a--k +EE-RM/STD-98-440 +4 ° (

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. of Proposed 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 of Energy 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 of Energy. S.W., Washington, D.C. 20585-0121, million tons of carbon equivalent

ACTION: Finding of No Significant (202) 586-9127. emissions, and 84.4 to 93.8 thousand

Impact (FONSI) for Energy Conservation For Further Information Regarding the 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 of NEPA national reduction of 0.19% 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% of NOx. Because

Conservation Act, as amended by the Washington, D.C. 20585-0119, (202) emissions of SO 2 from power plants are National Energy Conservation Policy 586-4600. capped by clean air legislation, physical

Act and the National Appliance Energy SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: emissions of this pollutant from

Conservation Act, and the National Description of the Proposed Action: electricity generation will be only

Appliance Energy Conservation The proposed action is the minimally affected by residential 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 of Energy (DOE) to heat pumps. produced, but because SO 2 emissions

administer an energy conservation Environmental Impacts: The EA are traded, and if S02 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 of new energy conservation then the cost of SO 2 emission credits

EA-1352, DOE has determined that the standards for residential central air may decrease slightly. Therefore, the EA

adoption of energy 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 2 emissions 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 of the proposed energy-efficiency

Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps be expected to happen if no 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 of the The main environmental impact is significantly affecting the quality of the

human environment within the meaning decreased emissions from fossil-fueled human environment, within the

of the National Environmental Policy electricity generation. All of the meaning of NEPA. 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 of no 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,

of the EA are available from: U.S. decrease air pollution by decreasing Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and

Department of Energy, Office of Energy future energy demand. The Renewable Energy.

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

.;- EE-RM-STD-98-440 COMMENT 204

\ EE-RM/STD.9~O -# ~ 0 <f 

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 of Energy. 

ACTION: Finding of No Significant 

Impact (FONS!) for Energy Conservation 

Standard for Residential Central Air 

Conditioners and Heat Pumps. 

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 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-1352. DOE has determined that the 

adoption of energy efficiency Trial 

Standard Level (TSL) 4 for residential 

central air conditioners and heat pumps. 

as adopted by the Final Rule entitled the 

"Energy Conservation Program for 

Consumer Products: Residential Central 

Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps 

Energy Conservation Standards." 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 (FONS!). 

ADDRESSES: Public Availability: Copies 

afthe EA are available from: U.S. 

Department of Energy, Office of Energy 

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 

of Energy Efficiency and Renewable 

Energy (EE-41). U.S. Department of 

Energy. 1000 Independence Avenue. 

S.W .• Washington. D.C. 20585-0121. 

(202) 586-9127. 

For Further Information Regarding the 

DOE NEPA 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 of the Proposed Action: 

The proposed action is the 

establishment of a revised energy 

conservation standard (TSL 4) for 

residential central air conditioners and 

heat pumps. 

Environmental Impacts: The EA 

evaluates the environmental impacts of 

a range of new energy conservation 

standards for residential central air 

conditioners and heat pumps. 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 is 

decreased emissions from fossil-fueled 

electricity generation. All of the 

minimum efficiency levels considered 

for this appliance product category 

would result in decreased electricity use 

and. therefore. a reduction in power 

plant emissions. The proposed 

efficiency standard would generally 

decrease air pollution by decreasing 

future energy demand. The 

environmental analysis considers two 

pollutants. nitrogen oxides ( NOx) and 

sulfur dioxide (S021. and one emission. 

carbon. The Department. in the Notice 

of Proposed 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 of 27.7 to 32.7 

million tons of carbon equivalent 

emissions. and 84.4 to 93.8 thousand 

tons NOx for TSLs 3 and 4. respectively. 

through the year 2020. This would be a 

national reduction of 0.19% and 0.23% 

of carbon equivalent emissions. and 

0.08% and 0.09% of NOx. Because 

emissions of S02 from power plants are 

capped by clean air legislation. physical 

emissions of this pollutant from 

electricity generation will be only 

minimally affected by residential central 

air conditioners and heat pumps 

standards. The maximum S02 allowed 

by law will most likely still be 

produced. but because S02 emissions 

are traded, and if S02 emissions are 

lowered due to less power generation. 

then the cost of S02 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 

of the proposed energy-efficiency 

standard for 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 the Department is 

issuing this FONS!. 

Issued in Washington, D.C., the 4th day, of 

January 2001. 

Dan W. Reicher, 

Assistant Secretary, Energy EffiCiency and 

Renewable Energy. 

[FR Doc. 01-1791 Filed 1-18-01; 11:30 amI 

BILLING CODE 645D-Ol-P