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[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 175 (Friday, September 9, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 55834-55835]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-22457]

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Proposed Rules
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.

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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 175 / Friday, September 9, 2011 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 55834]]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

10 CFR Part 431

RIN 1904-AC04

Efficiency and Renewables Advisory Committee, Appliance Standards 
Subcommittee, Negotiated Rulemaking Subcommittee/Working Group for 
Liquid-Immersed and Medium-Voltage Dry Type 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 the Negotiated 
Rulemaking Working Group for Liquid-Immersed and Medium-Voltage Dry 
Type Transformers (hereafter ``MV Group''). The MV Group is a working 
group within the Appliance Standards Subcommittee of the Efficiency and 
Renewables Advisory Committee (ERAC). The purpose of the MV Group 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). A separate Working Group 
on Low-Voltage Dry Type Transformers is being convened to discuss and, 
if possible, reach consensus on a proposed rule for regulating the 
energy efficiency of low-voltage 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) [76 FR 50148].

DATES: Thursday, September 15, 2011--9 a.m.-5 p.m.
    Friday, September 16, 2011--9 a.m.-3 p.m.

ADDRESSES: Department of Energy, Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Rooms 1E-245 and 8E-089, Washington, DC 20585. Please 
arrive at least 30 minutes early for building entry requirements, see 
the Public Participation section for more information.

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. Telephone: (202) 287-1692. E-
mail: John.Cymbalsky@ee.doe.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Background: 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.
    Membership: The Members of the MV Group were chosen from 
nominations submitted in response to the Department of Energy's call 
for nominations published in the Federal Register on Friday, July 29, 
2011 [76 FR 45471]. The selections are designed to ensure a broad and 
balanced array of stakeholder interests and expertise on the 
negotiating working group for the purpose of developing a rule that is 
legally and economically justified, technically sound, fair to all 
parties, and in the public interest. All meetings are open to all 
stakeholders and the public, and participation by all is welcome within 
boundaries as required by the orderly conduct of business. The Members 
of the MV Group are as follows:
     Richard Anderson (Fayetteville PWC)
     Tim Ballo (Earthjustice)
     Scott Beck (Lakeview Metals)
     John Caskey (NEMA)
     Jerry Corkran (Cooper Power Systems)
     John Cymbalsky (DOE)
     Andrew DeLaski (ASAP)
     Tom Eckman (NWPower and Conservation Council)
     Gary Fernstrom (PG&E)
     Carlos Gaytan (GE Prolec)
     Robert Greeson (Federal Pacific)
     Bruce Hirsch (Baltimore Gas and Electric)
     Gerald Hodge (Howard Industries)
     Phil Hopkinson (HVOLT)
     Michael Hyland (APPA)
     David Millure (Metglas)
     Steve Nadel (ACEEE)
     Wes Patterson (ABB)
     Eric Petersen (AK Steel)
     Ray Polinski (Allegheny Ludlum)
     Steve Rosenstock (Edison Electric Institute)
     Robin Roy (NRDC)
     Robert Saint (NRECA)
     Chuck Simmons (Progress Energy)
     Mark Stoering (Xcel Energy; member of ERAC)
    Purpose of the Meeting: To launch the process of seeking consensus 
on a proposed rule for the energy efficiency of liquid-immersed and 
medium-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 meeting will start at 9 a.m. and will 
conclude at 5 p.m. on Thursday, September 15, 2011, in room 1E-245 and 
reconvene on

[[Page 55835]]

Friday, September 16, 2011, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. in room 8E-089. 
The tentative meeting agenda includes introductions, agreement on 
facilitator and rules of procedure, presentations from DOE consultants 
on the results of their revised analysis of alternative candidate 
standard levels, and identification of the issues to be addressed by 
the negotiations, and any outstanding data needs.
    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 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, e-mail erac@ee.doe.gov no 
later than 5 p.m., Thursday, September 8, 2011. Please include ``MV 
Work Group 091511'' in the subject line of the message. An early 
confirmation of attendance will help facilitate access to the building 
more quickly. In the e-mail, please provide your name, organization, 
citizenship and contact information. Space is limited.
    Anyone attending the meeting will be required to present 
government-issued identification. Foreign nationals will be required, 
per DOE security protocol, to complete a questionnaire no later than 
one week prior to the meeting, Thursday, September 8, 2011.
    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.
    Minutes: The minutes of the meeting will be available for public 
review at http://www.erac.energy.gov.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on August 29, 2011.
LaTanya R. Butler,
Acting Deputy Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011-22457 Filed 9-8-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
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