### 29321 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 96 / Thursday, May 17, 2012 / Notices

**SUMMARY :**  On February 21, 2012, EAC published a notice in accordance with Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. EAC announced an information collection and sought public comment on the provisions thereof. In compliance with Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, EAC announces an information collection and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. EAC, pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.5(a)(iii), intends to submit this proposed information collection (Election Administration in Urban and Rural Areas) to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget for approval. The Election Administration in Urban and Rural Areas survey asks election officials questions concerning voter outreach and election personnel. EAC will conduct the survey as a way to obtain data and information for a mandatory report to Congress as stipulated under HAVA 241 (B)(15), which requires EAC to study ‘‘[m]atters particularly relevant to voting and administering election in rural and urban areas.’’ Further, Section 202(3) of HAVA authorizes EAC to conduct studies and to carry out other duties and activities to promote the effective administration of Federal elections.

**DATES :**  Written comments must be submitted on or before 4:00 p.m. EDT on June 18, 2012.

Comments: Public comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Additional Information: Please note that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has up to 60 days to approve or disapprove the information collection, but may respond after 30 days. Comments on the proposed information collection should be submitted to OMB within 30 days of this notice. Comments should be sent to the attention of Sharon Mar, Desk Officer for the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC 20503. Comments sent to OMB should also be sent to EAC at HAVAinfo@eac.gov with Urban/Rural study as the subject line. Written comments on the proposed information collection can also be sent to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, 1201 New York Avenue NW., Suite 300, Washington, DC 20005, ATTN: Urban/ Rural Study.

Obtaining a Copy of the Survey: To obtain a free copy of the survey: (1) Access the EAC Web site at

www.eac.gov; (2) write to the EAC (including your address and phone number) at U.S. Election Assistance Commission, 1201 New York Avenue NW., Suite 300, Washington, DC 20005, ATTN: Urban/Rural Study.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Karen Lynn-Dyson or Shelly Anderson at (202) 566–3100.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :** 

Title and OMB Number: Election Administration in Urban and Rural Areas; OMB Number Pending.

Summary of the Collection of Information: The survey requests information at the local level concerning the following categories:

Background: (1) Number of years served as an election official; type of appointment; (2) number of registered voters; (3) jurisdiction described as urban or rural; (4) jurisdiction required to provide language assistance; (5) office have full responsibility for elections in the jurisdiction; (6) alternative forms of voting allowed in the jurisdiction (absentee—excuse required, no-excuse absentee, early voting, all vote-by-mail).

Voter Outreach: (7) type of voter outreach provided to the public; (8)outreach efforts coordinated with thirdparty/civic organizations; type of voter outreach coordinated; type of organizations with which the jurisdiction works; (9) voter outreach activities that focus on specific groups; (10) cost of voter outreach efforts in 2010; (11) estimated cost of voter outreach efforts in 2012; (12) how voter outreach efforts were paid for; (13) ease or difficulty of engaging in voter outreach; (14) reasons outreach may have been difficult.

Personnel: (15) number of paid fulltime, part-time, and temporary staff in 2010; (16) number of poll workers used in 2010; (17) number of paid full-time, part-time, and temporary staff in 2012; (18) number of poll workers used in 2012; (19) poll worker pay; (20) sources for recruiting poll workers; (21) ease or difficulty of obtaining poll workers; (22) reasons obtaining poll workers may have been difficult; (23) jurisdiction offer split shifts for poll workers; (24) additional comments. Affected Public (Respondents): Local governments that administer Federal elections.

Affected Public: Local government. Number of Respondents: 5,000. Responses per Respondent: 1. Estimated Burden Per Response: 30 minutes.

Estimated Total Annual Burden
Hours: 1,500 hours.

Frequency: One-time data collection.

Mark A. Robbins, Acting Executive Director, U.S. Election Assistance Commission.
[FR Doc. 2012–11919 Filed 5–16–12; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 6820–KF–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY**

**National Coal Council**

**AGENCY :**  Department of Energy.

**ACTION :**  Notice of open meeting.

**SUMMARY :**  This notice announces a meeting of the National Coal Council (NCC). The Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92–463, 86 Stat. 770) requires that public notice of these meetings be announced in the Federal Register

. **DATES :**  Thursday, June 7, 2012, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

**ADDRESSES :**  Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare, 5440 North River Road, Rosemont, Illinois 60018.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Dr. Robert J. Wright, U.S. Department of Energy; 4G–036/Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585–1290; Telephone: 202–586–0429.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :** 

Purpose of Meeting: The Coal Policy Committee of the National Coal Council will review the draft of a report requested by Secretary of Energy Steven Chu in a letter dated October 28, 2011, to the Council.
Tentative Agenda

■ Review and action on the report. ■ Adjourn. Public Participation: The meeting is open to the public. If you would like to file a written statement with the Committee, you may do so either before or after the meeting. If you would like to make oral statements regarding any potential items on the agenda, you should contact Dr. Robert J. Wright,

202–586–0429 or Robert.wright@hq.doe.gov (email). You must make your request for an oral statement at least 5 business days before the meeting. Reasonable provision will be made to include the scheduled oral


### 29322 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 96 / Thursday, May 17, 2012 / Notices

statements on the agenda. The Chairperson of the Committee will conduct the meeting to facilitate the orderly conduct of business. Public comment will follow the 10-minute rule.

Minutes: The NCC will prepare meeting minutes within 45 days of the meeting. The minutes will be posted on the NCC Web site at http:// www.nationalcoalcouncil.org/.

Dated: Issued at Washington, DC, on May 11, 2012. LaTanya R. Butler, Acting Deputy Committee Management Officer.

[FR Doc. 2012–11977 Filed 5–16–12; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 6450–01–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY**

**[Docket No. EERE–2011–BT–DET–0057]**

**RIN 1904–AC59**

**Updating State Residential Building Energy Efficiency Codes** 

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

**ACTION :**  Notice of final determination.

**SUMMARY :**  The Department of Energy (DOE or Department) has determined that the 2012 edition of the International Code Council (ICC) International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) (2012 IECC or 2012 edition) would achieve greater energy efficiency in low-rise residential buildings than the 2009 IECC. Upon publication of this affirmative final determination, States are required to file certification statements to DOE that they have reviewed the provisions of their residential building code regarding energy efficiency and made a determination as to whether to update their code to meet or exceed the 2012 IECC. Additionally, this Notice provides guidance to States on how the codes have changed from previous versions, and the certification process.

**DATES :**  Certification Statements by the States must be provided by May 17,

2014.

**ADDRESSES :**  Certification Statements must be addressed to the Buildings Technologies Program-Building Energy Codes Program Manager, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Forrestal Building, Mail Station EE–2J, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585–0121.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Michael Erbesfeld, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Forrestal Building, Mail Station EE–2J, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585– 0121, (202) 287–1874, email: michael.erbesfeld@ee.doe.gov. For legal issues contact Kavita Vaidyanathan, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the General Counsel, Forrestal Building, GC–71, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586– 0669, email: kavita.vaidyanathan@hq.doe.gov.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :** 

I. Introduction

A. Statutory Requirements B. Background C. Public Comments on the Preliminary

Determination D. DOE’s Final Determination Statement II. Discussion of Changes in the 2012 IECC

A. Changes in the 2012 IECC That Increase

Energy Efficiency B. Changes in the 2012 IECC That Decrease

Energy Efficiency C. Changes in the 2012 IECC That Have an

Unclear Impact on Energy Efficiency D. Changes in the 2012 IECC That Do Not

Affect Energy Efficiency III. Filing Certification Statements With DOE

A. State Determinations B. Certification C. Request for Extensions IV. Regulatory Analysis

A. Review Under Executive Order 12866 B. Review Under the Regulatory Flexibility

Act C. Review Under the National

Environmental Policy Act of 1969 D. Review Under Executive Order 13132,

‘‘Federalism’’ E. Review Under the Unfunded Mandates

Reform Act of 1995 F. Review Under the Treasury and General

Government Appropriations Act of 1999 G. Review Under the Treasury and General

Government Appropriations Act of 2001 H. Review Under Executive Order 13211 I. Review Under Executive Order 13175

I. Introduction
A. Statutory Requirements

Title III of the Energy Conservation and Production Act, as amended (ECPA), establishes requirements for the Building Energy Standards Program. (42 U.S.C. 6831–6837) Section 304(a) of ECPA provides that when the 1992 Model Energy Code (MEC), or any successor to that code, is revised, the Secretary must determine, not later than 12 months after the revision, whether the revised code would improve energy efficiency in residential buildings and must publish notice of the determination in the Federal Register

. (42 U.S.C. 6833(a)(5)(A)) The Department, following precedent set by the ICC and the American Society ofHeating, Refrigerating and AirConditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) considers high-rise (greater than three stories) multifamily residential buildings and hotel, motel, and other transient residential building types of any height as commercial buildings for energy code purposes. Low-rise residential buildings include one- and two-family detached and attached buildings, duplexes, townhouses, row houses, and low-rise multifamily buildings (not greater than three stories) such as condominiums and garden apartments.

If the Secretary determines that the revision would improve energy efficiency then, not later than 2 years after the date of the publication of the affirmative determination, each State is required to certify that it has compared its residential building code regarding energy efficiency to the revised code and made a determination whether it is appropriate to revise its code to meet or exceed the provisions of the successor code. (42 U.S.C. 6833(a)(5)(B)) State determinations are to be made: (1) After public notice and hearing; (2) in writing; (3) based upon findings included in such determination and upon evidence presented at the hearing; and (4) available to the public. (See, 42 U.S.C. 6833(a)(5)(C)) In addition, if a State determines that it is not appropriate to revise its residential building code, the State is required to submit to the Secretary, in writing, the reasons, which are to be made available to the public. (See, 42 U.S.C. 6833(a)(5)(C))
B. Background

The ICC’s IECC establishes a national model code for energy efficiency requirements for buildings. In 1997, the Council of American Building Officials (CABO) was incorporated into the ICC and the MEC was renamed to the IECC. A previous Federal Register notice, 59 FR 36173, July 15, 1994, announced the Secretary’s determination that the 1993 MEC increased energy efficiency relative to the 1992 MEC for residential buildings. Similarly, another Federal Register notice, 61 FR 64727, December 6, 1996, announced the Secretary’s determination that the 1995 MEC is an improvement over the 1993 MEC. Federal Register notice 66 FR 1964, January 10, 2001, simultaneously announced the Secretary’s determination that the 1998 IECC is an improvement over the 1995 MEC and the 2000 IECC is an improvement over the 1998 IECC. Federal Register notice 76 FR 42688, July 19, 2011, announced the Secretary’s determination that the 2003 IECC was not a substantial improvement over its predecessor, while the 2006 and 2009 editions were a substantial improvement over its predecessors. A map depicting the