Federal Register / Vol. 53, No. 130 / Thursday, July 7, 1988 / Notices

and written comment. BPA will submit

the final proposal regarding Modified

Schedule SL-87 with an Administrator's

Record of Decision to FERC on or about

August 5, 1988.

VL Statement of Issues

The scope of this SL-87.rate

modification process is limited to only

the SL-87 Long-Term Surplus Firm

Power rate schedule, No other 1987

wholesale power or transmission rate is

subject to modification, and comment

will not be accepted on any other rate

contained in the 1987 Official Record.

Issued in Portland, Oregon, on June 28,

1988.

Walter E. Pollock,

Acting Administrator.

[FR Doc. 88-15280 Filed 7-6-88; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6450-et-M

Office of Conservation and

Renewable Energy

Energy Conservation Program for

Consumer Products; Petition for

Waiver of Furnace Test Procedures

From Rheem Manufacturing Co.

(F-016)

AGENCY: Conservation and Renewable

Energy Office, DOE.

SUMMARY: Today's notice publishes a

"Petition for Waiver" from the Rheem

Manufacturing Company (Rheem), Fort

Smith, Arkansas, requesting a waiver

from the existing Department of Energy

(DOE) test procedure for furnaces. In

addition, today's notice publishes the

granting of Rheem's application for an

Interim Waiver. Rheem manufactures

residential heating appliances. The

petition requests DOE to grant relief

from the DOE test procedure relating to

the blower time delay specification for

Rheem's condensing furnaces (-) GEB

up-flow models and (-) GKA down-flow

models. Rheem seeks to test using a

blower delay time of 30 seconds instead

of the specified 1.5 minute delay

between burner on-time and blower ontime. DOE is soliciting comments, data

and information respecting the petition.

DATE: DOE will accept comments, data

and information not later than (30 days

from publication).

ADDRESS: Written comments and

statements shall be sent to: Department

of Energy, Office of Conservation and

Renewable Energy, Case No. F-016, Mail

Stop CE-132, Forrestal Building, 1000

Independence Avenue, SW.,

Washington, DC 20585.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Esher R. Kweller, U.S. Department of

Energy, Office of Conservation and

Renewable Energy, Mail Station CE132, Forrestal Building, 1000

Independence Avenue, SW.,

Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-9127.

Eugene Margolis, Esq., U.S. Department

of Energy, Office of General Counsel,

Mail Station GC-12, Forrestal

Building, 1000 Independence Avenue,

SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202)

586-9507.

Background

The Energy Conservation Program for

Consumer Products (other than

automobiles) was established pursuant

to the Energy Policy and Conservation

Act (EPCA), Pub. L. 94-163, 89 Stat. 917,

as amended by the National Energy

Conservation Policy Act (NECPA), Put).

L. 95-619, 92 Stat. 3266, and the National

Appliance Energy Conservation Act of

1987 (NAECA), Pub. L. 100-12, which

requires DOE to prescribe standardized

test procedures to measure the energy

consumption of certain consumer

products, including furnaces. 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 10 CFR Part

430, Subpart B.

DOE has amended the prescribed test

procedures by adding 10 CFR 430.27 on

September 26, 1980, creating the waiver

process, 45 FR 64108. DOE further

amended the Department's appliance

test procedure waiver process to allow

the Assistant Secretary for Conservation

and Renewable Energy to grant an

interim waiver from test procedure

requirements to manufacturers that have

petitioned DOE for a waiver of such

prescribed test procedures. 51 FR 42823,

November 26, 1986. The waiver process

allows the Assistant Secretary for

Conservation and Renewable Energy to

waive temporarily 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 a 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

25535

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

public policy reasons to grant immediate

relief pending. a determination on the

petition for waiver.

Rheem's petition seeks a waiver from

the DOE test provisions that require a

1.5 minute time delay between the

ignition of the burner and the starting of

the circulating air blower. Instead,

Rheem requests the allowance to test

using a 30 second blower time delay

when testing its condensing furnaces

models (-) GEB and (-) GKA. Rheem

states that the 30 second delay is

indicative of how these condensing

furnaces actually operate. Such a delay

results in an energy savings of

approximately 1.8 percent. Since current

DOE test procedures do not address this

variable blower time delay, Rheem asks

that the waiver be granted.

The Department finds that it would be

desirable to public policy reasons to

grant Rheem's Application for Interim

Waiver. Specifically, in those instances

where DOE has granted a waiver for a

similar product design; it is in the public

interest to have similar products tested

and rated for energy consumption on a

comparable basis. Previous waivers for

this type of timed blower delay control

have been granted to the Coleman

Company, and to the Magic Chef

Company. 50 FR, 2710, January 18, 1985,

50 FR 41553, October 11, 1985,

respectively.

Therefore, Rheem's Application for an

Interim Waiver requesting relief from

the DOE test procedures for its

condensing furnace models (-) GEB and

(-) GKA is granted.

Pursuant to paragraph (b) of 10 CFR

430.27, DOE is hereby publishing the

"Petition for Waiver" in its entirety. The

petition contains no confidential

information. DOE solicits comments,

data, and information respecting the

petition.

In addition, pursuant to paragraph (e)

of § 430.27 of the Code of Federal

Regulations, the following letter granting

the Application for Interim Waiver was

issued to the Rheem Manufacturing

Company.

Issued in Washington, DC, June 17, 1988.

Donna R. Fitzpatrick,

Assistant Secretary, Conservation and

Renewable Energy.

June 29, 1988.

Mr. Daniel J. Canclini,

Vice President, Product Development and

Research Engineering, Rheem

Manufacturing Company, P.O. Box 6444,

Fort Smith, AR 72906-0444

CAS-RM-79-104 COMMENT 28
25536 ; Federal Register / Vol. 53, No. 130 / Thursday, July 7, 1988 / Notices

Dear Mr. Canclini: This is, in response to

your March 11 and April 8,.1988, Application

for Interim Waiver, from the Department of

Energy (DOE) test procedures for furnaces

when testing Rheem's gas-fueled forced-air

condensing furnace identified as (-) GKA and

(-) GEB'series.

Pursuant to the Energy Policy and

Conservation Act, as amended, the

Department has prescribed test procedures to

measure the energy consumption, of certain

major household appliances, including

furnaces. The intent of the test procedures is

to provide a comparable measure of energy

consumption that will assist consumers in

making purchase decisions. These test

procedures appear in the Code of Federal

Regulations at 10 CFR Part 430, Subpart B.

DOE amended the test procedure

regulations on September 26, 1980 [45 FR

64108] and November 26, 1986 [51 FR 42823].

These provisions allow the Assistant

Secretary for Conservation and Renewable

Energy to waive temporarily test procedures

for a particular basic model when a petitioner

shows that the basic model contains one or

more design characteristics which prevent

testing of the basic model 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 characteristics

as to provide materially inadequate

comparative data. The 1986 amendments

provide that an interim waiver from test

procedure requirements. will be granted by

the Assistant Secretary for Conservation and

Renewable Energy if 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 the Assistant Secretary

determines that it would be desirable for

public policy reasons to grant immediate

relief pending a determination on the petition

for waiver. Paragraph 430:27.

The Department finds that it would. be

desirable for public policy reasons to grant

Rheem's Application for Interim Waiver.

Specifically, in those instances where DOE

has granted a waiver for a similar product

design, it is in the public's interest to have

similar products tested and rated for energy

consumption on a comparable basis.

Previous waivers for this type of timed

blower delay control have been granted to

the Coleman Company and to Magic Chef

Company. 50 FR 2710, January 18, 1985, and

50 FR41553, October 11, 1985, respectively.

Therefore, Rheem's Application for an

Interim Waiver requesting relief from the

DOE test procedures for its (_) GKA series

and (-) GEB series of condensing furnaces is

granted.

Rheem shall be permitted to test its (-}

GKA series and (-) GEB series of condensing

furnaces on the basis of the test procedures

specified in 10 CFR Part 430, with the

modification set forth below.

(i) Section 9.3.1 of ANSI'/ASIIRAE.

Standard 103-1982 is deleted and replaced

with the following paragraph:

Gas- and Oil-Fueled Central Furnaces..

After equilbrium conditions are achieved

following the cool-down test and the required

measurements performed, turn on the furnace

and measure the flue gas temperature, using

the thermocouple grid described above,. at 0.5

and 2.5 minutes after the main burner(s)

comes on. After the burner start-up, delay the

blower start-up by 1.5 minutes [t-), unless: (1)

The furnace employs a single motor to drive

the power burner and the indoor air

circulation blower, in which case the burner

and blower shall be started together; (2) the

furnace is designed to operate using an

unvarying delay time that is otherthan 1.5

minutes, in which case the fan control shall'

be permitted to start the blower, or (3). the

delay time results in the activation of a

temperature safety device which shuts off the

burner, in which case the fan control shall be

permitted to start the blower. In the latter

case, if the fan control is adjustable, set it to

start the blower at the highest temperature. If

the fan control is permitted to start the

blower, measure time delay,. (t-), using, a stop

watch. Record the measured temperatures.

During the heat-up test for oil-fueled ,

furnaces, maintain the draft in the flue pipe

with ± 0.01 inch of water gauge of the

manufacturer's recommended on-period

draft.

This interim waiver shall remain. in effect

for 180 days from the date of issuance or until

the Department of Energy issues a

determination on Rheem's Petition for

Waiver, whichever occurs first.

This interim waiver is based upon the

prescribed validity of statements and

allegations submitted by the applicant. This

interim waiver may be revoked or modified

at any time upon a determination that the

factual basis underlying the application is

incorrect.

Yours truly,

Donna R. Fitzpatrick,

Assistant Secretary, Conservation and

Renewable Energy..

March 11, 1988.

Assistant Secretary, Conservation and

Renewable Energy,

United States Department of Energy, 1000

Independence Avenue, SW., Washington,

DC 20565

Gentlemen: This is a petition for waiver

and petition for interim waiver submitted

pursuant to Title 10 CFR Part 430.27. Waiver

is requested from the condensing furnace test

procedure found at Appendix N to Subpart B

of Part 430. This test procedure requires a 1.5

minute delay between burner on and blower

on. Rheem is requesting authorization to use

a 30 second delay instead of 1.5 minutes.

Rheem will be manufacturing a series of

condensing furnaces which include the

(-)GEB upflow models and (-)GKA

downflow models. Maximum energy

efficiency is achieved by fixed timing

controls installed in these models that

activate the circulating air blower 30 seconds

after the burner, is on. Under the Appendix N

procedures, the stack temperature is allowed

to climb higher than its equilibrium

temperature allowing a substantial amount of

energy to be lost out the vent system. This

waste of energy would not occur in actual

operation. If this petition is granted, the true

blower on time delay would be used in the

calculations. Proposed, ASHRAE Standard

103-1982R of 9/25/87 paragraph 9.5.1.2.2

specifically addresses the use of time blower

operation.

The current test procedures do not give

Rheem credit for the energy savings which

averages approximately 1.8%. This

improvement is an average reduction of 2071

of the energy loss. Rheem is of the opinion

that a 20% reduction is a significant energy

savings.

Current prescribed test procedures prohibit

Rheem from taking credit for the saved

energy, thus providing inaccurate

comparative data.

Confidential comparative test data is

available to you upon your request,

confirming the above energy savings.

Sincerely,

Daniel J, Canclini,.

Vice President, Product Development &

Research Engineering,

April 8, 1988

Assistant Secretary Conservation and

Renewable Energy.

United States Department of Energy, 1000

Independence Avenue, SW., Washington,

DC. 20585

Subject: Addenda to Petition for Interim

Waiver, March 11, 1988

Gentlemen: In order to further satisfy the

requirements for Interim Waiver, Rheem will

be producing it new (-)GKA series and

(-)GEB series that last part of April 198a..

Since the Secretary has granted similar

waivers to Coleman and, Magic Chef, Rheem

believes the waiver should be granted.

If the waiver would not be granted, Rheem

would suffer an economic hardship since the

efficiency ratings would be less than what

the furnaces actually deliver. Manufacturers

that domestically market similar products

have received the March 11 letter and will be

receiving a copy of this Addenda.

Sincerely,

Daniel J. Canclini,

Vice President-Product Development

Research Engineering.

[FR Doc. 88-15281 Filed 7-6--88 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6450-1-M

Economic Regulatory Administration

[ERA Docket No. 88-12-NGJ

Standard Gas Marketing Co.; Order

Granting Blanket Authorization to

Export Natural Gas

AGENCY: Economic Regulatory

Administration, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of order granting blanket

authorizafion to export natural gas.

SUMMARY: The Economic Regulatory

Administration (ERA) of the Department

of Energy (DOE) gives notice that it has

issued an order granting Standard Gas

Marketing Company (Standard) blanket

authorization to export natural gas to

Canada. The order issued in ERA

Docket No. 88-12-NG authorizes

Standard to export up to 75 Bef of

CAS-RM-79-104 COMMENT 28