Proposed Rule2021-18885
Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Certain Commercial and Industrial Equipment; Early Assessment Review; Commercial and Industrial Pumps
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
September 2, 2021
Issuing agencies
Energy Department
Abstract
On August 9, 2021, the U.S. Department of Energy ("DOE") published a request for information ("RFI") undertaking an early assessment review for amended energy conservation standards for commercial and industrial pumps ("pumps"). The RFI provided an opportunity for submitting written comments, data, and information by September 8, 2021. DOE received requests from Grundfos and Pentair on August 10, 2021 and August 12, 2021, respectively, asking DOE to extend the public comment period for 60 days until November 8, 2021. Additionally, DOE received requests from the Hydraulic Institute ("HI"), and a group of California Investor-Owned Utilities ("CA IOUs"), comprised of Pacific Gas and Electric Company, San Diego Gas and Electric and Southern California Edison, on August 12, 2021 and August 13, 2021, respectively, asking DOE to extend the public comment period for 30 days until October 8, 2021. DOE has reviewed these requests and is granting an extension of the public comment period to allow public comments to be submitted until October 8, 2021.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 168 (Thursday, September 2, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 168 (Thursday, September 2, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 49266-49267]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-18885]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
10 CFR Part 431
[EERE-2021-BT-STD-0018]
RIN 1904-AE54
Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for
Certain Commercial and Industrial Equipment; Early Assessment Review;
Commercial and Industrial Pumps
AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of
Energy.
ACTION: Extension of public comment period.
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SUMMARY: On August 9, 2021, the U.S. Department of Energy (``DOE'')
published a request for information (``RFI'') undertaking an early
assessment review for amended energy conservation standards for
commercial and industrial pumps (``pumps''). The RFI provided an
opportunity for submitting written comments, data, and information by
September 8, 2021. DOE received requests from Grundfos and Pentair on
August 10, 2021 and August 12, 2021, respectively, asking DOE to extend
the public comment period for 60 days until November 8, 2021.
Additionally, DOE received requests from the Hydraulic Institute
(``HI''), and a group of California Investor-Owned Utilities (``CA
IOUs''), comprised of Pacific Gas and Electric Company, San Diego Gas
and Electric and Southern California Edison, on August 12, 2021 and
August 13, 2021, respectively, asking DOE to extend the public comment
period for 30 days until October 8, 2021. DOE has reviewed these
requests and is granting an extension of the public comment period to
allow public comments to be submitted until October 8, 2021.
DATES: The comment period for the RFI published on August 9, 2021 (86
FR 43430) is extended. DOE will accept comments, data, and information
regarding this RFI received no later than October 8, 2021.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are encouraged to submit comments using
the Federal eRulemaking Portal at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments. Alternatively, interested persons
may submit comments, identified by docket number EERE-2021-BT-STD-0018,
by email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5c0c29312c2f6e6c6e6d0f08186c6c6d641c393972383339723b332a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3d6d48504d4e0f0d0f0c6e69790d0d0c057d585813595258135a524b">[email protected]</span></a>.
No telefacsimilies (``faxes'') will be accepted.
Although DOE has routinely accepted public comment submissions
through a variety of mechanisms, including postal mail and hand
delivery/courier, the Department has found it necessary to make
temporary modifications to the comment submission process in light of
the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. DOE is currently accepting only
electronic submissions at this time. If a commenter finds that this
change poses an undue hardship, please contact Appliance Standards
Program staff at (202) 586-1445 to discuss the need for alternative
arrangements. Once the Covid-19 pandemic health emergency is resolved,
DOE anticipates resuming all of its regular options for public comment
submission, including postal mail and hand delivery/courier.
[[Page 49267]]
Docket: The docket for this activity, which includes Federal
Register notices, comments, and other supporting documents/materials,
is available for review at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>. All documents in the
docket are listed in the <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> index. However, some
documents listed in the index, such as those containing information
that is exempt from public disclosure, may not be publicly available.
The docket web page can be found at: <a href="http://www.regulations.gov/docket/EERE-2021-BT-STD-0018">www.regulations.gov/docket/EERE-2021-BT-STD-0018</a>. 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:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#501120203c39313e33350324313e34312234230125352324393f3e231035357e343f357e373f26"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="afeedfdfc3c6cec1cccafcdbcec1cbceddcbdcfedacadcdbc6c0c1dcefcaca81cbc0ca81c8c0d9">[email protected]</span></a>.
Ms. Amelia Whiting, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the
General Counsel, GC-33, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC
20585-0121. Telephone: (202) 586-2588. Email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ce8fa3aba2a7afe099a6a7baa7a0a98ea6bfe0aaa1abe0a9a1b8"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7938141c151018572e11100d10171e391108571d161c571e160f">[email protected]</span></a>.
For further information on how to submit a comment or review other
public comments and the docket contact the Appliance and Equipment
Standards Program staff at (202) 287-1445 or by email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#672617170b0e0609040234130609030615031436120214130e0809142702024903080249000811"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="8ccdfcfce0e5ede2efe9dff8ede2e8edfee8ffddf9e9fff8e5e3e2ffcce9e9a2e8e3e9a2ebe3fa">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 9, 2021, DOE published a RFI
undertaking an early assessment review for amended energy conservation
standards for pumps to determine whether to amend applicable energy
conservation standards. Specifically, DOE is seeking data and
information to evaluate whether amended energy conservation standards
would result in a significant savings of energy; be technologically
feasible; and be economically justified. 86 FR 43430. Interested
parties in the matter, Grundfos (on August 10, 2021), HI (on August 12,
2021), Pentair (on August 12, 2021), and CA IOUs (on August 13, 2021),
requested an extension of the public comment period for the RFI.
(Grundfos, No. 2 at p. 1; HI, No. 3 at p. 1; Pentair., No. 4 at p. 1;
CA IOUs, No. 5, at p. 1).\1\ Grundos, HI, and Pentair commented that
the extension is necessary to allow ample time to provide adequate
comments on the issues identified. (Grundfos, No. 2 at p. 1; HI, No. 3
at p. 1; Pentair., No. 4 at p. 1) The CA IOUs noted that a data set of
pump performance data was being complied by the Northwest Energy
Efficiency Alliance (``NEEA'') and additional time was necessary to
analyze and review the NEEA dataset. (CA IOUs, No. 5, at p. 1)
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\1\ The parenthetical reference provides a reference for
information located in DOE's rulemaking docket. (Docket No. EERE-
2021-BT-STD-0018, which is maintained at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail">www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail</a>;D=EERE-2021-BT-STD-0018). The references are arranged
as follows: (commenter name, comment docket ID number, page of that
document).
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DOE has reviewed the requests and is extending the comment period
to allow additional time for interested parties to submit comments. As
noted, the RFI was issued as part of an early assessment review to
determine whether to amend energy conservation standards for pumps.
Based on the information received in response to this RFI, DOE will
determine whether to proceed with a rulemaking for a new or amended
energy conservation standard. If DOE makes an initial determination
that a new or amended energy conservation standard would satisfy the
applicable statutory criteria or DOE's analysis is inconclusive, DOE
would undertake the preliminary stages of a rulemaking to issue a new
or amended energy conservation standard. If DOE makes an initial
determination based upon available evidence that a new or amended
energy conservation standard would not meet the applicable statutory
criteria, DOE will engage in notice and comment rulemaking before
issuing a final determination that new or amended energy conservation
standards are not warranted. As such, DOE has determined that an
extension of 30 days is sufficient for this preliminary stage.
Therefore, DOE is extending the comment period until October 8, 2021.
Signing Authority
This document of the Department of Energy was signed on August 27,
2021, by Kelly Speakes-Backman, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary
and 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 August 27, 2021.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2021-18885 Filed 9-1-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
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