Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 219 / Monday, November 15, 2010 / Notices 69653 

BPDeepwaterHorizionCommission@hq.

doe.gov. 

Minutes: The minutes of the meeting 

will be available at the Commission’s 

Web site: http:// 

www.OilSpillCommission.gov or by 

contacting Mr. Smith. He may be 

reached at the postal or e-mail addresses 

above. 

Accommodation for the hearing 

impaired: A sign language interpreter 

will be onsite for the duration of the 

meeting. 

Issued in Washington, DC, on November 9, 

2010. 

Rachel Samuel, 

Deputy Committee Management Officer. 

[FR Doc. 2010–28645 Filed 11–12–10; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6450–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 

Office of Energy Efficiency and 

Renewable Energy 

[Case No. CW–015] 

Energy Conservation Program for 

Consumer Products: Decision and 

Order Granting a Waiver to Whirlpool 

From the Department of Energy 

Residential Clothes Washer Test 

Procedure 

AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and 

Renewable Energy, Department of 

Energy. 

ACTION: Decision and order. 

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of 

Energy (DOE) gives notice of the 

decision and order (Case No. CW–015) 

that grants to Whirlpool Corporation 

(Whirlpool) a waiver from the DOE 

clothes washer test procedure for 

determining the energy consumption of 

clothes washers. Under today’s decision 

and order, Whirlpool shall be required 

to test and rate its clothes washers with 

larger clothes containers using an 

alternate test procedure that takes this 

technology into account when 

measuring energy consumption. 

DATES: This Decision and Order is 

effective November 15, 2010. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. 

Michael G. Raymond, U.S. Department 

of Energy, Building Technologies 

Program, Mailstop EE–2J, 1000 

Independence Avenue, SW., 

Washington, DC 20585–0121. 

Telephone: (202) 586–9611, E-mail: 

Michael.Raymond@ee.doe.gov. 

Jennifer Tiedeman, U.S. Department 

of Energy, Office of the General Counsel, 

Mail Stop GC–71, 1000 Independence 

Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585– 

0103. Telephone: (202) 287–6111, Email: Jennifer.Tiedeman@hq.doe.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 

accordance with Title 10 of the Code of 

Federal Regulations (10 CFR 430.27(l)), 

DOE gives notice of the issuance of its 

decision and order as set forth below. 

The decision and order grants 

Whirlpool a waiver from the applicable 

clothes washer test procedure in 10 CFR 

part 430, subpart B, appendix J1 for 

certain basic models of clothes washers 

with capacities greater than 3.8 cubic 

feet, provided that Whirlpool tests and 

rates such products using the alternate 

test procedure described in this notice. 

Today’s decision prohibits Whirlpool 

from making representations concerning 

the energy efficiency of these products 

unless the product has been tested 

consistent with the provisions and 

restrictions in the alternate test 

procedure set forth in the decision and 

order below, and the representations 

fairly disclose the test results. 

Distributors, retailers, and private 

labelers are held to the same standard 

when making representations regarding 

the energy efficiency of these products. 

42 U.S.C. 6293(c). 

Issued in Washington, DC, on November 4, 

2010. 

Cathy Zoi, 

Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and 

Renewable Energy. 

Decision and Order 

In the Matter of: Whirlpool 

Corporation (Case No. CW–015). 

I. Background and Authority 

Title III of the Energy Policy and 

Conservation Act (EPCA) sets forth a 

variety of provisions concerning energy 

efficiency. Part A of Title III provides for 

the ‘‘Energy Conservation Program for 

Consumer Products Other Than 

Automobiles.’’ 42 U.S.C. 6291–6309. 

Part A includes definitions, test 

procedures, labeling provisions, energy 

conservation standards, and the 

authority to require information and 

reports from manufacturers. Further, 

Part A authorizes the Secretary of 

Energy to prescribe test procedures that 

are reasonably designed to produce 

results that measure energy efficiency, 

energy use, or estimated operating costs, 

and that are not unduly burdensome to 

conduct. 42 U.S.C. 6293(b)(3). The test 

procedure for residential clothes 

washers, the subject of today’s notice, is 

contained in 10 CFR part 430, subpart 

B, appendix J1. 

DOE’s regulations for covered 

products contain provisions allowing a 

person to seek a waiver for a particular 

basic model from the test procedure 

requirements for covered consumer 

products when (1) the petitioner’s basic 

model for which the petition for waiver 

was submitted contains one or more 

design characteristics that prevent 

testing according to the prescribed test 

procedure, or (2) when prescribed test 

procedures may evaluate the basic 

model in a manner so unrepresentative 

of its true energy consumption 

characteristics as to provide materially 

inaccurate comparative data. 10 CFR 

430.27(a)(1). Petitioners must include in 

their petition any alternate test 

procedures known to the petitioner to 

evaluate the basic model in a manner 

representative of its energy 

consumption characteristics. 10 CFR 

430.27(b)(1)(iii). 

The Assistant Secretary for Energy 

Efficiency and Renewable Energy (the 

Assistant Secretary) may grant a waiver 

subject to conditions, including 

adherence to alternate test procedures. 

10 CFR 430.27(l). Waivers remain in 

effect pursuant to the provisions of 10 

CFR 430.27(m). 

Any interested person who has 

submitted a petition for waiver may also 

file an application for interim waiver of 

the applicable test procedure 

requirements. 10 CFR 430.27(a)(2). The 

Assistant Secretary will grant an interim 

waiver request if it is determined that 

the applicant will experience economic 

hardship if the 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. 10 CFR 430.27(g). 

II. Whirlpool’s Petition for Waiver: 

Assertions and Determinations 

On November 21, 2005, Whirlpool 

filed a petition for waiver from the test 

procedure applicable to automatic and 

semi-automatic clothes washers set forth 

in 10 CFR part 430, subpart B, appendix 

J1. In particular, Whirlpool requested a 

waiver to test its clothes washers on the 

basis of the residential test procedures 

contained in 10 CFR part 430, Subpart 

B, Appendix J1, with a revised Table 5.1 

extended to larger container volumes. 

Whirlpool’s petition was published in 

the Federal Register on August 22, 

2006. 71 FR 48913. DOE received one 

comment on the Whirlpool petition, 

from a private citizen who opined that 

the purpose of waivers is to evade 

regulations. 

In its petition, Whirlpool pointed out 

that the required mass of the test load 

used in DOE’s test procedure is based 

on the basket volume of the test 

specimen. However, the test procedure 

does not define required test load 

masses for the basket sizes of 

Whirlpool’s basic models cited in its 


srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES
69654 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 219 / Monday, November 15, 2010 / Notices 

waiver application, which are larger 

than those contemplated by the test 

procedure. Specifically, in the DOE test 

procedure, the relation between basket 

volume and test load mass is only 

defined for basket volumes between 0 

and 3.8 cubic feet. Whirlpool has 

designed a series of clothes washers that 

contain basket volumes of greater than 

3.8 cubic feet. On June 22, 2010 and July 

20, 2010, General Electric Company 

(GE) and Samsung Electronics America, 

Inc. (Samsung), respectively, filed very 

similar petitions for waiver and 

applications for interim waivers for 

their clothes washers with basket 

volumes greater than 3.8 cubic feet. DOE 

granted GE and Samsung’s interim 

waivers on September 16, 2010. (75 FR 

57915; 75 FR 57937). 

Table 5.1 of Appendix J1 defines the 

test load sizes used in the test procedure 

as linear functions of the basket volume. 

Whirlpool has submitted a proposed 

revised table to extend the maximum 

basket volume from 3.8 cubic feet to 5.1 

cubic feet, a table similar to one 

developed by the Association of Home 

Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) and 

provided to DOE in comments on a 

proposed DOE residential clothes 

washer test procedure rulemaking. The 

notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) 

was published September 21, 2010 (75 

FR 57556). When the residential clothes 

washer test procedure rulemaking 

process is complete, any amended test 

procedure will supersede the alternate 

test procedure described in this waiver. 

AHAM provided calculations to 

extrapolate Table 5.1 of the DOE test 

procedure to larger container volumes. 

DOE believes that this is a reasonable 

procedure because the DOE test 

procedure defines test load sizes as 

linear functions of the basket volume. 

AHAM’s extrapolation was performed 

on the load weight in pounds, and 

AHAM appears to have used the 

conversion ratio of 1/2.2 (or 0.45454545) 

to convert pounds to kilograms. 

Whirlpool used the more accurate 

conversion value of 0.45359237 (which 

Samsung also used in its similar 

petition), rounding the results in 

kilograms to two decimal places. The 

Table 5.1 in the clothes washer NOPR 

referenced above has some small 

differences with the Table 5.1 used by 

Whirlpool and Samsung. The 

differences are due to rounding which 

Samsung and Whirlpool applied too 

early. The largest difference is 0.5%. 

The Table 5.1 values here are from 

DOE’s NOPR. As DOE has stated in the 

past, it is in the public interest to have 

similar products tested and rated for 

energy consumption on a comparable 

basis. 

III. Consultations With Other Agencies 

DOE consulted with the Federal Trade 

Commission (FTC) staff concerning the 

Whirlpool petition for waiver. The FTC 

staff did not have any objections to 

granting a waiver to Whirlpool. 

IV. Conclusion 

After careful consideration of all the 

material that was submitted by 

Whirlpool, the interim waivers granted 

to GE and Samsung, the clothes washer 

test procedure rulemaking, and 

consultation with the FTC staff, it is 

ordered that: 

(1) The petition for waiver submitted 

by the Whirlpool Corporation (Case No. 

CW–015) is hereby granted as set forth 

in the paragraphs below. 

(2) Whirlpool shall not be required to 

test or rate the following Whirlpool 

models on the basis of the current test 

procedure contained in 10 CFR part 430, 

subpart B, appendix J1. Instead, it shall 

be required to test and rate such 

products according to the alternate test 

procedure as set forth in paragraph (3) 

below: 

Brand Model No. 

Amana ................................. NFW7600X* 

Kenmore .............................. 2803* 

Kenmore .............................. 2804* 

Kenmore .............................. 2803* 

Kenmore .............................. 2804* 

Kenmore .............................. 2706* 

Kenmore .............................. 2707* 

Kenmore .............................. 2708* 

Kenmore .............................. 2709* 

Brand Model No. 

Kenmore .............................. 2808* 

Kenmore .............................. n/a 

Kenmore .............................. 2806* 

Kenmore .............................. 2807* 

Kenmore .............................. 2808* 

Kenmore .............................. 2809* 

Kenmore .............................. 2808* 

Kenmore .............................. 2809* 

Maytag ................................. MHWE950W* 

Maytag ................................. MHWE550W* 

Maytag ................................. MHWE400W* 

Maytag ................................. MHWE450W* 

Maytag ................................. MTW6300TQ1 

Maytag ................................. MTW6500TQ1 

Maytag ................................. MTW6600T*1 

Maytag ................................. MTW6700TQ1 

Maytag ................................. MVWB400VW0 

Maytag ................................. MVWB700VW0 

Maytag ................................. MVWB800VW0 

Maytag ................................. MVWB300W* 

Maytag ................................. MVWB450W* 

Maytag ................................. MVWB750W* 

Maytag ................................. MVW7000X* 

Maytag ................................. MHW6000X* 

Maytag ................................. MVWB850W* 

Whirlpool .............................. WFW9750W* 

Whirlpool .............................. WFW9470W* 

Whirlpool .............................. WTW9451X* 

Whirlpool .............................. WTW6200S2 

Whirlpool .............................. WTW6200V* 

Whirlpool .............................. WTW6400S2 

Whirlpool .............................. WTW6600S2 

Whirlpool .............................. WTW6700T0 

Whirlpool .............................. WTW6300W* 

Whirlpool .............................. WTW6340W* 

Whirlpool .............................. WTW6700T* 

Whirlpool .............................. WTW7300X* 

Whirlpool .............................. WTW7340X* 

Whirlpool .............................. WFW94HEX* 

Whirlpool .............................. WFW95HEX* 

Whirlpool .............................. WFW97HEX* 

Whirlpool .............................. WTW7600X* 

Whirlpool .............................. WTW7800X* 

Whirlpool .............................. WTW6500W* 

Whirlpool .............................. WTW6800W* 

Whirlpool .............................. WTW7990X* 

(3) Whirlpool shall be required to test 

the products listed in paragraph (2) 

above according to the test procedures 

for clothes washers prescribed by DOE 

at 10 CFR part 430, appendix J1, except 

that, for the Whirlpool products listed 

in paragraph (2) only, the expanded 

Table 5.1 below shall be substituted for 

Table 5.1 of appendix J1. 

TABLE 5.1—TEST LOAD SIZES

Container volume Minimum load Maximum load Average load 

cu. ft. liter 

lb kg lb kg lb kg 

≥ < ≥ < 

0 –0.8 0 –22.7 3.00 1.36 3.00 1.36 3.00 1.36 

0.80 –0.90 22.7 –25.5 3.00 1.36 3.50 1.59 3.25 1.47 

0.90 –1.00 25.5 –28.3 3.00 1.36 3.90 1.77 3.45 1.56 

1.00 –1.10 28.3 –31.1 3.00 1.36 4.30 1.95 3.65 1.66 

1.10 –1.20 31.1 –34.0 3.00 1.36 4.70 2.13 3.85 1.75 

1.20 –1.30 34.0 –36.8 3.00 1.36 5.10 2.31 4.05 1.84 

1.30 –1.40 36.8 –39.6 3.00 1.36 5.50 2.49 4.25 1.93 


srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 219 / Monday, November 15, 2010 / Notices 69655 

TABLE 5.1—TEST LOAD SIZES—Continued 

Container volume Minimum load Maximum load Average load 

cu. ft. liter 

lb kg lb kg lb kg 

≥ < ≥ < 

1.40 –1.50 39.6 –42.5 3.00 1.36 5.90 2.68 4.45 2.02 

1.50 –1.60 42.5 –45.3 3.00 1.36 6.40 2.90 4.70 2.13 

1.60 –1.70 45.3 –48.1 3.00 1.36 6.80 3.08 4.90 2.22 

1.70 –1.80 48.1 –51.0 3.00 1.36 7.20 3.27 5.10 2.31 

1.80 –1.90 51.0 –53.8 3.00 1.36 7.60 3.45 5.30 2.40 

1.90 –2.00 53.8 –56.6 3.00 1.36 8.00 3.63 5.50 2.49 

2.00 –2.10 56.6 –59.5 3.00 1.36 8.40 3.81 5.70 2.59 

2.10 –2.20 59.5 –62.3 3.00 1.36 8.80 3.99 5.90 2.68 

2.20 –2.30 62.3 –65.1 3.00 1.36 9.20 4.17 6.10 2.77 

2.30 –2.40 65.1 –68.0 3.00 1.36 9.60 4.35 6.30 2.86 

2.40 –2.50 68.0 –70.8 3.00 1.36 10.00 4.54 6.50 2.95 

2.50 –2.60 70.8 –73.6 3.00 1.36 10.50 4.76 6.75 3.06 

2.60 –2.70 73.6 –76.5 3.00 1.36 10.90 4.94 6.95 3.15 

2.70 –2.80 76.5 –79.3 3.00 1.36 11.30 5.13 7.15 3.24 

2.80 –2.90 79.3 –82.1 3.00 1.36 11.70 5.31 7.35 3.33 

2.90 –3.00 82.1 –85.0 3.00 1.36 12.10 5.49 7.55 3.42 

3.00 –3.10 85.0 –87.8 3.00 1.36 12.50 5.67 7.75 3.52 

3.10 –3.20 87.8 –90.6 3.00 1.36 12.90 5.85 7.95 3.61 

3.20 –3.30 90.6 –93.4 3.00 1.36 13.30 6.03 8.15 3.70 

3.30 –3.40 93.4 –96.3 3.00 1.36 13.70 6.21 8.35 3.79 

3.40 –3.50 96.3 –99.1 3.00 1.36 14.10 6.40 8.55 3.88 

3.50 –3.60 99.1 –101.9 3.00 1.36 14.60 6.62 8.80 3.99 

3.60 –3.70 101.9 –104.8 3.00 1.36 15.00 6.80 9.00 4.08 

3.70 –3.80 104.8 –107.6 3.00 1.36 15.40 6.99 9.20 4.17 

3.80 –3.90 107.6 –110.4 3.00 1.36 15.80 7.16 9.40 4.26 

3.90 –4.00 110.4 –113.3 3.00 1.36 16.20 7.34 9.60 4.35 

4.00 –4.10 113.3 –116.1 3.00 1.36 16.60 7.53 9.80 4.45 

4.10 –4.20 116.1 –118.9 3.00 1.36 17.00 7.72 10.00 4.54 

4.20 –4.30 118.9 –121.8 3.00 1.36 17.40 7.90 10.20 4.63 

4.30 –4.40 121.8 –124.6 3.00 1.36 17.80 8.09 10.40 4.72 

4.40 –4.50 124.6 –127.4 3.00 1.36 18.20 8.27 10.60 4.82 

4.50 –4.60 127.4 –130.3 3.00 1.36 18.70 8.46 10.80 4.91 

4.60 –4.70 130.3 –133.1 3.00 1.36 19.10 8.65 11.00 5.00 

4.70 –4.80 133.1 –135.9 3.00 1.36 19.50 8.83 11.20 5.10 

4.80 –4.90 135.9 –138.8 3.00 1.36 19.90 9.02 11.40 5.19 

4.90 –5.00 138.8 –141.6 3.00 1.36 20.30 9.20 11.60 5.28 

5.00 –5.10 141.6 –144.4 3.00 1.36 20.70 9.39 11.90 5.38 

5.10 –5.20 144.4 –147.2 3.00 1.36 21.10 9.58 12.10 5.47 

5.20 –5.30 147.2 –150.1 3.00 1.36 21.50 9.76 12.30 5.56 

5.30 –5.40 150.1 –152.9 3.00 1.36 21.90 9.95 12.50 5.65 

5.40 –5.50 152.9 –155.7 3.00 1.36 22.30 10.13 12.70 5.75 

5.50 –5.60 155.7 –158.6 3.00 1.36 22.80 10.32 12.90 5.84 

5.60 –5.70 158.6 –161.4 3.00 1.36 23.20 10.51 13.10 5.93 

5.70 –5.80 161.4 –164.2 3.00 1.36 23.60 10.69 13.30 6.03 

5.80 –5.90 164.2 –167.1 3.00 1.36 24.00 10.88 13.50 6.12 

5.90 –6.00 167.1 –169.9 3.00 1.36 24.40 11.06 13.70 6.21 

NOTES: (1) All test load weights are bone dry weights. 

(2) Allowable tolerance on the test load weights are ±0.10 lbs (0.05 kg). 

(4) Representations. Whirlpool may 

make representations about the energy 

use of its clothes washer products for 

compliance, marketing, or other 

purposes only to the extent that such 

products have been tested in accordance 

with the provisions outlined above and 

such representations fairly disclose the 

results of such testing. 

(5) This waiver shall remain in effect 

consistent with the provisions of 10 CFR 

430.27(m). 

(6) This waiver is issued on the 

condition that the statements, 

representations, and documentary 

materials provided by the petitioner are 

valid. DOE may revoke or modify this 

waiver at any time if it determines the 

factual basis underlying the petition for 

waiver is incorrect, or the results from 

the alternate test procedure are 

unrepresentative of the basic models’ 

true energy consumption characteristics. 

Issued in Washington, DC, on November 4, 

2010. 

Cathy Zoi, 

Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and 

Renewable Energy. 

[FR Doc. 2010–28646 Filed 11–12–10; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6450–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 

Office of Energy Efficiency and 

Renewable Energy 

Energy Efficiency and Renewable 

Energy Advisory Committee (ERAC) 

AGENCY: Department of Energy, Office of 

Energy Efficiency and Renewable 

Energy. 

ACTION: Notice of open meeting. 

SUMMARY: This notice announces the 

first meeting of the Energy Efficiency 

and Renewable Energy Advisory 


srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES