Designated Feder

Overview of ASRAC Op

Committee Responsibilities and Interactions with DOE & Charte
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DOE and ASRAC• ASRAC is an advisory committee charted by DOE

– Parent Committee members are appointed by DOE

– A Federal Register notice was published March 8, 2012 seeking no

for the committee

– Appointees were selected by DOE and appointed by Secretary of 

– Membership limited to approximately 12 individuals with one spo

for DOE staff as required by the Negotiated Rulemaking Act

– Staggered term limits of 1‐3 years, but can be reappointed for on

term

– As needed, Federal Register notice will be published to solicit nom

new members to fill vacancies

• ASRAC is solely advisory in nature, with focus on appliance stan

rulemaking issues and solutions

• Committee tasks originate from discussion between DOE and A

members, defining clear goals, timeframe for task completion, 

date for presenting the Committee’s formal recommendations 
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DOE and ASRAC• As needed, ASRAC will vote to form working groups to investiga

task in detail and gather additional input from stakeholders

– In such cases where ASRAC votes to form a working group, DOE w

Federal Register notice soliciting nominations for members

– Working group efforts are presented to ASRAC and ASRAC deliber

forms recommendations to DOE (working groups never present

recommendations directly to DOE)

• DOE may withdraw a task from ASRAC at any time

• In the event a consensus recommendation is not reached for a 

task within a given timeframe, ASRAC will let DOE know that no

recommendations will be made and it is determined to withdra

give the working group more time

– Without a consensus recommendation from the working group a

affirmation from ASRAC, DOE will proceed with its “normal” rulem

activities
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ASRAC’s Scope of Activities• As a negotiated rulemaking federal advisory commit

ASRAC was chartered to provide advice and recommrelated to:

1. Minimum efficiency standards for appliances and equipm

2. Test procedures,

3. New product coverage,

4. Certification, laboratory accreditation, and testing progra

5. Labeling for various appliances and equipment, and

6. Specific issues of concern to DOE, as requested.

• ASRAC efforts are expected to expedite the Applian

Standards Program’s rulemaking activities and yiel

decisions by moving from a contentious rulemaking 

to a consensus model
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ASRAC’s Process Flow

ASRAC

ASR

Wo

“Tas

WG Presents

Update/ Consensus

to ASRAC

Update/ Consensus

ASRAC

Deliberation

Task Discussion

Recommendation

WG Update/

Consensus WG Deliberations

As Decided Decided ‐ Additional Additional

Work from WG As Decided –

Dissolve WG

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

8a

8b
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ASRAC Process: Tasking Discussion

• At a public meeting, ASRAC discusses

identified tasks and may identify additional

tasks (with input/discussion from DOE and the

public) and votes on whether to accept or

reject a task

• For accepted tasks, DOE and ASRAC establish

clear goals, timeframe for task completion/

deliverables, and target date for presentingASRAC’s formal recommendations to DOE

• ASRAC members will be asked to volunteer to

serve on working groups based on expertiseand interest

– In instances where there are no volunteers,

ASRAC members will be asked to nominate a

fellow member and bring to a vote.
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ASRAC Process: WG Formation• After tasking is finalized, DOE will publish a Federal

Register notice that:

1. Announces the task taken on by ASRAC,

2. Solicits nominations for the Working Group, and

3. Establishes expected time commitment requirements for WG m

• Depending on established task deadlines, nominations may be 

for up to one month.

• ASRAC will conduct the initial screening to select members for 

group.

• Membership for working groups is limited to 25 members, this in

required seats for at least one full Committee representative and DOE’s representative.

• Once the recommendations are finalized, DOE will have the op

review and amend working group membership, as necessary.

• Once formed, the DOE and ASRAC representatives for the work

will select a working group chair.
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ASRAC Process: WG “Task Brief Meeting”• Once a working group is finalized, DOE will publish a

notice of open meeting in the Federal Register that

announces the first meeting (“Task Brief Meeting”)

• At the task brief meeting:

1. DOE and the ASRAC representative outline the expectations of th

group as a negotiated rulemaking effort (if applicable)

2. DOE and the ASRAC representative clearly outline the task at han

• Provide full details of any preliminary work that has been done towa

objective and identify any deliverable deadlines (e.g., status update) 

task completion date.

3. Working group members reaffirm their commitment to the task 

a work plan

• Work plan is emailed to ASRAC members as courtesy and cha

comment

– ASRAC members will have a finite amount of time to comment

– Comments will be considered at the working groups next meeti

work plan will be finalized
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ASRAC Process: WG Deliberations• After establishing a work plan, working groups will meet

as necessary to accomplish set goals

– Meetings will be announced in the Federal Register and will

be open to the public.

– The number of meetings will depend on the controversy of the ta

opposing views of the working group members, and the deadline 

to be published/ implemented.

• Working groups will operate by consensus

– Once the working group has reached a consensus (or decided the 

reach consensus) about its recommendation, it will draft a report 

distribution to the full Committee and will notify the ASRAC chair

• The report will be posted to the appropriate docket and will b

ASRAC members

• The working group chair will present the recommendations a

the working group at the next full Committee meeting.

• In instances there is a ASRAC meeting before consensus can be 

working groups will be asked to provide an update to ASRAC re

their efforts.
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ASRAC Process: ASRAC Deliberation on WG Eff

• Working group chair will present any updates or their final

consensus determination to ASRAC.

– For updates (or instances a determination has been made that the

working group cannot achieve consensus), the working group chair will

present current majority and minority views towards the working

group’s efforts to ASRAC.

• Based on the working group’s update, ASRAC will deliberate and:

1. Give additional time allowance for a given task, decide to have the working 

task further consideration or focus on specific issue raised by the Committe

2. Vote to accept the working groups recommendation without change and fo

recommendation to DOE with majority and minority views.

3. Notify DOE that no recommendation can be made on particular task and giv

rationale:

a. Working group cannot achieve consensus or

b. ASRAC is not able to reach majority consensus to submit working group

recommendation without change.
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How Can I Participate?• There are a number of ways stakeholders can get inv

1. Nominate yourself for consideration to participate a

member on ASRAC (when seats are available).

2. Nominate yourself for consideration to participate a

member of a working group.

3. Attend ASRAC meetings or working group meetings 

constituent to voting members and participate in ca

4. Attend ASRAC meetings or working group meetings 

participate as member of the public.

5. Anyone can submit written comments or questions 

asrac@ee.doe.gov.
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http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/

John Cymbalsky, ASRAC Designated Federal Offi

asrac@ee.doe.gov

February 26, 2013 DOCKET

http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=EERE‐2

Questions