### Federal 

### Register / Vol. 62, No. 81 

### 1 Monday, April 28, 

### 1997 / Notices 

### 23117

DEPARTMENTOF ENERGY

Office of Energy Efnclency and Renewable Energy

Findingof No Significant Impact; Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products

AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiencyand Renewable Energy,DOE.

ACTION: Finding of no significant impact (FONSI)for amended energy conservation standardsfor refrigerators. refrigerator-freezers.and freezers.

SUMMARY: The Energy Policy and Conservation Act, as amended by the National Energy Conservation Policy Act and the National Appliance Energy Conservation Act, and the National Appliance Energy Conservation Amendments, prescribes energy conservation standardsfor certain major household appliances, and requires the Department of Energy (DOE)to administer an enerev conservation 

# - program for these products. Based on an Environmental Assessment (EA),DOE/ EA-1138, DOE has determined that the adoption ofthe amended energy efficiency Standard Level 1for refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers.and freezers, as modified for the Final Rule. would not be a major Federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment within the meaning of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA).Therefore.an environmental impact statement (EIS)is
not required, and the Department is issuing this finding of no significant impact (FONSl).

ADDRESSES: Copies of the EA and modified emission reduction tables for the Final Rule are available from: U.S. Department of Energy,Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Forestal Building, Mail Station EE-43, 1000IndependenceAvenue, SW.. Washington, DC 20585, (202)586-9127.

FOR FURTHER PROGRAM INFORMATION
CONTACT: Dr. Barry 

### P. Berlin, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EE-43). U.S. Department of Energy. 1000Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121, (202) 586-9127.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATIONREGARDING THE DOE NEPA PROCESS, CONTACT: Carol Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA Policy and Assistance (EH-42), 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-01 19. (202) 586- 4600.

DESCRIPTION OF MEPROPOSEDACTION: The action is the establishment of revised energy conservation standards for refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, and freezers.

Environmental Impacts

TheEA evaluates the environmental impacts of a range of new energy conservation standardsfor refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers,and freezers. The results are presented for each potential standard level. Each potential 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 amended standardbeing finalized today is a small modification of one ofthe standard levels that had been proposed.

The main environmental concern is emissions from fossil-fueled electricity generation. Most of the design options for this appliance product category would result in decreased electricity use and,therefore, a reduction in power plant emissions.Theproposed efficiency standards would generally decrease air pollution by decreasing future energy demand. The greatest decreases in air pollution would be for sulfur oxides. listed in eauivalent weight of sulfur dioxide.'or SO2. Reductions of nitrogen oxides and carbon dioxide wozd also occui, and

are listed by weight of NOx and CO2. respectively.

Although the quantity of raw materials used per appliance would remain relatively constant, inmost scenarios initial price increases from standards are expected to reduce slightly the number of appliances sold, which would result in small decreases inthe total amount of raw materials used. The main effect of this decreased applianceproduction would be the SO2 decreasesfrom avoided fuel burning at
power plants. The environmental contribution from reduced steel production is not included in the estimates for net SO2 decreases resulting from design changes in these products.

Although the effects on particulate emissions related to the standardinduced decrease in electricity generation would be minor compared to effects on SOLNOx, and CO2, any reduction would possibly be beneficial

to the quality of surface water. Since the total amount of particulate emitted would decrease, it is very likely that less particulate would reach surface water.

Reduction in particulate emissions accompanied by decreases in SO2 and NOx would have other beneficial effects on the environment. The resultant improvement in air quality and the decreased potential for acid rain formation could help improve the quality of wetlands and fish and wildlife aswell asaid inthe preservation of historical and archaeological sites.

Determination

Based upon the EA, DOE has determined that the adoption of the amended energy-efficiency standards for refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, and freezers would not constitute a major Federal action significantlyaffecting the quality of the human environment, within the meaning of NEPA. Therefore,

an E1S is not required.

Issued inWashington,DC, on Aprll 23,
1997. Christine A. Ervin. Assistant Secretary,Energy Efficiency and RenewableEnergy. [FRDoc. 97-10889 Filed 4-25-97; 8:45 am]

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