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# Proposed Rules

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.

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

10 CFR Part 430

[Docket No. EE

- RM-97-500]

RIN 1904-AA75

Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Public Workshop on, Revised Life Cycle Cost and Engineering Analysis of Fluorescent Lamp Ballasts

AGENCY : Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy (DOE) ACTION: Notice of availability and public workshop.

SUMMARY : The Department of Energy (the Department or DOE) today gives notice that copies of the "Revised Draft Report on Potential Impact of Possible Energy Efficiency Levels for Fluorescent Lamp Ballasts," and "Summary Report of Interviews" are available for review and comment. In addition, the Department will hold a public workshop to discuss the reports and other relevant topics pertaining to possible revised energy efficiency levels for fluorescent lamp ballasts.

DATES : Written comments in response to this notice must be received by April 1, 1997. The public workshop will be held on Tuesday, March 18, 1997, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
ADDRESSES : Copies of the reports entitled "Revised Draft Report on Potential Impact of Possible Energy Efficiency Levels for Fluorescent Lamp Ballasts," and "Summary Report of Interviews" may be obtained from Sandy Beall at: U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, EE-43, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585-0121, (202) 586- 7574. These documents may be read at
the DOE Freedom of InformationReading Room, U.S. DOE, Room 1E190, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-3142, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Written comments are welcomed. Please submit 10 copies to: U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, "Ballast Docket No. EE-RM-97-500, EE-43, Room 1J-018, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585: The workshop will be held at the U.S. Department of Energy, Forrestal Building, Room 1E-245, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Anthony T. Balducci, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Mail Station EE-43, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-012 1, Phone: (202) 586-8459', Fax: (202) 586-4617, E-mail: anthony.balducci@hq.doe.gov Ms. Sandy Beall, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Mail Station EE-43, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121, (202) 586-7574

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Energy has initiated an extensive standards rulemaking process improvement effort to expedite and improve the procedures for developing appliance efficiency standards. This effort includes priority setting for various products, and the Department
has determined that the fluorescent lamp ballast standards rulemaking be assigned a "High Priority." The new process is described in the July 15, 1996, Federal Register, and includes a planning and prioritization process, data collection and analysis, and decision making criteria. (61 FR 36973). The Department is making available the following documents: "Revised Draft Report on Potential Impact of Possible Energy Efficiency Levels for Fluorescent Lamp Ballasts," and "Summary Report of Interviews." The revised analysis of energy efficiency levels identifies product categories and includes life cycle cost (LCC) and engineering analyses of the options being considered as potential standards levels for ballasts. The report is a revision of a February 1996 report and Federal Register

Vol. 62, No. 26

Friday, February 7. 1997

incorporates comments from the June 1996 workshop and stakeholder interviews. The interview summary report contains summaries of discussions that DOE held with manufacturers and other interested parties regarding technical, economic and ballast industry issues. In order to determine how to proceed with a rulemaking concerning standards for fluorescent lamp ballasts, the Department is taking steps consistent with the new process for developing efficiency standards. To obtain information from stakeholders and interested parties relative to the revised LCC and engineering analyses, the interview summaries, and other relevant topics pertaining to the energy efficiency levels for fluorescent lamp ballasts, a workshop will be held on Tuesday, March 18, 1997. The workshop will be held at the U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121 in Room lE-245 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. In addition, the Department invites the submission of written comments on the Draft Report and on the Report of Interviews. The tentative list of major topics for discussion at the workshop is as follows: A. The Life Cycle Cost (LCC) discussion will focus on the comparison of the LCC for: 1. Energy Efficient Magnetic (EEM) Ballasts v. Cathode Cutout Ballasts 2. EEM Ballasts v. Electronic Rapid Start Ballasts B. The Engineering Analysis discussion will focus on: 1. Ballast Life 2. Ballast Prices 3. Energy Prices C. The Interviews discussion will focus on how DOE will use the qualitative data it has gathered. The Department will use the information in the revised draft report, the stakeholder interviews, comments from the workshop, and written comments to.guide its approach to development of new efficiency standards for fluorescent lamp ballasts. Copies of the two above mentioned reports and this notice are available in the DOE Freedom of Information Reading Room. A copy of the workshop transcript and comments received will be available in the DOE public reading

room.

### Federal Register / Vol. 62, No

. 26 / Friday

, Febru ary 7, 1997 / Proposed Rules

Please notify Sandy Beall at the above address of your intention to attend the workshop or if you have written

comments.

Issued in Washington. DC on January 31. 1997. Christine A. Ervin, Assistant Secretary, EnergyEEciency and Renewable Energy.
(FR Doc. 97-3063 Filed 2-6-97; 8: 45 am] Q WNG CO 1-P 

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