[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 159 (Friday, August 16, 2024)]
[Unknown Section]
[Pages 66800-66804]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-16450]
[[Page 66799]]
Vol. 89
Friday,
No. 159
August 16, 2024
Part VI
Department of Energy
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Semiannual Regulatory Agenda
Federal Register / Vol. 89 , No. 159 / Friday, August 16, 2024 / UA:
Reg Flex Agenda
[[Page 66800]]
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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 2024 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
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Regulation
Sequence No. Title Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
59........................ Energy Conservation 1904-AD61
Standards for Circulator
Pumps.
60........................ Energy Conservation 1904-AD91
Standards for Consumer
Water Heaters.
61........................ Test Procedures for Air- 1904-AD93
Cooled, Evaporatively-
Cooled, and Water-Cooled
Commercial Package Air
Conditioners and Heat
Pumps.
62........................ Energy Conservation 1904-AE12
Standards for
Distribution Transformers.
63........................ Energy Conservation 1904-AE82
Standards for Consumer
Boilers.
64........................ Test Procedures for 1904-AF45
Evaporatively-Cooled
Commercial Unitary Air
Conditioners (ECUACs) and
Water-Cooled Commercial
Unitary Air Conditioners
(WCUACs).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy--Completed Actions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulation
Sequence No. Title Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
65........................ Energy Conservation 1904-AD20
Standards for Residential
Non-Weatherized Gas
Furnaces and Mobile Home
Gas Furnaces.
66........................ Energy Conservation 1904-AD98
Standards for Consumer
Clothes Washers.
67........................ Energy Conservation 1904-AF00
Standards for
Miscellaneous Residential
Refrigeration.
68........................ Energy Conservation 1904-AF43
Program: Energy
Conservation Standards
for General Service Lamps.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (DOE)
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EE)
Final Rule Stage
59. Energy Conservation Standards for Circulator Pumps [1904-AD61]
Legal Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6311(1)(A); 42 U.S.C. 6316(a); 42 U.S.C.
6295(o)
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
circulator pumps. 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 significant energy savings. In the final rule, DOE adopted
new energy conservation standards for circulator pumps. It has
determined that the energy conservation standards for this equipment
would result in significant conservation of energy, and are
technologically feasible and economically justified.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notice of Intent to Start a 02/03/16 81 FR 5658
Negotiated Rulemaking Working Group
and Notice of Public Meeting.
Notice of Working Group Public 03/16/16 81 FR 14024
Meetings.
Request for Information (RFI)....... 05/07/21 86 FR 24516
RFI Comment Period Extended......... 05/26/21 86 FR 28298
RFI Comment Period Extended End..... 07/30/21
NPRM................................ 12/06/22 87 FR 74850
NPRM Comment Period End............. 02/06/23
Final Action........................ 05/20/24 89 FR 44464
Final Action Effective.............. 08/05/24
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Jeremy Dommu, Building Technologies Office, EE-2J,
Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC
20585, Phone: 202 586-9870, Email: [email protected].
RIN: 1904-AD61
60. Energy Conservation Standards for Consumer Water Heaters [1904-
AD91]
Legal Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6295(m)(1)
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
consumer water heaters. EPCA also requires the U.S. Department of
Energy (DOE) to periodically determine
[[Page 66801]]
whether more stringent standards would be technologically feasible and
economically justified, and would result in significant energy savings.
In the final rule, DOE has adopted amended energy conservation
standards for consumer water heaters, except for gas-fired
instantaneous water heaters (GIWHs). DOE has determined that the new
and amended energy conservation standards for these products would
result in significant conservation of energy, and are technologically
feasible and economically justified. DOE is still considering amended
energy conservation standards for GIWHs and will continue to consider
comments submitted previously to inform any decision on amended
standards.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Request for Information (RFI)....... 05/21/20 85 FR 30853
RFI Comment Period End.............. 07/06/20
Notice of Webinar and Availability 03/01/22 87 FR 11327
of Preliminary Technical Support
Document.
Public Meeting...................... 04/12/22
Preliminary Technical Support 05/02/22
Document Comment Period End.
RFI Comment Period Reopened......... 05/04/22 87 FR 26303
RFI Comment Period Reopened End..... 05/16/22
NPRM................................ 07/28/23 88 FR 49058
Public Meeting...................... 09/13/23
NPRM Comment Period End............. 09/26/23
Supplemental NPRM................... 12/27/23 88 FR 89330
Supplemental NPRM Comment Period End 01/10/24
Final Action........................ 05/06/24 89 FR 37778
Final Action Effective.............. 07/05/24
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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-AD91
61. Test Procedures for Air-Cooled, Evaporatively-Cooled, and Water-
Cooled Commercial Package Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps [1904-AD93]
Legal Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6314(a)(4)(B); 42 U.S.C. 6314(a)(1)(A)
Abstract: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has amended the
Federal test procedures for air-cooled commercial package air
conditioners and heat pumps with a rated cooling capacity greater than
or equal to 65,000 Btu/h, evaporatively-cooled commercial package air
conditioners, and water-cooled commercial package air conditioners to
incorporate by reference the latest versions of the applicable industry
test standards. In the final rule, DOE has amended the current test
procedure for this equipment for measuring the current cooling and
heating metrics--integrated energy efficiency ratio (IEER) and
coefficient of performance (COP), respectively; and established a new
test procedure for this equipment that adopts two new metrics--
integrated ventilation, economizer, and cooling (IVEC) and integrated
ventilation and heating efficiency (IVHE). Testing to the IVEC and IVHE
metrics will not be required until such time as compliance is required
with any amended energy conservation standard based on the new metrics.
Additionally, DOE amended certain provisions of DOE's regulations
related to representations and enforcement for the subject equipment.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Request for Information (RFI)....... 07/25/17 82 FR 34427
RFI Comment Period End.............. 08/24/17
Request for Information (RFI)....... 05/25/22 87 FR 31743
RFI Comment Period End.............. 06/24/22
Working Group Notice of Open 09/01/22 87 FR 53699
Meetings.
NPRM................................ 08/17/23 88 FR 56392
NPRM Comment Period End............. 10/16/23
Final Action........................ 05/20/24 89 FR 43986
Final Action Effective.............. 08/05/24
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Lucas Adin, Project Manager, Department of Energy,
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue SW,
Mail Stop EE-5B, Washington, DC 20585, Phone: 202 287-5904, Email:
[email protected].
RIN: 1904-AD93
62. Energy Conservation Standards for Distribution Transformers [1904-
AE12]
Legal Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6295 (m)(1); 42 U.S.C. 6295(y); 42
U.S.C. 6316(a); 42 U.S.C. 6317(a)
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
distribution transformers. EPCA also requires the U.S. Department of
Energy (DOE) to periodically review its existing standards to determine
whether more stringent standards would be technologically feasible and
economically justified, and would result in significant energy savings.
In the final rule, DOE is adopting amended energy conservation
standards for distribution transformers. DOE has determined that the
amended energy conservation standards for distribution transformers
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)....... 06/18/19 84 FR 28239
RFI Comment Period End.............. 08/02/19
Notice of Availability of 08/27/21 86 FR 48058
Preliminary Technical Support
Document.
Preliminary Analysis Reopened....... 11/16/21 86 FR 63318
Preliminary Technical Support 12/10/21
Document Comment End.
NPRM................................ 01/11/23 88 FR 1722
NPRM Comment Period Extended........ 02/22/23 88 FR 10856
NPRM Comment Period Extended End.... 03/27/23
Final Action........................ 04/22/24 89 FR 29834
Final Action Effective.............. 07/08/24
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Jeremy Dommu, Building Technologies Office, EE-2J,
Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC
20585, Phone: 202 586-9870, Email: [email protected].
RIN: 1904-AE12
[[Page 66802]]
63. Energy Conservation Standards for Consumer Boilers [1904-AE82]
Legal Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6295(m)(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 energy conservation
standards in place for consumer boilers found at 10 CFR 430.32(e). As a
result of this effort, DOE may propose and adopt more-stringent
standards or issue a determination that no amendments to the current
standards are required. 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. Once completed, this rulemaking will fulfill
DOE's statutory obligation to either propose and adopt amended
standards for this product or determine that the existing standards do
not need to be amended.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Request for Information (RFI); Early 03/25/21 86 FR 15804
Assessment Review.
RFI Comment Period End.............. 04/26/21
RFI; Early Assessment Comment Period 04/09/21 86 FR 18478
Extended.
RFI; Early Assessment Comment Period 05/26/21
Extended End.
Notice of Webinar and Availability 05/04/22 87 FR 26304
of Preliminary Technical Support
Document.
Preliminary Technical Support 07/05/22
Document Comment Period End.
NPRM................................ 08/14/23 88 FR 55128
Notice of Public Meeting and Webinar 08/31/23 88 FR 60152
NPRM Comment Period End............. 10/13/23
Final Rule.......................... 12/00/24
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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-AE82
64. Test Procedures for Evaporatively-Cooled Commercial Unitary Air
Conditioners (ECUACS) and Water-Cooled Commercial Unitary Air
Conditioners (WCUACS) [1904-AF45]
Legal Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6314(a)(4)(B); 42 U.S.C. 6314(a)(1)(A)
Abstract: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has amended the
Federal test procedures for air-cooled commercial package air
conditioners and heat pumps with a rated cooling capacity greater than
or equal to 65,000 Btu/h, evaporatively-cooled commercial package air
conditioners, and water-cooled commercial package air conditioners to
incorporate by reference the latest versions of the applicable industry
test standards. In the final rule, DOE has amended the current test
procedure for this equipment for measuring the current cooling and
heating--metrics integrated energy efficiency ratio (IEER) and
coefficient of performance (COP), respectively; and established a new
test procedure for this equipment that adopts two new metrics--
integrated ventilation, economizer, and cooling (IVEC) and integrated
ventilation and heating efficiency (IVHE). Testing to the IVEC and IVHE
metrics will not be required until such time as compliance is required
with any amended energy conservation standard based on the new metrics.
Additionally, DOE amended certain provisions of DOE's regulations
related to representations and enforcement for the subject equipment.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Request for Information (RFI)....... 07/25/17 82 FR 34427
RFI Comment Period End.............. 08/24/17
Second RFI.......................... 05/25/22 87 FR 31743
Second RFI Comment Period End....... 06/24/22
NPRM................................ 08/17/23 88 FR 56392
NPRM Comment Period End............. 10/16/23
Final Action........................ 05/20/24 89 FR 43986
Final Rule Effective................ 08/05/24
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Lucas Adin, Project Manager, Department of Energy,
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue SW,
Mail Stop EE-5B, Washington, DC 20585, Phone: 202 287-5904, Email:
[email protected].
RIN: 1904-AF45
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (DOE)
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EE)
Completed Actions
65. 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 proposed 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 proposed amended
active mode annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) standards at 95
percent for both NWGFs and MHGFs. It also proposed 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
[[Page 66803]]
publication of the final rule for this rulemaking.
In the final rule, DOE adopts the amended energy conservation
standards for both NWGFs and MHGFs. DOE has determined that the amended
energy conservation standards for the subject products would result in
significant conservation of energy, and are technologically feasible
and economically justified.
In the final rule, DOE adopted the amended energy conservation
standards for consumer furnaces, specifically nonweatherized gas
furnaces and mobile home gas furnaces. The Department has determined
that the amended energy conservation standards for the subject products
would result in significant conservation of energy, and are
technologically feasible and economically justified.
Completed:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reason Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Final Rule.......................... 12/18/23 88 FR 87502
Final Rule Effective................ 02/16/24
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Julia Hegarty, Phone: 240 597-6737, Email:
[email protected].
RIN: 1904-AD20
66. 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.
Additionally, EPCA directs DOE to provide interested persons an
opportunity to present oral and written comments on matters related to
any energy conservation standard proposed rule. To satisfy this
requirement, DOE held an initial public meeting in November 2021 to
discuss preliminary materials and a second meeting in March 2023 to
specifically discuss the proposed rule. DOE intends address any
feedback provided during the March 2023 public meeting in subsequent
materials.
On September 25, 2023, the Association of Home Appliance
Manufacturers and efficiency and consumer organizations and utilities,
submitted a joint letter to DOE recommending new and amended efficiency
standards for various home appliances for consideration including
residential clothes washers. Under the authority provided in 42 U.S.C.
6295(p)(4), DOE is now pursuing this effort through a direct final
rule, see 1904-AF58.
Completed:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Withdrawn........................... 01/16/24
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Bryan D. Berringer, Phone: 202 586-0371, Email:
[email protected].
RIN: 1904-AD98
67. 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)
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.
On September 25, 2023, the Association of Home Appliance
Manufacturers and efficiency and consumer organizations and utilities,
submitted a joint letter to DOE recommending new and amended efficiency
standards for various home appliances for consideration, including
miscellaneous refrigeration products. Under the authority provided in
42 U.S.C. 6295(p)(4), DOE is now pursuing this effort through a direct
final rule, see 1904-AF62.
Completed:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reason Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Withdrawn........................... 02/06/24
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Lucas Adin., Phone: 202 287-5904, Email:
[email protected].
RIN: 1904-AF00
68. Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for
General Service Lamps [1904-AF43]
Legal Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6295(i)(6)(B); 42 U.S.C. 6295(m); 42
U.S.C. 6295(o); 42 U.S.C. 6295(p)
Abstract: The Energy Policy and Conservation Act, as amended
(EPCA), directs the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to initiate two
rulemaking cycles for general service lamps (GSLs) that, among other
requirements, determine whether standards in effect for GSLs should be
amended. EPCA also requires DOE to periodically determine whether more-
stringent standards would be technologically feasible and economically
justified, and would result in significant energy savings. In this
final rule, DOE is adopting amended energy conservation standards for
GSLs. DOE has determined that the amended energy conservation standards
for these
[[Page 66804]]
products would result in significant conservation of energy and are
technologically feasible and economically justified.
Completed:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reason Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Final Action........................ 04/19/24 89 FR 28856
Final Action Effective.............. 07/03/24
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Bryan D. Berringer, Phone: 202 586-0371, Email:
[email protected].
RIN: 1904-AF43
[FR Doc. 2024-16450 Filed 8-15-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P