Alternative Fueled Vehicle Acquisition Requirements for Private and Local Government Fleets

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

10 CFR Part 490

[Docket No. EE-RM-96-200]

Alternative Fueled Vehicle Acquisition Requirements for Private

and Local Government Fleets

AGENCY: Department of Energy (DOE).

ACTION: Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Notice of Public

Hearings.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE) is today publishing an advance

notice of proposed rulemaking, as required by the Energy Policy Act of

1992 (the Act), that begins a process to determine whether alternative

fueled vehicle (AFV) acquisition requirements for certain private and

local government automobile fleets should be promulgated. This advance

notice also requests comments on progress toward the goals set forth in

section 502(b)(2) of the Act, identifying the problems with achieving

the goals, assessing the adequacy and practicability of and considering

all actions necessary to meet the goals. This advance notice is

intended to stimulate comments that will inform DOE decisions

concerning future rulemaking actions and non-regulatory initiatives to

promote alternative fuels and alternative fueled vehicles.

DATES: Written comments (8 copies) must be received by the Department

by November 5, 1996.

Oral views, data, and arguments may be presented at the public

hearings, which are scheduled as follows:

1. In Dallas, TX, beginning at 10:15 a.m. on September 17, 1996.

2. In Sacramento, CA, beginning at 9:30 a.m. on September 25, 1996.

3. In Washington, D.C., beginning at 9:30 a.m. on October 9, 1996.

Requests to speak at a hearing should be received no later than

4:00 p.m., September 13, 1996 for the Dallas, TX hearing, September 23,

1996 for the Sacramento, CA hearing, and October 7, 1996 for the

Washington, D.C. hearing. The length of each oral presentation is

limited to 10 minutes.

ADDRESSES: The hearings will be held at the following addresses:

1. Dallas, TX--Wyndham Anatole Hotel, 2201 Stemmons Freeway (Market

Center), Obelisk A Room (Mezzanine Level), Dallas, TX 75207.

2. Sacramento, CA--Secretary of State Archive/Complex, 1500 11th

Street (11th & O Streets Entrance), Auditorium (Main Lobby),

Sacramento, CA.

3. Washington, D.C.--U.S. Department of Energy, Forrestal Building,

Auditorium, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20585.

Written comments (8 copies) and requests to speak at a hearing are

to be submitted to U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Transportation

Technologies, EE-33, Docket No. EE-RM-96-200, 1000 Independence Avenue,

S.W., Washington, D.C. 20585, telephone (202) 586-3012. Copies of the

transcript of the public hearings, written comments, technical

reference materials mentioned in the notice, and any other docket

material received may be read and copied at the DOE Freedom of

Information Reading Room, U.S. Department of Energy, Room 1E-190, 1000

Independence Ave. S.W., Washington, D.C. 20585, telephone (202) 586-

6020 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday

except Federal holidays. The docket file material will be filed under

``EE-RM-96-200.''

For more information concerning public participation in this

rulemaking proceeding, see section V of this notice (Public Comment

Procedures).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Rodgers, Office of Energy

Efficiency and Renewable Energy, EE-34, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000

Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20585, afv-

[email protected]; or phone (202) 586-9171.

For information concerning the public hearings, submission of

written comments; and to obtain copies of materials referenced in this

notice, contact Andi Kasarsky, (202) 586-3012.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Introduction

A. Authority

B. Program Background and Goals

C. Required Rulemaking

II. General Issues Relating to Replacement Fuel Goals

III. Additional Issues Related to Required Fleet Mandate

Determinations

IV. Review and Analysis Requirements

V. Public Comment Procedures

a. Participation in Rulemaking

b. Written Comment Procedures

[[Page 41033]]

c. Public Hearings

1. Procedure for Submitting Requests to Speak

2. Conduct of Hearing

I. Introduction

A. Authority

DOE today begins a rulemaking required by section 507 of the Energy

Policy Act of 1992 (the Act), Pub. L. 102-486, to determine whether

alternative fueled vehicle acquisition requirements for private and

local government automobile fleets are ``necessary'' to achieve the

Act's clean air and energy security goals. Section 507 provides for an

early rulemaking to make this determination by December 15, 1996. 42

U.S.C. 13256(b). If DOE determines that vehicle acquisition

requirements are not necessary in the early rulemaking, then section

507 requires a later rulemaking (beginning no later than April 1998) to

determine by January 1, 2000, whether vehicle acquisition requirements

are ``necessary'' in light of then current circumstances. 42 U.S.C.

13256(b)(3), (c) and (e). If DOE has not promulgated a final rule to

implement an early mandate by December 15, 1996, it is precluded from

doing so and must proceed to the later rulemaking. 42 U.S.C. 13256(b).

B. Program Background and Goals

The transportation sector currently accounts for approximately two-

thirds of all U.S. petroleum use and roughly one-fourth of total U.S.

energy consumption. A virtual one-to-one relationship exists between

additional gasoline consumption and America's increased use of imported

oil. The gap between the transportation sector's demand for petroleum

and our domestic production continues to widen. The U.S. consumes 4

million barrels per day more for transportation purposes alone than it

produces; that gap is projected to rise to 9 million barrels per day by

the year 2010. According to the latest projections by the Energy

Information Administration, the transportation sector will consume 14.1

million barrels per day of petroleum in 2010. About 7.4 million of

these barrels are projected to be used by light duty vehicles. The

transportation sector represents one of the major sources of short and

medium term energy vulnerability for American society and the American

economy today.

Congress enacted the Energy Policy Act of 1992, Pub. L. 102-486, in

part to address these energy security and clean air concerns. Titles

III, IV, V, and VI of the Act contain provisions requiring DOE to

establish a variety of programs aimed at displacing substantial

quantities of oil consumed by motor vehicles.

Title III sets forth mandatory requirements for Federal fleet

acquisitions of alternative fueled vehicles, which began in fiscal year

1993. Since that time, over 20,000 alternative fueled vehicles have

been added to the Federal fleet. Federal agencies have gained

considerable experience with all alternative fuels and vehicle types.

Auto manufacturers have significantly increased the number and type of

alternative fueled vehicles and the number of alternative fuel

refueling stations has also increased. Title IV directs DOE, among

other things, to establish a program to certify alternative fuel

technicians and to acquire data about alternative fuels and alternative

fueled vehicles and to establish a public information program. DOE has

established a cooperative program with the auto service industry and

numerous technical colleges to develop and implement national standards

for certification of alternative fuel training programs. Over the last

several years, DOE has explored the costs and benefits of alternative

fuel and AFV use in the transportation sector. A series of technical

reports record the results of these analyses. The series title is

Assessment of Costs and Benefits of Flexible and Alternative Fuel Use

in the U.S. Transportation Sector. These reports will be placed in the

public docket for this rulemaking in DOE's Freedom of Information

Reading Room.

Section 502 of title V requires DOE to establish a program to

promote development and use of replacement fuels, especially domestic

replacement fuels, in light duty motor vehicles. DOE is to focus on

those replacement fuels having the most impact in: reducing oil

imports, improving the health of the Nation's economy and reducing

emissions of greenhouse gases. DOE is in the process of performing

analytical work to guide the design of this replacement fuel demand and

supply program. Section 502(b) requires DOE to assess, among other

things, the feasibility of producing adequate replacement fuels to

displace 10% of U.S. motor fuel by 2000 and 30% by 2010. DOE has

undertaken such a study, the partial results of which have been

published by DOE's Office of Policy as Technical Report Fourteen:

Market Potential and Impacts of Alternative Fuel Use in Light-Duty

Vehicles: A 2000/2010 Analysis. This report is available by calling the

National Alternative Fuels Hotline at 1-800-423-1DOE or 703-528-3500. A

copy will be placed in the docket file for this rulemaking. DOE is also

required by section 506 to prepare a Technical and Policy Analysis of

various issues related to replacement fuels and alternative fueled

vehicles for submission to the President and Congress. A draft of this

report is under preparation and a copy will be placed in the docket for

this rulemaking when it becomes available. Any comments received on

this ANOPR relating to the fuel displacement goals are expected to be

key parts of the process of drawing up the section 502 program.

Pursuant to section 505 of the Act, 42 U.S.C. 13255, DOE is

promoting voluntary use of alternative fueled vehicles through its

Clean Cities Program. Under this program, DOE joins with local

governments and organizations in public/private partnerships aimed at

developing markets for alternative fueled vehicles. The program aims to

put together enough participants in each local area to reach the

necessary volume of alternative fueled vehicle use to justify

installation of refueling infrastructure and other joint facilities, as

well as to promote other forms of cooperation. To date, 48 U.S.

communities have signed agreements to participate.

Title V also contains non-discretionary alternative fueled vehicle

acquisition requirements. Sections 501 and 507(o) of the Act require

certain State government fleets and alternative fuel providers to

include increasing percentages of alternative fueled vehicles in their

annual acquisitions of new light duty vehicles. DOE published a final

rule to implement these vehicle acquisition requirements on March 14,

1996. 61 FR 10621.

C. Required Rulemaking

This advance notice of proposed rulemaking is the first step in a

required rulemaking under sections 507(a) and (b) of title V of the Act

for determining whether local government and private fleets (other than

alternative fuel providers subject to section 501) should be required

to acquire alternative fueled vehicles. 42 U.S.C. 13257(a) and (b). A

DOE decision to impose alternative fueled vehicle acquisition

requirements on private and local fleets is dependent on a

determination that such requirements are ``necessary'' to achieve the

clean air and energy security goals in sections 502 and 504.

Such a fleet mandate would cover local government and private

fleets (excluding alternative fuel provider fleets covered by section

501 of the Act) of 20 or more light duty motor vehicles (including

passenger cars and trucks

[[Page 41034]]

under 8500 lbs. gross vehicle weight), which are:

Centrally fueled or capable of being centrally fueled;

Operated primarily within a metropolitan statistical area

with a population of at least 250,000 according to the 1980 Census; and

Owned, leased, operated or otherwise controlled by an

entity which owns or operates 50 or more such vehicles in the United

States.

Various classes of light duty motor vehicles are excluded from the

basis for determining coverage. Excluded categories are listed in

Sec. 490.3 of DOE's final rule for State government fleets and certain

alternative fuel providers, 10 CFR part 490, 61 FR 10654. Appendix A of

subpart A of that rule (61 FR 10655) is a list of the metropolitan

statistical areas with a population of at least 250,000 according to

the 1980 Census.

1. Advance notice of proposed rulemaking. Section 507(a)(3) of the

Act requires DOE to publish an advance notice of proposed rulemaking

for the purposes of: (1) evaluating progress toward the goals of

producing replacement fuels to replace, on an energy equivalent basis,

at least 10% of motor fuels consumption by the year 2000 and at least

30% by the year 2010; (2) identifying the problems with achieving the

goals; (3) assessing the adequacy and practicability of the goals; and

(4) considering all actions necessary to meet the goals. Today's notice

is issued to comply with this statutory requirement.

2. Early rulemaking. Sections 507(a)(4) and (b)(1) of the Act

direct DOE, after obtaining public input on the issues raised in this

notice, to publish a notice of proposed rulemaking to determine whether

a fleet requirement to begin in model year 1999 is necessary to meet

the 30% fuel replacement goal by 2010 and (ii) that the goal is

practicable and actually achievable through implementation of a private

and local fleet requirement program along with other measures. 42

U.S.C. 13257(a)(4) and (b)(1).

Subject to change by rule, section 507(a) sets forth the following

tentative alternative fueled vehicle acquisition schedule for

requirements established by the early rulemaking:

20 percent of the light duty motor vehicles acquired in model years

1999, 2000 and 2001;

30 percent of those acquired in model year 2002;

40 percent of those acquired in model year 2003;

50 percent of those acquired in model year 2004;

60 percent of those acquired in model year 2005; and

70 percent of those acquired in model year 2006 and thereafter.

DOE may establish, by rule, a lesser percentage for any model year

or establish a later beginning date for the mandate to begin. 42 U.S.C.

13257(a)(2).

In order to determine that a mandate is ``necessary,'' section

507(b) of the Act, 42 U.S.C. 13257(b), requires DOE to make the

following findings by rule:

(A) The goal of replacement fuel use described in section

502(b)(2)(B) is not expected to be actually achieved by 2010 (or such

other date as is established under section 504) by voluntary means or

pursuant to Title V or any other law without such a fleet requirement

program, taking into consideration the status of the achievement of the

interim goal described in section 502(b)(2)(A);

(B) Such goal is practicable and actually achievable within periods

specified in section 502(b)(2) through implementation of such a fleet

requirement program in combination with voluntary means and the

application of other programs relevant to achieving such goals; and

(C) By 1998 (when model year 1999 begins) or the date specified by

the Secretary in a rule initiating a fleet requirement program--

(i) there exists sufficient evidence to ensure that the fuel and

the needed infrastructure, including the supply and deliverability

systems, will be installed and located at convenient places in the

fleet areas subject to the rule and will be fully operational when the

rule is effective to offer a reliable and timely supply of the

applicable alternative fuel at reasonable costs (as compared to

conventional fuels) to meet the fleet requirement program, as

demonstrated through use of the provisions of section 505(1) of the Act

regarding voluntary commitments or other adequate, reliable, and

convincing forms of agreements, arrangements, or representations that

such fuels and infrastructure are in existence or will exist when the

rule is effective and will be expanded as the percentages increase

annually;

(ii) there will be a sufficient number of new alternative fueled

vehicles from original equipment manufacturers that comply with all

applicable requirements of the Clean Air Act and the National Traffic

and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966;

(iii) such new vehicles will meet the applicable non-Federal and

non-State fleet performance requirements of such fleets (including

range, passenger or cargo-carrying capacity, reliability, refueling

capability, vehicle mix, and economical operation and maintenance); and

(iv) establishment of a fleet requirement program by rule will not

result in unfair competitive advantages or disadvantages, or result in

undue economic hardship, to the affected fleets.

If DOE has not promulgated a final rule to implement an early

mandate by December 15, 1996, it is precluded from doing so and must

proceed to a later rulemaking (beginning no later than April 1998) to

determine whether a mandate to begin in model year 2002 or thereafter

is ``necessary'' under section 507(e). 42 U.S.C. 13257(b)(1)(e). DOE

notes that there are several considerations warranting delay before

completing a rulemaking involving the imposition of fleet AFV

requirements for private and local government fleets. First, DOE has

not yet completed its study of the technical and economic feasibility

of meeting the goals set forth in section 502(b)(2). Second, it would

be useful to observe implementation of the final rule under sections

501 and 507(o) in considering many of the issues key to possible

private and local government fleet requirements. Implementation of

these initial mandates was delayed from the statutory schedule by one

model year and will begin in September of 1996. DOE is especially

interested in Alternative State Plans which may capitalize on the Clean

Cities Program and involve a substantial number of private and local

fleets. Third, the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-4,

and President Clinton's Executive Orders 12866 and 12875 require

careful consultations with stakeholders and creative exploration of

alternatives to regulation that could achieve the statutory objectives.

Lastly, the Department also notes that it is unlikely that the

procedural requirements for this early rulemaking could be completed,

as a practical matter, before December 15, 1996, the deadline for a

final rule under section 507(b).

3. Later rulemaking. If DOE does not adopt an early mandate,

section 507(e) and (g) of the Act require DOE to initiate a rulemaking

to determine if the statutory conditions for a later mandate, beginning

in model year 2002 or thereafter, are met. While the required

determinations for the early and later rulemakings are not identical,

the information gathered through this advance notice of proposed

rulemaking process will be relevant and useful for making the required

determinations in the later rulemaking as well.

[[Page 41035]]

Section 507(g) provides the following acquisition schedule for a

program established by this later rulemaking:

20 percent of the light duty motor vehicles acquired in model year

2002;

40 percent of those acquired in model year 2003;

60 percent of those acquired in model year 2004; and

70 percent of those acquired in model year 2005 and thereafter.

If DOE were eventually to determine that the conditions for the

late mandate under sections 507 (e) and (g) were not met, DOE would be

required by section 509 of the Act to submit to Congress

recommendations for possible requirements or incentives applying to

fuel suppliers, vehicle suppliers and motorists that would achieve the

goals.

II. General Issues Relating to Replacement Fuel Goals

As explained in Section I of this notice, section 507(a)(3) of the

Act requires DOE to publish an advance notice of proposed rulemaking

for the purposes of: (1) Evaluating progress toward the replacement

fuel goals of producing replacement fuels to replace, on an energy

equivalent basis, at least 10% of motor fuels consumption by the year

2000 and at least 30% by the year 2010; (2) identifying the problems

with achieving the goals; (3) assessing the adequacy and practicability

of the goals; and (4) considering all actions necessary to meet the

goals.

Section 502(a) lays out a specific goal for a ``Replacement Fuel

Supply and Demand Program'': to promote the development and use in

light duty motor vehicles of domestic replacement fuels to substitute

for imported petroleum motor fuels to the maximum extent practicable.

42 U.S.C. 13252. In designing the program, DOE is to focus on those

replacement fuels having the most impact in reducing oil imports,

improving the health of the Nation's economy and reducing emissions of

greenhouse gases. Section 502(b)(2) further requires DOE to assess,

among other things, the feasibility of producing adequate replacement

fuels to displace 10% of U.S. motor fuel by 2000 and 30% by 2010. 42

U.S.C. 13252(b)(2).

DOE invites comments on the following general issues related to

achieving the Act's replacement fuel goals:

1. What voluntary and incentive measures could be undertaken,

either in conjunction with fleet AFV requirements or in lieu of such

mandates, that would be effective in achieving progress toward the fuel

replacement goals?

2. What methods or criteria should DOE use to assess the adequacy

and practicality of specific replacement fuel goals (e.g., the 10% and

30% targets) or for determining whether the goals should be modified?

3. How should the potential for dramatic changes in the price and

availability of petroleum (e.g., due to a sharp curtailment in world

petroleum supplies) be factored into the design of a replacement fuels

program?

4. How should DOE estimate the fuel replacement impacts from other

federal or state alternative fueled vehicle mandates, voluntary

commitments, use of dual fueled vehicles that operate only part time on

alternative fuels, and other measures?

5. What factors should DOE take into account when estimating the

impact of replacement fuels on reducing oil imports; improving the

health of the nation's economy; and reducing greenhouse gas emissions?

III. Additional Issues Related to Fleet Mandate Determinations

DOE seeks comment on the following issues that may be relevant to

any future DOE decision to propose alternative fueled vehicle

acquisition requirements for local government and private fleets:

1. In assessing whether sufficient numbers of new alternative

fueled vehicles complying with Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.,

and National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966, 49 U.S.C.

30101 et seq., requirements are available, should DOE look to

anticipated or committed production volumes, number of models offered,

or number of vehicle categories in which vehicles are offered? Should

DOE base its assessment on the number of alternative fuel

configurations in which such vehicles are offered or only to the totals

for all alternative fuel configurations?

2. In determining whether alternative fuel infrastructure,

including the supply and deliverability systems, will be installed and

located at convenient places in the fleet areas, should DOE consider

whether extended range refueling will be available, or should it only

consider whether central fueling facilities will be adequate?

3. What would constitute unfair competitive advantage or

disadvantage to the affected fleets? What would constitute undue

economic hardship to the affected fleets?

4. DOE is required by section 507(l) to take into consideration, to

the extent it has discretion to do so, the following factors: energy

security, costs, safety, lead time requirements, vehicle miles traveled

annually, effect on greenhouse gases, technological feasibility, energy

requirements, economic impacts including impacts on fleets, workers and

consumers, such as users of the alternative fuels for other purposes,

and the availability of alternative fuels and alternative fueled

vehicles. What bearing, if any, should these factors have on a DOE

determination as to whether it is ``necessary'' under section 507 to

impose alternative fueled vehicle acquisition requirements on local

government and private fleets?

IV. Review and Analysis Requirements

The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs in the Office of

Management and Budget (OIRA) has determined that this rulemaking is a

significant regulatory action under Executive Order 12866, Regulatory

Planning and Review, 58 FR 51735 (Oct. 4, 1993). Accordingly, this

advance notice was submitted for review to OIRA. Were DOE to propose

alternative fueled vehicle acquisition requirements for local

government and private fleets, the rulemaking could constitute an

economically significant regulatory action, and DOE would prepare and

submit to OIRA for review the assessment of costs and benefits required

by section 6(a)(3) of Executive Order 12866. Other procedural and

analysis requirements in other Executive Orders and statutes also may

apply to such future rulemaking action, including the requirements of

the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq., the Paperwork

Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq., and the Unfunded Mandates Act of

1995, Pub. L. 104-4, and the National Environmental Policy Act, 42

U.S.C. 4321 et seq.

VII. Public Comment Procedures

a. Participation in Rulemaking

The Department encourages the maximum level of public participation

possible in this rulemaking. Individual fleet operators,

representatives of trade groups, local governments, consumers of fleet

services, vehicle manufacturers, fuel providers, including producers,

distributors and service station operators, associations, States or

other governmental entities, and others are urged to submit written

comments on the proposal. The Department also encourages interested

persons to participate in the public hearings to be held at the times

and places indicated at the beginning of this notice.

The DOE has established a period of 90 days following publication

of this notice for persons to comment on this advance notice of

proposed rulemaking. All public comments and the transcripts

[[Page 41036]]

of the public hearings and other docket material will be available for

review in the DOE Freedom of Information Reading Room at the address

shown at the beginning of this notice. The docket file material will be

filed under ``EE-RM-96-200.''

b. Written Comment Procedures

Interested persons are invited to participate in this proceeding by

submitting written data, views or arguments with respect to the

subjects set forth in this notice. Instructions for submitting written

comments are set forth at the beginning of this notice and below.

Comments (8 copies) should be labeled both on the envelope and on

the documents, ``Fleet AFV Acquisition Requirements Rulemaking (Docket

No. EE-RM-96-200),'' and must be received by the date specified at the

beginning of this notice. All comments and other relevant information

received by the date specified at the beginning of this notice will be

considered by DOE in the subsequent stages of the rulemaking process.

Pursuant to the provisions of 10 CFR 1004.11, any person submitting

information or data that is believed to be confidential and exempt by

law from public disclosure should submit one complete copy of the

document and 3 copies, if possible, from which the information believed

to be confidential has been deleted. The Department will make its own

determination with regard to the confidential status of the information

or data and treat it according to its determination.

c. Public Hearings

1. Procedure for Submitting Requests to Speak. The dates, times and

places of the public hearings are indicated at the beginning of this

notice. The Department invites any person who has an interest in these

proceedings, or who is a representative of a group or class of persons

having an interest, to make a request for an opportunity to make an

oral presentation at the public hearings. Such requests should be

labeled both on the letter and the envelope--``Fleet AFV Acquisition

Requirements Rulemaking (Docket No. EE-RM-96-200),'' should be sent to

the address given at the beginning of this notice and must be received

by the date specified. Alternatively, requests may be telephoned to the

telephone number given. The person making the request should give a

telephone number where he or she may be contacted. Persons selected to

be heard will be notified by DOE as to the approximate time they will

be speaking.

Each person selected to be heard is requested to submit 8 copies of

his/her statement at the registration desk prior to the beginning of

the hearing. In the event any person wishing to testify cannot meet

this requirement, that person may make alternative arrangements by

calling (202) 586-3012 in advance or by so indicating in the letter

requesting to make an oral presentation.

2. Conduct of Hearing. The Department reserves the right to select

the persons to be heard at the hearings, to schedule the respective

presentations, and to establish the procedures governing the conduct of

the hearings. The length of each presentation is limited to 10 minutes.

A DOE official will be designated to preside at the hearings. The

hearings will not be judicial or evidentiary-type hearings, but will be

conducted in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 533 and section 501 of the DOE

Organization Act, 42 U.S.C. 7191. At the conclusion of all initial oral

statements, each person who has made an oral statement will be given

the opportunity to make a rebuttal or clarifying statement, subject to

time limitations. Any further procedural rules regarding proper conduct

of the hearings will be announced by the presiding official.

Transcripts of the hearings will be made and the entire record of

this rulemaking, including the transcripts, will be retained by DOE and

made available for inspection at the DOE Freedom of Information Reading

Room as provided at the beginning of this notice. Any person may

purchase a copy of the transcripts from the transcribing reporter.

Issued in Washington, DC on August 2, 1996.

Christine A. Ervin,

Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

[FR Doc. 96-20077 Filed 8-6-96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6450-01-P