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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Finding of No Significant Impact: Energy Conservation Program for Consumer

Products

AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy

ACTION: Finding of No Significant Impact for Amended Energy Conservation

Standards for Residential Furnaces and Boilers.

SUMMARY: Title III of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, as amended (42

U.S.C. 6291 et seq.), prescribes energy conservation standards for certain major

household appliances, and requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to administer an

energy conservation program for these products. Based on an Environmental Assessment

(EA), DOE/ EA-1 530, and revisions to the EA as documented in Appendix W of the

Residential Furnaces and Boilers Technical Support Document (TSD), DOE has

determined that the energy efficiency levels of Trial Standard Level (TSL) A for

residential furnaces and boilers, as adopted by the Final Rule entitled the "Energy

Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Energy Conservation Standards for

Residential Furnaces and Boilers," is not a major Federal action significantly affecting

the quality of the human environment within the meaning of the National Environmental

Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4371 et seq.). Therefore, an environmental impact

 EE-RM/STD-01-350 COMMENT 163

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 

Finding of No Significant Impact: Energy Conservation Program for Consumer 

Products 

#163 

AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy 

ACTION: Finding of No Significant Impact for Amended Energy Conservation 

Standards for Residential Furnaces and Boilers. 

SUMMARY: Title III ofthe Energy Policy and Conservation Act, as amended (42 

U.S.C. 6291 et seq.), prescribes energy conservation standards for certain major 

household appliances, and requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to administer an 

energy conservation program for these products. Based on an Environmental Assessment 

(EA), DOE/ EA-1530, and revisions to the EA as documented in Appendix W of the 

Residential Furnaces and Boilers Technical Support Document (TSD), DOE has 

determined that the energy efficiency levels of Trial Standard Level (TSL) A for 

residential furnaces and boilers, as adopted by the Final Rule entitled the" Energy 

Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Energy Conservation Standards for 

Residential Furnaces and Boilers," is not a major Federal action significantly affecting 

the quality of the human environment within the meaning of the National Environmental 

Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4371 et seq.). Therefore, an environmental impact 
#163

statement (EIS) is not required, and the Department is issuing this Finding of No

Significant Impact (FONSI).

ADDRESSES : Public Availability: Copies of the EA and the TSD are available from:

U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy,

Forrestal Building, Roor i s-O1 ^t source Roorn .(6 Building Tcchridwgies

P iograui), A-940 d pendencc Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585-01 1, (212) X86-

2945 [to be updated]

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mohammed Khan, Project Manager,

Energy Conservation Standards for Residential Furnaces and Boilers, U.S. Department of

Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Svildine Tedlhnologies Proam, EE-

'23, 1000 Independence,&venue, SW. Washii gton DG 270585-01-21j`(102)586-7992

?

email: Mohammed.Khan n,ee.doe.gov.

For further information regarding the DOE NEPA process contact: Othalene Lawrence,

EERE NEPA Compliance Officer (EE-3C), U.S. Department of Energy, Energy

Efficiency and Renewable Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC

20585-0119, (202) 586-8596.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Description of the Proposed Action: The proposed action is the establishment of a revised

energy conservation standard (TSL A) for residential furnaces and boilers.

2

 EE-RM/STD-01-350 COMMENT 163

statement (EIS) is not required, and the Department is issuing this Finding of No 

Significant Impact (FONSI). 

#163 

ADDRESSES: Public Availability: Copies of the EA and the TSD are available from: 

U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, 

Fo~W Bu'il~lllg~ R.Ohni}fMO:i : [lteS-oUice:,ROOl'\l. 9l~¢,B'tlll(Hng1~oiDgies 

fii:Qgram);;,'-~~' Iit~eJ}~~~e;A.\fen~~" '$W ;W~):ilngttml OC ZQ~$,!$~~1~); (202)5.~ 

2~4l[to be updated) 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mohammed Khan, Project Manager, 

Energy Conservation Standards for Residential Furnaces and Boilers, U.S. Department of 

Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, 8ttj;1~n,g ~~hriol~~es:ff6gra~ EE'---

2J, l£)oq li1t\epMq~~~~~~~, §W~ W~hiligc9U; P~¢ ~O"$B?---: e12~~ (:2,0~1::5S6l7$22., 

email: Mohammed.Khan@ee.doe.gov. 

For further information regarding the DOE NEPA process contact: Othalene Lawrence, 

EERE NEPA Compliance Officer (EE-3C), U.S. Department of Energy, Energy 

Efficiency and Renewable Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 

20585-0119, (202) 586-8596. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMA nON: 

Description of the Proposed Action: The proposed action is the establishment of a revised 

energy conservation standard (TSL A) for residential furnaces and boilers. 

2 
#163

Environmental Impacts: The EA and TSD evaluate the environmental impacts of a range

of new energy conservation standards for residential furnaces and boilers. The results are

presented for each potential trial standard level. Each potential trial standard level is an

alternative action, and the environmental impacts of each alternative are compared to

what would be expected to happen if no new standard were adopted, i.e., the "no action"

alternative.

The main environmental impact under the proposed action is decreased emissions from

fossil fuel use and from fossil-fueled electricity generation. All of the minimum

efficiency levels considered for furnaces and boilers in this rulemaking would result in

decreased fossil fuel use and in a reduction in emissions. The efficiency standards of the

proposed action are estimated to generally decrease air pollution by decreasing future

energy demand. The environmental analysis considers two pollutants, nitrogen oxides

(NOX) and sulfur dioxide (SO2), and one emission, carbon dioxide (CO2). The energy

savings from residential furnace and boiler standards projected to occur under the

proposed action are estimated to result in reduced power sector emissions of CO2 and

NON, and reduced household emissions of CO2, NO, and SO2, Reduced NOX emissions

could also provide an economic benefit in the form of emission allowance credits. The

results of the analysis show an estimated cumulative reduction of 7.8 million tons of

carbon dioxide emissions, 9.2 thousand tons NOR, and 1.8 thousand tons of SO2 for TSL

A through the year 2038.

Determination

3

 EE-RM/STD-01-350 COMMENT 163

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Environmental Impacts: The EA and TSD evaluate the environmental impacts of a range 

of new energy conservation standards for residential furnaces and boilers. The results are 

presented for each potential trial standard level. Each potential trial standard level is an 

alternative action, and the environmental impacts of each alternative are compared to 

what would be expected to happen if no new standard were adopted, i.e., the "no action" 

alternative. 

The main environmental impact under the proposed action is decreased emissions from 

fossil fuel use and from fossil-fueled electricity generation. All of the minimum 

efficiency levels considered for furnaces and boilers in this rulemaking would result in 

decreased fossil fuel use and in a reduction in emissions. The efficiency standards of the 

proposed action are estimated to generally decrease air pollution by decreasing future 

energy demand. The environmental analysis considers two pollutants, nitrogen oxides 

(NOx) and sulfur dioxide (S02), and one emission, carbon dioxide (C02). The energy 

savings from residential furnace and boiler standards projected to occur under the 

proposed action are estimated to result in reduced power sector emissions of C02 and 

NOx, and reduced household emissions of CO2• NOx• and S02. Reduced NOx emissions 

could also provide an economic benefit in the form of emission allowance credits. The 

results of the analysis show an estimated cumulative reduction of7.8 million tons of 

carbon dioxide emissions, 9.2 thousand tons NOx , and 1.8 thousand tons ofS02 for TSL 

A through the year 2038. 

Determination 

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Based upon the EA, DOE has determined that the adoption of the proposed energy

efficiency standard for residential furnaces and boilers would not constitute a major

Federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment, within the

meaning of NEPA. Therefore, an EIS is not required, and the Department is issuing this

FONSI.

Issued in Washington, DC, on

exande C Karsner

Assistant Secretary

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

4

 EE-RM/STD-01-350 COMMENT 163

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Based upon the EA, DOE has detennined that the adoption of the proposed energy 

efficiency standard for residential furnaces and boilers would not constitute a major 

Federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment, within the 

meaning ofNEPA. Therefore, an EIS is not required, and the Department is issuing this 

FaNS!. 

Issued in Washington, DC, on 

exand . Karsner 

Assistant Secretary 

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy 

4