Consumer products; energy conservation program: Commercial water heaters, boilers, furnaces, air conditioners, and heat pumps; test procedures and standards; workshop,

[Federal Register: September 10, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 175)]

[Proposed Rules]

[Page 48451-48452]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr10se98-17]

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

10 CFR Part 430

[Docket Number EE-TP-98-101]

Workshop Regarding Test Procedures, Standards and Related Matters for Commercial Water Heaters, Boilers, Furnaces, Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps

AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of public workshop.

SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (the Department or DOE) will hold a public workshop to discuss issues and gather information related to DOE's development of proposed provisions for energy efficiency test procedures and standards compliance as they relate to commercial water heaters, boilers, furnaces, air conditioners, and heat pumps. All persons are hereby given notice of the opportunity to attend and participate in this public workshop and to submit written comments.

DATES: The public workshop will be held on Tuesday, October 13, 1998, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The workshop will be held at the U.S. Department of Energy, Forrestal Building, Room 1E-245, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585-0121.

Written comments are welcome, especially following the workshop. Please submit by November 13, 1998, ten copies (no faxes) and a computer diskette (WordPerfect 6.1) to: Ms. Brenda Edwards-Jones, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Energy Conservation Program for Commercial Products: Water Heaters, Boilers, Furnaces, Air Conditioners, and Heat Pumps, Docket No. EE-TP- 98-101, EE-43, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585-0121. Telephone: (202) 586-2945.

Copies of the transcript of the public workshop, public comments received, and this notice may be read (or copied) at the DOE Freedom of Information Reading Room, U.S. Department of Energy, Forrestal Building, Room 1E-190, 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cyrus Nasseri, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, EE-43, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585-0121, (202) 586-9138, e- mail: cyrus.nasseri@ee.doe.gov; or Edward Levy, Esq., U.S. Department of Energy, Office of General Counsel, GC-72, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-9507, e-mail: edward.levy@hq.doe.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Energy is drafting a proposed rule to implement certain provisions of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA), 42 U.S.C. 6311-6314, 6316, regarding energy efficiency test procedures and energy conservation standards for commercial water heaters, boilers, furnaces, air conditioners, and heat pumps. While EPCA generally calls for adoption of test procedures referenced in the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air- Conditioning Engineers, Inc. (ASHRAE), Standard 90.1, several issues have been raised concerning interpretation of EPCA and the Standard concerning matters not addressed in

[[Page 48452]]

Standard 90.1. These issues were discussed at a previous public workshop on April 14 and 15, 1998. Proceedings of this workshop, including transcripts, are available for inspection in Docket No. EE- TP-98-101 at the DOE Freedom of Information Reading Room, U.S. DOE, Forrestal Building, Room 1E-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. Transcripts may also be purchased from Neal R. Gross, Court Reporters and Transcripts, 1323 Rhode Island Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20005-3701, (202) 234-4433.

Since that time, the DOE has analyzed the comments, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has developed recommendations for DOE's consideration in drafting the notice of proposed rulemaking. The purpose of this public workshop is to discuss the resolution of the issues raised in the April 1998, workshop and to obtain reactions to NIST's proposals.

NIST is developing a paper entitled, ``Proposed Provisions for a Rulemaking on Test Procedures for Commercial Water Heaters, Boilers, Furnaces, Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps,'' which will set forth approaches for DOE to consider in the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and it explains recommended provisions. This paper will be available after September 28, 1998, and can be found on the Internet at the following URL address: http://www.eren.doe.gov/buildings/codes__standards/ index.htm. Hard copies can be obtained by mail from Ms. Brenda Edwards- Jones, at (202) 586-2945, or may be read at the DOE Freedom of Information Reading Room mentioned above.

At this workshop, the Department is particularly interested in receiving comments and views of interested parties concerning: (1) the ideas for resolution of the issues discussed in April and (2) provisions recommended by NIST for DOE's consideration for inclusion in the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. The Department encourages those who wish to participate in the workshop to obtain the NIST paper and to make presentations that address its contents. Workshop participants need not limit their statements to these topics. The Department is interested in receiving views concerning other issues that participants believe would affect the test procedures or standards compliance for commercial water heaters, boilers, furnaces, air conditioners, and heat pumps.

The meeting will be conducted in an informal, conference style. A court reporter will be present to record the minutes of the meeting. There shall be no discussion of proprietary information, costs or prices, market shares, or other commercial matters regulated under antitrust law. After the meeting and period for written comments, the Department will consider the views presented in formulating a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding energy efficiency test procedures and standards compliance as they relate to commercial water heaters, boilers, furnaces, air conditioners, and heat pumps.

If you would like to participate in the workshop, receive workshop materials, or be added to the DOE mailing list to receive future notices and information regarding commercial water heaters, boilers, furnaces, air conditioners, and heat pumps, please contact Ms. Brenda Edwards-Jones at (202) 586-2945.

Issued in Washington, DC, on September 4, 1998. Dan W. Reicher, Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

[FR Doc. 98-24330Filed9-9-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6450-01-P