G/TBT/N/USA/974/Add.6  
 
20 January 2021  
(21-0608) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original: English  
 
NOTIFICATION  
Addendum  
The following communication , dated  20 January 2021 , is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of the United States of America . 
 
_______________  
 
 
Title: Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Energy Conservation Standards for 
Residential Furnaces  
 
Reason for Addendum:  
[  ] Comment period changed - date:   
[  ] Notified measure adopted - date:  
[  ] Notified measure published - date:  
[  ] Notified measure enters into force - date:  
[  ] Text of final measure available from1:  
[X] Notified measure withdrawn or revoked - date: 15 January 2021  
Relevant symbol if measure re -notified:   
[  ] Content or scope of notified measure changed  
New deadline for comments (if applicable):   
[  ] Interpretive guidance issued and text available from1:  
[X] Other: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR -2021-01-15/html/2021 -00898.htm  
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR -2021-01-15/pdf/2021 -00898.pdf  
https://members.wto .org/crnattachments/2021/TBT/USA/21_0531_00_e.pdf  
 
Description:  TITLE: Energy Conservation Program for Appliance Standards: Energy Conservation 
Standards for Residential Furnaces and Commercial Water Heaters; Withdrawal  
AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy  
ACTION: Proposed rul emakings; withdrawal  
SUMMARY: In response to a petition for rulemaking submitted on 18 October 2018 (Gas Industry 
Petition), the Department of Energy (DOE or the Department) has published elsewhere in this issue 
of the Federal Register a final interpretive  rule determining that, in the context of residential 
furnaces, commercial water heaters, and similarly -situated products/equipment, use of non -
condensing technology (and associated venting) constitute a performance -related "feature" under 
the Energy Polic y and Conservation Act (EPCA) that cannot be eliminated through adoption of an 
energy conservation standard. Relatedly, DOE published in the Federal Register a notice of proposed 
rulemaking for residential furnaces on 12 March 2015, a notice of proposed ru lemaking for 
 
1 This information can be provided by including a website address, a pdf attachment, or other 
information on where the text of the final measure and/or interpretive guidance can be obtained.  G/TBT/N/USA/974/Add.6  
 
- 2 - 
 
  commercial water heaters on 31 May 2016, and a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking for 
residential furnaces on 23 September 2016. In light of the final interpretive rule, DOE hereby 
withdraws these proposed rules.  
DATES: The proposed ru le for residential furnaces that appeared in the Federal Register on 12 March 
2015 at 80 FR 13120 ( USA/974 ), the proposed rule for commercial water heaters that appeared in 
the Federal Register on 31 May 2016 at 81 FR 34440 ( USA/1133 ), and the supplemental proposed 
rule for residential furnaces that appeared in the Federal Register on 23 September 2016 at 81 FR 
65720 ( USA/974/Add.4 ) are withdrawn as of 15 January 2021.  
This withdrawal of proposed rulemakings and previous actions notified under the symbol 
G/TBT/N/USA/974  are identified by Docket Number EER E-2014-BT-STD-0031.   The Docket Folder is 
available on Regulations.gov at https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=EERE -2014-BT-STD-0031 
and provides access to primary and supporting documents as well as comments received. Documents 
are also accessible from Regulations.gov  by searching the Docket Number.  
G/TBT/N/USA/1133 and subsequent addenda  - Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation 
Standards for Commercial Water Heating Equipment  
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