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[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 176 (Monday, September 12, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 56126-56127]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-23237]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

10 CFR Parts 430 and 431

[Docket Number EERE-2011-BT-NOA-0038]

Energy Conservation Program: Treatment of ``Smart'' Appliances in 
Energy Conservation Standards and Test Procedures

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

ACTION: Notice of extension of public comment period.

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SUMMARY: This document announces that the period for submitting 
comments on the request for information on ``smart'' appliances is 
extended to September 30, 2011. DOE seeks information and comments 
related to the analytical treatment of ``smart'' appliances in the 
development of DOE's energy conservation standards, as well as in test 
procedures used to demonstrate compliance with DOE's standards and 
qualification as an ENERGY STAR product.

DATES: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will accept comments, data, 
and information regarding the request for information on ``smart'' 
appliances published August 5, 2011 (76 FR 47518) if they are received 
no later than September 30, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Any comments submitted must identify the request for 
information on ``smart'' appliances and provide docket number EERE-
2011-BT-NOA-0038. Comments may be submitted using any of the following 
methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     E-mail: SmartApplianceRFI-2011-NOA-0038@ee.doe.gov. 
Include docket number EERE-2011-BT-NOA-0038 in the subject line of the 
message. Submit electronic comments in WordPerfect, Microsoft Word, 
PDF, or ASCII file format and avoid the use of special characters or 
any form of encryption.
     Postal Mail: Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department of 
Energy, Building Technologies Program, Mailstop EE-2J,

[[Page 56127]]

1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121. Telephone: 
(202) 586-2945. Please submit one signed original paper copy.
     Hand Delivery/Courier: Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department 
of Energy, Building Technologies Program, 950 L'Enfant Plaza, SW., 6th 
Floor, Washington, DC 20024. Please submit one signed original paper 
copy.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received, please call Ms. Brenda Edwards at the above 
telephone number for additional information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information 
may be sent to Ms. Ashley Armstrong, U.S. Department of Energy, Office 
of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building Technologies 
Program, EE-2J, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-
0121. Telephone: 202-586-6590. E-mail: Ashley.Armstrong@ee.doe.gov.
    In the Office of the General Counsel, contact Ms. Elizabeth Kohl, 
U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Ave., SW., Room 6A-179, 
Washington, DC 20585. Telephone: 202-586-7796; E-mail: 
Elizabeth.Kohl@hq.doe.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 5, 2011, DOE published a request 
for information (RFI) in the Federal Register (76 FR 47518) to request 
information on the treatment of ``smart'' appliances in the development 
of DOE's energy conservation standards, as well as in test procedures 
used to demonstrate compliance with DOE's standards and qualification 
as an ENERGY STAR product. The RFI provided for the submission of 
comments by September 6, 2011. Commenters requested an extension of the 
comment period given the Labor Day holiday and in order to have 
additional time to prepare and submit their comments. DOE has 
determined that an extension of the public comment period is 
appropriate based on the foregoing reasons and is hereby extending the 
comment period. DOE will consider any comments received by September 
30, 2011 and deems any comments received between September 6, 2011 and 
September 30, 2011 to be timely submitted.

Further Information on Submitting Comments

    Under 10 CFR 1004.11, any person submitting information that he or 
she believes to be confidential and exempt by law from public 
disclosure should submit two copies: One copy of the document including 
all the information believed to be confidential, and one copy of the 
document with the information believed to be confidential deleted. DOE 
will make its own determination about the confidential status of the 
information and treat it according to its determination.
    Factors of interest to DOE when evaluating requests to treat 
submitted information as confidential include (1) a description of the 
items, (2) whether and why such items are customarily treated as 
confidential within the industry, (3) whether the information is 
generally known by or available from other sources, (4) whether the 
information has previously been made available to others without 
obligation concerning its confidentiality, (5) an explanation of the 
competitive injury to the submitting person which would result from 
public disclosure, (6) when such information might lose its 
confidential character due to the passage of time, and (7) why 
disclosure of the information would be contrary to the public interest.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on September 2, 2011.
Kathleen B. Hogan,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency, Office of Technology 
Development, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
[FR Doc. 2011-23237 Filed 9-9-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
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