### 55FR51116

51116 Federal Register / Vol. 55, No. 239 / Wednesday, December 12, 1990 / Proposed Rules

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Conservation and Renewable Energy

10 CFR Part 430
[Docket No. CE-RM

-90-2011

Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products; Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Regarding Energy Conservation Standards for Nine Types of Consumer Products

AGENCY: Office of Conservation and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy.
ACTION: Extension of comment period for clothes washers.

SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE) hereby extends the comment period on the Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANOPR) for energy conservation standards forclothes washers only (Docket No. CERM-90-201) from December 12, 1990, to April 12, 1991. DOE's receipt of comments on all other aspects of the ANOPR, including product-specific comments pertaining to the other eight appliance types, remains unchanged at December 12, 1990; in addition, interested parties are also encouraged to provide preliminary comments on the clothes washer product type by December 12, 1990.

DATES: Written comments in response to this ANOPR must be received by DOE by December 12, 1990; in the case of the clothes washer product, type-written comments must be received by DOE by April 12, 1991.
ADDRESSES: Written comments are to be submitted to: U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Conservation and Renewable Energy, Hearings and Dockets, Energy Efficiency Standards for Consumer Products, Docket No. CE-RM-90-201, room 6B-025, Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., . Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-3012.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Barry P. Berlin, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Conservation and Renewable Energy, Forrestal Building, Mail Station CE-43, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-9127. Eugene Margolis, Esq., U.S. Department of Energy, Office of General Counsel,Forrestal Building, Mail Station GC12, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-9507.

Discussion On September 28, 1990, the DOE published an ANOPR on energy conservation standards for nine types of consumer products, including clothes washers. (55 FR 39624). In the ANOPR, DOE stated that further consideration of amended standard levels for clothes washers, the subject of a pending final rule, would be included in this rulemaking. This would enable DOE to obtain information concerning the economic justification and technical feasibility of a design option-a top-loading, horizontal axis clothes washer-manufactured and marketed in Europe but not available in the United States, and which appears to have the potential for saving significant amounts of energy and water. Because that clothes washers design option is unknown to most U.S. manufacturers, Maytag Company, by letter dated November 2, 1990, and the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHA^M), by letter dated November 5, 1990, petitioned the Department to extend the closing date of the comment period of the ANOPR for clothes washers for six months from December 12, 1990, the scheduled close of the comment period, in order for manufacturers to have time to provide full and complete comments. A meeting at AHAM's request was held on November 6, 1990, between representatives of DOE and AHAM at which AHAM further articulated the reasoning upon which the requests were based. The ANOPR requested comment on the economic justification and technical feasibility of the top-loading, horizontal axis clothes washer as a "design option." The manufacturers' concern was that the potential economic consequences of such a standard are so great that sufficient time must be allowed to thoroughly examine all aspects of this proposal. Manufacturers, it was stated, are now in the process of obtaining a representative sample of the top-loading, horizontal axis machine from Europe so that their comments may be based on fact rather than speculation. DOE concludes that a six-month delay in the ANOPR comment period for clothes washers would jeopardize the Congressionally mandated date of 

### 51116 

## 55FR51116

Federal Register 

## I Vol. 55, No. 239 

## I Wednesday, December 12, 1990 

## I Proposed Rules

Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-9127. Eugene Margolis, Esq., U.S. Department

ofEnergy, Office .ofGeneral Counsel. Forrestal Building, Mail Station GC12.1000 Independence Avenue. SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-9507.
Discussion

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Conservation and Renewable Energy

10 CFR Part 430

. [Docket No. CE-RM-90-201l

Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products; Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Regarding Energy Conservation Standards for Nine Types of Consumer Products

AGENCY: Office ofConservation and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy.

ACTION: Extension ofcomment period for clothes washers.

SUMMARY: The Department ofEnergy (DOE) hereby extends the comment period on the Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANOPR) for energy conservation standards for clothes washers only (Docket No. CERM-9G-201) from December 12,1990, to April 12, 1991. DOE's receipt of
comments on all other aspects ofthe ANOPR, including product-specific comments pertaining to the othereight appliance types, remains unchanged at December 12, 1990; in addition, interested parties are also encouraged to provide preliminary comments on the clothes washerproduct type by December 12, 1990.

DATES: Written comments in response to this ANOPR mustbe received !;ly DOE by December 12, 1990; in the case ofthe clothes washer product, type-written comments must be received by DOE by April 12, 1991.

ADDRESSES: Written comments are to be submitted to: 

## u.s. Department ofEnergy, Office ofConservation and Renewable Energy, Hearings and Dockets, Energy Efficiency Standards for Consumer Products, Docket No. CE-RM-9G-201,

room 6}3-025, Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW.• Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-3012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Barry P. Berlin, U.S. Department of

Energy, Office ofConservation and Renewable Energy, Forrestal Building, Mail Station CE-43, 1000

. On September 28, 1990, the DOE published an ANOPR on energy conservation standards for nine types of

consumerproducts, including clothes washers. (55 FR 39624).

In the ANOPR, DOE stated that further consideration ofamended standard levels for clothes washers, the subject ofa pending final rule. would be included in this rulemaking. This would enable DOE to obtain information concerning the economic justification and technical feasibility ofa design option-a top-loading, horizontal axis clothes washer-manufactured and marketed in Europe but not available in the United States, and which appears to have the potential for saving significant
amounts ofenergy and water.

Because that clothes washers design option is unknown to most U.S. manufacturers, Maytag Company, by leller dated November 2, 1990, and the Association ofHome Appliance Manufacturers (AHAJ.'l.1), by letter dated November 5. 1990, petitioned the Department to extend the closing dilte of the comment period ofthe ANOPR for clothes washers for six months from December 12, 1990, the scheduled close ofthe comment period, in order for manufacturers to have time to provide fun and complete comments. A meeting atAHAM's request was held on November 6.1990, between representatives ofDOE and AHAM at which AHAM further articulated the reasoning upon which the requests were based.

The ANOPR requested comment on the economicjustification and technical feasibility ofthe top-loading, horizontal axis clothes washer as a "design option." The manufacturers' concern
was that the potential economic consequences ofsuch a standard are so great that sufficient time must be allowed to thoroughly examine all aspects ofthis proposaL Manufacturers,

. itwas stated. are now in the process of

obtaining a representative sample ofthe top-loading, horizontal axis machine from Europe so that their comments may be based on fact rather than speculation.

DOE concludes that a six-month delav in the ANOPR comment period for • clothes washers wouldjeopardize the Congressionally mandated date of

### 55FR51116

Federal Register j Vol. 55, No. 239 j Wednesday, December 12, 1990 / Proposed Rules

January 1.1992, for the final rule for seven of the products included in this rulemaking. However, by readjusting its schedule of .-analytical work to be performed .for the products.in this, rulemaking, DOE finds that a four-month extension of :the close of the 'comment period f©rnlothes washers can be accommodated. DOE hereby extends the comment period for clothes washers to April 12.1991. The additional time will allowrallinterested parties'o provide full and complete comments. The close of the comment period for all Other \; matters pertaining to this rulemaking' remains December 12,1990. Issued in Washington. DC. on December 7, 1990.
S. Reid Detchun, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary. Conservation and Renewable Energy.
IFR Doc.,90-291£35 Filed 12-10-90:11:35 am]

BILLING CODE 6450-01-M 51117 

### 55FR51116

Federal Register 

### .J VDl. 55, No. 239 

## 1 Wednesday. December 12, 1990 

## I Proposed Rules

January 1.1'992.

### for the final rule for

seven ofthepmdlio1s included in ·this rnlemaldng. However. by readjusting lis schedule :of..analFtical work to be perfonne:u:furthe products,in ,thisl rulemaking. DOE finds that a**fOllI-m~nth** extensioniDf{hedose ofthe 'oommenl periodf@rd.otbes washers can be' accommodated. DOE hereby extends the
comment :periodfor clothes washers to April 12. 1991. The additional time 

### will allow:aUinterested p'arties to prOVide 

### full and complete .comments. The close ofthe commentperiodforall 

### other ";

rnaUers pertaining 1:0 

### this rulemaking" remains December 1.Z, 1990.

Issued in Wash1nglon. DC. on December7, 1990,
B. Reid Detchon.**Princ~val** DeputyAssistantSecretary. Conserl"CI{ion '(lndRenewableEnergy.
IFR Doc. '90-29185 Filed 12-10-90; 11:35 am]

BILLING CODE 645ll-01-M 

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