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Skip Navigation HomeHelpResourcesContact Us Advanced Search Start of Main Content 2011-10-21 Energy Conservation Program: Compliance Date Regarding the Test Procedures for Walk-In Coolers and Freezers and the Certification for Metal Halide Lamp Ballasts and Fixtures; Final Rule. This Rule document was issued by the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Office (EERE)For related information, Open Docket Folder Show agency attachment(s) DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Docket No. EERE-2011-BT-CE-0050]
RIN 1904-AC58
SummaryThis document clarifies the compliance date by which manufacturers must begin to use portions of a recently promulgated test procedure (i.e., the April 15, 2011 final rule) when certifying walk-in coolers and walk-in freezers. This document also adopts regulatory text changes to reflect the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) intent that only manufacturers of components of walk-in coolers and walk-in freezers are required to submit certification reports. Additionally, the final rule clarifies the types of test data needed to support the certification of compliance pursuant to DOE's existing test procedures for walk-in coolers and walk-in freezers and the recently promulgated test procedure for this equipment. Finally, DOE is adopting an extension to the compliance date for which manufacturers, including importers, need to certify compliance to the Department of metal halide lamp ballasts and fixtures.
AddressesThe docket (i.e., docket number EERE-2011-BT-CE-0050 and/or RIN number 1904-AC58) is available for review at http://www.regulations.gov, includingFederal Registernotices, comments, and other supporting documents/materials. All documents in the docket are listed in the http://www.regulations.gov index. However, not all documents listed in the index may be publicly available, such as information that is exempt from public disclosure.
For Further Information ContactMs. Ashley Armstrong, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building Technologies Program, EE-2J, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121. E-mail: Ashley.Armstrong@ee.doe.gov. In the Office of the General Counsel, contact Ms. Laura Barhydt, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the General Counsel, GC-32, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121. Telephone: (202) 287-5772. E-mail: Laura.Barhydt@hq.doe.gov. Supplementary InformationI. Background on the Test Procedures for Walk-In Coolers and FreezersThe Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA), as amended by section 312(c) of the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA 2007), requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to prescribe a test procedure to measure the energy use of walk-in coolers and freezers (collectively, walk-ins or WICFs). See 42 U.S.C. 6314(a). DOE recently satisfied this requirement by issuing a final rule establishing a test procedure for manufacturers to use when measuring the energy use or energy efficiency of certain walk-in components: Panels, non-display doors, display doors, and refrigeration systems. See 76 FR 21580 (April 15, 2011) (final rule prescribing walk-in test procedures) and 76 FR 33631 (June 9, 2011) (notice containing corrected formulas).
Since the publication of that rulemaking, DOE recognized a need to clarify the date by which manufacturers must begin using the test procedure. TheSUMMARYandDATESsections of the preamble text to the final rule stated that the test procedures will be mandatory for making representations of energy usage or energy efficiency starting October 12, 2011; that is, 180 days after publication of the test procedure final rule. DOE published a notice of proposed rulemaking on August 9, 2011, which proposed to clarify that the compliance date for using the new test procedure for certifications of compliance will be the same as the compliance date for the performance-based energy conservation standards currently under development. 76 FR 48745. At this time, DOE plans to issue the performance-based standards final rule by 2012 and manufacturers must comply with those standards within three years of publication of the final rule. Thus, pending the completion of the performance-based energy conservation standards rulemaking, manufacturers will be required to certify compliance to those standards using the new test procedure in 2015, unless DOE adopts an alternative compliancedate. (1)
Id. In addition, DOE clarified the entity responsible for certifying compliance tothe Department for WICFs in the preamble of the certification, compliance, and enforcement final rule published on March 7, 2011 in theFederal Register. 76 FR 12422. Specifically, DOE discussed a certification scheme requiring the WICF component manufacturer to certify compliance to the Department. 76 FR 12442-44. Since the March 2011 final rule, DOE has received numerous additional inquiries and questions regarding this compliance scheme. Thus, the August 2011 NOPR proposed regulatory text in 10 CFR 429.53 to further clarify that only component manufacturers are required to submit certifications of compliance with the current standards (i.e., those design-based standards resulting from the enactment of EISA 2007). 76 FR 48748. These clarifications are consistent with the initial approach outlined in the March 2011 final rule and are meant to help manufacturers further determine who is responsible for certifying compliance to the Department.II. Background for the Certification Compliance Date of Metal Halide Lamp FixturesDOE's recent certification, compliance and enforcement rulemaking extended the compliance dates for certification of several types of commercial equipment. 76 FR 38287, 38292. Specifically, DOE extended the certification compliance date for manufacturers of metal halide lamp fixtures to October 1, 2011. Since the issuance of the final rule, additional information has come to the attention of the DOE regarding a lack of sufficient test data to support certification on the full sample required by DOE's regulations. To provide parity with similarly situated manufacturers of other types of commercial equipment, DOE proposed to extend the certification compliance date further for manufacturers of metal halide lamp fixtures, requiring submittal of a certification report no later than 1 year following publication of this final rule (i.e., approximately October 2012). 76 FR 48747, 48748.III. Discussion of Comments and Summary of Final RuleIn response to the August 2011 NOPR, DOE received 3 comments, which are discussed in detail below.A. Walk-In Coolers and FreezersThe Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) did not agree with DOE's proposal to set the test procedure compliance date to be the same as the date of compliance with the standards, but stated that the manufacturers should not be responsible for compliance until after an alternate efficiency determination method (AEDM) rulemaking is complete. AHRI urged DOE to set the test procedure compliance date no sooner than 3 years from the completion of an AEDM rulemaking. (AHRI, No. 0006 at p. 2)
In the test procedure final rule, DOE established the industry standard AHRI 1250-2009 as the method for testing walk-in refrigeration systems. See 76 FR 33631. AHRI recommended that the entity responsible for certifying compliance should be the partyresponsible for the rating of the entire refrigeration system as prescribed by the DOE test procedure. AHRI also stated that the party responsible for rating the refrigeration system would not necessarily be the manufacturer making the individual components constituting the refrigeration system (e.g., unit coolers or condensing units). AHRI requested that DOE clarify this point in the final rule. (AHRI, No. 0006 at p. 2) DOE plans to clarify which entity would be responsible for certifying compliance with any potential performance-based standard that DOE may set as part of the planned rulemaking addressing potential standards for walk-in equipment. DOE will consider AHRI's comments, along with others that are submitted, in that rulemaking proceeding.
Finally, DOE notes its adoption of provisions regarding testing for WICF panels in today's final rule. DOE is adopting regulatory text to clarify that the entity responsible for certifying compliance is the WICF component manufacturer. Furthermore, DOE is clarifying that only door, panel and fan motor WICF component manufacturers are required to submit certifications of compliance with the current standards (i.e., those design-based standards resulting from the enactment of EISA 2007). DOE emphasizes that WICFs distributed in commerce in the United States must meet all of the design standards enacted in EISA 2007, irrespective of whether a certification report is required. DOE also notes that it is clarifying that the anti-sweat heater power draw should be reported in watts per square foot of door opening, which is consistent with the units used in the current EISA 2007 standards.B. Metal Halide Lamp Ballast and FixturesDue to the lack of sufficient test data to support certification as further outlined above, DOE proposed to extend the certification compliance date for manufacturers of metal halide lamp fixtures and to require the submittal of an initial certification report by no later than one year following publication of the final rule. 76 FR 48747, 48748. In response, NEMA supported DOE's proposed one year extension. In addition, NEMA requested that DOE consider aligning the initial certification and annual certification reporting dates to reduce reporting burden. (NEMA, No. 0002, p. 1) DOE is adopting a 1-year extension from publication of the final rule for manufacturers to submit certification reports to DOE for all basic models distributed in commerce. Since the 1-year extension will be after the annual submission deadline for 2012, the annual requirement does not apply for that particular year. DOE notes that in the years following 2012, manufacturers will still be required to meet the annual filing deadline of September 1.IV. Procedural Issues and Regulatory ReviewA. Review Under Executive Order 12866This final rule has been determined not to be a “significant regulatory action” under section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866. Accordingly, this action was not subject to review under the Executive Order by the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).B. Review Under the Regulatory Flexibility ActThe Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) requires preparation of an initial regulatory flexibility analysis (IRFA) for any rule that by law must be proposed for public comment, unless the agency certifies that the rule, if promulgated, will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. As required by Executive Order 13272, “Proper Consideration of Small Entities in Agency Rulemaking,” 67 FR 53461 (August 16, 2002), DOE published procedures and policies on February 19, 2003, to ensure that the potential impacts of its rules on small entities are properly considered during the DOE rulemaking process. 68 FR 7990. DOE has made its procedures and policies available on the Office of the General Counsel's Web site: http://www.gc.doe.gov. DOE reviewed this final rule under the provisions of the Regulatory Flexibility Act and the procedures and policies published on February 19, 2003. This final rule would merely extend the compliance date of a rulemaking already promulgated. To the extent such action has any economic impact it would be positive in that it would allow regulated parties additional time to come into compliance. DOE did undertake a full regulatory flexibility analysis of the original test procedures rulemaking. That analysis considered the impacts of that rulemaking on small entities. As a result, DOE certifies that, this final rule, which would clarify the application of the test procedures, would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.C. Review Under the National Environmental Policy ActDOE has determined that this rule falls into a class of actions that are categorically excluded from review Under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and DOE's implementing regulations at 10 CFR part 1021. Specifically, this rule amends an existing rule without changing its environmental effect and, therefore, is covered by the Categorical Exclusion in 10 CFR part 1021, subpart D, paragraph A5. Accordingly, neither an environmental assessment nor an environmental impact statement is required.V. Approval of the Office of the SecretaryThe Secretary of Energy has approved publication of today's final rule.
Administrative practice and procedure, Energy conservation, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency,Office of Technology Development,Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
For the reasons set forth in the preamble, DOE amends parts 429 and 431 of chapter II of title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations to read as follows:Regulatory TextPart 429 Certification Compliance and Enforcement for Consumer Products and Commercial and Industrial Equipment
2. Revise § 429.12(i)(6) to read as follows:
3. Revise § 429.53(b) to read as follows:
(b) Certification reports. (1) Except that § 429.12(b)(6) applies to the certified component, the requirements of § 429.12 are applicable to manufacturers of the components of walk-in coolers and freezers (WICFs) listed in paragraph (b)(2) of this section, and;
(iii) For WICF fan motors: The motor purpose (i.e., evaporator fan motor or condenser fan motor), the horsepower, and a declaration that the manufacturer has incorporated the applicable design requirements.Part 431 Energy Efficiency Program for Certain Commercial and Industrial Equipment
c. In newly redesignated paragraph (c), revising the paragraph heading; adding new introductory text prior to paragraph (c)(1); redesignating paragraphs (c)(5) through (c)(8) as paragraphs (c)(7) through (c)(10); and adding new paragraphs (c)(5) and (c)(6).
(2) The K factor shall be based on ASTM C518 (incorporated by reference, see § 431.303).
* * * * *[FR Doc. 2011-27154 Filed 10-20-11; 8:45 am]BILLING CODE 6450-01-PFootnotes
Attachments View All (0) View document: No documents available. Attachments View All (0) Comment Now! Comments Not Accepted ID: EERE-2011-BT-CE-0050-0007 Tracking Number: View original printed format: Document Information Date Posted: Oct 21, 2011RIN: 1904-AC58CFR: 10 CFR Parts 429 and 431Federal Register Number: 2011-27154 Show More Details Submitter Information Comments0 Comments Received* Docket Information This document is contained in EERE-2011-BT-CE-0050 Related Dockets: NoneRelated RINs: NoneRelated Documents: 2011-08-09 Energy Conservation Program: Compliance Date... Related Comments: View all * This count refers to the total comment/submissions received on this document, as of 11:59 PM yesterday. Note: Agencies review all submissions, however some agencies may choose to redact, or withhold, certain submissions (or portions thereof) such as those containing private or proprietary information, inappropriate language, or duplicate/near duplicate examples of a mass-mail campaign. This can result in discrepancies between this count and those displayed when conducting searches on the Public Submission document type. For specific information about an agency’s public submission policy, refer to its website or the Federal Register document. Document text and images courtesy of the Federal Register Home Search Advanced Search Browse By Category Learn About Us eRulemaking Program Media Toolkit Agencies Awards & Recognition Enhancements & Fixes Resources Site Data Regulatory Agenda Agency Reports Required by Statute API Overview Developers Help How to use Regulations.gov FAQs Glossary Connect With Contact Us Privacy and Security Notice User Notice Accessibility Statement Partner Sites We the People Federal Register Reginfo Congress.gov USA.gov E-Gov Opengov Participate Today!