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Federal Register/Vol. 66, No. 14/Monday, January 22, 2001/Notices 7201

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 1000 Independence Avenue, S.W., sulfur dioxide (SO2), and one emission, Washington, D.C., 20585-0121, (202) carbon. The Department, in the Notice Office of Energy Efficiency and 586-9127. ofProposed Rulemaking, proposed TSL Renewable Energy FOR FURTHER PROGRAM INFORMATION 3. However, in the Final Rule, DOE is CONTACT: Dr. Michael E. McCabe, Office adopting TSL 4, an alternative that was Finding of No Significant Impact ofEnergy Efficiency and Renewable also analyzed in the EA. The results of Energy Conservation Program 

### f Energy (EE-41), U.S. Department of the analysis show an estimated

onsumer Products Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, cumulative reduction of 27.7 to 32.7 AGENCY: Department ofEnergy. S.W., Washington, D.C. 20585-0121, million tons of carbon equivalent ACTION: Finding ofNo Significant (202) 586-9127. emissions, and 84.4 to 93.8 thousand Impact (FONSI) forEnergy Conservation ForFurther InformationRegardingthe tons NOx for TSLs 3 and 4, respectively, Standard for Residential Central Air DOE NEPA Process,Contact:Carol through the year 2020. This would be a Conditioners and Heat Pumps. Borgstrom, Director, Office ofNEPA national reduction of0.19% and 0.23% Policy and Assistance (EH-42), 1000 of carbon equivalent emissions, and SUMMARY: The Energy Policy and Independence Avenue, S.W., 0.08% and 0.09% ofNOx. Because Conservation Act, as amended by the Washington, D.C. 20585-0119, (202) emissions ofSO 2from power plants are National Energy Conservation Policy 586-4600. capped by clean air legislation, physical Act and the National Appliance Energy SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: emissions ofthis pollutant from Conservation Act, and the National DescriptionoftheProposed Action: electricity generation will be only Appliance Energy Conservation The proposed action is the minimally affected byresidential central Amendments, prescribes energy establishment of a revised energy air conditioners and heat pumps conservation standards for certain major conservation standard (TSL 4) for standards. The maximum S02 allowed household appliances, and requires the residential central air conditioners and by law will most likely still be Department ofEnergy (DOE) to heat pumps. produced, but because SO 2emissions administer an energy conservation EnvironmentalImpacts:The EA are traded, and ifS02 emissions are program for these products. Based on an evaluates the environmental impacts of lowered due to less power generation, Environmental Assessment (EA), DOE/ a range ofnew energy conservation then the cost of SO 2emission credits EA-1352, DOE has determined that the standards for residential central air may decrease slightly. Therefore, the EA adoption ofenergy efficiency Trial conditioners and heat pumps. The did not consider changes in power Standard Level (TSL) 4 for residential results are presented for each potential sector SO 2emissions because they will central air conditioners and heat pumps, trial standard level. Each potential trial be negligible.

as adopted by the Final Rule entitled the standard level is an alternative action, Determination: Based upon the EA, "Energy Conservation Program for and the environmental impacts of each DOE has determined that the adoption Consumer Products: Residential Central alternative are compared to what would ofthe proposed energy-efficiency Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps be expected to happen ifno new standard for residential central air Energy Conservation Standards," would standard were adopted, i.e., the "no conditioners and heat pumps would not not be a major Federal action action" alternative, constitute a major Federal action significantly affecting the quality ofthe The main environmental impact is significantly affecting the quality ofthe human environment within the meaning decreased emissions from fossil-fueled human environment, within the ofthe National Environmental Policy electricity generation. All ofthe meaning ofNEPA. Therefore, an EIS is Act of 1969 (NEPA). Therefore, an minimum efficiency levels considered not required, and the Department is environmental impact statement (EIS) is for this appliance product category issuing this FONSI. not required, and the Department is would result in decreased electricity use issuing this finding ofno significant and, therefore, a reduction in power Is sue d gto D.C., the 4th day, of impact (FONSI). plant emissions. The proposedJanuary 2001. ADDRESSES: Public Availability: Copies efficiency standard would generally Dan W. Reicher, ofthe EA are available from: U.S. decrease air pollution by decreasing AssistantSecretary,EnergyEfficiency and Department of Energy, Office ofEnergy future energy demand. The RenewableEnergy. Efficiency and Renewable Energy, environmental analysis considers two [FR Doc. 01-1791 Filed 1-18-01; 11:30 am] Forrestal Building, Mail Station EE-41, pollutants, nitrogen oxides (NOx) and BILLING CODE 6450-01-P .;-**---~--------------** 

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Federal Register/Vol. 66, No. l4/Monday, January 22, 200l/Notices 

### 7201

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Finding of No Significant Impact Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products

AGENCY: 

### Department ofEnergy.

ACTION: 

### Finding ofNo Significant Impact (FONS!) for Energy Conservation Standard for Residential Central Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps.

SUMMARY: 

### The Energy Policy and Conservation Act. as amendedby the National Energy ConservationPolicy Act and the National Appliance Energy Conservation Act. and the National Appliance Energy Conservation Amendments. prescribes energy conservation standards for certainmajor household appliances, andrequires the Department ofEnergy (DOE) to administer an energy conservation
program for these products. Based on an Environmental Assessment (EA). DOE/ EA-1352. DOE has determined that the adoption ofenergy efficiency Trial Standard Level (TSL) 4 for residential central airconditioners and heatpumps.

as adoptedby theFinal Rule entitledthe "Energy Conservation Program for ConsumerProducts: Residential Central Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps Energy Conservation Standards." would
not be a major Federal action significantly affecting the quality ofthe human environment within the meaning ofthe National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). Therefore, 

### an environmental impact statement (EIS) is
not required. andthe Department is issuing this finding ofno significant impact (FONS!).

ADDRESSES: 

### Public Availability: Copies aftheEA are available from: U.S. Department ofEnergy, Office ofEnergy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Forrestal Building. Mail Station EE-41. 1000 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington. D.C

.. 20585-0121. (202) 586-9127.

FOR FURTHER PROGRAM INFORMATION
CONTACT: 

### Dr. Michael E. 

### McCabe, Office ofEnergy Efficiency andRenewable Energy (EE-41). U.S. Department of Energy. 1000 Independence Avenue. S.W.• Washington. D.C. 20585-0121. (202) 586-9127.

ForFurtherInformation Regarding the DOENEPA Process. Contact: Carol Borgstrom. Director. Office ofNEPA Policy and Assistance (EH-42). 1000 Independence Avenue. S.W., Washington. D.C. 20585-0119. (202) 586-4600.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:



### Description oftheProposedAction: The proposed action is the establishment ofa revised energy conservation standard (TSL 4) for residential central air conditioners and heat pumps.

EnvironmentalImpacts: The EA evaluates the environmental impacts of

a range ofnew energy conservation standards for residential central air conditioners andheat pumps. The results are presented for each potential trial standard level. Each potential trial standard level is an alternative action. and the environmental impacts ofeach alternative are compared to what would be expectedto happen ifno new standard were adopted. i.e

.. the "no action" alternative.

The main environmental impact is decreased emissions from fossil-fueled electricity generation. All ofthe minimum efficiency levels considered for this appliance productcategory wouldresult in decreased electricity use and. therefore. a reduction inpower plantemissions. The proposed efficiency standard would generally decrease air pollutionby decreasing future energy demand. The environmental analysis considers two pollutants. nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulfur dioxide (S021. and one emission. carbon. TheDepartment. inthe Notice ofProposed Rulemaking. proposed TSL 3. However. in the Final Rule. DOE is adopting TSL 4. an alternative that was also analyzed in the EA. The results of the analysis show an estimated cumulative reduction of27.7 to 32.7 million tons ofcarbon equivalent emissions. and 84.4 to 93.8 thousand
tons NOx for TSLs 3 and 4. respectively. through the year 2020. This wouldbe a national reduction of0.19% and 0.23% ofcarbon equivalent emissions. and 0.08% and 0.09% ofNOx. Because emissions ofS02 from powerplants are cappedby clean air legislation. physical emissions ofthis pollutant from electricity generation will be only minimally affected by residential central air conditioners andheatpumps standards. Themaximum S02 allowed by law will most likely still be produced. butbecause S02 emissions

are traded, and ifS02 emissions are lowered due to less powergeneration. then the cost ofS02 emission credits
may decrease slightly. Therefore. the EA did not consider changes in power sector S02 emissions because they will be negligible.

Determination: Based upon the EA. DOE has determined that the adoption ofthe proposed energy-efficiency standard for residential central air conditioners and heat pumps would not constitute a major Federal action significantly affecting the quality ofthe human environment. withinthe meaning ofNEPA. Therefore. an EIS is
not required, and the Departmentis issuing this FONS!.

Issued 

### in Washington, 

### D.C., the 4th day, 

### of January 2001.
Dan W. Reicher,
AssistantSecretary, EnergyEffiCiencyand RenewableEnergy. [FR Doc. 01-1791 Filed 1-18-01; 11:30 amI

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