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# DOE/EA-1748

Finding of No Significant Impact for 10 CFR 431: Energy Conservation Standards for Small Electric Motors

March 20102 [6450-01-P] DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 10 CFR Part 431 [Docket Number: EERE-2007-STD-0007] RIN 1904-AB70

Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Small Electric
Motors

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

ACTION: Finding of No Significant Imp act: Energy Conservation Program

SUMMARY: The Energy Policy and Conservation Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 6291 et
seq . (EPCA), directs the Department of En ergy (DOE) to adopt energy conservation standards for those small electric motors for which standards w ould be technologically feasible and economically justified, and woul d result in significan t energy savings (42 U.S.C. 6317(b)(1)-(2)). 1 Based on an Environmental Assessment (EA), chapter 15 of the final rule technical support document (TSD) for small electric motors (SEMs), DOE has determined that the adoption of energy cons ervation standards for SE Ms, as set forth in

1 The small electric motors, covered in this Finding of No Significant Impact, are essentially general purpose, alternating current, single-speed, inductio n motors built in a National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) 42, 48, or 56 frame series, and range from 1/4 to three horsepower. These motors operate at 60 Hertz and have either single-phase or a three-phase (polyphase) electrical design. These motors are used as components that drive a wide va riety of other commercial and industrial equipment, with the largest being pumping equipment, fans and blowers, compressors, conveyors, material handling machines, and other general industrial or miscellaneous applications.3 the final rule entitled the “Energy Conser vation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Small Electric Motors,” would not be a major Federal action si gnificantly affecting the quality of the human environment within the meaning of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). Therefore, an envi ronmental impact stat ement (EIS) is not required, and DOE is issuing this Find ing of No Significant Impact (FONSI).

ADDRESSES: Public Availability : Copies of the final rule TSD are available from the U.S. Department of Energy, Resource Room of the Building Technologies Program, 950 L’Enfant Plaza, SW., 6th Floor, Washingt on, DC 20024, (202) 586-2945, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federa l holidays. You may also obtain copies of the final rule TSD from the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s website at: www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Raba, Project Manager, Energy Conservation Standards for Small Elect ric Motors, U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Ener gy, Building Technologies Program, 950 L’Enfant Plaza, SW., 6th Floor, Washi ngton, DC 20024, Phone: (202) 586-8654. E-mail: Jim.Raba@ee.doe.gov ; Michael Kido, Esq., U.S. Depa rtment of Energy, Office of General Counsel, GC-71, 1000 Independe nce Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585. Phone: (202) 586-9507. E-mail: Michael.Kido@hq.doe.gov

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For further information regarding the DOE NEPA process contact: Carol M. Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA Polic y and Compliance (GC-20), U.S. Department4 of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW ., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-4600, or leave a message at (800) 472-2756. Additio nal information regarding DOE NEPA activities and access to many DOE NEPA doc uments are available on the Internet through the DOE NEPA website at: http://www.gc.energy.gov/nepa/

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SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Description of the Proposed Action : The proposed action is the establishment of new energy conservation standards for small electric motors (SEM). DOE is adopting trial standard level (TSL) 4b for polyphase small electric motors, and TSL 7 for capacitor-start small electric motors.

Environmental Impacts: The EA evaluates the environmental impacts of a range of energy conservation standards for SEMs. Th e results are presented for each TSL that DOE considered for SEMs. Each TSL is an alternative action and the environmental impact of each alternative is compared to wh at would be expected to happen if no new standard were adopted, i.e. , the “no action” alternative.

The primary environmental impact is decr eased emissions from fossil fuel use and from fossil-fueled electricity generation. All of the TSLs considered for the small electric motors covered under this regulation would re sult in decreased fossil fuel use and in a reduction in emissions. The energy conservation standards adopted in the final rule would generally decrease air polluti on by decreasing future energy demand. The environmental assessment (EA) addresses emissions of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and three criteria5 pollutants—nitrogen oxides (NO X ), sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ), and mercury (Hg). The energy savings from new energy cons ervation standards for SEMs are expected to result in reduced power sector emissions of CO 2 , NO X , and Hg. Reduced NO X emissions could also provide an economic benefit in the form of emission allowance credits. The results of this analysis show that the cumulative emissions reductions resulting from the SEM final rule are projected to be 112 million metric tons of CO 2 , 81 kilotons of NO X , and 0.49 ton of Hg. These emissions reductions and those from the other TSLs are not substantial enough to significantly affect the quality of the human environment. See chapter 15 of the SEM TSD Table 15.2.1, Table 15.2.2, Table 15.2.3, Table 15.2.4, Table 15.2.5, Table 15.7.1, and Table 15.7.2 for more in formation on the emissions reductions at all TSLs.6 Determination

Based upon the EA, DOE has determined that the adoption of the energy conservation standards for SEMs would not constitute a major Federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment, within the meaning of NEPA. Therefore, an EIS is not requir ed, and DOE is issuing this FONSI.

Issued in Washington, DC, on February 22, 2010.

__________________________________ Cathy Zoi Assistant Secretary Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy