G/TBT/N/USA/848  
 
30 July 2013  
(13-4114)  Page: 1/2  
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original: English  
 
NOTIFICATION 
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6 
 
1. Notifying Member:  UNITED STATES OF AMERICA  
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):     
2. Agency responsible:  Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (OEERE), 
Department of Energy (DOE) [865] 
Name and address (including telephon e and fax numbers, email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above :    
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [   ], 5.7.1 [   ], other:   
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff 
heading. ICS numbers may be provided  in addition, where applicable):  Residential 
central air conditioners and heat pumps. Air conditioning machines, comprising a motor-driven fan and elements for changing the temperature and humidity, including those 
machines in which the humidity cannot be separately regulated. (HS 8415) Environmental 
protection (ICS 13.020): Ventilators, Fans, Air-conditioners (ICS 23.120): Heat pumps 
(ICS 27.080). 
5. Title, number of pages and langua ge(s) of the notified document:  Energy 
Conservation Program for Consumer Prod ucts (3 pages, in English).     
6. Description of content:  The Department of Energy (DOE) received a petition from 
Howe, Anderson & Steyer, P.C., on behalf of  First Co., requesting that DOE conduct a 
rulemaking to amend certification regulations applicable to residential central air 
conditioners and heat pumps (together "CAC") to: collect Energy Efficiency Rating (EER) 
information from manufacturers through the Compliance, Certification Management System ("CCMS") as part of annual certification reporting requirements; and publish the 
information in DOE's Compliance Certification Database ("CCD"). As an interim measure 
prior to the completion of the rulemaking, they request that DOE collect EER information from manufacturers on an expedited and vol untary basis and publish EER information in 
the CCD. They contend that voluntary collection and publication of EER information on an 
interim basis is necessary to prevent harm to manufacturers and consumers. To the extent that the collection of EER information is subject to OMB approval under the 
Paperwork Reduction Act, they further request that DOE seek OMB authorization for 
"emergency" or expedited processing of DOE's request to collect EER information on a voluntary basis. DOE seeks comment on whether to grant the petition and proceed with a rulemaking on this matter.  
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:  Protection of the environment. 
8. Relevant documents:   78 Federal Register (FR) 44895, 25 July 2013; Title 10 Code of 
Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 430. Will appear in the Federal Register when adopted.   G/TBT/N/USA/848 
 
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  9. Proposed date of adoption:   
Proposed date of entry into force:    To be determined To be determined 
10. Final date for comments:  26 August 2013 
11. Text available from:  National enquiry point [  ], or address, telephone and fax 
numbers, e-mail and web-site addresse s, if available of the other body:   
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR -2013-07-25/html /2013-17894.htm  
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR -2013-07-25/pd f/2013-17894.pdf