11990 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 42 / Thursday, March 3, 2022 / Proposed Rules 
1All references to EPCA in this document refer 
to the statute as amended through the Energy Act 
of 2020, Public Law 116–260 (Dec. 27, 2020). 
2For editorial reasons, upon codification in the 
U.S. Code, Part B was redesignated Part A. any significant new information or 
arguments that would warrant the requested amendment. Current requirements continue to provide reasonable assurance of adequate protection of public health and safety, promote the common defense and security, and protect the environment. 
Dated: February 22, 2022. 
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. 
Annette L. Vietti-Cook, Secretary of the Commission. 
[FR Doc. 2022–04052 Filed 3–2–22; 8:45 am] 
BILLING CODE 7590–01–P 
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 
10 CFR Part 430 
[EERE–2020–BT–STD–0013] 
RIN 1904–AE50 
Energy Conservation Program: Energy 
Conservation Standards for Battery Chargers, Webinar and Availability of the Preliminary Technical Support Document 
AGENCY : Office of Energy Efficiency and 
Renewable Energy, Department of Energy. 
ACTION : Notification of a webinar and 
availability of preliminary technical support document. 
SUMMARY : The U.S. Department of 
Energy (‘‘DOE’’) will hold a webinar to discuss and receive comments on the preliminary analysis it has conducted for purposes of evaluating energy conservation standards for battery chargers. The meeting will cover the analytical framework, models, and tools that DOE is using to evaluate potential standards for this product; the results of preliminary analyses performed by DOE for this product; the potential energy conservation standard levels derived from these analyses that DOE could consider for this product should it determine that proposed amendments are necessary; and any other issues relevant to the evaluation of energy conservation standards for battery chargers. In addition, DOE encourages written comments on these subjects. To inform interested parties and to facilitate this process, DOE has prepared an agenda, a preliminary technical support document (‘‘TSD’’), and briefing materials, which are available on the DOE website at: www1.eere.energy.gov/ buildings/appliance_ standards/ 
standards.aspx?productid=26&action=viewlive. 
DATES :Meeting: DOE will hold a webinar on 
Thursday, April 21, 2022, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. See section IV, ‘‘Public Participation,’’ for webinar registration information, participant instructions and information about the capabilities available to webinar participants. 
Comments: Written comments and 
information will be accepted on or before, May 2, 2022. 
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–2020–BT–STD–0013, by any of the following methods: 
1. Federal eRulemaking Portal: 
www.regulations.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments. 
2. Email: to batterychargers
2020STD0013@ee.doe.gov. Include 
docket number EERE–2020–BT–STD– 0013 in the subject line of the message. 
No telefacsimiles (‘‘faxes’’) will be 
accepted. For detailed instructions on submitting comments and additional information on this process, see section IV of this document. 
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 coronavirus 2019 (COVID– 19) pandemic. DOE is currently suspending receipt of public comments via postal mail and hand delivery/ courier. 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. 
Docket: The docket for this activity, 
which includes Federal Register notices, comments, public meeting transcripts, 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, 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 
www.regulations.gov/docket/EERE- 2020-BT-STD-0013. The docket web page contains instructions on how to access all documents, including public comments in the docket. See section IV for information on how to submit comments through www.regulations.gov. 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT : 
Mr. Jeremy Dommu, U.S. Department 
of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building Technologies, EE–2J, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585–0121. Email: ApplianceStandardsQuestions@ee.doe.gov. 
Mr. Michael Kido, U.S. Department of 
Energy, Office of the General Counsel, GC–33, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585–0121. Telephone: (202) 586–8145. Email: Michael.Kido@hq.doe.gov. 
For further information on how to 
submit a comment, review other public comments and the docket, contact the Appliance and Equipment Standards Program staff at (202) 287–1445 or by email: ApplianceStandardsQuestions@
ee.doe.gov. 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION : 
Table of Contents 
I. Introduction 
A. Authority 
B. Rulemaking Process C. Deviation From Appendix A 
II. Background 
A. Current Standards B. Current Process 
III. Summary of the Analyses Performed by 
DOE 
A. Market and Technology Assessment 
B. Screening Analysis C. Engineering Analysis D. Markups Analysis E. Energy Use Analysis F. Life-Cycle Cost and Payback Period 
Analyses 
G. National Impact Analysis 
IV. Public Participation 
A. Participation in the Webinar B. Procedure for Submitting Prepared 
General Statements for Distribution 
C. Conduct of the Webinar D. Submission of Comments 
V. Approval of the Office of the Secretary 
I. Introduction 
A. Authority 
The Energy Policy and Conservation 
Act, as amended (‘‘EPCA’’),1authorizes 
DOE to regulate the energy efficiency of 
a number of consumer products and certain industrial equipment. (42 U.S.C. 6291–6317) Title III, Part B
2of EPCA 
established the Energy Conservation 
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3See 86 FR 70892, 70901 (Dec. 13, 2021). Program for Consumer Products Other 
Than Automobiles. These products include battery chargers, the subject of this document. (42 U.S.C. 6291(32); 42 U.S.C. 6295(u)(1)(E)(II); 42 U.S.C. 6292(a)(20)) 
EPCA further provides that, not later 
than 6 years after the issuance of any final rule establishing or amending a standard, DOE must publish either a notification of determination that standards for the product do not need to be amended, or a notice of proposed rulemaking (‘‘NOPR’’) including new proposed energy conservation standards (proceeding to a final rule, as appropriate). (42 U.S.C. 6295(m)(1)) Not later than three years after issuance of a final determination not to amend standards, DOE must publish either a notice of determination that standards for the product do not need to be amended, or a NOPR including new proposed energy conservation standards (proceeding to a final rule, as appropriate). (42 U.S.C. 6295(m)(3)(B)) 
Under EPCA, any new or amended 
energy conservation standard must be designed to achieve the maximum improvement in energy efficiency that DOE determines is technologically feasible and economically justified. (42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(2)(A)) Furthermore, the new or amended standard must result in a significant conservation of energy. (42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(3)(B)) 
DOE is publishing this Preliminary 
Analysis to collect data and information to inform its decision consistent with its obligations under EPCA. 
B. Rulemaking Process 
DOE must follow specific statutory 
criteria for prescribing new or amended 
standards for covered products, including battery chargers. As noted, EPCA requires that any new or amended energy conservation standard prescribed by the Secretary of Energy (‘‘Secretary’’) be designed to achieve the maximum improvement in energy efficiency (or water efficiency for certain products specified by EPCA) that is technologically feasible and economically justified. (42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(2)(A)) The Secretary may not prescribe an amended or new standard that will not result in significant conservation of energy, or is not technologically feasible or economically justified. (42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(3)) 
To adopt any new or amended 
standards for a covered product, DOE must determine that such action would result in significant energy savings. (42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(3)(B)) The significance of energy savings offered by a new or amended energy conservation standard cannot be determined without knowledge of the specific circumstances surrounding a given rulemaking.
3For 
example, the United States rejoined the Paris Agreement on February 19, 2021. As part of that agreement, the United States has committed to reducing greenhouse gas (‘‘GHG’’) emissions in order to limit the rise in mean global temperature. As such, energy savings that reduce GHG emission have taken on greater importance. Additionally, some covered products and equipment have most of their energy consumption occur during periods of peak energy demand. The impacts of these products on the energy infrastructure can be more pronounced than products with relatively constant demand. In evaluating the significance of energy savings, DOE considers differences in primary energy and full-fuel-cycle (‘‘FFC’’) effects for different covered products and equipment when determining whether energy savings are significant. Primary energy and FFC effects include the energy consumed in electricity production (depending on load shape), in distribution and transmission, and in extracting, processing, and transporting primary fuels (i.e., coal, natural gas, petroleum 
fuels), and thus present a more complete picture of the impacts of energy conservation standards. 
Accordingly, DOE evaluates the 
significance of energy savings on a case- by-case basis. DOE estimates a combined total of 0.96 quads of FFC energy savings at the max-tech efficiency levels for battery chargers. This represents a 24 percent energy savings relative to the no-new-standards case energy consumption for battery chargers. DOE has initially determined the energy savings for the candidate standard levels considered in this preliminary analysis are ‘‘significant’’ within the meaning of 42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(3)(B). 
To determine whether a standard is 
economically justified, EPCA requires that DOE determine whether the benefits of the standard exceed its burdens by considering, to the greatest extent practicable, the following seven factors: 
(1) The economic impact of the 
standard on the manufacturers and consumers of the products subject to the standard; 
(2) The savings in operating costs 
throughout the estimated average life of the covered products in the type (or class) compared to any increase in the price, initial charges, or maintenance expenses for the covered products that are likely to result from the standard; 
(3) The total projected amount of 
energy (or as applicable, water) savings likely to result directly from the standard; 
(4) Any lessening of the utility or the 
performance of the products likely to result from the standard; 
(5) The impact of any lessening of 
competition, as determined in writing by the Attorney General, that is likely to result from the standard; 
(6) The need for national energy and 
water conservation; and 
(7) Other factors the Secretary of 
Energy (Secretary) considers relevant. 
(42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(2)(B)(i)(I)–(VII)) DOE fulfills these and other 
applicable requirements by conducting a series of analyses throughout the rulemaking process. Table I.1 shows the individual analyses that are performed to satisfy each of the requirements within EPCA. 
TABLE I.1—EPCA R EQUIREMENTS AND CORRESPONDING DOE A NALYSIS  
EPCA requirement Corresponding DOE analysis 
Significant Energy Savings ................................................................................................... •Shipments Analysis. 
•National Impact Analysis. 
•Energy Analysis. 
Technological Feasibility ...................................................................................................... .•Market and Technology Assessment. 
•Screening Analysis. 
•Engineering Analysis. 
Economic Justification: 
1. Economic impact on manufacturers and consumers ................................................ •Manufacturer Impact Analysis. 
•Life-Cycle Cost and Payback Period Analysis. 
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4Currently, in compliance with the preliminary 
injunction issued on February 11, 2022, in 
Louisiana v. Biden, No. 21–cv–1074–JDC–KK (W.D. 
La.), DOE is not monetizing the costs of greenhouse gas emissions. TABLE I.1—EPCA R EQUIREMENTS AND CORRESPONDING DOE A NALYSIS —Continued 
EPCA requirement Corresponding DOE analysis 
•Life-Cycle Cost Subgroup Analysis. 
•Shipments Analysis. 
2. Lifetime operating cost savings compared to increased cost for the product .......... •Markups for Product Price Analysis. 
•Energy Analysis. 
•Life-Cycle Cost and Payback Period Analysis. 
3. Total projected energy savings .................................................................................. •Shipments Analysis. 
•National Impact Analysis. 
4. Impact on utility or performance ................................................................................ •Screening Analysis. 
•Engineering Analysis. 
5. Impact of any lessening of competition ..................................................................... •Manufacturer Impact Analysis. 
6. Need for national energy and water conservation .................................................... •Shipments Analysis. 
•National Impact Analysis. 
7. Other factors the Secretary considers relevant ......................................................... •Employment Impact Analysis. 
•Utility Impact Analysis. 
•Emissions Analysis. 
•Monetization of Emission Reductions4Benefits. 
•Regulatory Impact Analysis. 
Further, EPCA establishes a rebuttable 
presumption that a standard is 
economically justified if the Secretary finds that the additional cost to the consumer of purchasing a product complying with an energy conservation standard level will be less than three times the value of the energy savings during the first year that the consumer will receive as a result of the standard, as calculated under the applicable test procedure. (42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(2)(B)(iii)) 
EPCA also contains what is known as 
an ‘‘anti-backsliding’’ provision, which prevents the Secretary from prescribing any amended standard that either increases the maximum allowable energy use or decreases the minimum required energy efficiency of a covered product. (42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(1)) Also, the Secretary may not prescribe an amended or new standard if interested persons have established by a preponderance of 
the evidence that the standard is likely to result in the unavailability in the United States in any covered product type (or class) of performance characteristics (including reliability), features, sizes, capacities, and volumes that are substantially the same as those generally available in the United States. (42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(4)) 
Additionally, EPCA specifies 
requirements when promulgating an energy conservation standard for a covered product that has two or more subcategories. DOE must specify a different standard level for a type or class of product that has the same function or intended use, if DOE determines that products within such group: (A) Consume a different kind of energy from that consumed by other 
covered products within such type (or class); or (B) have a capacity or other performance-related feature which other products within such type (or class) do not have and such feature justifies a higher or lower standard. (42 U.S.C. 
6295(q)(1)) In determining whether a performance-related feature justifies a different standard for a group of products, DOE must consider such factors as the utility to the consumer of the feature and other factors DOE deems appropriate. Id. Any rule prescribing 
such a standard must include an explanation of the basis on which such higher or lower level was established. (42 U.S.C. 6295(q)(2)) 
Finally, pursuant to the amendments 
contained in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (‘‘EISA 2007’’), Public Law 110–140 (December 19, 2007), any final rule for new or amended energy conservation standards promulgated after July 1, 2010, is required to address standby mode and off mode energy use. (42 U.S.C. 6295(gg)(3)) Specifically, when DOE adopts a standard for a covered product after that date, it must, if justified by the criteria for adoption of standards under EPCA (42 U.S.C. 6295(o)), incorporate standby mode and off mode energy use into a single standard, or, if that is not feasible, adopt a separate standard for such energy use for that product. (42 U.S.C. 6295(gg)(3)(A)–(B)) DOE’s current test procedures for battery chargers address standby mode and off mode energy use. In this Preliminary Analysis, DOE intends to incorporate such energy use into any amended energy conservation standards it adopts in the final rule. 
Before proposing a standard, DOE 
typically seeks public input on the analytical framework, models, and tools that DOE intends to use to evaluate standards for the product at issue and the results of preliminary analyses DOE performed for the product. 
DOE is examining whether to amend 
the current standards pursuant to its obligations under EPCA. This notification announces the availability of the preliminary TSD, which details the preliminary analyses and summarizes the preliminary results of DOE’s analyses. In addition, DOE is announcing a public meeting to solicit feedback from interested parties on its analytical framework, models, and preliminary results. 
C. Deviation From Appendix A 
In accordance with section 3(a) of 10 
CFR part 430, subpart C, appendix A 
(‘‘appendix A’’), DOE notes that it is deviating from the provision in appendix A regarding the pre-NOPR stages for an energy conservation standards rulemaking. Section 6(a)(2) of appendix A states that if the Department determines it is appropriate to proceed with a rulemaking, the preliminary stages of a rulemaking to issue or amend an energy conservation standard that DOE will undertake will be a framework document and preliminary analysis, or an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (‘‘ANOPR’’). DOE is opting to deviate from this step by publishing a preliminary analysis without a framework document. A framework document is intended to introduce and summarize generally the various analyses DOE conducts during the rulemaking process and requests initial feedback from interested parties. As discussed further in the following section, prior to this notification of the preliminary analysis, DOE issued a request for information on September 16, 2020 (‘‘September 2020 RFI’’) in 
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5The parenthetical reference provides a reference 
for information located in the docket of DOE’s 
rulemaking to amend standards for battery chargers. (Docket No. EERE–2020–BT–TP–0013, which is maintained at www.regulations.gov). The references are arranged as follows: (Commenter name, comment docket ID number, page of that document). which DOE discussed the previous 
battery charger energy conservation standards final rule published on June 13, 2016 (81 FR 38266, ‘‘June 2016 Final Rule’’). 85 FR 57787. In that RFI, DOE requested comment on whether there were changes to the technologies considered as part of the June 2016 Final Rule that would affect potential amended standards and on any aspect of its economic justification analysis. 85 FR 57787, 57791–57798. While DOE received comments on the assumptions employed in the analysis conducted in support of the June 2016 Final Rule (AHAM, No. 7 at p.3 and pp.5–6),
5DOE 
did not receive comments or data suggesting DOE rely on a different analytical framework from that conducted for the June 2016 Final Rule. As DOE intends to rely on substantively the same analytical methods as in the most recent rulemaking, publication of a framework document would not introduce an analytical framework different from that on which comment was requested in the September 2020 RFI and on which comment was received. As such, DOE is not publishing a framework document. 
Further, section 6(d)(2) of appendix A 
specifies that the length of the public 
comment period for pre-NOPR rulemaking documents will vary depending upon the circumstances of the particular rulemaking, but will not be less than 75 calendar days. For this preliminary analysis, DOE has opted to instead provide a 60-day comment period. 
As stated, DOE requested comment in 
the September 2020 RFI on the analysis conducted in support of the June 2016 Final Rule and provided stakeholders a 75-day comment period. DOE, however, did not receive comments suggesting a need to substantively change the analytical approach previously taken. Given that the analysis will largely remain the same, and in light of the 75- day comment period DOE has already provided with its September 2020 RFI, DOE has determined that a 60-day comment period is sufficient to enable interested parties to review the tentative methodologies and accompanying analysis to develop meaningful comments in response to the battery charger preliminary analysis. II. Background 
A. Current Standards 
In its June 2016 Final Rule, DOE 
prescribed the current energy 
conservation standards for battery chargers manufactured on and after June 13, 2018. 81 FR 38266. These standards are set forth in DOE’s regulations at 10 CFR 430.32(z) and are repeated in Table II.1. The currently applicable DOE test procedure for battery chargers appears at 10 CFR part 430 subpart B, appendix Y (‘‘Appendix Y’’). 
TABLE II.1—F EDERAL ENERGY CON-
SERVATION STANDARDS FOR BAT-
TERY CHARGERS  
Product 
class Maximum UEC 
(kWh/yr) 
(as a function of rated 
battery energy (‘‘E batt’’)) 
1 ............... 3.04. 
2 ............... 0.1440 * E batt+ 2.95. 
3 ............... For E batt<10 Wh, 1.42 kWh/y, 
Ebatt≥10 Wh, 0.0255 * E batt+ 
1.16. 
4 ............... 0.11 * E batt+ 3.18. 
5 ............... 0.0257 * E batt+ .815. 
6 ............... 0.0778 * E batt+ 2.4. 
7 ............... 0.0502 * E batt+ 4.53. 
B. Current Process 
On September 16, 2020, DOE initiated 
an early assessment RFI review to determine whether any new or amended standards would satisfy the relevant requirements of EPCA for a new or amended energy conservation standard for battery chargers. 85 FR 57787 (‘‘September 2020 Early Assessment Review RFI’’). Through that RFI, DOE sought data and information that could enable the agency to determine whether DOE should propose a ‘‘no new standard’’ determination because a more stringent standard: (1) Would not result in a significant savings of energy; (2) is not technologically feasible; (3) is not economically justified; or (4) any combination of foregoing. Id. 
Comments received to date as part of 
the current process have helped DOE identify and resolve issues related to the preliminary analyses. Chapter 2 of the preliminary TSD summarizes and addresses the comments received. 
III. Summary of the Analyses 
Performed by DOE 
For the battery chargers covered in 
this preliminary analysis, DOE conducted in-depth technical analyses in the following areas: (1) Engineering; (2) markups to determine product price; (3) energy use; (4) life cycle cost (‘‘LCC’’) and payback period (‘‘PBP’’); and (5) national impacts. The preliminary TSD that presents the methodology and results of each of these analyses is available at www.regulations.gov/docket/EERE- 2020-BT-STD-0013. 
DOE also conducted, and has 
included in the preliminary TSD, several other analyses that support the major analyses or are preliminary analyses that will be expanded if DOE determines that a NOPR is warranted to propose amended energy conservation standards. These analyses include: (1) The market and technology assessment; (2) the screening analysis, which contributes to the engineering analysis; and (3) the shipments analysis, which contributes to the LCC and PBP analysis and the national impact analysis (‘‘NIA’’). In addition to these analyses, DOE has begun preliminary work on the manufacturer impact analysis and has identified the methods to be used for the consumer subgroup analysis, the emissions analysis, the employment impact analysis, the regulatory impact analysis, and the utility impact analysis. DOE will expand on these analyses in the NOPR should one be issued. 
A. Market and Technology Assessment 
DOE develops information in the 
market and technology assessment that 
provides an overall picture of the market for the products concerned, including general characteristics of the products, the industry structure, manufacturers, market characteristics, and technologies used in the products. This activity includes both quantitative and qualitative assessments, based primarily on publicly available information. The subjects addressed in the market and technology assessment include: (1) A determination of the scope of the rulemaking and product classes, (2) manufacturers and industry structure, (3) existing efficiency programs, (4) shipments information, (5) market and industry trends, and (6) technologies or design options that could improve the energy efficiency of the product. 
See chapter 3 of the preliminary TSD 
for further discussion of the market and technology assessment. 
B. Screening Analysis 
DOE uses the following five screening 
criteria to determine which technology 
options are suitable for further consideration in an energy conservation standards rulemaking: 
(1) Technological feasibility. 
Technologies that are not incorporated in commercial products or in working prototypes will not be considered further. 
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6Because the projected price of standards- 
compliant products is typically higher than the 
price of baseline products, using the same markup for the incremental cost and the baseline cost would result in higher per-unit operating profit. While such an outcome is possible, DOE maintains that in markets that are reasonably competitive it is unlikely that standards would lead to a sustainable increase in profitability in the long run. 
7The NIA accounts for impacts in the 50 states 
and U.S. territories. (2) Practicability to manufacture, 
install, and service. If it is determined 
that mass production and reliable installation and servicing of a technology in commercial products could not be achieved on the scale necessary to serve the relevant market at the time of the projected compliance date of the standard, then that technology will not be considered further. 
(3) Impacts on product utility or 
product availability. If it is determined that a technology would have a 
significant adverse impact on the utility of the product for significant subgroups of consumers or would result in the unavailability of any covered product type with performance characteristics (including reliability), features, sizes, capacities, and volumes that are substantially the same as products generally available in the United States at the time, it will not be considered further. 
(4) Adverse impacts on health or 
safety. If it is determined that a 
technology would have significant adverse impacts on health or safety, it will not be considered further. 
(5) Unique-pathway proprietary 
technologies. If a design option utilizes 
proprietary technology that represents a unique pathway to achieving a given efficiency level, that technology will not be considered further due to the potential for monopolistic concerns. 
10 CFR part 430, subpart C, appendix 
A, sections 6(b)(3) and 7(b). 
If DOE determines that a technology, 
or a combination of technologies, fails to meet one or more of the listed five criteria, it will be excluded from further consideration in the engineering analysis. 
See chapter 4 of the preliminary TSD 
for further discussion of the screening analysis. 
C. Engineering Analysis 
The purpose of the engineering 
analysis is to establish the relationship 
between the efficiency and cost of battery chargers. There are two elements to consider in the engineering analysis; the selection of efficiency levels to analyze (i.e., the ‘‘efficiency analysis’’) 
and the determination of product cost at each efficiency level (i.e., the ‘‘cost 
analysis’’). In determining the performance of higher-efficiency products, DOE considers technologies and design option combinations not eliminated by the screening analysis. For each product class, DOE estimates the manufacturer production cost (‘‘MPC’’) for the baseline as well as higher efficiency levels. The output of the engineering analysis is a set of cost- efficiency ‘‘curves’’ that are used in 
downstream analyses (i.e., the LCC and 
PBP analyses and the NIA). 
DOE converts the MPC to the 
manufacturer selling price (‘‘MSP’’) by applying a manufacturer markup. The MSP is the price the manufacturer charges its first customer, when selling into the product distribution channels. The manufacturer markup accounts for manufacturer non-production costs and profit margin. DOE developed the manufacturer markup by examining publicly available financial information for manufacturers of the covered product. 
See chapter 5 of the preliminary TSD 
for additional detail on the engineering analysis. 
D. Markups Analysis 
The markups analysis develops 
appropriate markups (e.g., retailer 
markups, distributor markups, 
contractor markups) in the distribution chain and sales taxes to convert MSP estimates derived in the engineering analysis to consumer prices, which are then used in the LCC and PBP analysis. At each step in the distribution channel, companies mark up the price of the product to cover business costs and profit margin. 
DOE developed baseline and 
incremental markups for each actor in the distribution chain. Baseline markups are applied to the price of products with baseline efficiency, while incremental markups are applied to the difference in price between baseline and higher-efficiency models (the incremental cost increase). The incremental markup is typically less than the baseline markup and is designed to maintain similar per-unit operating profit before and after new or amended standards.
6 
Chapter 6 of the preliminary TSD 
provides details on DOE’s development of markups for battery chargers. 
E. Energy Use Analysis 
The purpose of the energy use 
analysis is to determine the annual 
energy consumption of battery chargers at different efficiencies in representative U.S. households and businesses, and to assess the energy savings potential of increased battery charger efficiency. The energy use analysis estimates the range of energy use of battery chargers in the field (i.e., as they are actually used by 
consumers). The energy use analysis provides the basis for other analyses DOE performed, particularly assessments of the energy savings and the savings in consumer operating costs that could result from adopting amended or new standards. 
Chapter 7 of the preliminary TSD 
addresses the energy use analysis. 
F. Life-Cycle Cost and Payback Period 
Analyses 
The effect of new or amended energy 
conservation standards on individual consumers usually involves a reduction in operating cost and an increase in purchase cost. DOE used the following two metrics to measure consumer impacts: 
•The LCC is the total consumer 
expense of an appliance or product over the life of that product, consisting of total installed cost (manufacturer selling price, distribution chain markups, sales tax, and installation costs) plus operating costs (expenses for energy use, maintenance, and repair). To compute the operating costs, DOE discounts future operating costs to the time of purchase and sums them over the lifetime of the product. 
•The PBP is the estimated amount of 
time (in years) it takes consumers to recover the increased purchase cost (including installation) of a more- efficient product through lower operating costs. DOE calculates the PBP by dividing the change in purchase cost at higher efficiency levels by the change in annual operating cost for the year that amended or new standards are assumed to take effect. 
Chapter 8 of the preliminary TSD 
addresses the LCC and PBP analyses. 
G. National Impact Analysis 
The NIA estimates the national energy 
savings (‘‘NES’’) and the net present 
value (‘‘NPV’’) of total consumer costs and savings expected to result from amended standards at specific efficiency levels (referred to as candidate standard levels).
7DOE calculates the NES and 
NPV for the potential standard levels considered based on projections of annual product shipments, along with the annual energy consumption and total installed cost data from the energy use and LCC analyses. For the present analysis, DOE projected the energy savings, operating cost savings, product costs, and NPV of consumer benefits over the lifetime of battery chargers sold from 2027 through 2056. 
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DOE evaluates the impacts of new or 
amended standards by comparing a case 
without such standards with standards- case projections (‘‘no-new-standards case’’). The no-new-standards case characterizes energy use and consumer costs for each product class in the absence of new or amended energy conservation standards. For this projection, DOE considers historical trends in efficiency and various forces that are likely to affect the mix of efficiencies over time. DOE compares the no-new-standards case with projections characterizing the market for each product class if DOE adopted new or amended standards at specific energy efficiency levels for that class. For each efficiency level, DOE considers how a given standard would likely affect the market shares of product with efficiencies greater than the standard. 
DOE uses a spreadsheet model to 
calculate the energy savings and the national consumer costs and savings from each efficiency level. Interested parties can review DOE’s analyses by changing various input quantities within the spreadsheet. The NIA spreadsheet model uses typical values (as opposed to probability distributions) as inputs. Critical inputs to this analysis include shipments projections, estimated product lifetimes, product installed costs and operating costs, product annual energy consumption, the base case efficiency projection, and discount rates. 
DOE estimates a combined total of 
0.96 quads of FFC energy savings at the 
max-tech efficiency levels for battery chargers. Combined FFC energy savings at Efficiency Level 1 for all product/ equipment classes are estimated to be 0.28 quads. 
Chapter 10 of the preliminary TSD 
addresses the NIA. 
IV. Public Participation 
DOE invites public participation in 
this process through participation in the 
webinar and submission of written comments and information. After the webinar and the closing of the comment period, DOE will consider all timely- submitted comments and additional information obtained from interested parties, as well as information obtained through further analyses. Following such consideration, the Department will publish either a determination that the standards for battery chargers need not be amended or a NOPR proposing to amend those standards. The NOPR, should one be issued, would include proposed energy conservation standards for the products covered by that rulemaking, and members of the public would be given an opportunity to submit written and oral comments on 
the proposed standards. 
A. Participation in the Webinar 
The time and date for the webinar 
meeting are listed in the 
DATES section 
at the beginning of this document. 
Webinar registration information, participant instructions, and information about the capabilities available to webinar participants will be published on DOE’s website: www.energy.gov/eere/buildings/public- meetings-and-comment-deadlines. Participants are responsible for ensuring their systems are compatible with the 
webinar software. 
B. Procedure for Submitting Prepared 
General Statements for Distribution 
Any person who has an interest in the 
topics addressed in this document, or who is representative of a group or class of persons that has an interest in these issues, may request an opportunity to make an oral presentation at the webinar. Such persons may submit such request to ApplianceStandardsQuestions@ee.doe.gov. Persons who wish to speak 
should include with their request a computer file in Microsoft Word, PDF, or text (ASCII) file format that briefly describes the nature of their interest in this rulemaking and the topics they wish to discuss. Such persons should also provide a daytime telephone number where they can be reached. 
Persons requesting to speak should 
briefly describe the nature of their interest in this document and provide a telephone number for contact. DOE requests persons selected to make an oral presentation to submit an advance copy of their statements at least two weeks before the webinar. At its discretion, DOE may permit persons who cannot supply an advance copy of their statement to participate, if those persons have made advance alternative arrangements with the Building Technologies Office. As necessary, requests to give an oral presentation should ask for such alternative arrangements. 
C. Conduct of the Webinar 
DOE will designate a DOE official to 
preside at the webinar and may also use 
a professional facilitator to aid discussion. The meeting will not be a judicial or evidentiary-type public hearing, but DOE will conduct it in accordance with section 336 of EPCA (42 U.S.C. 6306). A court reporter will be present to record the proceedings and prepare a transcript. DOE reserves the right to schedule the order of presentations and to establish the procedures governing the conduct of the 
webinar. There shall not be discussion of proprietary information, costs or prices, market share, or other commercial matters regulated by U.S. anti-trust laws. After the webinar and until the end of the comment period, interested parties may submit further comments on the proceedings and any aspect of the Preliminary Analysis. 
The webinar will be conducted in an 
informal, conference style. DOE will present a general overview of the topics addressed in this Preliminary Analysis, allow time for prepared general statements by participants, and encourage all interested parties to share their views on issues affecting this Preliminary Analysis. Each participant will be allowed to make a general statement (within time limits determined by DOE), before the discussion of specific topics. DOE will permit, as time allows, other participants to comment briefly on any general statements. 
At the end of all prepared statements 
on a topic, DOE will permit participants to clarify their statements briefly. Participants should be prepared to answer questions by DOE and by other 
participants concerning these issues. DOE representatives may also ask questions of participants concerning other matters relevant to this Preliminary Analysis. The official conducting the webinar will accept additional comments or questions from those attending, as time permits. The presiding official will announce any further procedural rules or modification of the above procedures that may be needed for the proper conduct of the webinar. 
A transcript of the webinar will be 
included in the docket, which can be viewed as described in the Docket section at the beginning of this document. In addition, any person may buy a copy of the transcript from the transcribing reporter. 
D. Submission of Comments 
DOE invites all interested parties, 
regardless of whether they participate in 
the public meeting, to submit in writing by May 2, 2022, comments and information on matters addressed in this notification and on other matters relevant to DOE’s consideration of amended energy conservations standards for battery chargers. Interested parties may submit comments, data, and other information using any of the methods described in the 
ADDRESSES  
section at the beginning of this document. 
Submitting comments via 
www.regulations.gov. The 
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www.regulations.gov web page will 
require you to provide your name and 
contact information. Your contact information will be viewable to DOE Building Technologies staff only. Your contact information will not be publicly viewable except for your first and last names, organization name (if any), and submitter representative name (if any). If your comment is not processed properly because of technical difficulties, DOE will use this information to contact you. If DOE cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, DOE may not be able to consider your comment. 
However, your contact information 
will be publicly viewable if you include it in the comment itself or in any documents attached to your comment. Any information that you do not want to be publicly viewable should not be included in your comment, nor in any document attached to your comment. If this instruction is followed, persons viewing comments will see only first and last names, organization names, correspondence containing comments, and any documents submitted with the comments. 
Do not submit to 
www.regulations.gov. information for 
which disclosure is restricted by statute, such as trade secrets and commercial or financial information (hereinafter referred to as Confidential Business Information (‘‘CBI’’)). Comments submitted through www.regulations.gov cannot be claimed as CBI. Comments received through the website will waive any CBI claims for the information submitted. For information on submitting CBI, see the Confidential Business Information section. 
DOE processes submissions made 
through www.regulations.gov before 
posting. Normally, comments will be posted within a few days of being submitted. However, if large volumes of comments are being processed simultaneously, your comment may not 
be viewable for up to several weeks. Please keep the comment tracking number that www.regulations.gov provides after you have successfully uploaded your comment. 
Submitting comments via email. 
Comments and documents submitted via email also will be posted to www.regulations.gov. If you do not want 
your personal contact information to be publicly viewable, do not include it in your comment or any accompanying documents. Instead, provide your contact information in a cover letter. Include your first and last names, email address, telephone number, and optional mailing address. The cover letter will not be publicly viewable as long as it does not include any comments. 
Include contact information each time 
you submit comments, data, documents, and other information to DOE. No faxes will be accepted. 
Comments, data, and other 
information submitted to DOE electronically should be provided in PDF (preferred), Microsoft Word or Excel, or text (ASCII) file format. Provide documents that are not secured, that are written in English, and that are free of any defects or viruses. Documents should not contain special characters or any form of encryption and, if possible, they should carry the electronic signature of the author. 
Campaign form letters. Please submit 
campaign form letters by the originating organization in batches of between 50 to 500 form letters per PDF or as one form letter with a list of supporters’ names compiled into one or more PDFs. This reduces comment processing and posting time. 
Confidential Business Information. 
Pursuant to 10 CFR 1004.11, any person submitting information that he or she believes to be confidential and exempt by law from public disclosure should submit via email two well-marked copies: One copy of the document marked ‘‘confidential’’ including all the information believed to be confidential, and one copy of the document marked ‘‘non-confidential’’ with the information believed to be confidential deleted. DOE will make its own determination about the confidential status of the information and treat it according to its determination. 
It is DOE’s policy that all comments 
may be included in the public docket, without change and as received, including any personal information provided in the comments (except information deemed to be exempt from public disclosure). 
V. Approval of the Office of the 
Secretary 
The Secretary of Energy has approved 
publication of this notification of a webinar and availability of preliminary technical support document. 
Signing Authority 
This document of the Department of 
Energy was signed on February 25, 
2022, by Kelly J. Speakes-Backman, Principal Deputy 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 28, 
2022. 
Treena V. Garrett, Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. 
Department of Energy. 
[FR Doc. 2022–04495 Filed 3–2–22; 8:45 am] 
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P 
NATIONAL CREDIT UNION 
ADMINISTRATION 
12 CFR Parts 700, 701, 702, 708a, 708b, 
750 and 790 
[NCUA–2022–0008] 
RIN 3133–AF41 
Asset Threshold for Determining the 
Appropriate Supervisory Office 
AGENCY : National Credit Union 
Administration (NCUA). 
ACTION : Notice of proposed rulemaking. 
SUMMARY : The NCUA Board (Board) is 
proposing to amend its regulations to 
revise the $10 billion asset threshold used for assigning supervision of consumer federally insured credit unions (FICUs) to the Office of National Examinations and Supervision (ONES). The proposed rule would only apply to FICUs whose assets are $10 billion or more (covered credit unions). The proposed rule would provide that covered credit unions with less than $15 billion in total assets (tier I covered credit unions) not currently supervised by ONES will be supervised by the appropriate NCUA Regional Office. Tier I covered credit unions currently supervised by ONES and covered credit unions with $15 billion and more in total assets (tier II and tier III covered credit unions) would continue to be supervised by ONES. The proposed rule would not alter any regulatory requirements for covered credit unions. 
DATES : Comments must be received by 
May 2, 2022. 
ADDRESSES : You may submit written 
comments, identified by RIN 3133– AF41, by any of the following methods (please send comments by one method only): 
•Federal eRulemaking Portal: 
https://www.regulations.gov. The docket 
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