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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 

### 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 ofNo 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 ofthe Residential Furnaces and Boilers Technical Support Document (TSD), DOE has determined that the energy efficiency levels ofTrial 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 ofthe 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

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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 2 70585-01-21j`(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 statement (EIS) is not required, and the Department is issuing this Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)
. 

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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}fM O:i** **:** 

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### 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 INFORMAnON: Description of the Proposed Action: The proposed action is the establishment of a revised energy conservation standard (TSL A) for residential furnaces and boilers
.

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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 (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

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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 ofthe proposed action are estimated to generally decrease air pollution by decreasing future energy demand. The environmental analysis considers two pollutants, nitrogen oxides (NO x ) 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 NO x, and reduced household emissions of CO 2 • NO x•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 NO x , 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 

# #163

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