Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 21 / Wednesday, February 1, 2012 / Notices 4999 

1For editorial reasons, upon codification in the 

U.S. Code, Parts B and C were re-designated Parts 

A and A–1, respectively. 

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 

Office of Energy Efficiency and 

Renewable Energy 

[Case No. CW–022] 

Decision and Order Granting a Waiver 

to LG From the Department of Energy 

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–022) 

that grants to LG Electronics U.S.A., Inc. 

(LG) a waiver from the DOE clothes 

washer test procedure for determining 

the energy consumption of clothes 

washers for the basic models set forth in 

its petition for waiver. Under today’s 

decision and order, LG shall be required 

to test and rate these clothes washers 

using an alternate test procedure that 

takes their large capacities into account 

when measuring energy consumption. 

DATES: This Decision and Order is 

effective February 1, 2012. 

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, Email: 

mailto:Michael.Raymond@ee.doe.gov. 

Elizabeth Kohl, U.S. Department of 

Energy, Office of the General Counsel, 

Mail Stop GC–71, 1000 Independence 

Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585– 

0103. Telephone: (202) 586–7796, 

Email: mailto:mailto:Elizabeth.Kohl@

hq.doe.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 

accordance with Title 10 of the Code of 

Federal Regulations (10 CFR 430.27(l), 

430.401(f)(4)), DOE gives notice of the 

issuance of its decision and order as set 

forth below. The decision and order 

grants LG 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 LG tests and rates 

such products using the alternate test 

procedure described in this notice. 

Today’s decision prohibits LG 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 January 25, 

2012. 

Kathleen B. Hogan, 

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy 

Efficiency, Energy Efficiency and Renewable 

Energy. 

Decision and Order 

In the Matter of: LG Electronics U.S.A., 

Inc. (Case No. CW–022) 

I. Background and Authority 

Title III, Part B of the Energy Policy 

and Conservation Act of 1975 (EPCA), 

Pub. L. 94–163 (42 U.S.C. 6291–6309, as 

codified), established the Energy 

Conservation Program for Consumer 

Products Other Than Automobiles, a 

program covering most major household 

appliances, which includes the clothes 

washers that are the focus of this notice. 

Part B includes definitions, test 

procedures, labeling provisions, energy 

conservation standards, and the 

authority to require information and 

reports from manufacturers. Further, 

Part B authorizes the Secretary of 

Energy to prescribe test procedures that 

are reasonably designed to produce 

results which measure energy 

efficiency, energy use, or estimated 

operating costs, and that are not unduly 

burdensome to conduct. (42 U.S.C. 

6293(b)(3)). Part C of Title III provides 

for a similar energy efficiency program 

titled ‘‘Certain Industrial Equipment,’’ 

which includes commercial clothes 

washers and other types of commercial 

equipment.1 (42 U.S.C. 6311–6317) The 

test procedure for automatic and semiautomatic clothes washers (both 

residential and commercial) is 

contained in 10 CFR part 430, subpart 

B, appendix J1. (See 42 U.S.C. 

6314(a)(8), requiring that the test 

procedure for commercial clothes 

washers be the same as the test 

procedure established for residential 

clothes washers.) 

The regulations set forth in 10 CFR 

parts 430.27 and 431.401 contain 

provisions that enable a person to seek 

a waiver from the test procedure 

requirements for covered products and 

equipment. The Assistant Secretary for 

Energy Efficiency and Renewable 

Energy (the Assistant Secretary) will 

grant a waiver if it is determined that 

the basic model for which the petition 

for waiver was submitted contains one 

or more design characteristics that 

prevents testing of the basic model 

according to the prescribed test 

procedures, or if the 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(l)), 431.401(f)(4). 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. 10 CFR 430.27(b)(1)(iii), 

430.401(b)(1)(iii). The Assistant 

Secretary may grant the waiver subject 

to conditions, including adherence to 

alternate test procedures. 10 CFR 

430.27(l), 431.401(f)(4). Waivers remain 

in effect pursuant to the provisions of 10 

CFR 430.27(m) or 430.401(g), as 

appropriate. 

The waiver process also allows the 

Assistant Secretary to grant an interim 

waiver from test procedure 

requirements to manufacturers that have 

petitioned DOE for a waiver of such 

prescribed test procedures. 10 CFR 

430.27(g), 430.401(e)(3). An interim 

waiver remains in effect for 180 days or 

until DOE issues its determination on 

the petition for waiver, whichever is 

sooner. DOE may extend an interim 

waiver for an additional 180 days. 10 

CFR 430.27(h), 430.401(e)(4). 

On December 23, 2010, DOE issued 

enforcement guidance for large-capacity 

clothes washers. This guidance can be 

found on DOE’s Web site at http://

energy.gov/sites/prod/files/gcprod/

documents/LargeCapacityRCW_

guidance_122210.pdf. 

II. LG’s Petition for Waiver: Assertions 

and Determinations 

On October 31, 2011, LG submitted 

the instant petition for waiver and 

application for interim waiver (petition) 

from the test procedure applicable to 

automatic and semi-automatic clothes 

washers set forth in 10 CFR part 430, 

subpart B, appendix J1. LG requested a 

waiver to test specified basic models 

with basket volumes greater than 3.8 

cubic feet on the basis of the test 

procedures contained in 10 CFR part 

430, Subpart B, Appendix J1, with a 

revised Table 5.1 which extends the 

range of container volumes beyond 3.8 

cubic feet. LG’s October 31, 2011 

petition and DOE’s grant of interim 

waiver were published in the Federal 

Register on November 16, 2011. 76 FR 

70999. DOE received no comments on 

the LG petition. 

LG’s petition seeks a waiver from the 

DOE test procedure because the mass of 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
5000 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 21 / Wednesday, February 1, 2012 / Notices 

the test load used in the procedure, 

which is based on the basket volume of 

the test unit, is currently not defined for 

basket sizes greater than 3.8 cubic feet. 

The basic models specified in LG’s 

February 2011 petition have capacities 

larger than 3.8 cubic feet. In addition, if 

the current maximum test load mass is 

used to test these products, the tested 

energy use would be less than the actual 

energy usage and could evaluate the 

basic model in a manner so 

unrepresentative of its true energy 

consumption characteristics as to 

provide materially inaccurate 

comparative data. 

Table 5.1 of Appendix J1 defines the 

test load sizes used in the test procedure 

as linear functions of the basket volume. 

LG requests that DOE grant a waiver for 

testing and rating based on a revised 

Table 5.1, the same table as set forth in 

the waiver granted to LG on April 19, 

2011 (76 FR 21879). The table is 

identical to the Table 5.1 found in 

DOE’s clothes washer test procedure 

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR). 

75 FR 57556 (Sept. 21, 1010). 

DOE has determined that it is in the 

public interest to have similar products 

tested and rated for energy consumption 

on a comparable basis. Previously, DOE 

granted a test procedure waiver to 

Whirlpool for specified Whirlpool’s 

clothes washer models with container 

capacities greater than 3.8 cubic feet. 75 

FR 69653 (Nov. 15, 2010). This notice 

contained an alternate test procedure, 

which extended the linear relationship 

between maximum test load size and 

clothes washer container volume in 

Table 5.1 to include a maximum test 

load size of 15.4 pounds (lbs) for clothes 

washer container volumes of 3.8 to 3.9 

cubic feet. This extended Table 5.1 was 

set forth in DOE’s September 2010 

NOPR. On December 10, 2010, DOE 

granted a similar waiver to General 

Electric Company (GE), which used the 

same alternate test procedure. 75 FR 

76968. DOE has also granted waivers to 

Electrolux (76 FR 11440 (Mar. 2, 2011)), 

LG (76 FR 11233 (Mar. 1, 2011)); (76 FR 

21879 (Apr. 19, 2011)); (76 FR 79666 

(Dec. 22, 2011)) and Samsung (76 FR 

13169 (Mar. 10, 2011)); 76 FR 50207 

(Aug. 12, 2011)). 

DOE notes that its supplemental 

proposed rule (http://www.eere.

energy.gov/buildings/appliance_

standards/residential/pdfs/rcw_tp_

snopr.pdf) to amend the test procedures 

for clothes washers makes slight 

adjustments to Table 5.1 to correct for 

rounding errors. (76 FR 49238, Aug. 9, 

2011). The alternate test procedure set 

forth in this decision and order adopts 

this updated table. 

III. Consultations With Other Agencies 

DOE consulted with the Federal Trade 

Commission (FTC) staff concerning the 

LG petition for waiver. The FTC staff 

did not have any objections to granting 

a waiver to LG. 

IV. Conclusion 

After careful consideration of all the 

material that was submitted by LG, the 

waivers granted to Whirlpool, GE, 

Samsung and Electrolux, as well as 

previously to LG, the clothes washer test 

procedure rulemaking, and consultation 

with the FTC staff, it is ordered that: 

(1) The petition for waiver submitted 

by the LG Electronics America, Inc. 

(Case No. CW–022) is hereby granted as 

set forth in the paragraphs in this 

section. 

(2) LG shall be required to test and 

rate the following LG models according 

to the alternate test procedure set forth 

in paragraph IV(3). 

Residential model groups: 

Model Brand 

WM9000H** ....................................... LG 

WM8500H** ....................................... LG 

WM3470H*** ..................................... LG 

Commercial model groups: 

Model Brand 

CW2079C*** ...................................... LG 

GCW1069** ....................................... LG 

(3) LG shall be required to test the 

products listed in paragraph IV(2) 

according to the test procedures for 

clothes washers prescribed by DOE at 10 

CFR part 430, appendix J1, except that 

the expanded Table 5.1 of this section 

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 

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 


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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 21 / Wednesday, February 1, 2012 / Notices 5001 

TABLE 5.1—TEST LOAD SIZES—Continued 

Container volume Minimum load Maximum load Average load 

cu. ft. 

≥ 

liter 

≥ lb kg lb kg lb kg 

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 10.85 4.91 

4.60–4.70 ......................................................................... 130.3–133.1 3.00 1.36 19.10 8.65 11.05 5.00 

4.70–4.80 ......................................................................... 133.1–135.9 3.00 1.36 19.50 8.83 11.25 5.10 

4.80–4.90 ......................................................................... 135.9–138.8 3.00 1.36 19.90 9.02 11.45 5.19 

4.90–5.00 ......................................................................... 138.8–141.6 3.00 1.36 20.30 9.20 11.65 5.28 

5.00–5.10 ......................................................................... 141.6–144.4 3.00 1.36 20.70 9.39 11.85 5.38 

5.10–5.20 ......................................................................... 144.4–147.2 3.00 1.36 21.10 9.58 12.05 5.47 

5.20–5.30 ......................................................................... 147.2–150.1 3.00 1.36 21.50 9.76 12.25 5.56 

5.30–5.40 ......................................................................... 150.1–152.9 3.00 1.36 21.90 9.95 12.45 5.65 

5.40–5.50 ......................................................................... 152.9–155.7 3.00 1.36 22.30 10.13 12.65 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. LG 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 in this 

section 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) and 430.401(g). 

(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. 

(7) This waiver applies only to those 

basic models set out in LG’s October 31, 

2011 petition for waiver and listed in 

section IV(2) of this section. Grant of 

this waiver does not release a petitioner 

from the certification requirements set 

forth at 10 CFR part 429. 

Issued in Washington, DC, on January 25, 

2012. 

Kathleen B. Hogan, 

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy 

Efficiency, Energy Efficiency and Renewable 

Energy. 

[FR Doc. 2012–2177 Filed 1–31–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6450–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 

Office of Energy Efficiency and 

Renewable Energy 

[Case No. VHE–001] 

Publication of the Petition for Waiver 

From Empire Comfort Systems From 

the Department of Energy Vented 

Home Heating Equipment Test 

Procedure 

AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and 

Renewable Energy, Department of 

Energy. 

ACTION: Notice of re-opening of public 

comment period. 

SUMMARY: On November 3, 2011, DOE 

published the Empire Comfort Systems 

Inc. (Empire) petition for waiver from 

the vented home heating equipment test 

procedure. This document announces 

that the period for submitting comments 

on the Empire petition for waiver is reopened until March 2, 2012. 

DATES: The comment period for the 

Empire petition for waiver, published 

on November 3, 2011 (76 FR 68180), is 

reopened. DOE will accept comments, 

data, and information regarding the 

petition for waiver received no later 

than March 2, 2012. 

ADDRESSES: Any comments submitted 

must identify the Empire Comfort 

Systems Inc. petition for waiver, and 

provide case number VHE–001. 

Comments may be submitted using any 

of the following methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http:// 

www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments. 

• Email: 

AS_Waiver_Requests@ee.doe.gov 

Include the case number [Case No. 

VHE–001] in the subject line of the 

message. 

• Mail: Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S. 

Department of Energy, Building 

Technologies Program, Mailstop EE–2J/ 

1000 Independence Avenue SW., 

Washington, DC 20585–0121. 

Telephone: (202) 586–2945. Please 

submit one signed original paper copy. 

• Hand Delivery/Courier: Ms. Brenda 

Edwards, U.S. Department of Energy, 


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