### Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 167 / Tuesday, August 27, 1996 / Proposed Rules 44001

DATES: Written comments in response to this notice must be received by September 9, 1996.

ADDRESSES : A copy of the data sheets entitled "Product Data Sheets for Standards Rulemakings Priority Setting" may be obtained from: U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Forrestal Building, EE-43, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-7574. This document may be read at the DOE Freedom of Information Reading Room, U.S. DOE, Forrestal Building, Room IE-190, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-6020, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Written comments, 10 copies, are to be submitted to: U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, "Product Data Sheets for Standards Rulemakings Priority Setting," Forrestal Building, EE-43, Room lJ-018, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Sandy Beall, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S.Department of Energy, Mail Station EE43, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121, (202) 586-
.7574. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

10 CFR Part 430

RIN 1904-AA83
Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products

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

SUMMARY : The Department of Energy today gives notice that copies of the draft "Product Data Sheets for Standards Rulemakings Priority Setting" are available for comment. The draft data sheets provide the priority level and rationale, schedule, and pertinent information on the products covered by the Office of Codes and Standards (OCS). Comments will be used to set the priority and schedule for the appliance standards program, which will be published in the Administration's Regulatory Agenda. The priorities will help OCS allocate resources to meet its mission. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Energy's appliance standards program is conducted pursuant to Title III, Part B of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, as amended (EPCA). 42 U.S.C. §§6291- 6309. In 1987, EPCA was amended to establish by law national efficiency standards for certain appliances and a
schedule for DOE to conduct rulemakings to periodically review and update these standards. National Appliance Energy Conservation Act, Pub. L. 100-12 (1987). The products covered by these standards included refrigerators and freezers, room air conditioners, central air conditioners and heat pumps, water heaters, furnaces, dishwashers, clothes washers and dryers, direct heating equipment, ranges and ovens, and pool heaters. In 1988 , EPCA was amended to include fluorescent lamp ballasts. National Appliance Energy Conservation Act Amendments of 1988, Pub. L. 100-357 (1988). In conducting the rulemakings to update the standards, the Secretary of Energy is to set standards at levels that achieve the maximum improvement in energy efficiency that is technologically feasible and economically justified. 

### Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 167 / Tuesday, August 27, 1996 / Proposed Rules 

### 44001

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

10 CFR Part 430

RIN 1904-AA83

Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products

AGENCY: 

### Office ofEnergy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy (DOE). '

ACTION: 

### Notice ofAvailability.

SUMMARY: 

### The Department ofEnergy today gives notice thatcopies ofthe draft "Product Data Sheets for Standards Rulemakings Priority Setting" are available for comment. The draft dat,:! sheets provide the priority level and rationale, schedule, and pertinent information on the products covered by the Office ofCodes and Standards (OCS). Comments will be used to set the priority and schedule for the appliance standards program, which will be published in the Administration's Regulatory Agenda. The priorities will help OCS allocate resources to meet its mission. DATES: 

### Writtencomments in response to this notice must be received by September 9,1996.

ADDRESSES: 

### A copyofthe data sheets entitled "ProductData Sheets for Standards Rulemakings Priority Setting"
may be obtained from: U.S. Department ofEnergy, Office ofEnergy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Forrestal Building, EE-43, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-7574. This document may be read at the DOE FreedomofInformation Reading Room, U.S. DOE, Forrestal Building, Room lE-190, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-6020, between the hours of9:00 a.m. and 4:00
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

Written comments, 10 copies, are to be submitted to: U.S. Department of Energy, Office ofEnergy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, "ProductData Sheets for Standards Rulemakings PrioritySetting," Forrestal Building, EE-43, Room lj-018, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

### Ms. SandyBeall, Office ofEnergy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department ofEnergy, Mail Station EE43, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121, (202) 586- ,7574.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

### The Department ofEnergy's appliance standards program is conducted pursuant to Title III,Part Bofthe Energy Policy and Conservation Act, as amended (EPCA). 42 U.s.C. §§

### 6291- 6309. In 

### 1987, EPCA was amended to establish by law nationalefficiency standards for certain appliances and a schedule for DOE to conduct rulemakings to periodicallyreview and update these standards. National Appliance Energy Conservation Act, Pub. 

### L. 100-12 (1987). The products covered bythese standards included refrigerators and freezers, room air conditioners, central air conditioners and heat pumps, water heaters, furnacE'S, dishwashers, clothes washers and dryers, direct heating equipment,
ranges and ovens, and pool heaters. In 1988, EPCA was amended to include fluorescent lamp ballasts. National Appliance Energy Conservation Act Amendments of 1988, Pub. 

### L. 100-357 (1988). In conductingthe rulemakings to update the standards, the Secretaryof Energy is to set standards at levels that achieve the maximum improvement in
energyefficiencythat is technologically feasible and economicallyjustified.

### 44002 Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 167 / Tuesday, August 27, 1996 / Proposed Rules

The Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPACT) further amended EPCA to expand the coverage of the standards program to include certain commercial and industrial equipment, includingcommercial heating and airconditioning equipment, water heaters, certain incandescent and fluorescent lamps, distribution transformers, and electric motors. Energy Policy Act of 1992, Pub. L. 102-486 (1992). EPACTalso established maximum water flowrate requirements for certain plumbing products and provided for voluntary testing and consumer information programs for office equipment, luminaires, and windows. EPCA also provides for DOE to establish test procedures to be used in determining compliance with efficiency standards. These test procedures are revised periodically to reflect new product designs or technologies. As prescribed by EPCA, energy efficiency standards are established by a three-phase public process: Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANOPR), Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR), and Final Rule. The process to develop test procedures is similar, except that an Advance Notice is not required. On July 15, 1996, the Department published a final rule that outlines the procedures, and policies that will guide DOE as it works with stakeholders to establish new or revised energy efficiency standards for consumer products. The new process provides for greater public input, improved analytical approaches and encourages consensus-based standards that streamline the regulatory process and reduce the time and cost of developing standards. A key element of the new process is the involvement of stakeholders in the priority setting of the products to increase the predictability of the rulemaking timetable. A workshop was held on June 14, 1996, to discuss the criteria to be used in planning and prioritizing future rules, and review of the draft product data sheets to be used to develop a priority ranking for the products. To assist in the development of the priorities, DOE developed data sheets for each product. Once DOE has received input from stakeholders, the priorities and schedule for the appliance standards program will be determined. The schedule will then be published in the Administration's Regulatory Agenda in October 1996. Based on the comments from the workshop and written comments received, DOE has revised the draft product data sheets and is making available a copy of said sheets for standards rulemakings priority setting. DOE will use the revised data sheets to determine the priority of various rulemakings in the next year. These revised sheets provide a priority, . schedule and, rationale for each product. The Department would like your further input on the priorities before preparing the Administration's Regulatory Agenda. The Regulatory Agenda will provide stakeholders with the actions and a schedule for those actions that DOE plans to accomplish in the next
year. The priority levels will provide DOE with guidance on which products to focus and allocate resources towards. For the high priority products, DOE plans to pursue actively (meetings and workshops) and publish notices (Determinations.. Advance Notices of Proposed Rules, Notices of Proposed Rules and/or Final Rules) in'the next year. For the medium priority products, DOE plans to initiate work in support of rulemakings in the next year, for example, conducting a screening workshop for a standards rule makings. For the low priority products, DOE does not plan to actively pursue rulemakings in the next two years. Work would be limited to basic technology investigation and monitoring of voluntary programs.
Issued in Washington, DC, on August 21, 1996. Joseph Romm, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
[FR Doc. 96-21,785 Filed 8-26-96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6450-01-P 

## 44002 Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 167 / Tuesday, August 27, 1996 / Proposed Rules

The Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPACT) further .amended EPCA to expand the coverage ofthe standards
program to include certain commercial and industrial equipment, including commercial heating and airconditioningequipment, water heaters, certain incandescent and fluorescent lamps, distribution transformers, and electric motors. Energy Policy Act of 1992, Pub. L. 102-486 (1992). EPACT also established maximumwater flowrate reqUirements for certain plumbing products.and provided for voluntary testing andconsumer information
programs for office equipment, luminaires, andWindows.

EPCA also provides for DOE to establish test procedures to be used in determiningcompliance withefficiency standards. These test procedures are revised periodically to reflect new product designs or technologies.

As prescribed by EPCA, energy efficiency standardsare established by a three-phase public process: Advance Notice ofProposed Rulemaking (ANOPR), Notice ofProposed Rulemaking (NOPR), and Final Rule. The process to develop testprocedures is similar, except that an Advance Notice is not required.

OnJuly 15, 1996, the Department published a final rule that outlines the procedures, and policies that will guide DOE as it works with stakeholders to establish new orrevisedenergy efficiency standards for consumer products. The newprocess provides for greaterpublic input, improved analytical approaches and encourages consensus-based standards that streamline the regulatory process and reduce the time andcost ofdeveloping standards. A key elementofthe new process is the involvement of stakeholders in the priority settingof the products to increase the predictabilityofthe rulemaking timetable.

A workshop was held onJune 14. 1996, to discuss the criteria to be used in planning and prioritizing future rules, and review ofthe draft product data sheets to be used to develop a priorityranking for the products. To assist in the development ofthe priorities, DOE developed data sheets for each product. Once DOE has received input from stakeholders, the priorities and schedule for the appliance standards programwill be determined. The schedule will then be published in the Administration's Regulatory Agenda in October 1996.

Based on the comments from the workshop and written comments received, DOE has revised the draft product data sheetsand is making available a copyofsaid sheets for standards rulemakings priority setting. DOE will use the reVised data sheets to determine the priorityofvarious rulemakings in the next year. These revised sheets provide a priority,

. schedule andrationale for each product. The Department would like your further input on the priorities before preparing the Administration's Regulatory Agenda. The Regulatory Agenda will provide stakeholders with the actions and a schedule for those actionsthat DOE plans to accomplish in the next year.

The priority levels will provide DOE with gUidance on which products to focus and allocate resources towards. For the high priority products, DOE plans to pursue actively (meetings and workshops) andpublish notices (Determinations. Advance Noticesof Proposed Rules, Notices ofProposed Rules and/or Final Rules) in'the next year. For the medium priority products, DOE plans to initiate work in supportof rulemakings in the next year, for example, conducting a screening workshop for a standards rulemakings. For the low priorityproducts, DOE does

not plan to actively pursue rulemakings in the nexttwo years. Work would be limited to basic technology investigation andmonitoring ofvoluntary programs.

Issued in Washington, DC, on August 21. 1996. Joseph Romm. PrincipalDeputyAssistantSecretary. Energy EfficiencyandRenewableEnergy. [FR Doc. 96-21,785 Filed 8-26-96; 8:45 am1

BILLING CODE 6450-01-1> lo., \.