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.

Proposed Rules Federal Register

26303 

Vol. 87, No. 86 

Wednesday, May 4, 2022 

1See https://www.regulations.gov/docket/EERE2017-BT-STD-0019/comments. 

2See https://www.regulations.gov/docket/EERE2017-BT-STD-0019/comments. 

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 

10 CFR Part 430 

[EERE–2017–BT–STD–0019] 

Energy Conservation Program: Energy 

Conservation Standards for Consumer 

Products; Consumer Water Heaters; 

Reopening of Comment Period 

AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and 

Renewable Energy, Department of 

Energy. 

ACTION: Request for information; 

reopening of public comment period. 

SUMMARY: On March 1, 2022, the U.S. 

Department of Energy (DOE or the 

Department) published in the Federal 

Register a notification of availability of 

preliminary technical support document 

and request for comment regarding 

energy conservation standards for 

consumer water heaters. DOE received 

three requests to extend the public 

comment period by 60 days. DOE has 

reviewed these requests and is 

reopening the public comment period to 

allow comments to be submitted until 

May 16, 2022. 

DATES: The comment period for the 

preliminary technical support document 

published in the Federal Register on 

March 1, 2022 (87 FR 11327) is 

reopened until May 16, 2022. Written 

comments, data, and information are 

requested and will be accepted on and 

before May 16, 2022. 

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are 

encouraged to submit comments using 

the Federal eRulemaking Portal at 

www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments. 

Alternatively, interested persons may 

submit comments, identified by docket 

number EERE–2017–BT–STD–0019, by 

any of the following methods: 

(1) Federal eRulemaking Portal: 

www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments. 

(2) Email: To ConsumerWaterHeaters

2017STD0019@ee.doe.gov. Include 

docket number EERE–2017–BT–STD– 

0019 in the subject line of the message. 

No telefacsimilies (‘‘faxes’’) will be 

accepted. For detailed instructions on 

submitting comments and additional 

information on this process, see 

ADDRESSES section. 

Although DOE has routinely accepted 

public comment submissions through a 

variety of mechanisms, including postal 

mail and hand delivery/courier, the 

Department has found it necessary to 

make temporary modifications to the 

comment submission process in light of 

the ongoing COVID–19 pandemic. DOE 

is currently suspending receipt of public 

comments via postal mail and hand 

delivery/courier. If a commenter finds 

that this change poses an undue 

hardship, please contact Appliance 

Standards Program staff at (202) 586– 

1445 to discuss the need for alternative 

arrangements. Once the COVID–19 

pandemic health emergency is resolved, 

DOE anticipates resuming all of its 

regular options for public comment 

submission, including postal mail and 

hand delivery/courier. 

Docket: The docket for this activity, 

which includes Federal Register 

notices, comments, and other 

supporting documents/materials, is 

available for review at 

www.regulations.gov. All documents in 

the docket are listed in the 

www.regulations.gov index. However, 

some documents listed in the index, 

such as those containing information 

that is exempt from public disclosure, 

may not be publicly available. 

The docket web pages can be found 

at: www.regulations.gov/docket/EERE2017-BT-STD-0019. The docket web 

page contains instructions on how to 

access all documents, including public 

comments, in the docket. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ms. Julia Hegarty, U.S. Department of 

Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and 

Renewable Energy, Building 

Technologies Office, EE–5B, 1000 

Independence Avenue SW, Washington, 

DC 20585–0121. Telephone: (240) 597– 

6737. Email: 

ApplianceStandardsQuestions@

ee.doe.gov. 

Mr. Eric Stas, U.S. Department of 

Energy, Office of the General Counsel, 

GC–33, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, 

Washington, DC 20585–0121. 

Telephone: (202) 586–5827. Email: 

Eric.Stas@hq.doe.gov. 

For further information on how to 

submit a comment or review other 

public comments and the docket, 

contact the Appliance and Equipment 

Standards Program staff at (202) 287– 

1445 or by email: 

ApplianceStandardsQuestions@

ee.doe.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 

1, 2022, DOE published in the Federal 

Register a notification of availability of 

preliminary technical support document 

and request for comment regarding 

energy conservation standards for 

consumer water heaters. DOE stated it 

would accept written comments, data, 

and information on the proposal by May 

2, 2022. 87 FR 11327. 

On April 8, 2022, and April 28, 2022, 

respectively, DOE received a comment 

from the Air Conditioning and 

Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) and a 

joint comment from the American Gas 

Association, American Public Gas 

Association, National Propane Gas 

Association, Spire Inc., Spire Missouri 

Inc., and Spire Alabama Inc. 

(collectively, the ‘‘Joint Commenters’’), 

each requesting a 60-day extension of 

the public comment period on the basis 

that DOE had made public the 

preliminary Technical Support 

Document (‘‘TSD’’) one week after the 

notification was published in the 

Federal Register.1 On April 28, 2022, 

DOE also received a comment from ONE 

Gas, Inc. requesting a 21-day extension 

of the public comment period to 

continue their review of the 

supplemental analytical tools relating to 

the preliminary analysis.2

DOE has reviewed the request and is 

reopening the comment period to allow 

additional time for interested parties to 

submit comments. In light of DOE’s one 

week delay in providing the preliminary 

TSD to the public, DOE believes that 

additional time is warranted, and that 

reopening the comment period until 

May 16, 2022, is sufficient. Therefore, 

DOE is reopening the comment period 

until May 16, 2022. 

Signing Authority 

This document of the Department of 

Energy was signed on April 29, 2022, by 

Kelly J. Speakes-Backman, Principal 

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy 

Efficiency and Renewable Energy, 

pursuant to delegated authority from the 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with PROPOSALS
26304 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 86 / Wednesday, May 4, 2022 / Proposed Rules 

Secretary of Energy. That document 

with the original signature and date is 

maintained by DOE. For administrative 

purposes only, and in compliance with 

requirements of the Office of the Federal 

Register, the undersigned DOE Federal 

Register Liaison Officer has been 

authorized to sign and submit the 

document in electronic format for 

publication, as an official document of 

the Department of Energy. This 

administrative process in no way alters 

the legal effect of this document upon 

publication in the Federal Register. 

Signed in Washington, DC, on April 29, 

2022. 

Treena V. Garrett, 

Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. 

Department of Energy. 

[FR Doc. 2022–09554 Filed 5–3–22; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6450–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 

10 CFR Part 430 

[EERE–2019–BT–STD–0036] 

RIN 1904–AE82 

Energy Conservation Program: Energy 

Conservation Standards for Consumer 

Boilers 

AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and 

Renewable Energy, Department of 

Energy. 

ACTION: Notification of availability of 

preliminary technical support document 

and request for comment. 

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of 

Energy (‘‘DOE’’ or ‘‘the Department’’) 

announces the availability of the 

preliminary analysis it has conducted 

for purposes of evaluating the need for 

amended energy conservation standards 

for consumer boilers, which is set forth 

in the Department’s preliminary 

technical support document (‘‘TSD’’) for 

this rulemaking. DOE will hold a public 

meeting via webinar to discuss and 

receive comment on its preliminary 

analysis. The meeting will cover the 

analytical framework, models, and tools 

used to evaluate potential standards; the 

results of preliminary analyses 

performed; potential energy 

conservation standard levels derived 

from these analyses (if DOE determines 

that proposed amendments are 

necessary); and any other relevant 

issues. In addition, DOE encourages 

written comments on these subjects. 

DATES:

Comments: Written comments and 

information will be accepted on or 

before, July 5, 2022. 

Meeting: DOE will hold a public 

meeting webinar on Thursday, June 16, 

2022, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. See 

section IV, ‘‘Public Participation,’’ for 

webinar registration information, 

participant instructions, and 

information about the capabilities 

available to webinar participants. 

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are 

encouraged to submit comments using 

the Federal eRulemaking Portal at 

www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments. 

Alternatively, interested persons may 

submit comments, identified by docket 

number EERE–2019–BT–STD–0036 

and/or RIN 1904–AE82, by any of the 

following methods: 

1. Federal eRulemaking Portal: 

www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments. 

2. Email: ConsumerBoilers

2019STD0036@ee.doe.gov. Include 

docket number EERE–2019–BT–STD– 

0036 and/or RIN 1904–AE82 in the 

subject line of the message. 

No telefacsimiles (‘‘faxes’’) will be 

accepted. For detailed instructions on 

submitting comments and additional 

information on this process, see section 

IV of this document. 

Although DOE has routinely accepted 

public comment submissions through a 

variety of mechanisms, including postal 

mail and hand delivery/courier, the 

Department has found it necessary to 

make temporary modifications to the 

comment submission process in light of 

the ongoing coronavirus (COVID–19) 

pandemic. DOE is currently suspending 

receipt of public comments via postal 

mail and hand delivery/courier. If a 

commenter finds that this change poses 

an undue hardship, please contact 

Appliance Standards Program staff at 

(202) 586–1445 to discuss the need for 

alternative arrangements. Once the 

COVID–19 pandemic health emergency 

is resolved, DOE anticipates resuming 

all of its regular options for public 

comment submission, including postal 

mail and hand delivery/courier. 

To inform interested parties and to 

facilitate this rulemaking process, DOE 

has prepared an agenda, a preliminary 

TSD, and briefing materials, which are 

available on the DOE website at: 

www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/ 

appliance_standards/ 

standards.aspx?productid=32. 

Docket: The docket for this activity, 

which includes Federal Register 

notices, comments, and other 

supporting documents/materials, is 

available for review at 

www.regulations.gov. All documents in 

the docket are listed in the 

www.regulations.gov index. However, 

not all documents listed in the index 

may be publicly available, such as those 

containing information that is exempt 

from public disclosure. 

The docket web page can be found at 

www.regulations.gov/ 

#!docketDetail;D=EERE-2019-BT-STD0036. The docket web page contains 

instructions on how to access all 

documents, including public comments, 

in the docket. See section IV for 

information on how to submit 

comments through 

www.regulations.gov. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ms. Julia Hegarty, U.S. Department of 

Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and 

Renewable Energy, Building 

Technologies Office, EE–5B, 1000 

Independence Avenue SW, Washington, 

DC 20585–0121. Telephone: (240) 597– 

6737. Email: 

ApplianceStandardsQuestions@

ee.doe.gov. 

Mr. Eric Stas, U.S. Department of 

Energy, Office of the General Counsel, 

GC–33, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, 

Washington, DC 20585–0121. 

Telephone: (202) 586–5827. Email: 

Eric.Stas@hq.doe.gov. 

For further information on how to 

submit a comment, review other public 

comments and the docket, or participate 

in the public meeting webinar, contact 

the Appliance and Equipment 

Standards Program staff at (202) 287– 

1445 or by email: 

ApplianceStandardsQuestions@

ee.doe.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Table of Contents 

I. Introduction 

A. Authority 

B. Rulemaking Process 

C. Deviations from Appendix A 

II. Background 

A. Current Standards 

B. Current Process 

III. Summary of the Analyses Performed by 

DOE 

A. Market and Technology Assessment 

B. Screening Analysis 

C. Engineering Analysis 

D. Markups Analysis 

E. Energy Use Analysis 

F. Life-Cycle Cost and Payback Period 

Analyses 

G. National Impact Analysis 

IV. Public Participation 

A. Participation in the Public Meeting 

Webinar 

B. Procedure for Submitting Prepared 

General Statements for Distribution 

C. Conduct of the Public Meeting Webinar 

D. Submission of Comments 

V. Approval of the Office of the Secretary 


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