DOE and EPA agenda outlined, expect activity to increase significantly

The administration regularly reports on the upcoming activities of the various governmental agencies through the Unified Agenda, the latest of which was released Dec. 2021 and is searchable by agency. In the first of many actions impacting the commercial foodservice equipment and supplies industry, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) to determine test procedures for automatic commercial ice makers. Comments are due by Feb. 22. Also upcoming from DOE, according to the Unified Agenda, are:

• Energy-conservation standards for automatic commercial ice makers, Feb. 2022
• Test procedures for walk-in coolers/freezers, Feb. 2022
• Energy-conservation standards for walk-in coolers/freezers, May 2022
• Test procedures for commercial refrigeration equipment, May 2022
• Energy-conservation standards for commercial refrigeration equipment, July 2022

“We are pleased to see that DOE agreed with NAFEM in the new Process Rule that test procedures should be addressed before energy conservation standards are finalized,” said Tammy Helminski, NAFEM legal counsel, Barnes & Thornburg.  

Members will recall that the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) 2021 Process Rule that revised significant provisions of the 2020 Process Rule took effect Jan. 12. According to the DOE, the new rule will allow the agency to update standards more quickly by allowing for more flexible rulemaking. “NAFEM is concerned that such a lack of accountability and unlimited discretion will not provide economic stability or efficiency,” said Charlie Souhrada, CFSP, vice president, regulatory & technical affairs.