### DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 10 CFR Part 430 [Docket Number: EE-2011-BT-STD--1l011[ RIN 1904-AC06 Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Residential Furnaces and Residential Central Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps Products AGENCY : Office ofEnergy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department ofEnergy 

### ACTION: Finding ofNo Significant Impact: Energy Conservation Program SUMMARY: The Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPeA), 

### as amended, requires the U.S. Department ofEnergy (DOE) to adopt energy conservation standards for various consumer products and certain commercial and industrial equipment, including 

### residential furnaces and residential air conditioners and heat pumps . (42 U.S.c. 6291 ct seq.) Based on an Environmental Assessment (EA), chapter 15 ofthe direct final rule technical support document (TSD) for residential furnaces and residential central air conditioners and heat pumps, DOE has determined that the adoption of amended energy consetvation standards for residential furnaces and residential central air conditioners and heat pumps, as contained in the direct final rule titled the "Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Residential Furnaces and Residential Central Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps," would not be a major Federal action significantly affecting the quality ofthe human envirorunent within the meaning ofthe NationalEnvironmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) . Therefore, an environmental impact statement (EIS) is not required, and DOE is issuing this Finding ofNo Significant Impact (FONSl). ADDRESSES: Public Availability: Copies ofthe direct final rule TSD are available from the U.S. Department ofEnergy, Resource Room ofthe Building Technologies Program, 950 L'Enfant Plaza, SW., 6th Floor, Washington, DC 20024, (202) 586-2945, between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. You may also obtain copies ofthe direct final rule TSD from the Office ofEnergy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's website at: www.eere.energy.gov/buildings!appliance standards! FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Mohammed Khan (furnaces) or Mr. Wesley Anderson (central air conditioners and heat pumps), U.S. Department of Energy, Office ofEnergy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building Technologies Program, EE- 2J, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washinhrton, DC 20585-012l. Telephone: (202) 586-7892 or (202) 586-7335. E-mail: Mohammed.Khan@ee.doe.gov or Wes.Anderson@ee.doe.gov. Mr. Eric Stas or Ms . Jcnnifer Tiedeman, U.S. Department ofEnergy, Office ofthe General Counsel, GC- 71, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585- 0121. Telephone : (202) 586-9507 or (202) 287-6111. Email: Eric.Stas@hg.doe.gov or Jennifer.Tiedcrnan@hg.doe.gov. 2For further infonnation regarding the DOE NEPA process, contact: Ms . Carol M. Borgstrom, Director, Office ofNEPA Policy and Compliance**(GC~20),** U.S. Department ofEnergy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW.,**Washinb~on,** DC 20585 . Telephone: (202) 586-4600, or leave a message at (800) 472-2756. Additional infonnation regarding DOE NEPA activities and access to many DOE NEPA documents are available on the Internet through the DOE NEPA website at: http: //www.gc.cncrgy.gov/ncpa/. 

### SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Description ofthe Regulatory Action: The re!:,'1llatory action is the establishment of amended energy conservation standards for residential furnaces and residential central air conditioners and heat pumps. DOE is adopting trial standard level (TSL) 4 for the energy efficiency requirements and TSL 2 for the standby mode/off mode power requirements. Environmental Impacts: The EA evaluates the environmental impacts of a range of energy conservation standards for residential furnaces, central air conditioners, and heat pumps. The results are presented for each TSL DOE considered for these products. Each TSL is an alternative action, and the environmental impacts ofeach alternative are compared to what would be expected to happen ifno new or amended standard were adopted (i.e., the "no action" alternative).

3The primary environmental impact is decreased emissions from fossil fuel use and from fossil-fueled electricity generation. All ofthe TSLs considered for the product classes covered under this regulation would result in decreased fossil fuel use and in a reduction in emissions. The energy conservation standards adopted in the direct final rule would generally decrease air pollution by decreasing future energy demand. The environmental impact analysis considers emissions of carbon dioxide (C02) and three criteria pollutants- nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur dioxide (S02), and mercury (Hg). The energy savings from amended energy conservation standards for residential furnaces, central ai r conditioners, and heat pumps are expected to result in reduced power sector emissions ofCO2 , NOx, and Hg. Reduced NOx emissions could also provide an economic benefit in the form ofa lower market price for emission allowance credits. The results ofthis analysis show that the cumulative emissions reductions resulting from the residential furnaces and residential central air conditioners and heat pumps direct final rule are projected to be 114 million to 143 million metric tons (Mt) ofC02, 97 to 124 kilotons (kt) ofNOx, and 0.143 to 0.169 tons ofHg. These emissions reductions and those from the other TSLs are not substantial enough to significantly affect the quality of the human environment. See chapter 15 of the residential furnaces and residential central air conditioners and heat pumps TSD Table 15.7.1 for more information on the emissions reductions at all TSLs .

4Determination Based upon the EA, DOE has determined that the adoption ofthc amended energy conservation standards for residential furnaces and residential central air conditioners and heat pumps 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 DOE is issuing this FaNS!. Issued in Washington, DC, on October 24, 2011 . 

# 1151 Henry KillY Acting Assistant Secretary Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy



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