On September 5, 2023, DOE published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR), in which DOE proposed amended energy conservation standards for walk-in coolers and walk-in freezers. In this pre-publication Federal Register notification, DOE is summarizing and addressing comments that were considered but not discussed in the September 2023 NOPR.

• DOE will accept comments, data, and information regarding the September 2023 NOPR as supplemented by this notice of data availability no later than November 6, 2023.

• Interested persons may submit comments identified by docket number EERE-2017-BT-STD-0009, by email (WICF2017STD0009@ee.doe.gov), Federal eRulemaking portal (http://www.regulations.gov).
• DOE will hold a webinar on Wednesday, September 27, 2023, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Click here to register for the webinar.
• Foreign Nationals interested in participating in this webinar, must be screened by DOE Headquarters Security prior to being granted access. Please email Regina.Washington@ee.doe.gov to complete the necessary documentation at least two weeks prior to scheduled meeting date.
• Additional webinar registration information, participant instructions, and information about the capabilities available to webinar participants will be published on DOE’s website: https://energy.gov/eere/buildings/public-meetings-and-comment-deadlines

DOE has published a Federal Register notice of proposed rulemaking proposing to amend energy conservation standards for walk-in coolers and freezers. Specifically, DOE proposes to amend standards for walk-in non-display doors and walk-in refrigeration systems.

On May 4, 2023, DOE published a final rule adopting test procedures for walk-in coolers and walk-in freezers. DOE has issued a pre-publication Federal Register notice correcting errors and omissions in that final rule. Neither the errors and omissions nor the corrections affect the substance of the rulemaking or any conclusions reached in support of the final rule.

• This correction notice is effective once the once notice has published in the Federal Register. DOE will send a follow-up e-mail once the notice publishes to announce the effective date.

DOE has published a Federal Register final rule amending the test procedures for walk-in coolers and walk-in freezers to harmonize with updated industry standards, revise certain definitions, revise the test methods to more accurately represent field energy use, and to accommodate a wider range of walk-in cooler and walk-in freezer component equipment designs.

• The effective date of this rule is June 5, 2023
• The amendments will be mandatory for product testing starting October 31, 2023. Manufacturers will be required to use the amended test procedures until the compliance date of any final rule establishing amended energy conservation standards based on the newly established test procedures. At such time, manufacturers will be required to begin using the newly established test procedures. 
• The incorporation by reference of certain materials listed in the rule is approved by the Director of the Federal Register starting June 5, 2023. 
• The incorporation by reference of certain other material listed in the rule was approved by the Director of the Federal Register on January 27, 2017.

For the latest information on the planned timing of future DOE regulatory milestones, see the current Office of Management and Budget Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions. All planned dates are preliminary and subject to change.

WICFs manufactured and distributed in commerce, as defined by 42 U.S.C. 6311(20), must meet the energy conservation standards specified in the Code of Federal Regulations at 10 CFR 431.306.

To determine that WICFs that are currently manufactured or distributed into commerce are in compliance with DOE standards, manufacturers must follow the test procedure methods specified at 10 CFR 431.304.