPO is also 
pursuing another rulemaking effort via 1901-AB55 to address additional 
changes for the ATVM Loan Program.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Direct Final Rule...................   06/00/23
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Rebecca Limmer, Chief Counsel, Department of 
Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585, Phone: 202 
586-1174, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 1901-AB60

[FR Doc. 2023-14543 Filed 7-26-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P