80_FR_72206 80 FR 71984 - Energy Conservation Program: Exempt External Power Supplies Under the EPS Service Parts Act of 2014

80 FR 71984 - Energy Conservation Program: Exempt External Power Supplies Under the EPS Service Parts Act of 2014

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 222 (November 18, 2015)

Page Range71984-71990
FR Document2015-29303

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is proposing to codify provisions of the EPS Service Parts Act of 2014 that exempt from energy conservation standards certain external power supplies (EPSs) made available by a manufacturer as a service or spare part. Consistent with that Act, DOE is proposing to require annual reports of the total number of exempt EPS units sold as service and spare parts that do not meet the relevant energy conservation standards.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 222 (Wednesday, November 18, 2015)
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 222 (Wednesday, November 18, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 71984-71990]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-29303]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

10 CFR Parts 429 and 430

[Docket No. EERE-2015-BT-CRT-0013]
RIN 1904-AD53


Energy Conservation Program: Exempt External Power Supplies Under 
the EPS Service Parts Act of 2014

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

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is proposing to codify 
provisions of the EPS Service Parts Act of 2014 that exempt from energy 
conservation standards certain external power supplies (EPSs) made 
available by a manufacturer as a service or spare part. Consistent with 
that Act, DOE is proposing to require annual reports of the total 
number of exempt EPS units sold as service and spare parts that do not 
meet the relevant energy conservation standards.

DATES: DOE will accept comments, data, and information regarding this 
notice of proposed rulemaking no later than December 18, 2015. See 
section V, ``Public Participation,'' for details.

ADDRESSES: Any comments submitted must identify the NOPR for Exempt 
External Power Supplies Under the EPS Service Parts Act of 2014, and 
provide docket number EERE-2015-BT-CRT-0013 and/or regulatory 
information number (RIN) number 1904-AD53. Comments may be submitted 
using any of the following methods:
    1. Federal eRulemaking Portal: www.regulations.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments.
    2. Email: [email protected]. Include the docket 
number and/or RIN in the subject line of the message.
    3. Mail: Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department of Energy, Building 
Technologies Program, Mailstop EE-5B, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., 
Washington, DC, 20585-0121. If possible, please submit all items on a 
CD. It is not necessary to include printed copies.
    4. Hand Delivery/Courier: Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department of 
Energy, Building Technologies Program, 950 L'Enfant Plaza SW., Suite 
600, Washington, DC, 20024. Telephone: (202) 586-2945. If possible, 
please submit all items on a CD. It is not necessary to include printed 
copies.
    For detailed instructions on submitting comments and additional 
information on the rulemaking process, see section V of this document 
(Public Participation).
    Docket: The docket, which includes Federal Register notices, public 
meeting attendee lists and transcripts, comments, and other supporting 
documents/materials, is available for review at regulations.gov. All 
documents in the docket are listed in the 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.
    A link to the docket Web page can be found at: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/product.aspx?productid=23. This Web page will contain a link to the 
docket for this notice on the regulations.gov site. The regulations.gov 
Web page will contain simple instructions on how to access all 
documents, including public comments, in the docket. See section V for 
information on how to submit comments through regulations.gov.
    For further information on how to submit a comment, review other 
public comments and the docket, or to request a public meeting, contact 
Ms. Brenda Edwards at (202) 586-2945 or by email: 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Direct requests for additional 
information may be sent to Mr. Jeremy Dommu, 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.

[[Page 71985]]

Telephone: (202) 586-9870. Email: 
[email protected]
    For legal issues, please contact Mr. Michael Kido, U.S. Department 
of Energy, Office of the General Counsel, GC-33, 1000 Independence 
Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121. Telephone: (202) 586-8145. 
Email: [email protected].

Table of Contents

I. Authority and Background
II. Summary of the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
III. Discussion
    A. Codifying the Exemption in the CFR
    B. Service or Spare Part EPS
    C. Sales Reporting Requirements
IV. Procedural Issues and Regulatory Review
    A. Review Under Executive Order 12866
    B. Review Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act
    C. Review Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
    D. Review Under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
    E. Review Under Executive Order 13132
    F. Review Under Executive Order 12988
    G. Review Under the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995
    H. Review Under the Treasury and General Government 
Appropriations Act, 1999
    I. Review Under Executive Order 12630
    J. Review Under Treasury and General Government Appropriations 
Act, 2001
    K. Review Under Executive Order 13211
    L. Review Under Section 32 of the Federal Energy Administration 
Act of 1974
V. Public Participation
VI. Approval of the Office of the Secretary

I. Authority and Background

Authority

    Title III of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 (42 
U.S.C. 6291, et seq.; ``EPCA'' or, in context, ``the Act'') sets forth 
a variety of provisions designed to improve energy efficiency. (All 
references to EPCA refer to the statute as amended through the Energy 
Efficiency Improvement Act of 2015, Pub. L. 114-11 (April 30, 2015).) 
Part B of title III, which for editorial reasons was re-designated as 
Part A upon incorporation into the U.S. Code (42 U.S.C. 6291-6309, as 
codified), establishes the ``Energy Conservation Program for Consumer 
Products Other Than Automobiles.'' External power supplies are among 
the products affected by these provisions.

Background

    Section 301 of EISA 2007 established minimum energy conservation 
standards for Class A external power supplies (EPSs) manufactured on or 
after July 1, 2008. (42 U.S.C. 6295(u)(3)(A)). See 42 U.S.C. 
6291(36)(C)(i)-(ii). EISA 2007 exempts Class A EPSs from meeting these 
statutorily-prescribed standards if the devices are manufactured before 
July 1, 2015, and made available by the manufacturer as service parts 
or spare parts for end-use consumer products that were manufactured 
prior to July 1, 2008. (42 U.S.C. 6295(u)(3)(B)) Congress created this 
limited (and temporary) exemption as part of a broad range of 
amendments to EPCA under EISA 2007. The provision did not grant DOE 
with the authority to expand or extend the length of this exemption and 
Congress did not grant DOE with the general authority to exempt any 
already covered product from the requirements set by Congress.
    After releasing a preliminary analysis and issuing a proposed set 
of energy conservation standards, DOE published a final rule 
prescribing new standards for non-Class A EPSs and amended standards 
for some Class A EPSs--namely, those EPSs that met what DOE has termed 
as ``direct operation'' EPSs. See 79 FR 7846 (Feb. 10, 2014). (A direct 
operation EPS is an external power supply that can operate a consumer 
product that is not a battery charger without the assistance of a 
battery. See 10 CFR 430.2.) These new standards apply to products 
manufactured on or after February 10, 2016. At that time, DOE did not 
have the authority to provide manufacturers with an exemption for EPSs 
that were made available as service or spare parts to end-use consumer 
products that were manufactured prior to the compliance date of these 
new standards. Accordingly, despite requests from some commenters who 
responded to DOE's proposed standards by asking for such an exemption, 
no such relief was provided as part of the final rule.
    On December 18, 2014, the EPS Service Parts Act of 2014, Public Law 
113-263 (Dec. 18, 2014) (``Service Parts Act'') was enacted. That law 
provided manufacturers with an exemption for EPSs that are made 
available as service and spare parts for end-use products manufactured 
before February 10, 2016. To be exempt from the new standards under the 
Service Parts Act, an EPS must meet four separate criteria. 
Specifically, the EPS must be: (i) Manufactured during the period 
beginning on February 10, 2016, and ending on February 10, 2020; (ii) 
marked in accordance with the External Power Supply International 
Efficiency Marking Protocol; (iii) compliant, where applicable, with 
the standards for Class A EPSs and certified to DOE as meeting at least 
International Efficiency Level IV; and (iv) made available by the 
manufacturer as a service part or spare part for an end-use product 
manufactured before February 10, 2016.
    Additionally, the Service Parts Act permits DOE to require 
manufacturers of an EPS that is exempt from the 2016 standards to 
report to DOE the total number of EPS units shipped annually that are 
made available as service and spare parts and do not meet those 
standards. See 42 U.S.C. 6295(u)(5)(A)(ii). DOE may also limit the 
applicability of the exemption if the Secretary determines that the 
exemption is resulting in a significant reduction of the energy savings 
that would result were there no exemption to the new standards. See 42 
U.S.C. 6295(u)(5)(A)(iii). Finally, the statute authorizes DOE to 
provide a similar exemption from future EPS conservation standards.

II. Summary of the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

    DOE is proposing to incorporate the statutory provisions described 
above into its regulations. DOE is also providing some clarification on 
the circumstances under which EPSs would be considered spare or service 
parts. DOE also proposes to require that importers and domestic 
manufacturers annually report to DOE the total units of exempt EPSs 
sold as service and spare parts that do not meet the 2016 standards.

III. Discussion

A. Codifying the Exemption in the CFR

    DOE is proposing to incorporate the provisions of the Service Parts 
Act into 10 CFR 430.32. This would help ensure that the regulations 
reflect the statutory exemption and that interested parties are able to 
readily access the content of this new statutory provision. It also 
ensures consistency with the similar exemption to the Class A EPS 
standards provided by Congress within EISA 2007, which was codified in 
the CFR.

B. Service or Spare Part EPSs

    The Service Parts Act provides an exemption for certain EPSs that 
are made available by manufacturers as service or spare parts. Most 
end-use products that use EPSs are sold with the EPS that is necessary 
to operate that product. In such a case, the EPS that is sold with the 
end-use product would not be considered to be an EPS made available as 
a spare or service part. However, any EPS that is sold separately from 
an end-use product, including an EPS made available as a replacement 
for, or in addition to, the EPS originally sold with an end-use product 
would be considered an EPS

[[Page 71986]]

made available as a service or spare part.
    Further, to clarify the application of this statutory exemption, 
only those EPSs that are made available as service or spare parts for 
end-use products that were manufactured before February 10, 2016 (the 
date that manufacturers must comply with the new and amended standards 
for direct operation EPSs) qualify for the Service Parts Act's 
exemption. If an EPS is made available as a service part or spare part 
for any end-use product that continues to be manufactured after 
February 10, 2016, or is sold with any end-use product manufactured 
after that date, that EPS would not be eligible for this exemption. 
Congress specifically limited the application of the exemption to those 
EPSs that the manufacturer makes available for an end-use product that 
constitutes the primary load of that end-use product so long as it was 
manufactured prior to February 10, 2016. See 42 U.S.C. 6295(u)(5)(A).
    Furthermore, DOE recognizes that many EPSs, like those that use an 
industry standard communication protocol such as the universal serial 
bus (USB), may be capable of operating many different end-use products. 
If the EPS is capable of operating multiple end-use products, some of 
which were manufactured before February 10, 2016, and some of which 
were manufactured after February 10, 2016, then that EPS would also not 
be eligible for the service and spare part exemption since the EPS can 
operate an end-use product manufactured after February 10, 2016. In 
order to clarify which EPSs are eligible for the exemption, DOE is 
proposing to clarify that this exemption would apply to an EPS basic 
model that a manufacturer makes available only as a service part or a 
spare part for an end-use product that was manufactured before February 
10, 2016, and would not apply to an EPS basic model that a manufacturer 
makes available as a service part or spare part for end-use products 
that continue to be manufactured after February 10, 2016. Specifically, 
an EPS would be exempt from the 2016 Level VI standard if, among other 
criteria, it is made available by the manufacturer only as a service 
part or a spare part for an end-use product, and only if the end-use 
product was manufactured before February 10, 2016.
    DOE seeks comment regarding how manufacturers produce spare or 
service parts as compared to how manufacturers produce EPS units 
provided with a new product. For example, do manufacturers typically 
produce a single EPS basic model that is both sold independently as a 
service/spare part for a given end-use product and packaged with a new 
end-use product? If a manufacturer typically produces a single EPS 
basic model, are those EPSs produced as a spare or service part 
labelled differently from those packaged with a new product?

C. Sales Reporting Requirements

    Additionally, the Service Parts Act permits DOE to require 
manufacturers of an EPS that is exempt from the 2016 standards to 
report to DOE the total number of EPS units shipped annually that are 
made available as service and spare parts and do not meet those 
standards. See 42 U.S.C. 6295(u)(5)(A)(ii). Consistent with that 
authority, DOE is proposing that importers and domestic manufacturers 
of EPSs that are exempt under the Service Parts Act report to DOE 
annually the total number of exempt EPS units sold that do not meet the 
amended standard. DOE considers the ``shipments'' referred to in the 
statute to be the units sold by either the importer or the domestic 
manufacturer. Because importers would have both incoming and outgoing 
shipments, DOE considers the ``units sold'' to be clearer than ``units 
shipped.'' DOE requests comment on this phrasing.
    Many of the EPSs involved are Class A EPSs and continue to be 
subject to the current Class A EPS standards (i.e. Level IV) set forth 
in 10 CFR 430.32(w)(1)(i) and associated certification requirements. 
Manufacturers of any basic model of such a Class A EPS must, therefore, 
submit an annual certification report to DOE as required under 10 CFR 
part 429. For these EPSs, submission of an annual certification report 
to DOE is required to qualify for the exemption. In addition to the 
annual certification report requirement for these EPSs, DOE is 
proposing to require each importer or domestic manufacturer to include 
in its annual certification report information the number of units of 
each individual model of exempt EPS it sold in the preceding year that 
do not meet the 2016 standards. The Service Parts Act authorizes DOE to 
limit the applicability of the service and spare part exemption if DOE 
determines that the exemption is resulting in a significant reduction 
of the energy savings that would otherwise result from the final rule. 
In assessing whether such a change would be needed, DOE plans to use 
the reported information to evaluate the exemption's impacts on energy 
savings.
    Similarly, DOE is proposing to require each importer or domestic 
manufacturer of non-Class A EPSs that are exempted by the Service Parts 
Act and do not meet the 2016 standards to submit an annual report of 
the corresponding number of units of each individual model of such EPS 
that the importer or domestic manufacturer sold in the prior year. 
Examples of these kinds of non-Class A EPSs include multiple-voltage 
EPSs, high-power EPSs, and some EPSs used to operate end-use products 
that are motor-driven. Under DOE's February 2014 final rule, these 
EPSs, unless exempt, are required to meet the Level VI standards 
starting in 2016. These non-class A EPSs would not be certified under 
the provisions of 10 CFR 429.12 (General requirements applicable to 
certification reports), if they are exempt. Therefore, consistent with 
the Service Parts Act, DOE is proposing to require that importers and 
domestic manufacturers report the total number of units sold in the 
year preceding the report. Specifically, DOE is proposing to add this 
reporting requirement to 10 CFR 429.37, with the product-specific 
certification requirements.
    DOE proposes that the reporting period for the sales information be 
from August 1 through July 31 of each year. This would allow importers 
and domestic manufacturers time to compile sales information and report 
the number of units sold and to align the submittal date with the 
annual certification report deadline of September 1 for Class-A EPSs. 
DOE seeks comment on this proposed reporting requirement.

IV. Procedural Issues and Regulatory Review

A. Review Under Executive Order 12866

    This rulemaking is not significant for purposes of Executive Order 
12866, Regulatory Planning and Review, 58 FR 51735 (Oct. 4, 1993). 
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.

B. Review Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601, et seq.) requires 
preparation of an initial regulatory flexibility analysis (IFRA) 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

[[Page 71987]]

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://energy.gov/gc/office-general-counsel.
    For manufacturers of EPSs, the Small Business Administration (SBA) 
has set a size threshold, which defines those entities classified as 
``small businesses'' for the purposes of the statute. DOE used the 
SBA's small business size standards to determine whether any small 
entities would be subject to the requirements of the rule. 65 FR 30836, 
30848 (May 15, 2000), as amended at 65 FR 53533, 53544 (Sept. 5, 2000) 
and codified at 13 CFR part 121. The size standards are listed by North 
American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code and industry 
description and are available at http://www.sba.gov/content/summary-size-standards-industry. EPS manufacturing is classified under NAICS 
335999, ``All Other Miscellaneous Electrical Equipment and Component 
Manufacturing.'' The SBA sets a threshold of 500 employees or less for 
an entity to be considered as a small business for this category.
    As a preliminary matter, DOE notes that there are no domestic 
manufacturers of EPSs. Consequently, there are no small business 
impacts to evaluate for purposes of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
    Notwithstanding the absence of domestic EPS manufacturers, DOE 
reviewed this proposed rule under the provisions of the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act and the procedures and policies published on February 
19, 2003. This proposed rule would incorporate into DOE's regulations a 
statutorily-prescribed exemption affecting EPSs that manufacturers make 
available as service or spare parts. The exemption allows manufacturers 
to maintain and distribute supplies of replacement parts for older 
equipment without needing to meet the EPS energy conservation standards 
that will apply starting in 2016. This exemption provides manufacturers 
flexibility in meeting their warranty and contract obligations in cases 
where service or spare parts require an EPS. It also relieves 
manufacturers of the burdens of redesigning and certifying EPSs used 
for end-use products that are no longer manufactured starting in 2016, 
which DOE anticipates will save these manufacturers from any 
significant expenses that would otherwise be used to solely support 
products that are no longer in production.
    Consistent with its prior incorporation of the previous statutory 
exemption added by Congress for Class A EPSs made available as service 
and spare parts, see 10 CFR 430.32(w)(2) (2015), DOE expects any 
potential impact from its proposal to be minimal.
    For these reasons, DOE certifies that the proposed rule would not 
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities. Accordingly, DOE has not prepared a regulatory flexibility 
analysis for this rulemaking. DOE will transmit the certification and 
supporting statement of factual basis to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy 
of the SBA for review under 5 U.S.C. 605(b).

C. Review Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

    This rule proposes to revise an existing information collection. 
This information collection request contains:
    (1) OMB Control Number: 1910-1400.
    (2) Information Collection Request Title: Certification Reports, 
Compliance Statements, Application for a Test Procedure Waiver, and 
Recordkeeping for Consumer Products and Commercial/Industrial Equipment 
Subject to Energy or Water Conservation Standards.
    (3) Type of Request: Revision of a Currently Approved Collection.
    (4) Purpose: Today's notice would require external power supply 
manufacturers to report the number of exempt EPS units sold as part of 
the annual certification report, which is already required. The annual 
certification report must be submitted via CCMS, an electronic system 
for recording and processing certification submissions.
    Manufacturers of EPSs must certify to DOE that their products 
comply with any applicable energy conservation standards. In certifying 
compliance, manufacturers must test their products according to the DOE 
test procedures for EPSs including any amendments adopted for those 
test procedures. DOE has established regulations for the certification 
and recordkeeping requirements for all covered consumer products and 
commercial equipment, including external power supplies. See 10 CFR 
part 429, subpart B. The collection-of-information requirement for 
certification and recordkeeping is subject to review and approval by 
OMB under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). This requirement has been 
approved by OMB under OMB Control Number 1910-1400. Public reporting 
burden for the proposed certification requirement is estimated to 
average 30 hours per response, including the time for reviewing 
instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and 
maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the 
collection of information.
    In today's notice, DOE is proposing to require external power 
supply manufacturers to provide the total number of exempt EPS units 
sold as service and spare parts for each basic model for which the 
manufacturer is claiming exemption from the current standards. The 
following are DOE estimates of the increased time (over the existing 
approved information collection) for manufacturers to collect, organize 
and store the data required by today's notice of proposed rulemaking.
    Affected Public: Manufacturers of external power supplies that are 
claiming the spare parts exemption.
    Estimated Number of Impacted Manufacturers: 1028.
    Estimated Time per Record: 4 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 69 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to the Manufacturers: $500.
    This revision would yield the following totals for the information 
collection:

(5) Annual Estimated Number of Respondents: 3028
(6) Annual Estimated Number of Total Responses: 20,000
(7) Annual Estimated Number of Burden Hours: 68,069 hours
(8) Annual Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Cost Burden: 
$6,800,500

    Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, no person is 
required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty 
for failure to comply with, a collection of information subject to the 
requirements of the PRA, unless that collection of information displays 
a currently valid OMB Control Number.

D. Review Under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969

    DOE has determined that this proposal, which would incorporate a 
recently-enacted exemption into the CFR for EPSs sold as spare or 
service parts, 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 proposed rule would adopt changes to 
the manner in which certain covered equipment would be certified and/or 
reported, which would not affect the amount, quality or distribution of 
energy usage, and, therefore, would not result in any environmental 
impacts. Thus, this

[[Page 71988]]

rulemaking is covered by Categorical Exclusion A6 (Procedural 
Rulemaking) under 10 CFR part 1021, subpart D. Accordingly, neither an 
environmental assessment nor an environmental impact statement is 
required.

E. Review Under Executive Order 13132

    Executive Order 13132, ``Federalism,'' 64 FR 43255 (August 4, 1999) 
imposes certain requirements on agencies formulating and implementing 
policies or regulations that preempt State law or that have Federalism 
implications. The Executive Order requires agencies to examine the 
constitutional and statutory authority supporting any action that would 
limit the policymaking discretion of the States and to carefully assess 
the necessity for such actions. The Executive Order also requires 
agencies to have an accountable process to ensure meaningful and timely 
input by State and local officials in the development of regulatory 
policies that have Federalism implications. On March 14, 2000, DOE 
published a statement of policy describing the intergovernmental 
consultation process it will follow in the development of such 
regulations. 65 FR 13735. DOE has examined this proposed rule and has 
determined that it would not have a substantial direct effect on the 
States, on the relationship between the national government and the 
States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the 
various levels of government. EPCA governs and prescribes Federal 
preemption of State regulations as to energy conservation for the 
products that are the subject of today's proposed rule. States can 
petition DOE for exemption from such preemption to the extent, and 
based on criteria, set forth in EPCA. (42 U.S.C. 6297(d)) No further 
action is required by Executive Order 13132.

F. Review Under Executive Order 12988

    Regarding the review of existing regulations and the promulgation 
of new regulations, section 3(a) of Executive Order 12988, ``Civil 
Justice Reform,'' 61 FR 4729 (Feb. 7, 1996), imposes on Federal 
agencies the general duty to adhere to the following requirements: (1) 
Eliminate drafting errors and ambiguity; (2) write regulations to 
minimize litigation; (3) provide a clear legal standard for affected 
conduct rather than a general standard; and (4) promote simplification 
and burden reduction. Section 3(b) of Executive Order 12988 
specifically requires that Executive agencies make every reasonable 
effort to ensure that the regulation: (1) Clearly specifies the 
preemptive effect, if any; (2) clearly specifies any effect on existing 
Federal law or regulation; (3) provides a clear legal standard for 
affected conduct while promoting simplification and burden reduction; 
(4) specifies the retroactive effect, if any; (5) adequately defines 
key terms; and (6) addresses other important issues affecting clarity 
and general draftsmanship under any guidelines issued by the Attorney 
General. Section 3(c) of Executive Order 12988 requires Executive 
agencies to review regulations in light of applicable standards in 
sections 3(a) and 3(b) to determine whether they are met or it is 
unreasonable to meet one or more of them. DOE has completed the 
required review and determined that, to the extent permitted by law, 
the proposed rule meets the relevant standards of Executive Order 
12988.

G. Review Under the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995

    Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA) 
requires each Federal agency to assess the effects of Federal 
regulatory actions on State, local, and Tribal governments and the 
private sector. Public Law 104-4, sec. 201 (codified at 2 U.S.C. 1531). 
For a proposed regulatory action likely to result in a rule that may 
cause the expenditure by State, local, and Tribal governments, in the 
aggregate, or by the private sector of $100 million or more in any one 
year (adjusted annually for inflation), section 202 of UMRA requires a 
Federal agency to publish a written statement that estimates the 
resulting costs, benefits, and other effects on the national economy. 
(2 U.S.C. 1532(a)-(b)) The UMRA also requires a Federal agency to 
develop an effective process to permit timely input by elected officers 
of State, local, and Tribal governments on a proposed ``significant 
intergovernmental mandate,'' and requires an agency plan for giving 
notice and opportunity for timely input to potentially affected small 
governments before establishing any requirements that might 
significantly or uniquely affect small governments. On March 18, 1997, 
DOE published a statement of policy on its process for 
intergovernmental consultation under UMRA. 62 FR 12820; also available 
at http://energy.gov/gc/office-general-counsel. DOE examined this 
proposed rule according to UMRA and its statement of policy and 
determined that the proposed rule contains neither an intergovernmental 
mandate, nor a mandate that may result in the expenditure of $100 
million or more in any year, so these requirements do not apply.

H. Review Under the Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act, 
1999

    Section 654 of the Treasury and General Government Appropriations 
Act, 1999 (Pub. L. 105-277) requires Federal agencies to issue a Family 
Policymaking Assessment for any rule that may affect family well-being. 
This proposed rule would not have any impact on the autonomy or 
integrity of the family as an institution. Accordingly, DOE has 
concluded that it is not necessary to prepare a Family Policymaking 
Assessment.

I. Review Under Executive Order 12630

    DOE has determined, under Executive Order 12630, ``Governmental 
Actions and Interference with Constitutionally Protected Property 
Rights'' 53 FR 8859 (March 18, 1988), that this proposed regulation 
would not result in any takings that might require compensation under 
the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

J. Review Under Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act, 
2001

    Section 515 of the Treasury and General Government Appropriations 
Act, 2001 (44 U.S.C. 3516 note) provides for agencies to review most 
disseminations of information to the public under guidelines 
established by each agency pursuant to general guidelines issued by 
OMB. OMB's guidelines were published at 67 FR 8452 (Feb. 22, 2002), and 
DOE's guidelines were published at 67 FR 62446 (Oct. 7, 2002). DOE has 
reviewed this proposed rule under the OMB and DOE guidelines and has 
concluded that it is consistent with applicable policies in those 
guidelines.

K. Review Under Executive Order 13211

    Executive Order 13211, ``Actions Concerning Regulations That 
Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use,'' 66 FR 28355 
(May 22, 2001), requires Federal agencies to prepare and submit to OMB, 
a Statement of Energy Effects for any proposed significant energy 
action. A ``significant energy action'' is defined as any action by an 
agency that promulgated or is expected to lead to promulgation of a 
final rule, and that: (1) Is a significant regulatory action under 
Executive Order 12866, or any successor order; and (2) is likely to 
have a significant adverse effect on the supply, distribution, or use 
of energy; or (3) is designated by the Administrator of OIRA as a 
significant energy action. For any proposed significant energy action, 
the agency must give a detailed statement of any adverse effects on

[[Page 71989]]

energy supply, distribution, or use should the proposal be implemented, 
and of reasonable alternatives to the action and their expected 
benefits on energy supply, distribution, and use.
    This proposed regulatory action to amend the existing certification 
requirements for EPSs sold as spare parts is not a significant 
regulatory action under Executive Order 12866. Moreover, it would not 
have a significant adverse effect on the supply, distribution, or use 
of energy, nor has it been designated as a significant energy action by 
the Administrator of OIRA. Therefore, it is not a significant energy 
action, and, accordingly, DOE has not prepared a Statement of Energy 
Effects.

L. Review Under Section 32 of the Federal Energy Administration Act of 
1974

    Under section 301 of the Department of Energy Organization Act 
(Pub. L. 95-91; 42 U.S.C. 7101), DOE must comply with section 32 of the 
Federal Energy Administration Act of 1974, as amended by the Federal 
Energy Administration Authorization Act of 1977. (15 U.S.C. 788; FEAA) 
Section 32 essentially provides in relevant part that, where a proposed 
rule authorizes or requires use of commercial standards, the notice of 
proposed rulemaking must inform the public of the use and background of 
such standards. In addition, section 32(c) requires DOE to consult with 
the Attorney General and the Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission 
(FTC) concerning the impact of the commercial or industry standards on 
competition. This proposal to amend the certification requirements for 
all covered consumer products does not propose the use of any 
commercial standards.

V. Public Participation

    DOE will accept comments, data, and information regarding this 
proposed rule no later than the date provided in the DATES section at 
the beginning of this proposed rule. Interested parties may submit 
comments using any of the methods described in the ADDRESSES section at 
the beginning of this proposed rule.
    Submitting comments via regulations.gov. The regulations.gov Web 
page will require you to provide your name and contact information. 
Your contact information will be viewable to DOE Building Technologies 
staff only. Your contact information will not be publicly viewable 
except for your first and last names, organization name (if any), and 
submitter representative name (if any). If your comment is not 
processed properly because of technical difficulties, DOE will use this 
information to contact you. If DOE cannot read your comment due to 
technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, DOE 
may not be able to consider your comment.
    However, your contact information will be publicly viewable if you 
include it in the comment or in any documents attached to your comment. 
Any information that you do not want to be publicly viewable should not 
be included in your comment, nor in any document attached to your 
comment. Persons viewing comments will see only first and last names, 
organization names, correspondence containing comments, and any 
documents submitted with the comments.
    Do not submit to regulations.gov information for which disclosure 
is restricted by statute, such as trade secrets and commercial or 
financial information (hereinafter referred to as Confidential Business 
Information (CBI)). Comments submitted through regulations.gov cannot 
be claimed as CBI. Comments received through the Web site will waive 
any CBI claims for the information submitted. For information on 
submitting CBI, see the Confidential Business Information section.
    DOE processes submissions made through regulations.gov before 
posting. Normally, comments will be posted within a few days of being 
submitted. However, if large volumes of comments are being processed 
simultaneously, your comment may not be viewable for up to several 
weeks. Please keep the comment tracking number that regulations.gov 
provides after you have successfully uploaded your comment.
    Submitting comments via email, hand delivery, or mail. Comments and 
documents submitted via email, hand delivery, or mail also will be 
posted to regulations.gov. If you do not want your personal contact 
information to be publicly viewable, do not include it in your comment 
or any accompanying documents. Instead, provide your contact 
information on a cover letter. Include your first and last names, email 
address, telephone number, and optional mailing address. The cover 
letter will not be publicly viewable as long as it does not include any 
comments.
    Include contact information each time you submit comments, data, 
documents, and other information to DOE. If you submit via mail or hand 
delivery, please provide all items on a CD, if feasible. It is not 
necessary to submit printed copies. No facsimiles (faxes) will be 
accepted.
    Comments, data, and other information submitted to DOE 
electronically should be provided in PDF (preferred), Microsoft Word or 
Excel, WordPerfect, or text (ASCII) file format. Provide documents that 
are not secured, written in English and free of any defects or viruses. 
Documents should not contain special characters or any form of 
encryption and, if possible, they should carry the electronic signature 
of the author.
    Campaign form letters. Please submit campaign form letters by the 
originating organization in batches of between 50 to 500 form letters 
per PDF or as one form letter with a list of supporters' names compiled 
into one or more PDFs. This reduces comment processing and posting 
time.
    Confidential Business Information. According to 10 CFR 1004.11, any 
person submitting information that he or she believes to be 
confidential and exempt by law from public disclosure should submit via 
email, postal mail, or hand delivery two well-marked copies: one copy 
of the document marked confidential including all the information 
believed to be confidential, and one copy of the document marked non-
confidential with the information believed to be confidential deleted. 
Submit these documents via email or on a CD, if feasible. DOE will make 
its own determination about the confidential status of the information 
and treat it according to its determination.
    Factors of interest to DOE when evaluating requests to treat 
submitted information as confidential include: (1) A description of the 
items; (2) whether and why such items are customarily treated as 
confidential within the industry; (3) whether the information is 
generally known by or available from other sources; (4) whether the 
information has previously been made available to others without 
obligation concerning its confidentiality; (5) an explanation of the 
competitive injury to the submitting person which would result from 
public disclosure; (6) when such information might lose its 
confidential character due to the passage of time; and (7) why 
disclosure of the information would be contrary to the public interest.
    It is DOE's policy that all comments may be included in the public 
docket, without change and as received, including any personal 
information provided in the comments (except information deemed to be 
exempt from public disclosure).

[[Page 71990]]

VI. Approval of the Office of the Secretary

    The Secretary of Energy has approved publication of this proposed 
rule.

List of Subjects

10 CFR Part 429

    Administrative practice and procedure, Confidential business 
information, Energy conservation, Household appliances, Imports, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

10 CFR Part 430

    Administrative practice and procedure, Confidential business 
information, Energy conservation, Household appliances, Imports, 
Intergovernmental relations, Small businesses.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on November 10, 2015.
Kathleen B. Hogan,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency, Energy Efficiency and 
Renewable Energy.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, DOE is proposing to amend 
parts 429 and 430 of Chapter II of Title 10, Code of Federal 
Regulations as set forth below:

PART 429--CERTIFICATION, COMPLIANCE, AND ENFORCEMENT FOR CONSUMER 
PRODUCTS AND COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT

0
1. The authority citation for part 429 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6291-6317.

0
2. Section 429.37 is amended by adding paragraphs (b)(3) and (c) to 
read as follows:


Sec.  429.37  External power supplies.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (3) Pursuant to Sec.  429.12(b)(13), a certification report for 
external power supplies that are exempt from the energy conservation 
standards at Sec.  430.32(w)(1)(ii) pursuant to Sec.  430.32(w)(2) must 
include the following additional product-specific information: The 
number of units of each individual model of exempt external power 
supplies sold during the most recent 12-calendar-month period ending on 
July 31.
    (c) Exempt External Power Supplies. For each individual model of 
external power supply that is exempt from energy conservation standards 
pursuant to Sec.  430.32(w)(2) and has not been certified pursuant to 
Sec.  429.12(a) as compliant with an applicable standard, the importer 
or domestic manufacturer must, no later than September 1, 2017, and 
annually thereafter, submit a report providing the following 
information:
    (1) The importer or domestic manufacturer's name and address;
    (2) The brand name;
    (3) The model number;
    (4) The average active mode efficiency as a percentage (%);
    (5) No-load mode power consumption in watts (W);
    (6) The nameplate output power in watts (W);
    (7) The nameplate output current in aperes (A); and
    (8) The number of units sold during the most recent 12-calendar-
month period ending on July 31. The report must be submitted to DOE in 
accordance with the submission procedures set forth in Sec.  429.12(h).

PART 430--ENERGY CONSERVATION PROGRAM FOR CONSUMER PRODUCTS

0
3. The authority citation for part 430 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6291-6309; 28 U.S.C. 2461 note.

0
4. Section 430.32 is amended by revising paragraph (w)(2) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  430.32  Energy and water conservation standards and their 
compliance dates.

* * * * *
    (w) * * *
    (2) A basic model of external power supply is not subject to the 
energy conservation standards of paragraph (w)(1)(ii) of this section 
if the external power supply--
    (i) Is manufactured during the period beginning on February 10, 
2016, and ending on February 10, 2020;
    (ii) Is marked in accordance with the External Power Supply 
International Efficiency Marking Protocol, as in effect on February 10, 
2016;
    (iii) Meets, where applicable, the standards under paragraph 
(w)(1)(i) of this section, and has been certified to the Secretary as 
meeting those standards; and
    (iv) Is made available by the manufacturer only as a service part 
or a spare part for an end-use product that--
    (A) Constitutes the primary load; and
    (B) Was manufactured before February 10, 2016.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2015-29303 Filed 11-17-15; 8:45 am]
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                                                      71984             Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 222 / Wednesday, November 18, 2015 / Proposed Rules

                                                      Intergovernmental relations, Manpower                   Amendment Number 3, Revision 1, on                      1. Federal eRulemaking Portal:
                                                      training programs, Nuclear energy,                      February 1, 2016.                                     www.regulations.gov. Follow the
                                                      Nuclear materials, Occupational safety                     Amendment Number 3, Revision 1,                    instructions for submitting comments.
                                                      and health, Penalties, Radiation                        Effective Date: February 1, 2016.                       2. Email:
                                                      protection, Reporting and recordkeeping                    Amendment Number 4 Effective Date:                 EPSServiceParts2015CRT0013@
                                                      requirements, Security measures, Spent                  April 14, 2015.                                       ee.doe.gov. Include the docket number
                                                      fuel, Whistleblowing.                                      Amendment Number 5 Effective Date:                 and/or RIN in the subject line of the
                                                                                                              June 29, 2015.                                        message.
                                                         For the reasons set out in the                          SAR Submitted by: NAC
                                                      preamble and under the authority of the                                                                         3. Mail: Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S.
                                                                                                              International, Inc.                                   Department of Energy, Building
                                                      Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended;                     SAR Title: Final Safety Analysis
                                                      the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974,                                                                        Technologies Program, Mailstop EE–5B,
                                                                                                              Report for the MAGNASTOR® System.                     1000 Independence Avenue SW.,
                                                      as amended; the Nuclear Waste Policy                       Docket Number: 72–1031.
                                                      Act of 1982, as amended; and 5 U.S.C.                      Certificate Expiration Date: February              Washington, DC, 20585–0121. If
                                                      552 and 553; the NRC is proposing to                    4, 2029.                                              possible, please submit all items on a
                                                      adopt the following amendments to 10                       Model Number: MAGNASTOR®.                          CD. It is not necessary to include
                                                      CFR part 72:                                                                                                  printed copies.
                                                                                                              *     *      *    *     *
                                                                                                                                                                       4. Hand Delivery/Courier: Ms. Brenda
                                                      PART 72—LICENSING                                         Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 5th day          Edwards, U.S. Department of Energy,
                                                      REQUIREMENTS FOR THE                                    of November, 2015.                                    Building Technologies Program, 950
                                                      INDEPENDENT STORAGE OF SPENT                              For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.              L’Enfant Plaza SW., Suite 600,
                                                      NUCLEAR FUEL, HIGH-LEVEL                                Glenn M. Tracy,                                       Washington, DC, 20024. Telephone:
                                                      RADIOACTIVE WASTE, AND                                  Acting Executive Director for Operations.             (202) 586–2945. If possible, please
                                                      REACTOR-RELATED GREATER THAN                            [FR Doc. 2015–29423 Filed 11–17–15; 8:45 am]          submit all items on a CD. It is not
                                                      CLASS C WASTE                                           BILLING CODE 7590–01–P                                necessary to include printed copies.
                                                                                                                                                                       For detailed instructions on
                                                      ■ 1. The authority citation for part 72                                                                       submitting comments and additional
                                                      continues to read as follows:                           DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY                                  information on the rulemaking process,
                                                        Authority: Atomic Energy Act of 1954,                                                                       see section V of this document (Public
                                                      secs. 51, 53, 57, 62, 63, 65, 69, 81, 161, 182,         10 CFR Parts 429 and 430                              Participation).
                                                      183, 184, 186, 187, 189, 223, 234, 274 (42                                                                       Docket: The docket, which includes
                                                      U.S.C. 2071, 2073, 2077, 2092, 2093, 2095,              [Docket No. EERE–2015–BT–CRT–0013]
                                                                                                                                                                    Federal Register notices, public meeting
                                                      2099, 2111, 2201, 2210e, 2232, 2233, 2234,              RIN 1904–AD53                                         attendee lists and transcripts,
                                                      2236, 2237, 2238, 2273, 2282, 2021); Energy                                                                   comments, and other supporting
                                                      Reorganization Act of 1974, secs. 201, 202,             Energy Conservation Program: Exempt
                                                      206, 211 (42 U.S.C. 5841, 5842, 5846, 5851);
                                                                                                                                                                    documents/materials, is available for
                                                                                                              External Power Supplies Under the                     review at regulations.gov. All
                                                      National Environmental Policy Act of 1969               EPS Service Parts Act of 2014
                                                      (42 U.S.C. 4332); Nuclear Waste Policy Act                                                                    documents in the docket are listed in
                                                      of 1982, secs. 117(a), 132, 133, 134, 135, 137,         AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and               the regulations.gov index. However,
                                                      141, 145(g), 148, 218(a) (42 U.S.C. 10137(a),           Renewable Energy, Department of                       some documents listed in the index,
                                                      10152, 10153, 10154, 10155, 10157, 10161,               Energy.                                               such as those containing information
                                                      10165(g), 10168, 10198(a)); 44 U.S.C. 3504                                                                    that is exempt from public disclosure,
                                                                                                              ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
                                                      note.                                                                                                         may not be publicly available.
                                                      ■ 2. In § 72.214, Certificate of                        SUMMARY:    The U.S. Department of                       A link to the docket Web page can be
                                                      Compliance No. 1032 is revised to read                  Energy (DOE) is proposing to codify                   found at: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/
                                                      as follows:                                             provisions of the EPS Service Parts Act               buildings/appliance_standards/
                                                                                                              of 2014 that exempt from energy                       product.aspx?productid=23. This Web
                                                      § 72.214 List of approved spent fuel
                                                      storage casks.                                          conservation standards certain external               page will contain a link to the docket for
                                                                                                              power supplies (EPSs) made available                  this notice on the regulations.gov site.
                                                      *     *     *     *     *                               by a manufacturer as a service or spare               The regulations.gov Web page will
                                                        Certificate Number: 1031.
                                                                                                              part. Consistent with that Act, DOE is                contain simple instructions on how to
                                                        Initial Certificate Effective Date:
                                                                                                              proposing to require annual reports of                access all documents, including public
                                                      February 4, 2009, superseded by Initial
                                                                                                              the total number of exempt EPS units                  comments, in the docket. See section V
                                                      Certificate, Revision 1, on February 1,
                                                                                                              sold as service and spare parts that do               for information on how to submit
                                                      2016.
                                                        Initial Certificate, Revision 1,                      not meet the relevant energy                          comments through regulations.gov.
                                                      Effective Date: February 1, 2016.                       conservation standards.                                  For further information on how to
                                                        Amendment Number 1 Effective Date:                    DATES: DOE will accept comments, data,                submit a comment, review other public
                                                      August 30, 2010, superseded by                          and information regarding this notice of              comments and the docket, or to request
                                                      Amendment Number 1, Revision 1, on                      proposed rulemaking no later than                     a public meeting, contact Ms. Brenda
                                                      February 1, 2016.                                       December 18, 2015. See section V,                     Edwards at (202) 586–2945 or by email:
                                                        Amendment Number 1, Revision 1,                       ‘‘Public Participation,’’ for details.                Brenda.Edwards@ee.doe.gov.
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                                                      Effective Date: February 1, 2016.                       ADDRESSES: Any comments submitted                     FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                        Amendment Number 2 Effective Date:                    must identify the NOPR for Exempt                     Direct requests for additional
                                                      January 30, 2012, superseded by                         External Power Supplies Under the EPS                 information may be sent to Mr. Jeremy
                                                      Amendment Number 2, Revision 1, on                      Service Parts Act of 2014, and provide                Dommu, U.S. Department of Energy,
                                                      February 1, 2016.                                       docket number EERE–2015–BT–CRT–                       Office of Energy Efficiency and
                                                        Amendment Number 2, Revision 1,                       0013 and/or regulatory information                    Renewable Energy, Building
                                                      Effective Date: February 1, 2016.                       number (RIN) number 1904–AD53.                        Technologies Program, EE–2J, 1000
                                                        Amendment Number 3 Effective Date:                    Comments may be submitted using any                   Independence Avenue SW.,
                                                      July 25, 2013, superseded by                            of the following methods:                             Washington, DC 20585–0121.


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                                                                        Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 222 / Wednesday, November 18, 2015 / Proposed Rules                                           71985

                                                      Telephone: (202) 586–9870. Email:                       Class A EPSs from meeting these                       part for an end-use product
                                                      battery_chargers_and_external_power_                    statutorily-prescribed standards if the               manufactured before February 10, 2016.
                                                      supplies@EE.Doe.Gov                                     devices are manufactured before July 1,                  Additionally, the Service Parts Act
                                                        For legal issues, please contact Mr.                  2015, and made available by the                       permits DOE to require manufacturers of
                                                      Michael Kido, U.S. Department of                        manufacturer as service parts or spare                an EPS that is exempt from the 2016
                                                      Energy, Office of the General Counsel,                  parts for end-use consumer products                   standards to report to DOE the total
                                                      GC–33, 1000 Independence Avenue                         that were manufactured prior to July 1,               number of EPS units shipped annually
                                                      SW., Washington, DC 20585–0121.                         2008. (42 U.S.C. 6295(u)(3)(B)) Congress              that are made available as service and
                                                      Telephone: (202) 586–8145. Email:                       created this limited (and temporary)                  spare parts and do not meet those
                                                      Michael.Kido@hq.doe.gov.                                exemption as part of a broad range of                 standards. See 42 U.S.C.
                                                                                                              amendments to EPCA under EISA 2007.                   6295(u)(5)(A)(ii). DOE may also limit
                                                      Table of Contents
                                                                                                              The provision did not grant DOE with                  the applicability of the exemption if the
                                                      I. Authority and Background                             the authority to expand or extend the                 Secretary determines that the exemption
                                                      II. Summary of the Notice of Proposed                   length of this exemption and Congress                 is resulting in a significant reduction of
                                                            Rulemaking                                        did not grant DOE with the general                    the energy savings that would result
                                                      III. Discussion                                         authority to exempt any already covered
                                                         A. Codifying the Exemption in the CFR
                                                                                                                                                                    were there no exemption to the new
                                                                                                              product from the requirements set by                  standards. See 42 U.S.C.
                                                         B. Service or Spare Part EPS
                                                         C. Sales Reporting Requirements
                                                                                                              Congress.                                             6295(u)(5)(A)(iii). Finally, the statute
                                                      IV. Procedural Issues and Regulatory Review                After releasing a preliminary analysis             authorizes DOE to provide a similar
                                                         A. Review Under Executive Order 12866                and issuing a proposed set of energy                  exemption from future EPS conservation
                                                         B. Review Under the Regulatory Flexibility           conservation standards, DOE published                 standards.
                                                            Act                                               a final rule prescribing new standards
                                                         C. Review Under the Paperwork Reduction              for non-Class A EPSs and amended                      II. Summary of the Notice of Proposed
                                                            Act of 1995                                       standards for some Class A EPSs—                      Rulemaking
                                                         D. Review Under the National                         namely, those EPSs that met what DOE                    DOE is proposing to incorporate the
                                                            Environmental Policy Act of 1969                  has termed as ‘‘direct operation’’ EPSs.
                                                         E. Review Under Executive Order 13132
                                                                                                                                                                    statutory provisions described above
                                                                                                              See 79 FR 7846 (Feb. 10, 2014). (A                    into its regulations. DOE is also
                                                         F. Review Under Executive Order 12988
                                                                                                              direct operation EPS is an external                   providing some clarification on the
                                                         G. Review Under the Unfunded Mandates
                                                            Reform Act of 1995                                power supply that can operate a                       circumstances under which EPSs would
                                                         H. Review Under the Treasury and General             consumer product that is not a battery                be considered spare or service parts.
                                                            Government Appropriations Act, 1999               charger without the assistance of a                   DOE also proposes to require that
                                                         I. Review Under Executive Order 12630                battery. See 10 CFR 430.2.) These new                 importers and domestic manufacturers
                                                         J. Review Under Treasury and General                 standards apply to products                           annually report to DOE the total units of
                                                            Government Appropriations Act, 2001               manufactured on or after February 10,                 exempt EPSs sold as service and spare
                                                         K. Review Under Executive Order 13211                2016. At that time, DOE did not have
                                                         L. Review Under Section 32 of the Federal
                                                                                                                                                                    parts that do not meet the 2016
                                                                                                              the authority to provide manufacturers                standards.
                                                            Energy Administration Act of 1974                 with an exemption for EPSs that were
                                                      V. Public Participation                                                                                       III. Discussion
                                                                                                              made available as service or spare parts
                                                      VI. Approval of the Office of the Secretary
                                                                                                              to end-use consumer products that were                A. Codifying the Exemption in the CFR
                                                      I. Authority and Background                             manufactured prior to the compliance
                                                                                                              date of these new standards.                            DOE is proposing to incorporate the
                                                      Authority                                                                                                     provisions of the Service Parts Act into
                                                                                                              Accordingly, despite requests from
                                                         Title III of the Energy Policy and                   some commenters who responded to                      10 CFR 430.32. This would help ensure
                                                      Conservation Act of 1975 (42 U.S.C.                     DOE’s proposed standards by asking for                that the regulations reflect the statutory
                                                      6291, et seq.; ‘‘EPCA’’ or, in context,                 such an exemption, no such relief was                 exemption and that interested parties
                                                      ‘‘the Act’’) sets forth a variety of                    provided as part of the final rule.                   are able to readily access the content of
                                                      provisions designed to improve energy                      On December 18, 2014, the EPS                      this new statutory provision. It also
                                                      efficiency. (All references to EPCA refer               Service Parts Act of 2014, Public Law                 ensures consistency with the similar
                                                      to the statute as amended through the                   113–263 (Dec. 18, 2014) (‘‘Service Parts              exemption to the Class A EPS standards
                                                      Energy Efficiency Improvement Act of                    Act’’) was enacted. That law provided                 provided by Congress within EISA 2007,
                                                      2015, Pub. L. 114–11 (April 30, 2015).)                 manufacturers with an exemption for                   which was codified in the CFR.
                                                      Part B of title III, which for editorial                EPSs that are made available as service               B. Service or Spare Part EPSs
                                                      reasons was re-designated as Part A                     and spare parts for end-use products
                                                      upon incorporation into the U.S. Code                   manufactured before February 10, 2016.                  The Service Parts Act provides an
                                                      (42 U.S.C. 6291–6309, as codified),                     To be exempt from the new standards                   exemption for certain EPSs that are
                                                      establishes the ‘‘Energy Conservation                   under the Service Parts Act, an EPS                   made available by manufacturers as
                                                      Program for Consumer Products Other                     must meet four separate criteria.                     service or spare parts. Most end-use
                                                      Than Automobiles.’’ External power                      Specifically, the EPS must be: (i)                    products that use EPSs are sold with the
                                                      supplies are among the products                         Manufactured during the period                        EPS that is necessary to operate that
                                                      affected by these provisions.                           beginning on February 10, 2016, and                   product. In such a case, the EPS that is
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                                                                                                              ending on February 10, 2020; (ii)                     sold with the end-use product would
                                                      Background                                              marked in accordance with the External                not be considered to be an EPS made
                                                         Section 301 of EISA 2007 established                 Power Supply International Efficiency                 available as a spare or service part.
                                                      minimum energy conservation                             Marking Protocol; (iii) compliant, where              However, any EPS that is sold
                                                      standards for Class A external power                    applicable, with the standards for Class              separately from an end-use product,
                                                      supplies (EPSs) manufactured on or                      A EPSs and certified to DOE as meeting                including an EPS made available as a
                                                      after July 1, 2008. (42 U.S.C.                          at least International Efficiency Level               replacement for, or in addition to, the
                                                      6295(u)(3)(A)). See 42 U.S.C.                           IV; and (iv) made available by the                    EPS originally sold with an end-use
                                                      6291(36)(C)(i)–(ii). EISA 2007 exempts                  manufacturer as a service part or spare               product would be considered an EPS


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                                                      71986             Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 222 / Wednesday, November 18, 2015 / Proposed Rules

                                                      made available as a service or spare                    as a service/spare part for a given end-              the 2016 standards to submit an annual
                                                      part.                                                   use product and packaged with a new                   report of the corresponding number of
                                                         Further, to clarify the application of               end-use product? If a manufacturer                    units of each individual model of such
                                                      this statutory exemption, only those                    typically produces a single EPS basic                 EPS that the importer or domestic
                                                      EPSs that are made available as service                 model, are those EPSs produced as a                   manufacturer sold in the prior year.
                                                      or spare parts for end-use products that                spare or service part labelled differently            Examples of these kinds of non-Class A
                                                      were manufactured before February 10,                   from those packaged with a new                        EPSs include multiple-voltage EPSs,
                                                      2016 (the date that manufacturers must                  product?                                              high-power EPSs, and some EPSs used
                                                      comply with the new and amended                                                                               to operate end-use products that are
                                                      standards for direct operation EPSs)                    C. Sales Reporting Requirements
                                                                                                                                                                    motor-driven. Under DOE’s February
                                                      qualify for the Service Parts Act’s                        Additionally, the Service Parts Act                2014 final rule, these EPSs, unless
                                                      exemption. If an EPS is made available                  permits DOE to require manufacturers of               exempt, are required to meet the Level
                                                      as a service part or spare part for any                 an EPS that is exempt from the 2016                   VI standards starting in 2016. These
                                                      end-use product that continues to be                    standards to report to DOE the total                  non-class A EPSs would not be certified
                                                      manufactured after February 10, 2016,                   number of EPS units shipped annually                  under the provisions of 10 CFR 429.12
                                                      or is sold with any end-use product                     that are made available as service and                (General requirements applicable to
                                                      manufactured after that date, that EPS                  spare parts and do not meet those                     certification reports), if they are exempt.
                                                      would not be eligible for this                          standards. See 42 U.S.C.                              Therefore, consistent with the Service
                                                      exemption. Congress specifically                        6295(u)(5)(A)(ii). Consistent with that               Parts Act, DOE is proposing to require
                                                      limited the application of the exemption                authority, DOE is proposing that                      that importers and domestic
                                                      to those EPSs that the manufacturer                     importers and domestic manufacturers                  manufacturers report the total number
                                                      makes available for an end-use product                  of EPSs that are exempt under the                     of units sold in the year preceding the
                                                      that constitutes the primary load of that               Service Parts Act report to DOE                       report. Specifically, DOE is proposing to
                                                      end-use product so long as it was                       annually the total number of exempt                   add this reporting requirement to 10
                                                      manufactured prior to February 10,                      EPS units sold that do not meet the                   CFR 429.37, with the product-specific
                                                      2016. See 42 U.S.C. 6295(u)(5)(A).                      amended standard. DOE considers the                   certification requirements.
                                                         Furthermore, DOE recognizes that                     ‘‘shipments’’ referred to in the statute to             DOE proposes that the reporting
                                                      many EPSs, like those that use an                       be the units sold by either the importer              period for the sales information be from
                                                      industry standard communication                         or the domestic manufacturer. Because                 August 1 through July 31 of each year.
                                                      protocol such as the universal serial bus               importers would have both incoming                    This would allow importers and
                                                      (USB), may be capable of operating                      and outgoing shipments, DOE considers                 domestic manufacturers time to compile
                                                      many different end-use products. If the                 the ‘‘units sold’’ to be clearer than                 sales information and report the number
                                                      EPS is capable of operating multiple                    ‘‘units shipped.’’ DOE requests                       of units sold and to align the submittal
                                                      end-use products, some of which were                    comment on this phrasing.
                                                                                                                                                                    date with the annual certification report
                                                      manufactured before February 10, 2016,                     Many of the EPSs involved are Class
                                                                                                                                                                    deadline of September 1 for Class-A
                                                      and some of which were manufactured                     A EPSs and continue to be subject to the
                                                                                                              current Class A EPS standards (i.e. Level             EPSs. DOE seeks comment on this
                                                      after February 10, 2016, then that EPS
                                                                                                              IV) set forth in 10 CFR 430.32(w)(1)(i)               proposed reporting requirement.
                                                      would also not be eligible for the service
                                                      and spare part exemption since the EPS                  and associated certification                          IV. Procedural Issues and Regulatory
                                                      can operate an end-use product                          requirements. Manufacturers of any                    Review
                                                      manufactured after February 10, 2016.                   basic model of such a Class A EPS must,
                                                                                                              therefore, submit an annual certification             A. Review Under Executive Order 12866
                                                      In order to clarify which EPSs are
                                                      eligible for the exemption, DOE is                      report to DOE as required under 10 CFR                  This rulemaking is not significant for
                                                      proposing to clarify that this exemption                part 429. For these EPSs, submission of               purposes of Executive Order 12866,
                                                      would apply to an EPS basic model that                  an annual certification report to DOE is              Regulatory Planning and Review, 58 FR
                                                      a manufacturer makes available only as                  required to qualify for the exemption. In             51735 (Oct. 4, 1993). Accordingly, this
                                                      a service part or a spare part for an end-              addition to the annual certification                  action was not subject to review under
                                                      use product that was manufactured                       report requirement for these EPSs, DOE                the Executive Order by the Office of
                                                      before February 10, 2016, and would not                 is proposing to require each importer or              Information and Regulatory Affairs
                                                      apply to an EPS basic model that a                      domestic manufacturer to include in its               (OIRA) in the Office of Management and
                                                      manufacturer makes available as a                       annual certification report information               Budget.
                                                      service part or spare part for end-use                  the number of units of each individual
                                                                                                                                                                    B. Review Under the Regulatory
                                                      products that continue to be                            model of exempt EPS it sold in the
                                                                                                                                                                    Flexibility Act
                                                      manufactured after February 10, 2016.                   preceding year that do not meet the
                                                      Specifically, an EPS would be exempt                    2016 standards. The Service Parts Act                    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (5
                                                      from the 2016 Level VI standard if,                     authorizes DOE to limit the applicability             U.S.C. 601, et seq.) requires preparation
                                                      among other criteria, it is made                        of the service and spare part exemption               of an initial regulatory flexibility
                                                      available by the manufacturer only as a                 if DOE determines that the exemption is               analysis (IFRA) for any rule that by law
                                                      service part or a spare part for an end-                resulting in a significant reduction of               must be proposed for public comment,
                                                      use product, and only if the end-use                    the energy savings that would otherwise               unless the agency certifies that the rule,
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                                                      product was manufactured before                         result from the final rule. In assessing              if promulgated, will not have a
                                                      February 10, 2016.                                      whether such a change would be                        significant economic impact on a
                                                         DOE seeks comment regarding how                      needed, DOE plans to use the reported                 substantial number of small entities. As
                                                      manufacturers produce spare or service                  information to evaluate the exemption’s               required by Executive Order 13272,
                                                      parts as compared to how manufacturers                  impacts on energy savings.                            ‘‘Proper Consideration of Small Entities
                                                      produce EPS units provided with a new                      Similarly, DOE is proposing to require             in Agency Rulemaking,’’ 67 FR 53461
                                                      product. For example, do manufacturers                  each importer or domestic manufacturer                (August 16, 2002), DOE published
                                                      typically produce a single EPS basic                    of non-Class A EPSs that are exempted                 procedures and policies on February 19,
                                                      model that is both sold independently                   by the Service Parts Act and do not meet              2003, to ensure that the potential


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                                                                        Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 222 / Wednesday, November 18, 2015 / Proposed Rules                                             71987

                                                      impacts of its rules on small entities are              exemption added by Congress for Class                 maintaining the data needed, and
                                                      properly considered during the DOE                      A EPSs made available as service and                  completing and reviewing the collection
                                                      rulemaking process. 68 FR 7990. DOE                     spare parts, see 10 CFR 430.32(w)(2)                  of information.
                                                      has made its procedures and policies                    (2015), DOE expects any potential                       In today’s notice, DOE is proposing to
                                                      available on the Office of the General                  impact from its proposal to be minimal.               require external power supply
                                                      Counsel’s Web site: http://energy.gov/                    For these reasons, DOE certifies that               manufacturers to provide the total
                                                      gc/office-general-counsel.                              the proposed rule would not have a                    number of exempt EPS units sold as
                                                         For manufacturers of EPSs, the Small                 significant economic impact on a                      service and spare parts for each basic
                                                      Business Administration (SBA) has set a                 substantial number of small entities.                 model for which the manufacturer is
                                                      size threshold, which defines those                     Accordingly, DOE has not prepared a                   claiming exemption from the current
                                                      entities classified as ‘‘small businesses’’             regulatory flexibility analysis for this              standards. The following are DOE
                                                      for the purposes of the statute. DOE                    rulemaking. DOE will transmit the                     estimates of the increased time (over the
                                                      used the SBA’s small business size                      certification and supporting statement                existing approved information
                                                      standards to determine whether any                      of factual basis to the Chief Counsel for             collection) for manufacturers to collect,
                                                      small entities would be subject to the                  Advocacy of the SBA for review under                  organize and store the data required by
                                                      requirements of the rule. 65 FR 30836,                  5 U.S.C. 605(b).                                      today’s notice of proposed rulemaking.
                                                      30848 (May 15, 2000), as amended at 65                                                                          Affected Public: Manufacturers of
                                                                                                              C. Review Under the Paperwork
                                                      FR 53533, 53544 (Sept. 5, 2000) and                                                                           external power supplies that are
                                                                                                              Reduction Act of 1995
                                                      codified at 13 CFR part 121. The size                                                                         claiming the spare parts exemption.
                                                      standards are listed by North American                    This rule proposes to revise an                       Estimated Number of Impacted
                                                      Industry Classification System (NAICS)                  existing information collection. This                 Manufacturers: 1028.
                                                      code and industry description and are                   information collection request contains:                Estimated Time per Record: 4
                                                      available at http://www.sba.gov/content/                  (1) OMB Control Number: 1910–1400.                  minutes.
                                                      summary-size-standards-industry. EPS                      (2) Information Collection Request                    Estimated Total Annual Burden
                                                      manufacturing is classified under                       Title: Certification Reports, Compliance              Hours: 69 hours.
                                                      NAICS 335999, ‘‘All Other                               Statements, Application for a Test                      Estimated Total Annual Cost to the
                                                      Miscellaneous Electrical Equipment and                  Procedure Waiver, and Recordkeeping                   Manufacturers: $500.
                                                      Component Manufacturing.’’ The SBA                      for Consumer Products and                               This revision would yield the
                                                      sets a threshold of 500 employees or less               Commercial/Industrial Equipment                       following totals for the information
                                                      for an entity to be considered as a small               Subject to Energy or Water Conservation               collection:
                                                      business for this category.                             Standards.
                                                                                                                (3) Type of Request: Revision of a                  (5) Annual Estimated Number of
                                                         As a preliminary matter, DOE notes                                                                              Respondents: 3028
                                                      that there are no domestic                              Currently Approved Collection.
                                                                                                                (4) Purpose: Today’s notice would                   (6) Annual Estimated Number of Total
                                                      manufacturers of EPSs. Consequently,                                                                               Responses: 20,000
                                                      there are no small business impacts to                  require external power supply
                                                                                                              manufacturers to report the number of                 (7) Annual Estimated Number of Burden
                                                      evaluate for purposes of the Regulatory                                                                            Hours: 68,069 hours
                                                      Flexibility Act.                                        exempt EPS units sold as part of the
                                                                                                              annual certification report, which is                 (8) Annual Estimated Reporting and
                                                         Notwithstanding the absence of
                                                                                                              already required. The annual                               Recordkeeping Cost Burden:
                                                      domestic EPS manufacturers, DOE
                                                                                                              certification report must be submitted                     $6,800,500
                                                      reviewed this proposed rule under the
                                                      provisions of the Regulatory Flexibility                via CCMS, an electronic system for                      Notwithstanding any other provision
                                                      Act and the procedures and policies                     recording and processing certification                of the law, no person is required to
                                                      published on February 19, 2003. This                    submissions.                                          respond to, nor shall any person be
                                                      proposed rule would incorporate into                      Manufacturers of EPSs must certify to               subject to a penalty for failure to comply
                                                      DOE’s regulations a statutorily-                        DOE that their products comply with                   with, a collection of information subject
                                                      prescribed exemption affecting EPSs                     any applicable energy conservation                    to the requirements of the PRA, unless
                                                      that manufacturers make available as                    standards. In certifying compliance,                  that collection of information displays a
                                                      service or spare parts. The exemption                   manufacturers must test their products                currently valid OMB Control Number.
                                                      allows manufacturers to maintain and                    according to the DOE test procedures for
                                                                                                              EPSs including any amendments                         D. Review Under the National
                                                      distribute supplies of replacement parts
                                                                                                              adopted for those test procedures. DOE                Environmental Policy Act of 1969
                                                      for older equipment without needing to
                                                      meet the EPS energy conservation                        has established regulations for the                     DOE has determined that this
                                                      standards that will apply starting in                   certification and recordkeeping                       proposal, which would incorporate a
                                                      2016. This exemption provides                           requirements for all covered consumer                 recently-enacted exemption into the
                                                      manufacturers flexibility in meeting                    products and commercial equipment,                    CFR for EPSs sold as spare or service
                                                      their warranty and contract obligations                 including external power supplies. See                parts, falls into a class of actions that are
                                                      in cases where service or spare parts                   10 CFR part 429, subpart B. The                       categorically excluded from review
                                                      require an EPS. It also relieves                        collection-of-information requirement                 under the National Environmental
                                                      manufacturers of the burdens of                         for certification and recordkeeping is                Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321, et
                                                      redesigning and certifying EPSs used for                subject to review and approval by OMB                 seq.) and DOE’s implementing
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                                                      end-use products that are no longer                     under the Paperwork Reduction Act                     regulations at 10 CFR part 1021.
                                                      manufactured starting in 2016, which                    (PRA). This requirement has been                      Specifically, this proposed rule would
                                                      DOE anticipates will save these                         approved by OMB under OMB Control                     adopt changes to the manner in which
                                                      manufacturers from any significant                      Number 1910–1400. Public reporting                    certain covered equipment would be
                                                      expenses that would otherwise be used                   burden for the proposed certification                 certified and/or reported, which would
                                                      to solely support products that are no                  requirement is estimated to average 30                not affect the amount, quality or
                                                      longer in production.                                   hours per response, including the time                distribution of energy usage, and,
                                                         Consistent with its prior                            for reviewing instructions, searching                 therefore, would not result in any
                                                      incorporation of the previous statutory                 existing data sources, gathering and                  environmental impacts. Thus, this


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                                                      71988             Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 222 / Wednesday, November 18, 2015 / Proposed Rules

                                                      rulemaking is covered by Categorical                    specifies any effect on existing Federal              H. Review Under the Treasury and
                                                      Exclusion A6 (Procedural Rulemaking)                    law or regulation; (3) provides a clear               General Government Appropriations
                                                      under 10 CFR part 1021, subpart D.                      legal standard for affected conduct                   Act, 1999
                                                      Accordingly, neither an environmental                   while promoting simplification and                       Section 654 of the Treasury and
                                                      assessment nor an environmental                         burden reduction; (4) specifies the                   General Government Appropriations
                                                      impact statement is required.                           retroactive effect, if any; (5) adequately            Act, 1999 (Pub. L. 105–277) requires
                                                      E. Review Under Executive Order 13132                   defines key terms; and (6) addresses                  Federal agencies to issue a Family
                                                                                                              other important issues affecting clarity              Policymaking Assessment for any rule
                                                         Executive Order 13132, ‘‘Federalism,’’               and general draftsmanship under any                   that may affect family well-being. This
                                                      64 FR 43255 (August 4, 1999) imposes                    guidelines issued by the Attorney                     proposed rule would not have any
                                                      certain requirements on agencies                        General. Section 3(c) of Executive Order              impact on the autonomy or integrity of
                                                      formulating and implementing policies                   12988 requires Executive agencies to                  the family as an institution.
                                                      or regulations that preempt State law or                review regulations in light of applicable             Accordingly, DOE has concluded that it
                                                      that have Federalism implications. The                  standards in sections 3(a) and 3(b) to                is not necessary to prepare a Family
                                                      Executive Order requires agencies to                    determine whether they are met or it is               Policymaking Assessment.
                                                      examine the constitutional and statutory                unreasonable to meet one or more of
                                                      authority supporting any action that                    them. DOE has completed the required                  I. Review Under Executive Order 12630
                                                      would limit the policymaking discretion                 review and determined that, to the                       DOE has determined, under Executive
                                                      of the States and to carefully assess the               extent permitted by law, the proposed                 Order 12630, ‘‘Governmental Actions
                                                      necessity for such actions. The                         rule meets the relevant standards of                  and Interference with Constitutionally
                                                      Executive Order also requires agencies                  Executive Order 12988.                                Protected Property Rights’’ 53 FR 8859
                                                      to have an accountable process to                                                                             (March 18, 1988), that this proposed
                                                      ensure meaningful and timely input by                   G. Review Under the Unfunded                          regulation would not result in any
                                                      State and local officials in the                        Mandates Reform Act of 1995                           takings that might require compensation
                                                      development of regulatory policies that                                                                       under the Fifth Amendment to the U.S.
                                                      have Federalism implications. On                           Title II of the Unfunded Mandates
                                                                                                              Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA) requires                    Constitution.
                                                      March 14, 2000, DOE published a
                                                      statement of policy describing the                      each Federal agency to assess the effects             J. Review Under Treasury and General
                                                      intergovernmental consultation process                  of Federal regulatory actions on State,               Government Appropriations Act, 2001
                                                      it will follow in the development of                    local, and Tribal governments and the
                                                                                                                                                                       Section 515 of the Treasury and
                                                      such regulations. 65 FR 13735. DOE has                  private sector. Public Law 104–4, sec.
                                                                                                                                                                    General Government Appropriations
                                                      examined this proposed rule and has                     201 (codified at 2 U.S.C. 1531). For a
                                                                                                                                                                    Act, 2001 (44 U.S.C. 3516 note) provides
                                                      determined that it would not have a                     proposed regulatory action likely to
                                                                                                                                                                    for agencies to review most
                                                      substantial direct effect on the States, on             result in a rule that may cause the
                                                                                                                                                                    disseminations of information to the
                                                      the relationship between the national                   expenditure by State, local, and Tribal               public under guidelines established by
                                                      government and the States, or on the                    governments, in the aggregate, or by the              each agency pursuant to general
                                                      distribution of power and                               private sector of $100 million or more                guidelines issued by OMB. OMB’s
                                                      responsibilities among the various                      in any one year (adjusted annually for                guidelines were published at 67 FR
                                                      levels of government. EPCA governs and                  inflation), section 202 of UMRA requires              8452 (Feb. 22, 2002), and DOE’s
                                                      prescribes Federal preemption of State                  a Federal agency to publish a written                 guidelines were published at 67 FR
                                                      regulations as to energy conservation for               statement that estimates the resulting                62446 (Oct. 7, 2002). DOE has reviewed
                                                      the products that are the subject of                    costs, benefits, and other effects on the             this proposed rule under the OMB and
                                                      today’s proposed rule. States can                       national economy. (2 U.S.C. 1532(a)–(b))              DOE guidelines and has concluded that
                                                      petition DOE for exemption from such                    The UMRA also requires a Federal                      it is consistent with applicable policies
                                                      preemption to the extent, and based on                  agency to develop an effective process                in those guidelines.
                                                      criteria, set forth in EPCA. (42 U.S.C.                 to permit timely input by elected
                                                      6297(d)) No further action is required by               officers of State, local, and Tribal                  K. Review Under Executive Order 13211
                                                      Executive Order 13132.                                  governments on a proposed ‘‘significant                  Executive Order 13211, ‘‘Actions
                                                                                                              intergovernmental mandate,’’ and                      Concerning Regulations That
                                                      F. Review Under Executive Order 12988                   requires an agency plan for giving notice             Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
                                                         Regarding the review of existing                     and opportunity for timely input to                   Distribution, or Use,’’ 66 FR 28355 (May
                                                      regulations and the promulgation of                     potentially affected small governments                22, 2001), requires Federal agencies to
                                                      new regulations, section 3(a) of                        before establishing any requirements                  prepare and submit to OMB, a
                                                      Executive Order 12988, ‘‘Civil Justice                  that might significantly or uniquely                  Statement of Energy Effects for any
                                                      Reform,’’ 61 FR 4729 (Feb. 7, 1996),                    affect small governments. On March 18,                proposed significant energy action. A
                                                      imposes on Federal agencies the general                 1997, DOE published a statement of                    ‘‘significant energy action’’ is defined as
                                                      duty to adhere to the following                         policy on its process for                             any action by an agency that
                                                      requirements: (1) Eliminate drafting                    intergovernmental consultation under                  promulgated or is expected to lead to
                                                      errors and ambiguity; (2) write                         UMRA. 62 FR 12820; also available at                  promulgation of a final rule, and that:
                                                      regulations to minimize litigation; (3)                 http://energy.gov/gc/office-general-                  (1) Is a significant regulatory action
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                                                      provide a clear legal standard for                      counsel. DOE examined this proposed                   under Executive Order 12866, or any
                                                      affected conduct rather than a general                  rule according to UMRA and its                        successor order; and (2) is likely to have
                                                      standard; and (4) promote simplification                statement of policy and determined that               a significant adverse effect on the
                                                      and burden reduction. Section 3(b) of                   the proposed rule contains neither an                 supply, distribution, or use of energy; or
                                                      Executive Order 12988 specifically                      intergovernmental mandate, nor a                      (3) is designated by the Administrator of
                                                      requires that Executive agencies make                   mandate that may result in the                        OIRA as a significant energy action. For
                                                      every reasonable effort to ensure that the              expenditure of $100 million or more in                any proposed significant energy action,
                                                      regulation: (1) Clearly specifies the                   any year, so these requirements do not                the agency must give a detailed
                                                      preemptive effect, if any; (2) clearly                  apply.                                                statement of any adverse effects on


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                                                                        Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 222 / Wednesday, November 18, 2015 / Proposed Rules                                          71989

                                                      energy supply, distribution, or use                     difficulties, DOE will use this                          Comments, data, and other
                                                      should the proposal be implemented,                     information to contact you. If DOE                    information submitted to DOE
                                                      and of reasonable alternatives to the                   cannot read your comment due to                       electronically should be provided in
                                                      action and their expected benefits on                   technical difficulties and cannot contact             PDF (preferred), Microsoft Word or
                                                      energy supply, distribution, and use.                   you for clarification, DOE may not be                 Excel, WordPerfect, or text (ASCII) file
                                                        This proposed regulatory action to                    able to consider your comment.                        format. Provide documents that are not
                                                      amend the existing certification                           However, your contact information                  secured, written in English and free of
                                                      requirements for EPSs sold as spare                     will be publicly viewable if you include              any defects or viruses. Documents
                                                      parts is not a significant regulatory                   it in the comment or in any documents                 should not contain special characters or
                                                      action under Executive Order 12866.                     attached to your comment. Any                         any form of encryption and, if possible,
                                                      Moreover, it would not have a                           information that you do not want to be
                                                      significant adverse effect on the supply,                                                                     they should carry the electronic
                                                                                                              publicly viewable should not be                       signature of the author.
                                                      distribution, or use of energy, nor has it              included in your comment, nor in any
                                                      been designated as a significant energy                 document attached to your comment.                       Campaign form letters. Please submit
                                                      action by the Administrator of OIRA.                    Persons viewing comments will see only                campaign form letters by the originating
                                                      Therefore, it is not a significant energy               first and last names, organization                    organization in batches of between 50 to
                                                      action, and, accordingly, DOE has not                   names, correspondence containing                      500 form letters per PDF or as one form
                                                      prepared a Statement of Energy Effects.                 comments, and any documents                           letter with a list of supporters’ names
                                                      L. Review Under Section 32 of the                       submitted with the comments.                          compiled into one or more PDFs. This
                                                      Federal Energy Administration Act of                       Do not submit to regulations.gov                   reduces comment processing and
                                                      1974                                                    information for which disclosure is                   posting time.
                                                                                                              restricted by statute, such as trade                     Confidential Business Information.
                                                         Under section 301 of the Department
                                                                                                              secrets and commercial or financial                   According to 10 CFR 1004.11, any
                                                      of Energy Organization Act (Pub. L. 95–
                                                      91; 42 U.S.C. 7101), DOE must comply                    information (hereinafter referred to as               person submitting information that he
                                                      with section 32 of the Federal Energy                   Confidential Business Information                     or she believes to be confidential and
                                                      Administration Act of 1974, as amended                  (CBI)). Comments submitted through                    exempt by law from public disclosure
                                                      by the Federal Energy Administration                    regulations.gov cannot be claimed as                  should submit via email, postal mail, or
                                                      Authorization Act of 1977. (15 U.S.C.                   CBI. Comments received through the                    hand delivery two well-marked copies:
                                                      788; FEAA) Section 32 essentially                       Web site will waive any CBI claims for                one copy of the document marked
                                                      provides in relevant part that, where a                 the information submitted. For
                                                                                                                                                                    confidential including all the
                                                      proposed rule authorizes or requires use                information on submitting CBI, see the
                                                                                                                                                                    information believed to be confidential,
                                                      of commercial standards, the notice of                  Confidential Business Information
                                                                                                                                                                    and one copy of the document marked
                                                      proposed rulemaking must inform the                     section.
                                                                                                                                                                    non-confidential with the information
                                                      public of the use and background of                        DOE processes submissions made
                                                                                                                                                                    believed to be confidential deleted.
                                                      such standards. In addition, section                    through regulations.gov before posting.
                                                                                                              Normally, comments will be posted                     Submit these documents via email or on
                                                      32(c) requires DOE to consult with the                                                                        a CD, if feasible. DOE will make its own
                                                      Attorney General and the Chairman of                    within a few days of being submitted.
                                                                                                              However, if large volumes of comments                 determination about the confidential
                                                      the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)                                                                            status of the information and treat it
                                                      concerning the impact of the                            are being processed simultaneously,
                                                                                                              your comment may not be viewable for                  according to its determination.
                                                      commercial or industry standards on
                                                      competition. This proposal to amend                     up to several weeks. Please keep the                     Factors of interest to DOE when
                                                      the certification requirements for all                  comment tracking number that                          evaluating requests to treat submitted
                                                      covered consumer products does not                      regulations.gov provides after you have               information as confidential include: (1)
                                                      propose the use of any commercial                       successfully uploaded your comment.                   A description of the items; (2) whether
                                                      standards.                                                 Submitting comments via email, hand                and why such items are customarily
                                                                                                              delivery, or mail. Comments and                       treated as confidential within the
                                                      V. Public Participation                                 documents submitted via email, hand                   industry; (3) whether the information is
                                                         DOE will accept comments, data, and                  delivery, or mail also will be posted to              generally known by or available from
                                                      information regarding this proposed                     regulations.gov. If you do not want your              other sources; (4) whether the
                                                      rule no later than the date provided in                 personal contact information to be                    information has previously been made
                                                      the DATES section at the beginning of                   publicly viewable, do not include it in               available to others without obligation
                                                      this proposed rule. Interested parties                  your comment or any accompanying                      concerning its confidentiality; (5) an
                                                      may submit comments using any of the                    documents. Instead, provide your                      explanation of the competitive injury to
                                                      methods described in the ADDRESSES                      contact information on a cover letter.                the submitting person which would
                                                      section at the beginning of this proposed               Include your first and last names, email              result from public disclosure; (6) when
                                                      rule.                                                   address, telephone number, and                        such information might lose its
                                                         Submitting comments via                              optional mailing address. The cover                   confidential character due to the
                                                      regulations.gov. The regulations.gov                    letter will not be publicly viewable as
                                                                                                                                                                    passage of time; and (7) why disclosure
                                                      Web page will require you to provide                    long as it does not include any
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                                                                                                                                                                    of the information would be contrary to
                                                      your name and contact information.                      comments.
                                                                                                                                                                    the public interest.
                                                      Your contact information will be                           Include contact information each time
                                                      viewable to DOE Building Technologies                   you submit comments, data, documents,                    It is DOE’s policy that all comments
                                                      staff only. Your contact information will               and other information to DOE. If you                  may be included in the public docket,
                                                      not be publicly viewable except for your                submit via mail or hand delivery, please              without change and as received,
                                                      first and last names, organization name                 provide all items on a CD, if feasible. It            including any personal information
                                                      (if any), and submitter representative                  is not necessary to submit printed                    provided in the comments (except
                                                      name (if any). If your comment is not                   copies. No facsimiles (faxes) will be                 information deemed to be exempt from
                                                      processed properly because of technical                 accepted.                                             public disclosure).


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                                                      71990             Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 222 / Wednesday, November 18, 2015 / Proposed Rules

                                                      VI. Approval of the Office of the                       compliant with an applicable standard,                DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
                                                      Secretary                                               the importer or domestic manufacturer                 HUMAN SERVICES
                                                        The Secretary of Energy has approved                  must, no later than September 1, 2017,
                                                                                                              and annually thereafter, submit a report              Food and Drug Administration
                                                      publication of this proposed rule.
                                                                                                              providing the following information:
                                                      List of Subjects                                          (1) The importer or domestic                        21 CFR Part 101
                                                      10 CFR Part 429                                         manufacturer’s name and address;                      [Docket No. FDA–2014–N–1021]
                                                                                                                (2) The brand name;
                                                        Administrative practice and                                                                                 RIN 0910–AH00
                                                      procedure, Confidential business                          (3) The model number;
                                                      information, Energy conservation,                         (4) The average active mode efficiency              Food Labeling; Gluten-Free Labeling of
                                                      Household appliances, Imports,                          as a percentage (%);                                  Fermented or Hydrolyzed Foods
                                                      Reporting and recordkeeping                               (5) No-load mode power consumption
                                                                                                              in watts (W);                                         AGENCY:    Food and Drug Administration,
                                                      requirements.
                                                                                                                                                                    HHS.
                                                      10 CFR Part 430                                           (6) The nameplate output power in
                                                                                                              watts (W);                                            ACTION:   Proposed rule.
                                                        Administrative practice and                             (7) The nameplate output current in
                                                      procedure, Confidential business                                                                              SUMMARY:    The Food and Drug
                                                                                                              aperes (A); and                                       Administration (FDA or we) is
                                                      information, Energy conservation,
                                                                                                                (8) The number of units sold during                 proposing to establish requirements
                                                      Household appliances, Imports,
                                                                                                              the most recent 12-calendar-month                     concerning ‘‘gluten-free’’ labeling for
                                                      Intergovernmental relations, Small
                                                                                                              period ending on July 31. The report                  foods that are fermented or hydrolyzed
                                                      businesses.
                                                                                                              must be submitted to DOE in                           or that contain fermented or hydrolyzed
                                                        Issued in Washington, DC, on November                 accordance with the submission                        ingredients. These additional
                                                      10, 2015.                                               procedures set forth in § 429.12(h).                  requirements for the ‘‘gluten-free’’
                                                      Kathleen B. Hogan,                                                                                            labeling rule are needed to help ensure
                                                      Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy                   PART 430—ENERGY CONSERVATION                          that individuals with celiac disease are
                                                      Efficiency, Energy Efficiency and Renewable             PROGRAM FOR CONSUMER                                  not misled and receive truthful and
                                                      Energy.                                                 PRODUCTS                                              accurate information with respect to
                                                        For the reasons stated in the                                                                               fermented or hydrolyzed foods labeled
                                                                                                              ■ 3. The authority citation for part 430
                                                      preamble, DOE is proposing to amend                                                                           as ‘‘gluten-free.’’ There is uncertainty in
                                                                                                              continues to read as follows:
                                                      parts 429 and 430 of Chapter II of Title                                                                      interpreting the results of current gluten
                                                      10, Code of Federal Regulations as set                    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6291–6309; 28 U.S.C.           test methods for fermented and
                                                      forth below:                                            2461 note.                                            hydrolyzed foods on a quantitative basis
                                                                                                              ■ 4. Section 430.32 is amended by                     that equates the test results in terms of
                                                      PART 429—CERTIFICATION,                                 revising paragraph (w)(2) to read as                  intact gluten. Thus, we propose to
                                                      COMPLIANCE, AND ENFORCEMENT                             follows:                                              evaluate compliance of such fermented
                                                      FOR CONSUMER PRODUCTS AND                                                                                     and hydrolyzed foods that bear a
                                                      COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL                               § 430.32 Energy and water conservation                ‘‘gluten-free’’ claim with the gluten-free
                                                      EQUIPMENT                                               standards and their compliance dates.
                                                                                                                                                                    labeling rule based on records that are
                                                                                                              *      *     *     *     *                            made and kept by the manufacturer of
                                                      ■ 1. The authority citation for part 429                  (w) * * *                                           the food bearing the ‘‘gluten-free’’ claim
                                                      continues to read as follows:                             (2) A basic model of external power                 and made available to us for inspection
                                                          Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6291–6317.                     supply is not subject to the energy                   and copying. The records would need to
                                                      ■ 2. Section 429.37 is amended by                       conservation standards of paragraph                   provide adequate assurance that the
                                                      adding paragraphs (b)(3) and (c) to read                (w)(1)(ii) of this section if the external            food is ‘‘gluten-free’’ in compliance with
                                                      as follows:                                             power supply—                                         the gluten-free food labeling final rule
                                                                                                                (i) Is manufactured during the period               before fermentation or hydrolysis. In
                                                      § 429.37   External power supplies.                     beginning on February 10, 2016, and                   addition, the proposed rule would
                                                      *     *     *     *     *                               ending on February 10, 2020;                          require the manufacturer of fermented
                                                        (b) * * *                                               (ii) Is marked in accordance with the               or hydrolyzed foods bearing the ‘‘gluten-
                                                        (3) Pursuant to § 429.12(b)(13), a                    External Power Supply International                   free’’ claim to document that it has
                                                      certification report for external power                 Efficiency Marking Protocol, as in effect             adequately evaluated the potential for
                                                      supplies that are exempt from the                       on February 10, 2016;                                 gluten cross-contact and, if identified,
                                                      energy conservation standards at                          (iii) Meets, where applicable, the                  that the manufacturer has implemented
                                                      § 430.32(w)(1)(ii) pursuant to                          standards under paragraph (w)(1)(i) of                measures to prevent the introduction of
                                                      § 430.32(w)(2) must include the                         this section, and has been certified to               gluten into the food during the
                                                      following additional product-specific                   the Secretary as meeting those                        manufacturing process. Likewise,
                                                      information: The number of units of                     standards; and                                        manufacturers of foods that contain
                                                      each individual model of exempt                                                                               fermented or hydrolyzed ingredients
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                                                                                (iv) Is made available by the
                                                      external power supplies sold during the                                                                       and bear the ‘‘gluten-free’’ claim would
                                                                                                              manufacturer only as a service part or a
                                                      most recent 12-calendar-month period                                                                          be required to make and keep records
                                                                                                              spare part for an end-use product that—
                                                      ending on July 31.                                                                                            that demonstrate with adequate
                                                        (c) Exempt External Power Supplies.                     (A) Constitutes the primary load; and               assurance that the fermented or
                                                      For each individual model of external                     (B) Was manufactured before                         hydrolyzed ingredients are ‘‘gluten-free’’
                                                      power supply that is exempt from                        February 10, 2016.                                    in compliance with the gluten-free food
                                                      energy conservation standards pursuant                  *      *     *     *     *                            labeling final rule. Finally, the proposed
                                                      to § 430.32(w)(2) and has not been                      [FR Doc. 2015–29303 Filed 11–17–15; 8:45 am]          rule would state that we would evaluate
                                                      certified pursuant to § 429.12(a) as                    BILLING CODE 6450–01–P                                compliance of distilled foods by


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Document Created: 2018-03-01 11:21:00
Document Modified: 2018-03-01 11:21:00
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionProposed Rules
ActionNotice of proposed rulemaking.
DatesDOE will accept comments, data, and information regarding this notice of proposed rulemaking no later than December 18, 2015. See section V, ``Public Participation,'' for details.
ContactDirect requests for additional information may be sent to Mr. Jeremy Dommu, 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. Telephone: (202) 586-9870. Email: [email protected]
FR Citation80 FR 71984 
RIN Number1904-AD53
CFR Citation10 CFR 429
10 CFR 430
CFR AssociatedAdministrative Practice and Procedure; Confidential Business Information; Energy Conservation; Household Appliances; Imports; Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements; Intergovernmental Relations and Small Businesses

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