[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 174 (Friday, September 6, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47115-47117]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-22754]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
[Case No. CW-005]
Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Granting of
the Application for Interim Waiver and Publishing of the Petition for
Waiver of General Electric Appliances From the DOE Clothes Washer Test
Procedure
AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of
Energy.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: Today's notice grants an Interim Waiver to General Electric
Appliances (GEA) and publishes GEA's Petition for Waiver from the
existing Department of Energy (DOE or Department) clothes washer test
procedure regarding GEA's clothes washer models YLXR1020T, WLXR1020T
and VLXR1020T.
GEA seeks a waiver because its clothes washer models YLXR1020T,
WLXR1020T and VLXR1020T have only two temperature selections, a
configuration which is not covered in the existing DOE clothes washer
test procedure. GEA seeks to test the wash temperature selections by
modifying the existing test procedure Temperature Use Factors (TUF's)
for a three temperature machine (hot/cold, warm/cold and cold/cold).
DATES: DOE will accept comments, data, and information not later than
October 7, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and statements shall be sent to: Department
of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Case No.
CW-005, Mail Stop EE-43, Room 1J-018, Forrestal Building, 1000
Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC, 20585-0121 (202) 586- 7140.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
P. Marc LaFrance, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy
Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Mail Station EE-431, Forrestal
Building, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121,
(202) 586-8423
Eugene Margolis, Esq., U.S. Department of Energy, Office of General
Counsel, Mail Station GC-72, Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0103, (202) 586-9507
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Energy Conservation Program for Consumer
Products (other than automobiles) was established pursuant to the
Energy Policy and Conservation Act, as amended, (EPCA) 42 USC 6291 et
seq., which requires DOE to prescribe standardized test procedures to
measure the energy consumption of certain consumer products, including
clothes washers. The intent of the test procedures is to provide a
comparable measure of energy consumption that will assist consumers in
making purchasing decisions. These test procedures appear at Title 10
CFR Part 430, Subpart B.
DOE amended the test procedures rules to provide for a waiver
process by adding Sec. 430.27 to Title 10, CFR Part 430. (45 FR 64108,
September 26, 1980). Thereafter, DOE further amended the appliance test
procedure waiver process to allow the Assistant Secretary for Energy
Efficiency and Renewable Energy (Assistant Secretary) to grant an
Interim Waiver from test procedure requirements to manufacturers that
have petitioned DOE for a waiver from such prescribed test procedures.
(51 FR 42823, November 26, 1986).
The waiver process allows the Assistant Secretary to temporarily
waive the test procedures for a particular basic model when a
petitioner shows that the basic model contains one or more design
characteristics which prevent testing according to the prescribed test
procedures or when the prescribed test procedures may evaluate the
basic model in a manner so unrepresentative of its true energy
consumption as to provide materially inaccurate comparative data.
Waivers generally remain in effect until final test procedure
amendments become effective, resolving the problem that is the subject
of the waiver.
The Interim Waiver provisions, added by the 1986 amendment, allow
the Assistant Secretary to grant an Interim Waiver when it is
determined that the applicant will experience economic hardship if the
Application for Interim Waiver is denied, if it appears likely that the
Petition for Waiver will be granted, and/or the Assistant Secretary
determines that it would be desirable for
[[Page 47116]]
public policy reasons to grant immediate relief pending a determination
on the Petition for Waiver. An Interim Waiver remains in effect for a
period of 180 days or until DOE issues its determination on the
Petition for Waiver, whichever is sooner, and may be extended for an
additional 180 days, if necessary.
On December 19, 1995, GEA filed a Petition for Waiver and an
Application for Interim Waiver regarding its clothes washer models
YLXR1020T, WLXR1020T and VLXR1020T. On February 8, 1996, GEA withdrew
its Application for Interim Waiver and Petition for Waiver. On March
26, 1996, GEA resubmitted its Application for Interim Waiver and
Petition for Waiver for the same model numbers. The GEA clothes washers
have only two temperature selections (warm/cold and cold/cold).
However, the DOE clothes washer test procedure does not have a
provision to test a clothes washer with only two temperature
selections.
GEA proposed a test method for its clothes washers which would
modify the existing test procedure TUF's for a three temperature
machine (hot/cold, warm/cold and cold/cold) found in the existing test
procedure at Section 5.3 of Appendix J to Subpart B. GEA's proposal
would combine the existing TUF's (proration values) for hot/cold (30
percent) and warm/cold (55 percent) for its warm/cold temperature
selection. Furthermore, GEA's proposal would maintain the existing test
procedure TUF for a cold/cold temperature selection (15 percent) for
its machines. The existing test procedure TUF's are based on old
(1970's) consumer usage habits. GEA believes that the TUF's for its two
temperature machines should be consistent with the existing test
procedure. Thus, the GEA clothes washers would be tested with TUF
values of 85 percent for warm/cold and 15 percent for cold/cold.
Discussion of Comments
The Whirlpool Corporation (Whirlpool) provided comments relative to
the GEA Interim Waiver Application and Petition for Waiver. Whirlpool
stated that it supported the GEA request and indicated that both the
Interim Waiver and Petition for Waiver should be granted.
The Speed Queen Company (Speed Queen) also commented on the GEA
Interim Waiver Application and Petition for Waiver. Speed Queen stated
that it supported the GEA proposed test methodology.
GEA provided justification for an Interim Waiver based on the
likely approval of the Petition for Waiver. GEA stated that the
Petition for Waiver is likely to be granted because the test procedure
proposed is very conservative, and to the best of its knowledge is the
current practice in the industry.
The Department agrees with GEA that the Petition for Waiver is
likely to be granted. The GEA clothes washer should be tested on the
same basis as other models on the market. The waiver should use TUF's
that are consistent with the old consumer usage habits rather than
reflecting current consumer habits. The test procedure has TUF's for
three, four, five and six temperature machines which are used to
prorate energy consumption among the various temperature selections.
The current clothes washer test procedure specifies a TUF value of 15
percent for a cold wash/cold rinse temperature selection. This is
consistent for all of the various multiple temperature selection
clothes washers. Therefore, any remaining heated temperature selection
should be tested with a TUF value of 85 percent. Furthermore, the
Department has received comment supporting this test methodology.
Therefore, based on the likely approval of the Petition for Waiver,
the Department grants GEA an Interim Waiver from the DOE test
procedures for GEA's clothes washer models YLXR1020T, WLXR1020T and
VLXR1020T. GEA shall be permitted to test its clothes washers on the
basis of the test procedures specified in Title 10 CFR Part 430,
Subpart B, Appendix J, with the following modifications:
(i) Add new section, 5.4 in Appendix J to read as follows:
5.4 Two temperature
selection (n=2)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Temperature use
Wash/rinse temperature setting factor (TUF)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Heated/cold........................................... 0.85
Cold/cold............................................. 0.15
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This Interim Waiver is based upon the presumed validity of
statements and all allegations submitted by GEA. This Interim Waiver
may be revoked or modified at any time upon a determination that the
factual basis underlying the Application is incorrect.
This Interim Waiver is effective on the date of issuance by the
Assistant Secretary for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy. This Interim Waiver shall remain in effect for a period of 180
days, or until the Department acts on the Petition for Waiver,
whichever is sooner, and may be extended for an additional 180-day
period, if necessary.
Pursuant to paragraph (b) of Title 10 CFR 430.27, DOE is hereby
publishing the ``Petition for Waiver'' in its entirety. The petition
contains no confidential information. DOE would appreciate comments,
data and other information regarding the petition discussed above.
Issued in Washington, DC, August 29, 1996.
Robert L. SanMartin,
Director of Scientific Initiatives, Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy.
March 26, 1996.
Assistant Secretary,
Conservation and Renewable Energy, United States Department of
Energy, Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Avenue SW.,
Washington, DC 20585.
RE: Application for Interim Waiver and Petition for Waiver, Appendix
J, Subpart B CFR part 430, Test Method for Clothes Washers with Two
Temperatures.
Dear Assistant Secretary:
This Application for Interim Waiver and Petition for Waiver is
submitted pursuant to Title 10 CFR 430.27, which provides for
modification of test method because of design characteristics
preventing testing or producing data unrepresentative of a covered
product's true energy consumption characteristics.
GE Appliances (GEA) is introducing a new model with two
temperature selections. The model numbers are YLXR1020T, WLXR1020T,
and VLXR1020T. The existing Appendix J test method does not provide
a Temperature Usage Factor for a two temperature machine.
Other manufacturers who incorporate similar designs are
Whirlpool (model #LBR2121D) and Frigidaire/White Westinghouse
(models #MWX121RB/#MWL111RBW). There is also a Kenmore model #15122
with two temperature settings.
GEA requests an Interim Waiver and Waiver to allow testing of
the machine per Appendix J with the following modifications:
Add Section 5.4 Two temperature selection (n=2).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wash/rinse temperature setting TUF
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Warm/cold....................................................... .85
Cold/cold....................................................... .15
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The reasons why these TUF's are suggested are:
(1) The three temperature TUF is Hot/cold .30, Warm/cold .55,
and Cold/cold .15. Adding the Hot/cold and Warm/cold TUF's together
yields .85. One might assume, conservatively, that if only Warm were
available, it would be used 85% of the time.
(2) The test procedures for Canada prescribe the TUF's above.
(3) The AHAM proposed test procedure, based on 1994 data, is
less conservative. It uses TUF's of .64 for Warm/cold and .36 for
Cold/cold.
GEA requests immediate relief by grant of the proposed Interim
Waiver, justified by the following reason:
Likely Approval of Waiver--The Petition for Waiver is likely to
be granted because the
[[Page 47117]]
test procedure proposed is very conservative, even more so than the
new test procedure supported by AHAM, and to the best of our
knowledge is the current practice in the industry. Thank you for
considering this petition.
Jane Ransdell,
Energy Standards Engineer.
cc: Earl Jones
[FR Doc. 96-22754 Filed 9-5-96; 8:45 am]
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