### 8189 

# Proposed Rules

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

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

10 CFR Part 430

Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products : Workshop to Consider a Revised Approach for Analyzing the Manufacturer Impacts from New or Revised Appliance Energy

- Efficiency Standards FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ms. Qonnie Laughlin, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Forrestal Building, Mail Station EE-43, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585-0121, (202) 586-9632. Ms. Sandy Beall, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy, Mail Stop EE-43, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585-0121, (202) 586-7574.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Energy Policy and Conservation Act, as amended by the National Energy Policy Conservation Act, the National Appliance Energy Conservation Act, the National Appliance Energy Conservation Amendments of 1988, and AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and the Energy Policy Act of 1992, Renewable Energy, Department of prescribes energy conservation Energy. standards for certain major appliances ACTION: Notice of Workshop on a Revised Manufacturer Impact Analysis Approach. and equipment and requires the Department of Energy to administer an energy conservation program for the products. Earlier appliance rulemakings SUMMARY: The Department of Energy have highlighted the need to address a (the Department or DOE) is convening a number of complex issues concerning public workshop to discuss a new the impact of standards on consumers approach to assessing the likely impacts and manufacturers. In response to these on manufacturers of appliance energy- issues, the Department initiated a efficiency standards that are under consideration by the Department. All persons are hereby given notice of the opportunity to attend and participate in comprehensive process improvement effort to examine, through a series of stakeholder meetings and interviews, issues surrounding the appliance the public workshop. p standards program. On July 15, 1996, DATES : The workshop on a revised (61 FR 36974) DOE issued Procedures manufacturer impact analysis approach for Consideration of New or Revised will be held on Tuesday and Energy Conservation Standards for Wednesday, March 11 and 12, 1997, Consumer Products final rule (process from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. rule) resulting from the process ADDRESSES : A transcript of the improvement effort. workshop may be read at the DOE In the July 15, 1996, procedures, the Freedom of Information Reading Room, Department committed to a U.S. Department of Energy, Forrestal comprehensive review of its existing Building, Room 1E-190, 1000 methodology for analyzing the likely Independence Avenue, S.W., impacts on manufacturers of new or Washington, D.C. 20585, (202) 586- revised appliance minimum energy 6020, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. efficiency standards. In that review, the and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, Department identified several ways to except Federal holidays. improve such analyses, and has The Manufacturer Impact Analysis incorporated these into a Manufacturer Workshop will be held in Room 1E-245, Impact Analysis Approach-Draft Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Workplan. Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20585. The Department intends to introduce If you are planning to attend the for consideration and discussion its workshop or wish to receive material Draft Workplan at the Workshop that is prepared for the workshop, please the subject of this Notice. contact either Qonnie Laughlin or A central feature of the draft approachSandy Beall, as listed below. is the incorporation of the industryFederal Register

Vol. 62, No. 36

Monday, February 24. 1997

provided Government Regulatory Impact Model (GRIM). The GRIM meets a number of the Department's objectives in revising the manufacturer impact analysis approach, in that the model is transparent, relatively easy to use, and capable ofbeing used by any individual manufacturer. The GRIM, however, also requires a number of significant inputs to be operational. These inputs include forecasts of expected prices and industry shipments, as well as information about firm-level production
costs. The Department desires to address the derivation of these important inputs as soon as possible, and the workshop will be the initial opportunity for individuals to provide
comments to the Department on this topic. The Department hopes to obtain guidance from individuals attending this workshop, on methods for estimating the impacts of standards on appliance prices, shipments and manufacturer costs.

While there will be some presentations, the workshop is being designed to maximize open discussions. The Manufacturer Impact Analysis Workshop will be professionally facilitated. It is expected that one outcome of this workshop will be the formation of a working group that would meet subsequent to the workshop to help the Department further develop its workplan. Below is the preliminary agenda for the public workshop:
Preliminary Agenda, Manufacturer Impact Analyses Workshop, March 11 and 12, 1997, Room 1E-245, 1000 Independence Ave SW, Washington, D.C.

Purpose: To describe and obtain comments on the draft workplan for future manufacturer impact analysis. To describe and obtain comments on existing and proposed analytical tools. Expected Outcomes: Formation of a working group(s) consisting of representatives of different industries and other interested parties. Guidance for further development of the workplan, including advice on the desirability of making changes to existing models or developing new tools.

### 8190 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 36 / Monday, February 24, 1997 / Proposed Rules

Day 1-March 11 Opening Remarks, Agenda Review 10 CFR Part 835 Methodology Overview and Description -Objectives 9:15 a.m.-9:45 a.m. [Docket Number EH-RM-96-835} of Analytical Tools Review of Day One Outcomes 9:00 a.m.-9:15 a.m. -Key issues Occupational Radiation Protection Opening Remarks, Overview, Agenda -DOE perspective Review -Stakeholder comments AGENCY: Office of Environment, Safety

9:15 a.m.-9:30 a.m. 9:45 a.m.-10:00 a.m. and Health, DOE. Description of the Review Process -Major objectives of the process rule regarding the analysis of manufacturer impacts -Process description -Schedule 9:30 a.m.-9:45 a.m. Analytical Framework -Measures of impact -Firms considered -Balance of qualitative and quantitative assessments 9:45 a.m.-10:30 a.m. Description of New Approach -Overview -Relationship to other standards analyses -Phase 1, Industry Profile -Phase 2, Industry Cash Flow -Phase 3, Sub-Group Analysis 10:30 a.m.-10:45 a.m. Break 10:45 a.m.-12:00 noon Description of the GRIM Model -Role and applicability of the GRIM Model -Financial principles -Input requirements -Output results -Open discussion, suggested modification, e.g. inclusion of return on investment 12:00 noon-1:00 p.m. Lunch 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. Preparing the Industry Profiles -Industry characterization -Industry data book 2:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Issues in Shipments Forecasts-Panel and Open Discussion -Role of forecasting models in the manufacturer impact analyses -General description of models, including • Input requirements • Outputs • Key assumptions • Uncertainty analysis • Track record • Operating characteristics -New spread sheet approach -Advantages and disadvantages of alternate approaches to forecasting shipments for GRIM 3:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m. Optional hands-on computer training on the models
Day 2-March 12
Methodology Implementation

9:00 a.m.-9:15 a.m. Break 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Estimating Manufacturing Costs for Input to GRIM-Panel and Open Discussion -Relationship to engineering analysis -Uncertainty in key variables -Variability between firms -Data collection methods e.g. ASHRAE methodology -Costs not considered in GRIM 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Lunch 12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m.Estimating Prices for Input to GRIMPanel and Open Discussion -Relationship to life-cycle cost analysis -Economic concepts -DOT methodology -Alternative forecasts -Scenario/ uncertainty analysis -Open discussion 1:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m. Estimating Shipments for Input to GRIM-Panel and Open Discussion -Relationship to national benefits forecasts -Appropriateness of existing forecasting models -Simplified spreadsheet model -Alternative forecasts -Scenario/uncertainty analysis -Open discussion 2:30 p.m.-2:45 p.m. Break 2:45 p.m.-4:15 p.m. Non-Model Impact Evaluation-Panel and Open Discussion -Competitive impacts -Manufacturing capacity, lost investment -Employment impacts -Information gathering and
assessment methodology -Cumulative impacts 4:15 p.m.-4:45 p.m. Other Issues/Alternative Methods/ Stakeholder Comments 4:45 p.m.-5:00 p.m. Discussion of Future Steps -Working group(s) composition, role and meetings 5:00 p.m. Adjourn
Issued in Washington, DC, on February 18, 1997. Christine A. Ervin, Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

[FR Doc. 97-4427 Filed 2-21-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6450-01-P ACTION : Proposed Rule; Extension of Public Comment Period.

SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE) published a notice of proposed rulemaking on December 23, 1996, (61 FR 67600) concerning amending its primary standards for occupational radiation protection: That notice provided the public with the opportunity to provide written
comments on this issue with a written comment period to end on February 21, 1997. Today's notice extends this written comment period to March 31, 1997.

DATES: Written comments and data must be received by the Department on or before March 31, 1997.

ADDRESSES : Written comments and data (5 copies and, if possible, a computer disk) should be addressed to Dr. Joel Rabovsky, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Environment, Safety and Health, EH-52, EH-RM-96-835, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585. Telephone: 202 586-3012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Joel Rabovsky, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Environment, Safety and Health, EH-52, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585. Telephone: 301 903-2135. For Information concerning the submission of comments, contact Ms. Andi Kasarsky on (202) 586-3012.

Issued in Washington, DC on February 18, 1997. Peter N. Brush, Principal DeputyAssistant Secretaryfor Environment, Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. 97-4426 Filed 2-21-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6450-01-P