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[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 192 (Tuesday, October 4, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 61288-61289]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-25499]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

10 CFR Part 431

RIN 1904-AC62

Efficiency and Renewables Advisory Committee, Appliance Standards 
Subcommittee Negotiated Rulemaking Subcommittee/Working Group for 
Liquid-Immersed and Medium- and Low-Voltage Dry-Type Distribution 
Transformers

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

ACTION: Notice of open meeting.

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SUMMARY: This document announces an open meeting of two Negotiated 
Rulemaking Working Groups; one concerning Liquid Immersed and Medium-
Voltage Dry-Type Distribution Transformers and the second addressing 
Low-Voltage Dry-Type Distribution Transformers. The Liquid Immersed and 
Medium-Voltage Dry-Type Group (MV Group) and the Low-Voltage Dry-Type 
Group (LV Group) are working groups within the Appliance Standards 
Subcommittee of the Efficiency and Renewables Advisory Committee 
(ERAC). The purpose of the MV and LV Groups is to discuss and, if 
possible, reach consensus on a proposed rule for regulating the energy 
efficiency of distribution transformers, as authorized by the Energy 
Policy Conservation Act (EPCA) of 1975, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 
6313(a)(6)(C) and 6317(a).

DATES: 

Wednesday, October 12, 2011; 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.
Thursday, October 13, 2011; 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.
Friday, October 14, 2011; 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

ADDRESSES: National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, 4301 Wilson 
Blvd., Arlington, VA 22203.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Cymbalsky, U.S. Department of 
Energy, Office of Building Technologies (EE-2J), 1000 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121. Phone (202) 287-1692 or e-mail: 
John.Cymbalsky@ee.doe.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Background: The Department of Energy (DOE) has decided to use the 
negotiated rulemaking process to develop proposed energy efficiency 
standards for distribution transformers. The primary reasons for using 
the negotiated rulemaking process for developing a proposed Federal 
standard is that stakeholders strongly support a consensual rulemaking 
effort and DOE believes such a regulatory negotiation process will be 
less adversarial and better suited to resolving the complex technical 
issues raised by this rulemaking. An important virtue of negotiated 
rulemaking is that it allows expert dialog that is much better than 
traditional techniques at getting the facts and issues right and will 
result in a proposed rule that will effectively reflect Congressional 
intent.
    A regulatory negotiation will enable DOE to engage in direct and 
sustained dialog with informed, interested, and affected parties when 
drafting the proposed regulation that is then presented to the public 
for comment. Gaining this early understanding of all parties' 
perspectives allows DOE to address key issues at an earlier stage of 
the process, thereby allowing more time for an iterative process to 
resolve issues. A rule drafted by negotiation with informed and 
affected parties is more likely to maximize benefits while minimizing 
unnecessary costs than one conceived or drafted without the opportunity 
for sustained dialog among interested and expert parties. DOE 
anticipates that there will be a need for fewer substantive changes to 
a proposed rule developed under a regulatory negotiation process prior 
to the publication of a final rule.
    To the maximum extent possible, consistent with the legal 
obligations of the Department, DOE will use the consensus of the 
advisory committee or subcommittee as the basis for the rule the 
Department proposes for public notice and comment.
    Purpose of the Meeting: To continue the process of seeking 
consensus on a proposed rule for setting standards for the energy 
efficiency of liquid immersed and medium- and low-voltage dry type 
distribution transformers, as authorized by the Energy Policy 
Conservation Act (EPCA) of 1975, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 6313(a)(6)(C) 
and 6317(a).
    Tentative Agenda: The MV Group will meet at 9 a.m. and will 
conclude at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, October 12, 2011, and reconvene from 9 
a.m. through 12 p.m. on Thursday, October 13, 2011. The LV Group will 
meet from 2 p.m. through 5 p.m. on Thursday, October 13, 2011, and 
reconvene on Friday, October 14, 2011, from 9 a.m. through 5 p.m. The 
tentative agenda for the meetings includes continued discussion 
regarding the analyses of alternate standard levels and negotiation 
efforts to address the perceived issues.
    Public Participation: Members of the public are welcome to observe 
the business of the meetings and to make comments related to the issues 
being discussed at appropriate points, when called on by the moderator. 
The

[[Page 61289]]

facilitator will make every effort to hear the views of all interested 
parties, within limits, required for the orderly conduct of business. 
To attend the meeting and/or to make oral statements regarding any of 
the items on the agenda, please send an e-mail to: erac@ee.doe.gov. 
Please include ``MV and LV Work Group 101211'' in the subject line of 
the message. Please be sure to specify which working group discussion 
you will be attending. In the e-mail, please provide your name, 
organization, citizenship, and contact information. Space is limited.
    Participation in the meeting is not a prerequisite for submission 
of written comments. ERAC invites written comments from all interested 
parties. If you would like to file a written statement with the 
committee, you may do so either by submitting a hard or electronic copy 
before or after the meeting. Electronic copy of written statements 
should be e-mailed to: erac@ee.doe.gov. This notice is being published 
less than 15 days prior to the meeting date due to programmatic issues 
and members' availability that had to be resolved prior to the meeting 
date.
    Minutes: The minutes of the meeting will be available for public 
review at http://www.erac.energy.gov.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on September 28, 2011.
LaTanya R. Butler,
Acting Deputy Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011-25499 Filed 10-3-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
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