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National Organic Program; Proposed Amendments to the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances per October 2020 and April 2021 NOSB Recommendations (Handling, Crop): The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) proposes amendments to the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (National List) section of the USDA's organic regulations to implement recommendations submitted to the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) by the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB). This rule proposes to add low-acyl gellan gum, a food additive used as a thickener, gelling agent, and stabilizer; and paper-based crop planting aids to the National List, along with a definition of paper-based crop planting aids. If finalized, low-acyl gellan gum would be allowed as an ingredient in processed organic products, and paper-based crop planting aids would be allowed in organic crop production. (...)

The U.S. Department of Energy ("DOE") is initiating rulemaking activities to consider potential test procedure and energy conservation standards for consumer air cleaners. Through this request for information ("RFI"), DOE seeks data and information regarding development and evaluation of a new test procedure that would be reasonably designed to produce test results which reflect energy use during a representative average use cycle for the product without being unduly burdensome to conduct. Additionally, this RFI solicits information regarding the development and evaluation of potential new energy conservation standards for consumer air cleaners, and whether such standards would result in significant energy savings, be technologically feasible and economically justified. (...)

Energy Conservation Program: Test Procedure for Single Package Vertical Air Conditioners and Single Package Vertical Heat Pumps: The U.S. Department of Energy ("DOE") proposes to amend its test procedures for single package vertical air conditioners and single package vertical heat pumps. DOE is proposing to incorporate by reference the most recent version of the relevant industry test standard, Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) 390-2021, and to amend certain provisions for representations for the subject equipment. DOE is also proposing definitions for "single-phase single package vertical air conditioners with cooling capacity less than 65,000 Btu/h" and for "single-phase single package vertical heat pumps with cooling capacity less than 65,000 Btu/h." (...)

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) proposes to amend the test procedure for consumer water heaters and residential-duty commercial water heaters to update the procedure to the latest versions of the industry standards that are incorporated by reference and to consider procedures that are included in a draft industry standard, which is not currently incorporated by reference. DOE also proposes to interpret the statutory definition of consumer water heater to cover larger capacity heat pump type units as commercial equipment and proposes several new definitions for water heaters that cannot be appropriately tested with the current DOE test procedure, along with test methods to test these products. (...)

National Perchloroethylene Air Emission Standards for Dry Cleaning Facilities Technology Review: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing amendments to the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for dry cleaning facilities using perchloroethylene (PCE) as the cleaning solvent (PCE Dry Cleaning NESHAP). The proposed amendments address the results of the technology review for the PCE Dry Cleaning NESHAP, in accordance with section 112 of the Clean Air Act (CAA). Based on the findings of the technology review, the EPA proposes to add provisions to the rule which will require all dry-to-dry machines at existing major and area sources to have both refrigerated condensers and carbon adsorbers as secondary controls.

Energy Conservation Program: Test Procedure for Dishwashers: The U.S. Department of Energy ("DOE") proposes to amend the current test procedures appendix for dishwashers, adopt a new test procedure appendix, incorporate by reference newly published Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers ("AHAM") standards--AHAM DW-1-2020 and DW-2-2020--and apply certain provisions of the industry standards to to the test procedures appendices. The proposed amendments to the current procedure would establish requirements for water hardness, relative humidity, and loading pattern; update requirements for ambient temperature, detergent dosage, and standby power measurement; include testing approaches from recently published waivers for dishwashers; and include provisions for a minimum cleaning index threshold to validate the selected test cycle. The proposed new test procedure appendix would additionally include updated annual number of cycles and low-power mode hours for the calculation of energy consumption. (...)

Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Dedicated-Purpose Pool Pump Motors: The Energy Policy and Conservation Act, as amended, prescribes energy conservation standards for various consumer products and certain commercial and industrial equipment, including electric motors. In this notice of proposed rulemaking ("NOPR"), the Department of Energy (DOE) proposes to establish energy conservation standards for dedicated-purpose pool pump motors, a category of electric motors (...)

Oil and Gas and Sulfur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf--Blowout Preventer Systems and Well Control Revisions: The Department of the Interior (DOI or Department), through the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), is proposing to revise certain regulatory provisions published in the 2019 final well control rule for drilling, workover, completion, and decommissioning operations. (...) This proposed rule would provide consistency and clarity to industry regarding the BOP equipment and associated operational requirements necessary for BSEE review and approval and would further ensure operations are conducted safely and in an environmentally responsible manner.

Volatile Organic Compound Limits in Consumer Products: The Division of Air Pollution Control (DAPC) has proposed amended rules in Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) Chapter 3745-112, "Consumer Products Rules" to the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (JCARR). The rules in this chapter establish limits on the quantity of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that may be contained in consumer products, such as cleaning products, personal care products, and home, lawn, and garden products, that are sold, supplied, offered for sale or manufactured for sale in the state of Ohio. DAPC has drafted revisions to the rules in OAC Chapter 3745-112 to adopt a more recent version of the Ozone Transport Commission (OTC) model rule (...) These rules were initially promulgated in 2007 as part of Ohio's strategy to attain the 1997 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) by adopting the standards in the model rule developed by the Ozone Transport Commission (OTC). (...) Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is updating these rules to adopt more recent versions of the OTC model rule; specifically, up through the 2012 Phase IV OTC model rule (this includes adopting the limits in the 2010 Phase III model rule, as well as the 2013 technical update) with a compliance date of 1 January 2023. This update is part of Ohio's strategy to attain the 2015 ozone NAAQS. (...)

Energy Conservation Program: Test Procedure for Dedicated-Purpose Pool Pumps: The U.S. Department of Energy ("DOE") proposes to amend the test procedures for dedicated-purpose pool pumps ("DPPPs") to incorporate by reference the latest version of the relevant industry standards, to codify DOE's current enforcement policy regarding the scope of the DPPP test procedure pertaining to DPPPs that cannot be appropriately tested by the current DOE test procedure, to align DOE's DPPP definitions with DOE's corresponding DPPP motor definitions, and to remove an obsolete DOE DPPP test procedure appendix. (...)