### 3787 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 15 / Thursday, January 23, 2014 / Notices

1 For editorial reasons, upon codification in the U.S. Code, Part B was re-designated Part A. Therefore, for the reasons discussed above, and in light of the previous waivers to other manufacturers, DOE grants Indesit’s petition for waiver from testing of its Ariston TCL73XNA and TCL73XSNA condenser clothes dryers.

Consultations With Other Agencies

DOE consulted with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) staff concerning the Indesit petition for waiver. The FTC staff did not have any objections to granting a waiver to Indesit.

Conclusion

After careful consideration of all the material that was submitted by Indesit and consultation with the FTC staff, it

is ordered that:

(1) The petition for waiver submitted by Indesit Company (Case No. CD–009) is hereby granted as set forth in the paragraphs below.

(2) Indesit shall not be required to test

or rate its Ariston TCL73XNA and TCL73XSNA condensing clothes dryer

models on the basis of the test procedures at 10 CFR part 430, subpart B, appendix D.

(3) This waiver shall remain in effect

from the date this decision and order consistent with the provisions of 10 CFR 430.27(m).

(4) 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.

(5) This waiver applies to only those models specifically set out in Indesit’s petition. Indesit may submit a new or amended petition for waiver and request for grant of interim waiver, as appropriate, for additional models of clothes dryers for which it seeks a waiver from the DOE test procedure. Grant of this petition for waiver also does not release a petitioner from any applicable certification requirements set

forth at 10 CFR Part 429.

Issued in Washington, DC, on January

16, 2014.

lllllllllllllllllll Kathleen B. Hogan

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy

Efficiency Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

[FR Doc. 2014–01292 Filed 1–22–14; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 6450–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY** 

**Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy** 

**[Case No. RF–036]**

**Notice of Petition for Waiver of Samsung Electronics America, Inc.**  **From the Department of Energy Residential Refrigerator and**  **Refrigerator-Freezer Test Procedure,**
**and Grant of Interim Waiver**

**AGENCY :**  Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy.

**ACTION :**  Notice of petition for waiver, notice of grant of interim waiver, and request for comments.

**SUMMARY :**  This notice announces receipt of a petition for waiver from Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (Samsung) regarding specified portions of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) test procedure for determining the energy consumption of electric refrigerators and refrigerator-freezers. In its petition, Samsung provides an alternate test procedure identical to the test procedure DOE published in a final rule setting out testing requirements for manufacturers to follow starting in 2014. DOE solicits comments, data, and information concerning Samsung’s petition and the suggested alternate test procedure. Today’s notice also grants Samsung an interim waiver from theelectric refrigerator and refrigeratorfreezer test procedure, subject to use of the alternative test procedure set forth

in this notice.

**DATES :**  DOE will accept comments, data, and information with respect to the Samsung Petition until February 24,

2014.

**ADDRESSES :**  You may submit comments, identified by case number ‘‘RF–036,’’ by 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. RF–034) in the subject line of the message.

• Mail: Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department of Energy, Building Technologies Program, Mailstop EE–5B/ 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, Building Technologies Program, 950 L’Enfant Plaza SW., Suite 600, Washington, DC 20024. Please submit one signed original paper copy. Docket: For access to the docket to review the background documents relevant to this matter, you may visit the U.S. Department of Energy, 950 L’Enfant Plaza SW., Washington, DC 20024; (202) 586–2945, between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Available documents include the following items: (1) This notice; (2) public comments received; (3) the petition for waiver and application for interim waiver; and (4) prior DOE waivers and rulemakings regarding similar refrigerator-freezer products. Please call Ms. Brenda Edwards at the above telephone number
for additional information.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Mr. Bryan Berringer, U.S. Department of

Energy, Building Technologies Program, Mail Stop EE–5B, Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585–0121. Telephone: (202) 586–0371. Email: Bryan.Berringer@ee.doe.gov

. Mr. Michael Kido, U.S. Department of

Energy, Office of the General Counsel, Mail Stop GC–71, Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585–0103. Telephone: (202) 586–8145. Email: Michael.Kido@hq.doe.gov.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :** 
I. Background and Authority

Title III, Part B of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 (EPCA), Public Law 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 electric refrigerator-freezers

that are the focus of this notice. 1 Part B includes definitions, test procedures, labeling provisions, and energy

conservation standards for various consumer products and provides DOE with 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 the energy efficiency, energy use, or estimated annual operating costs of a covered product, and that are not unduly burdensome to conduct. (42 U.S.C. 6293(b)(3)) The current test procedure for electric refrigerators and refrigerator-freezers is contained in 10 CFR part 430, subpart B, appendix A1.

The regulations set forth in 10 CFR 430.27 contain provisions that enable a


### 3788 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 15 / Thursday, January 23, 2014 / Notices

person to seek a waiver from the test procedure requirements for covered products. 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). 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. The Assistant Secretary may grant the 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).

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). An interim waiver remains in effect for 180 days or until DOE issues its determination on the petition for waiver, whichever occurs earlier. DOE may extend an interim waiver for an additional 180 days. 10 CFR 430.27(h).

II. Petition for Waiver of Test Procedure and Application for Interim Waiver

On November 26, 2013, Samsung submitted a petition for waiver from the test procedure applicable to residentialelectric refrigerators and refrigeratorfreezers set forth in 10 CFR part 430, subpart B, appendix A1. Samsung is designing new refrigerator-freezers that incorporate multiple defrost cycles. In its petition, Samsung seeks a waiver from the existing DOE test procedure applicable to refrigerators and refrigerator-freezers under 10 CFR part 430 because the existing test procedure does not account for multiple defrost cycles. Therefore, Samsung has asked to use an alternate test procedure that is the same as the test procedure provisions for products with long time or variable defrost DOE published in a final rule. See 77 FR 3559, 3564–3565 (January 25, 2012). These provisions were placed in appendix A, which is not required for use until September 15, 2014, and are not contained in the current appendix A1 test procedure. Samsung has previously submitted similar petitions for waiver and requests
for interim waiver for other basic models of refrigerator-freezers that incorporate multiple defrost cycles. DOE subsequently granted Samsung’s waiver requests in each case. See 77 FR 1474 (Jan. 10, 2012), 77 FR 75428 (Dec. 20, 2012), 78 FR 35901 (June 14, 2013), and 78 FR 35898 (June 14, 2013).

Samsung also requests an interim waiver from the existing DOE test procedure. An interim waiver may be granted 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/or the Assistant Secretary
determines that it would be desirable for public policy reasons to grant immediate relief pending a determination of the petition for waiver. 10 CFR 430.27(g).

DOE has determined that Samsung’s application for interim waiver does not provide sufficient market, equipment price, shipments and other manufacturer impact information to permit DOE to evaluate the economic hardship Samsung might experience
absent a favorable determination on its application for interim waiver. DOE has determined, however, that it is likely Samsung’s petition will be granted, and that it is desirable for public policy reasons to grant Samsung relief pending a determination on the petition. Previously, DOE granted a waiver to Samsung for other basic models incorporating multiple defrost technology and DOE has determined
that it is desirable to have similar basic
models tested in a consistent manner. See 77 FR 1474 (Jan. 10, 2012) (Case Nos. RF–018, 019); 77 FR 75428 (Dec. 20, 2012) (Case No. RF–021); 78 FR 35901 (June 14, 2013) (Case No. RF– 026); and 78 FR 35898 (June 14, 2013) (Case No. RF–027).

Samsung’s petition included an alternate test procedure to account for the energy consumption of its refrigerator-freezer models with multiple defrost cycles. The alternate test procedure specified by Samsung is the same as the test procedure published in the final rule referenced above. The alternate test procedure specified in this interim waiver (as well as the previous waiver granted to Samsung) is identical to the test procedure provisions for products with long time or variable defrost adopted in the final test procedure rule that manufacturers of these products are required to use in 2014.

For the reasons stated above, DOE grants Samsung’s application for interim waiver from the testing requirements under 10 CFR Part 430, Appendix A–1 for those specific refrigerator-freezer product lines containing multiple defrost cycles identified below. Therefore, it is ordered that:

The application for interim waiver filed by Samsung is hereby granted forthe specified Samsung refrigeratorfreezer basic model that incorporates multiple defrost cycles, subject to the specifications and conditions below. Samsung shall be required to test and rate the specified refrigerator-freezer product according to the alternate test procedure as set forth in section III,

‘‘Alternate Test Procedure.’’

The interim waiver applies to the following basic models:

RS25H5121 **

RS25H5111 **

DOE makes decisions on waivers and interim waivers for only the models specifically set out in the petition, not future models that may be manufactured by the petitioner. Samsung may submit a subsequent petition for waiver and request for grant of interim waiver, as appropriate, for additional models of refrigerator-freezers for which it seeks a waiver from the DOE test procedure. In addition, DOE notes that the grant of an

interim waiver or waiver does not release a petitioner from the certification requirements set forth at 10 CFR part 429.

Further, this interim waiver is conditioned upon the presumed validity of statements, representations, and documents provided by the petitioner. DOE may revoke or modify this interim waiver at any time upon a
determination that the factual basis underlying the petition for waiver is incorrect, or upon a determination that

the results from the alternate test procedure are unrepresentative of the basic models’ true energy consumption

characteristics.

III. Alternate Test Procedure

EPCA requires that manufacturers use DOE test procedures to make representations about the energy consumption and energy consumption costs of products covered by the statute. (42 U.S.C. 6293(c)) Consistent representations are important for manufacturers to use in making representations about the energy efficiency of their products and to demonstrate compliance with applicable DOE energy conservation standards. Pursuant to its regulations at 10 CFR 430.27, DOE will consider setting an alternate test procedure for Samsung in a subsequent Decision and

Order.


### 3789 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 15 / Thursday, January 23, 2014 / Notices

During the period of the interim waiver granted in this notice, Samsung shall test the products listed above according to the test procedures for residential electric refrigerator-freezers prescribed by DOE at 10 CFR part 430, subpart B, appendix A1, except that, for the Samsung products listed above only, Samsung shall include the following:

1. In section 1, Definitions, the following definition:

‘‘Defrost cycle type’’ means a distinct sequence of control whose function is to

remove frost and/or ice from a refrigerated surface. There may be

variations in the defrost control sequence such as the number of defrost heaters energized. Each such variation establishes a separate distinct defrost cycle type. However, defrost achieved regularly during the compressor ‘‘off’’ cycles by warming of the evaporator

without active heat addition is not a defrost cycle type.

2. In section 4, Test Period, the following:

4.2.1 Long-time Automatic Defrost. If the model being tested has a long-time automatic defrost system, the two-part test described in this section may be used. The first part is a stable period of compressor operation that includes no portions of the defrost cycle, such as precooling or recovery, that is otherwise the same as the test for a unit having no defrost provisions (section 4.1). The second part is designed to capture the energy consumed during all of the events occurring with the defrost control sequence that are outside of stable operation.

4.2.1.1 Cycling Compressor System. For a system with a cycling compressor, the second part of the test starts at the termination of the last regular compressor ‘‘on’’ cycle. The average temperatures of the fresh food and freezer compartments measured from the termination of the previous compressor ‘‘on’’ cycle to the termination of the last regular compressor ‘‘on’’ cycle must both be

within 0.5 ° F (0.3 ° C) of their average temperatures measured for the first part of the test. If any compressor cycles occur prior to the defrost heater being energized that cause the average temperature in either compartment to deviate from its average temperature for the first part of the test by more than 0.5

° F (0.3 ° C), these compressor cycles are not considered regular compressor cycles and must be included in the second part of the test. As an example, a ‘‘precooling’’ cycle, which is an extended compressor cycle that lowers the temperature(s) of one or both compartments prior to energizing the defrost heater, must be included in the second part of the test. The test period for the second part of the test ends at the termination of the first regular compressor ‘‘on’’ cycle after both compartment temperatures have fully

recovered to their stable conditions. The average temperatures of the compartments measured from this termination of the first regular compressor ‘‘on’’ cycle until the termination of the next regular compressor ‘‘on’’ cycle must both be

within 0.5 ° F (0.3 ° C) of their average temperatures measured for the first part of the test. See Figure 1.


### 3790 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 15 / Thursday, January 23, 2014 / Notices

4.2.4 Systems with Multiple Defrost Frequencies. This section applies to models with long-time automatic or variable defrost control with multiple defrost cycle types, such as models with single compressors and multiple evaporators in which the evaporators have different defrost frequencies. The two-part method in 4.2.1 shall be used. The second part of the method will be conducted separately for each distinct defrost cycle type.

3. In section 5, Test Measurements, the following: 5.2.1.5 Long-time or Variable Defrost Control for Systems with Multiple Defrost cycle Types. The energy consumption in kilowatt-hours per day shall be calculated equivalent to:

Where:

1440 is defined in 5.2.1.1 and EP1, T1, and 12 are defined in 5.2.1.2; i is a variable that can equal 1, 2, or more that identifies the distinct defrost cycle types applicable for the refrigerator or refrigerator-freezer;

EP2 i = energy expended in kilowatt-hours during the second part of the test for defrost cycle type i;

T2 i = length of time in minutes of the second part of the test for defrost cycle type i;

CT i is the compressor run time betweeninstances of defrost cycle type i, for longtime automatic defrost control equal to a

fixed time in hours rounded to the nearest tenth of an hour, and for variable defrost control equal to (CT Li × CT Mi )/(F × (CT Mi ¥ CT Li ) + CT Li );

CT Li = least or shortest compressor run time between instances of defrost cycle type

i in hours rounded to the nearest tenth of an hour (CT L for the defrost cycle type with the longest compressor run time between defrosts must be greater than or equal to 6 but less than or equal to 12 hours);

CT Mi = maximum compressor run time between instances of defrost cycle type

i in hours rounded to the nearest tenth of an hour (greater than CT Li but not more than 96 hours);

For cases in which there are more than one fixed CT value (for long-time defrost models) or more than one CT M and/or

CT L value (for variable defrost models) for a given defrost cycle type, an average fixed CT value or average CT M and CT L values shall be selected for this cycle type so that 12 divided by this value or values is the frequency of occurrence of the defrost cycle type in a 24 hour period, assuming 50% compressor run

time. F = default defrost energy consumption factor, equal to 0.20.

For variable defrost models with no values

for CT Li and CT Mi in the algorithm, the default values of 6 and 96 shall be used, respectively. D is the total number of distinct defrost cycle
types.

IV. Summary and Request for Comments

Through today’s notice, DOE announces receipt of Samsung’s petition for waiver from certain parts of the test procedure applicable to refrigerator-freezers and grants an interim waiver to Samsung. DOE is publishing Samsung’s petition for waiver in its entirety. The petition contains no confidential information. The petition includes a suggested alternate test procedure to measurethe energy consumption of refrigeratorfreezer basic models that incorporate multiple defrost cycles.

DOE solicits comments from interested parties on all aspects of the petition. Any person submitting written comments to DOE must also send a copy of such comments to the petitioner. The contact information for the petitioner is: Michael Moss, Director of Corporate Environmental Affairs, Samsung Electronics America, Inc., 19 Chapin Road, Building D, Pine Brook, NJ 07058. All

submissions received must include the agency name and case number for this proceeding. Submit electronic comments in WordPerfect, Microsoft Word, Portable Document Format (PDF), or text (American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII)) file format and avoid the use of special characters or any form of encryption. Wherever possible, include the electronic signature of the author. DOE does not accept telefacsimiles (faxes).

Issued in Washington, DC, on January 16,

2014. Kathleen B. Hogan,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

November 26, 2013

Dr. David Danielson Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Department of Energy 1000 Independence Avenue SW. Washington, DC 20585
Dear Assistant Secretary Danielson:

Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (‘‘Samsung’’) respectfully submits this Application for Interim Waiver and Petition for Waiver to the Department of Energy (‘‘DOE’’ or ‘‘the Department’’) for Samsung’s compressor refrigerator-freezers with multiple defrost cycles.

Reasoning

10 CFR Part 430.27(a)(1) allows a person to submit a petition to waive for a particular basic model any requirements of § 430.23 upon the grounds that the basic model contains one or more design characteristics which either prevent testing of the basic model according to the prescribed test procedures, or 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.

Current test procedures as prescribed in Appendix A1 to Subpart B of Part 430 (‘‘Appendix A1’’) do not adequately provide a way for Samsung to accurately representthe energy consumption of its refrigeratorfreezers with multiple defrost cycles. DOE concurred with Samsung’s understanding in the interim waiver granted to Samsung in 76 FR 16760 and subsequently granted the waiver on January 10, 2012 (77 FR 1474). Additionally, DOE communicated that all manufacturers planning on marketing refrigerator-freezers with multiple defrost cycles must seek a waiver from the
Department.

For the reasons that DOE described in its granting of waiver (77 FR 1474) for Samsung refrigerator freezers with multiple defrost cycles, Samsung believes that the granting of

Interim Waiver and Waiver for the models

listed below are warranted.

Request

Samsung requests that the alternate test procedure for refrigerators with multiple defrost cycles, as prescribed in the waiver (77
FR 1474) and in the interim waiver (77 FR 13109) granted to Samsung, be granted forthe following basic Samsung refrigeratorfreezers with multiple defrost cycles models:

RS25H5121 **

RS25H5111 **

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions regarding this Petition for Waiver and Application for Interim Waiver. I will be happy to discuss should any questions arise.

Sincerely,

Michael Moss Director of Corporate Environmental Affairs

[FR Doc. 2014–01295 Filed 1–22–14; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 6450–01–P**