Overview
Title
Energy Conservation Program: Definition of Showerhead; Correction
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The U.S. Department of Energy made a small fix to the instructions that tell how a rule about showerheads should be officially written down. Even though there was a mistake in how it was done, nothing important about the rule itself changed.
Summary AI
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued a final rule to amend the definition of a showerhead but needed to correct an error in the regulatory text instruction for 10 CFR 430.3 due to an inaccurate instruction. This correction, published on January 8, 2021, does not change the substance or conclusions of the original rule. The effective date for this update is January 15, 2021, and it was signed by DOE's Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
Abstract
On December 16, 2020, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) published a final rule amending the definition of showerhead. This correction republishes an amendment from the final rule that could not be incorporated into the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) due to an inaccurate amendatory instruction. Neither the errors nor the corrections in this document affect the substance of the rulemaking or any of the conclusions reached in support of this final rule.
Keywords AI
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AnalysisAI
The document from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) focuses on a correction related to a previously published final rule regarding the definition of a showerhead. Originally published on December 16, 2020, there was an error in the instructions that guide the integration of this rule into federal regulations, specifically concerning the proper labeling of paragraphs in those regulations. This correction, published in January 2021, is a procedural adjustment that does not alter the substance or the conclusions of the initial rule.
General Summary
This document is essentially a corrective measure by the DOE to ensure the correct implementation of a previous rule concerning showerheads. On December 16, 2020, a final rule was published to amend how showerheads are defined, ostensibly to address water usage and efficiency. However, a mistake in the regulatory instructions meant that these amendments were not accurately incorporated into the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). The primary purpose of this document is to rectify that error.
Significant Issues or Concerns
The document does not elucidate the specific consequences of the original error, such as how it impacted the interpretation or enforcement of the showerhead regulation. Without this information, the practical significance of the correction can be difficult to ascertain. Furthermore, the language used to describe the correction, particularly amendatory instruction 3.c., may be confusing for those unfamiliar with regulatory formatting and numbering. Additionally, the document assumes familiarity with a previous document (FR Doc. 2020-27280), placing those without access at a disadvantage in understanding the full context of the correction.
Broader Public Impact
For the general public, this document has limited immediate impact. It would primarily concern those with a vested interest in energy conservation standards and water efficiency regulations. For the average consumer, the intricacies of how regulations are labeled and incorporated might seem bureaucratic and have no direct day-to-day impact.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
Manufacturers and Businesses: For manufacturers of plumbing fixtures, especially those producing showerheads, this correction could imply necessary adjustments to ensure compliance with the current federal standards. It underscores the need for vigilance in understanding the regulatory environment.
Regulatory and Legal Professionals: For attorneys and regulatory compliance specialists, this document is a reminder of the importance of accurate regulatory instructions and the potential complexities involved in federal compliance.
Environmental Advocates: For environmental groups focused on water conservation, this corrected rule is part of broader efforts to manage water resources more effectively. It may be seen as a positive step towards achieving sustainability through efficient product standards.
Overall, while the document itself is corrective in nature and mostly procedural, it highlights the significance of precision in regulatory language and the potential ripple effects such errors can initiate in both legal and compliance fields.
Issues
• The document corrects a previous error in amendatory instructions but does not specify the consequences of this error. Clarification on the practical impact of this correction would aid understanding.
• The language used to describe the correction in amendatory instruction 3.c. may be unclear to those not familiar with the regulation numbering system, which could be made clearer with a brief explanation.
• The document assumes the reader has access to and has read the earlier Federal Register document (FR Doc. 2020-27280) without summarizing its content, which could cause difficulty in understanding the context of the correction.