The Energy Department is amending energy efficiency standards for residential central air conditioners and heat pumps (here). The agency also recently amended test procedures for these products (see 1701040019). Compliance with the amended energy efficiency standards is required by Jan. 1, 2023.

The Energy Department is setting new energy efficiency test procedures for certain types of compressors (here). Compliance with the agency’s final rule is mandatory for representations of energy efficiency beginning July 3, 2017, DOE said.

The Energy Department is amending energy efficiency test procedures for central air conditioners and heat pumps, in a final rule (here). Some changes in the final rule will be mandatory for representations of energy efficiency starting July 4, 2017, with others becoming mandatory starting Jan. 1, 2023.

The Centers for Disease Control will on Dec. 30 require submission of several forms via the Document Imaging System for entries filed electronically in ACE, it said (here). Under a new agency policy, filers of electronic entries will have to file the following forms via DIS: APHIS/CDC Form 2 (Request to Transfer Select Agents and Toxins); CDC Form 0.0728 (Permit to Import or Transfer Etiologic Agents or Vectors of Human Disease); rabies vaccination certificates for dogs; CDC approval of confinement agreement issuance letters and CDC permission letters for importation of African rodents, civets or turtles; CDC non-human primate notification messages; and certifications of materials not known to contain or suspected of containing an infectious biological agent, or has been rendered noninfectious.

The Energy Department is amending energy efficiency test procedures for walk-in coolers and walk-in freezers, in a final rule (here). The amended test procedures are mandatory for all representations of energy or power consumption of cooking products on or after June 26, 2017, DOE said.

The Drug Enforcement Administration said it intends to temporarily add six synthetic cannabinoids -- 5F-ADB, 5F-AMB, 5F-APINACA, ADB-FUBINACA, MDMB-CHMICA and MDMB-FUBINACA -- to Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act (here). DEA can issue a final order temporarily adding the substances after a period of 30 days passes. If issued, the final order will take effect immediately and will stay in effect for a maximum of three years, pending completion of a permanent scheduling order.

The Energy Department is amending energy efficiency test procedures for electric and gas cooking tops, ovens and other conventional cooking products, in a final rule (here). The amended test procedures are mandatory for all representations of energy or power consumption of cooking products on or after June 14, 2017, DOE said.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is setting a new Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard for hybrid and electric passenger cars, light trucks and vans, and low speed vehicles to produce sounds at a minimum level, it said (here). “This standard will help to ensure that blind, visually impaired, and other pedestrians are able to detect and recognize nearby hybrid and electric vehicles,” it said. Compliance with the standard will be phased in beginning Sept. 1, 2018, with full compliance required Sept. 1, 2019.

The Fish and Wildlife Service will again issue Designated Port Exception Permits (DPEP) to authorize entries at ports with no FWS staff present, it said in a bulletin issued Dec. 13 (here). The agency had done away with the permits in October (see 1610240012), but “due to feedback received from the trade, the Service has rescinded that decision,” it said. FWS "has begun the process of consulting with CBP to determine the necessary programming changes to ACE needed to implement the DPEP process,” it said. Changes may not be complete until February, it said. Until ACE is updated, importers will not be able to pilot in ACE with the FWS at non-staffed port locations, but they will be able to obtain clearance at non-staffed ports through eDecs, FWS said. Trade groups had asked FWS to reinstate the permits (see 1611140019 and 1612050011).

The Drug Enforcement Administration is proposing to list alpha-phenylacetoacetonitrile (APAAN) as a list I chemical under the Controlled Substances Act, it said (here). The chemical is used as a precursor in the manufacture of amphetamines and methamphetamines, it said. Comments are due Jan. 11.