[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 184 (Thursday, September 23, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57915-57920]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-23874]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

 [Case No. CW-013]


Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Notice of 
Petition for Waiver of the General Electric Company From the Department 
of Energy Residential Clothes Washer 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.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces receipt of and publishes the General 
Electric Company (GE) petition for waiver (hereafter, ``petition'') 
from specified portions of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) test 
procedure for determining the energy consumption of clothes washers. 
Today's notice also grants an interim waiver of the clothes washer test 
procedure. Through this notice, DOE also solicits comments with respect 
to the GE petition.

DATES: DOE will accept comments, data, and information with respect to 
the GE petition until, but no later than October 25, 2010.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by case number CW-013, 
by any of the following methods:
    <bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
    <bullet> E-mail: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#48091b171f29213e2d3a171a2d393d2d3b3c3b082d2d662c272d662f273e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1554464a42747c6370674a47706460706661665570703b717a703b727a63">[email protected]</span></a> Include ``Case No. 
CW-013'' in the subject line of the message.
    <bullet> 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.
    <bullet> 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.
    Instructions: All submissions received should 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

[[Page 57916]]

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).
    Any person submitting written comments must also send a copy to the 
petitioner, pursuant to 10 CFR 430.27(d). The contact information for 
the petitioner is: Ms Kelley A. Kline, Counsel--Regulatory Compliance, 
GE Consumer & Industrial, Appliance Park 2-225, Louisville, KY 40225, 
E-mail: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e0ab858c8c8599ceab8c898e85a0a7a5ce838f8d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="8ec5ebe2e2ebf7a0c5e2e7e0ebcec9cba0ede1e3">[email protected]</span></a>.
    According to 10 CFR 1004.11, any person submitting information that 
he or she believes to be confidential and exempt by law from public 
disclosure should submit two copies to DOE: One copy of the document 
including all the information believed to be confidential, and one copy 
of the document with the information believed to be confidential 
deleted. DOE will make its own determination about the confidential 
status of the information and treat it according to its determination.
    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., (Resource Room of the Building Technologies 
Program), Washington, DC 20024; (202) 586-2945, between 9 a.m. and 4 
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 clothes washer products. Please call Ms. Brenda Edwards at the 
above telephone number for additional information regarding visiting 
the Resource Room.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Michael G. Raymond, U.S. 
Department of Energy, Building Technologies Program, Mail Stop EE-2J, 
Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 
20585-0121. Telephone: (202) 586-9611. E-mail: 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#80cde9e3e8e1e5ecaed2e1f9edefeee4c0e5e5aee4efe5aee7eff6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7f32161c171e1a13512d1e061210111b3f1a1a511b101a51181009">[email protected]</span></a>.
    Ms. Elizabeth Kohl, 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) 586-7796. E-
mail: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5d183134273c3f38293573163235311d352c73393238733a322b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b6f3dadfccd7d4d3c2de98fdd9dedaf6dec798d2d9d398d1d9c0">[email protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

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 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)). The test procedure for automatic and 
semi-automatic clothes washers is contained in 10 CFR part 430, subpart 
B, appendix J1.
    The regulations set forth in 10 CFR 430.27 contain provisions that 
enable a person to seek a waiver from the test procedure requirements 
for covered consumer products. A waiver will be granted by the 
Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (the 
Assistant Secretary) 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. 10 CFR 430.27(b)(1)(iii). 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(a)(2). An interim waiver remains in effect for 180 days or 
until DOE issues its determination on the petition for waiver, 
whichever is sooner. An interim waiver may be extended for an 
additional 180 days. 10 CFR 430.27(h).

II. Application for Interim Waiver and Petition for Waiver

    On June 21, 2010, GE filed a petition for waiver and application 
for interim 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, GE requested a waiver to test its clothes 
washers with basket volumes greater than 3.8 cubic feet on the basis of 
the residential 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.
    GE's petition seeks a waiver from the DOE test procedure because a 
test load is used within the procedure, and the mass of this test load 
is based on the basket volume of the test specimen, which is currently 
not defined for the basket sizes of the basic models cited in its 
waiver application. In the DOE test procedure, the relation between 
basket volume and test load mass is defined for basket volumes between 
0 and 3.8 cubic feet. GE has designed a series of clothes washers that 
contain basket volumes greater than 3.8 cubic feet.
    Table 5.1 of Appendix J1 defines the test load sizes used in the 
test procedure as linear functions of the basket volume. GE has 
submitted a revised table to extend the maximum basket volume from 3.8 
cubic feet to 6.0 cubic feet, a table provided by the Association of 
Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM). AHAM provided calculations to 
extrapolate Table 5.1 of the DOE test procedure to larger container 
volumes. DOE believes that this procedure is reasonable because the DOE 
test procedure defines test load sizes as linear functions of the 
basket volume.
    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 determined that GE'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 GE might experience absent a favorable determination 
on its application for interim waiver. In a previous similar case, 
however, DOE granted an interim test procedure waiver to Whirlpool for 
three of Whirlpool's clothes washer models with container capacities 
greater than 3.8 ft \3\. 71 FR 48913 (August 22, 2006). This notice 
contained an alternate test procedure, which

[[Page 57917]]

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 ft \3\.
    DOE believes that the values in the test load size chart submitted 
by GE are appropriate. In addition, DOE believes that extending the 
linear relationship between test load size and container capacity to 
larger capacities is valid. Based on this discussion, and the interim 
waiver granted to Whirlpool, it appears likely that the petition for 
waiver will be granted. DOE notes, however, publication elsewhere in 
today's Federal Register of a petition for waiver received subsequently 
from Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (Samsung), also for clothes 
washers with capacities larger than 3.8 ft\3\. Samsung submitted an 
alternate test procedure that uses a slightly more accurate conversion 
factor to convert pounds to kilograms than was used by AHAM and GE. Use 
of Samsung's conversion factor results in small changes in revised 
Table 5.1. DOE will consider adopting the more accurate Table 5.1 in 
the subsequent decision and order. For the reasons stated above, the 
Department of Energy is granting an interim waiver to GE for its line 
of clothes washers with container volumes greater than 3.8 cubic feet, 
pursuant to 10 CFR 430.27(g). Therefore, it is ordered that:
    The application for interim waiver filed by GE is hereby granted 
for the specified GE clothes washer basic models, subject to the 
specifications and conditions below.
    1. GE shall not be required to test or rate the specified clothes 
washer products on the basis of the test procedure under 10 CFR part 
430 subpart B, appendix J1.
    2. GE shall be required to test and rate the specified clothes 
washer products according to the alternate test procedure as set forth 
in section IV, ``Alternate test procedure.''
    The interim waiver applies to the following basic model groups: 
PTWN8055*, PTWN8050*, PFWS4600*, PFWS4605*, PFWH4400*, PFWH4405*, 
GFWS3600*, GFWS3605*, GFWS3500*, GFWS3505*, GFWH3400*, GFWH3405*, 
GFWH2400*, GFWH2405*

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 EPCA. (42 U.S.C. 6293(c)). Consistent 
representations are important for manufacturers to make representations 
about the energy efficiency of their products and to demonstrate 
compliance with applicable DOE energy conservation standards. Pursuant 
to its regulations for the grant of a waiver or interim waiver from an 
applicable test procedure at 10 CFR 430.27, DOE is considering setting 
an alternate test procedure for GE in the subsequent Decision and 
Order. This alternate procedure is intended to allow manufacturers of 
clothes washers with basket capacities larger than provided for in the 
current test procedure to make valid representations. This test 
procedure is based on the expanded Table 5.1 of Appendix J1 submitted 
by GE. Furthermore, if DOE specifies an alternate test procedure for 
GE, DOE may consider applying the alternate test procedure or a similar 
one using the more accurate conversion factor discussed above to 
similar waivers for residential clothes washers.
    During the period of the interim waiver granted in this notice, GE 
shall test its clothes washer basic models according to the provisions 
of 10 CFR part 430 subpart B, appendix J1, except that the expanded 
Table 5.1 below shall be substituted for Table 5.1 of appendix J1.

                                           Table 5.1--Test Load Sizes
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               Container volume                     Minimum load          Maximum load          Average load
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         cu. ft. >= <            (liter) >= <       lb        (kg)        lb        (kg)        lb        (kg)
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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
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

[[Page 57918]]

 
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       7.18       9.40       4.27
3.90-4.00.....................     110.4-113.3       3.00       1.36      16.20       7.36       9.60       4.36
4.00-4.10.....................     113.3-116.1       3.00       1.36      16.60       7.55       9.80       4.45
4.10-4.20.....................     116.1-118.9       3.00       1.36      17.00       7.73      10.00       4.55
4.20-4.30.....................     118.9-121.8       3.00       1.36      17.40       7.91      10.20       4.64
4.30-4.40.....................     121.8-124.6       3.00       1.36      17.80       8.09      10.40       4.73
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       8.50      10.85       4.93
4.60-4.70.....................     130.3-133.1       3.00       1.36       19.1       8.65      11.03       5.00
4.70-4.80.....................     133.1-135.9       3.00       1.36       19.5       8.83      11.24       5.10
4.80-4.90.....................     135.9-138.8       3.00       1.36       19.9       9.02      11.44       5.19
4.90-5.00.....................     138.8-141.6       3.00       1.36       20.3       9.21      11.65       5.28
5.00-5.10.....................     141.6-144.4       3.00       1.36       20.7       9.39      11.85       5.38
5.10-5.20.....................     144.4-147.3       3.00       1.36       21.1       9.58      12.06       5.47
5.20-5.30.....................     147.3-150.1       3.00       1.36       21.5       9.76      12.26       5.56
5.30-5.40.....................     150.1-152.9       3.00       1.36       21.9       9.95      12.46       5.65
5.40-5.50.....................     152.9-155.8       3.00       1.36       22.3      10.13      12.67       5.75
5.50-5.60.....................     155.8-158.6       3.00       1.36       22.7      10.32      12.87       5.84
5.60-5.70.....................     158.6-161.4       3.00       1.36       23.2      10.51      13.08       5.93
5.70-5.80.....................     161.4-164.3       3.00       1.36       23.6      10.69      13.29       6.03
5.80-5.90.....................     164.3-167.1       3.00       1.36       24.0      10.88      13.49       6.12
5.90-6.00.....................     167.1-169.9       3.00       1.36       24.4      11.06      13.70       6.21
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Notes: (1) All test load weights are bone dry weights.
(2) Allowable tolerance on the test load weights are <plus-minus>0.10 lbs (0.05 kg).

IV. Summary and Request for Comments

    Through today's notice, DOE announces receipt of GE's petition for 
waiver from certain parts of the test procedure that apply to clothes 
washers and grants an interim waiver to GE. DOE is publishing GE's 
petition for waiver in its entirety pursuant to 10 CFR p 
430.27(b)(1)(iv). The petition contains no confidential information. 
The petition includes a suggested alternate test procedure which is to 
measure the energy consumption of clothes washers with capacities 
larger than the 3.8 ft \3\ specified in the current DOE test procedure. 
DOE is interested in receiving comments from interested parties on all 
aspects of the petition, including the suggested alternate test 
procedure and any other alternate test procedure. Pursuant to 10 CFR p 
430.27(b)(1)(iv), any person submitting written comments to DOE must 
also send a copy to the petitioner, whose contact information is 
included in the ADDRESSES section above.

    Issued in Washington, DC on September 16, 2010.
Henry Kelly,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable 
Energy.

U.S. Department of Energy

Application for Interim Waiver and Petition for Waiver, 10CFR430, 
Subpart B, Appendix J1--U.S. Department of Energy (``DOE'' or ``the 
Department'') Uniform Test Method for Measuring the Energy 
Consumption of Automatic and Semi-Automatic Clothes Washers

Case No.

Public Version

Submitted by:

Kelley A. Kline
Counsel-Regulatory Compliance
GE Consumer & Industrial
Appliance Park 2-225
Louisville, KY 40225
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection" class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="29624c45454c5007624540474c694e4c074a4644">[email protected]</a>
502-452-7603 (voice)
502-452-0395 (fax)

U.S. Department of Energy Application for Interim Waiver and 
Petition for Waiver, 10CFR430, Subpart B, Appendix J1--Uniform Test 
Method for Measuring the Energy Consumption of Automatic and Semi-
Automatic Clothes Washers

Introduction

    GE Appliances & Lighting, an operating division of General 
Electric Co., (``GE'') is a leading manufacturer and marketer of 
household appliances, including, as relevant to this proceeding, 
clothes washers, files this Petition for Waiver and Application for 
Interim Waiver (``Petition''). GE requests that the Assistant 
Secretary grant it a waiver from certain parts of the test procedure 
promulgated by the U.S. Department of Energy (``DOE'' or ``the 
Department'') for determining residential automatic and semi-
automatic clothes washer energy consumption and allow GE to test its 
clothes washers pursuant to the modified table submitted herewith. 
This request is filed pursuant to 10 C.F.R. Sec.  430.27.
    GE is in the process of designing and launching new clothes 
washer models. A total investment and expense of $17.5MM has been 
made for research, development, facility upgrade, acquisition of 
tooling and equipment and product testing. Current production plans 
call for these products to begin to be manufactured on July 6, 2010.
    In order to be assured that it is correctly calculating the 
energy consumption of the product, that the product meets the 
minimum energy requirements for its product class and is properly 
labeled, GE seeks the Department's expeditious concurrence to its 
proposed amendment to the clothes washer test procedure.
    Even a casual review of the clothes washer test procedure \1\ 
reveals that this regulation has been overtaken by advances in 
technology, especially in terms of basket volume sizes of clothes 
washers on the market today. GE files this Petition for Waiver and 
Application for Interim Waiver to modify the portions of the 
regulations that do not permit accurate calculation of energy 
performance as related to basket volume size and test load mass.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ 10 C.F.R. Part 430, Subpart B, App. J1
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Department's regulations provide that the Assistant 
Secretary will grant a Petition upon ``determin[ation] that the 
basic model for which the waiver was requested contains a design 
characteristic which either prevents 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.\2\''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ 10 C.F.R. Part 430.27

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 57919]]

    GE requests that the Assistant Secretary grant this Petition on 
both grounds. First, because failure of the clothes washer energy 
test procedure to correlate load size and basket volume for larger 
units does not allow the energy used by GE's new clothes washer to 
be accurately calculated. The new clothes washers contain baskets 
above 3.8 cubic feet, ranging up to 4.5 cubic feet. Since Table 5.1 
of Appendix J1 currently defines test load sizes used during the 
procedure as linear functions of the basket volume, but only up to 
3.8 cubic feet, the basket sizes of GE's new models are currently 
not defined.
    Second, if GE were to test its new clothes washers as if the 
basket size were 3.8 cubic feet, i.e., with an average load size of 
9.4 pounds, the results of the energy test so conducted would 
understate the energy used by the new models.

Need for Relief

    The test procedure for calculating energy consumption defines 
the relation between basket volume and test load mass for basket 
volumes between 0 and 3.8 cubic feet. Market trends, however, have 
led manufacturers to design clothes washers with volumes greater 
than 3.8 cubic feet. Therefore, the existing test procedure is not 
applicable for units GE will be manufacturing. Indeed, the 
Department recognized this lack of applicability in the decision to 
grant a similar waiver to GE Corp. (71FR48913)
    GE hereby requests an Interim Waiver and Waiver that will allow 
sale of the following models based on the attached table, previously 
provided by AHAM to the Department in AHAM Comments on the Framework 
Document for Residential Clothes Washers; EERE-2008-BT-STD-0019; RIN 
1904-AB90, dated October 2, 2009. Those models will be General 
Electric brand clothes washer models. PTWN8055*, PTWN8050*, 
PFWS4600*, PFWS4605*, PFWH4400*, PFWH4405*, GFWS3600*, GFWS3605*, 
GFWS3500*, GFWS3505*, GFWH3400*, GFWH3405*, GFWH2400*, GFWH2405*. 
Since there is a linear relationship between container volume and 
test load size, AHAM provided calculations to extend Table 5.1 in 
Appendix B of these comments (attached).
    Thank you for your timely attention to this request for Interim 
Waiver and Waiver.
    Respectfully submitted,
Kelley A. Kline,
Authorized Representative of GE Appliances & Lighting

CERTIFICATION

    I hereby certify that GE has notified all clothes washer 
manufacturers listed below known to GE to sell products in the 
United States and forwarded them a copy of this application:
    Alliance Laundry Systems, Inc., BSH Home Appliances Corp. 
(Bosch-Siemens Hausgerate GmbH), Electrolux Home Products, Fisher & 
Paykel Appliances, Inc., Haier America Trading, L.L.C., LG 
Electronics USA INC., Miele Appliances, Inc., Samsung Electronics 
America, Inc. and GE Corporation.
    In addition, GE has provided courtesy copies to: The Association 
of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM), which is generally 
interested in DOE proceedings affecting the industry.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Kelley A. Kline

Appendix B

                                           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
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       7.18       9.40       4.27
3.90-4.00.....................     110.4-113.3       3.00       1.36      16.20       7.36       9.60       4.36
4.00-4.10.....................     113.3-116.1       3.00       1.36      16.60       7.55       9.80       4.45
4.10-4.20.....................     116.1-118.9       3.00       1.36      17.00       7.73      10.00       4.55
4.20-4.30.....................     118.9-121.8       3.00       1.36      17.40       7.91      10.20       4.64
4.30-4.40.....................     121.8-124.6       3.00       1.36      17.80       8.09      10.40       4.73
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       8.50      10.85       4.93
4.60-4.70.....................     130.3-133.1       3.00       1.36       19.1       8.65      11.03       5.00
4.70-4.80.....................     133.1-135.9       3.00       1.36       19.5       8.83      11.24       5.10
4.80-4.90.....................     135.9-138.8       3.00       1.36       19.9       9.02      11.44       5.19

[[Page 57920]]

 
4.90-5.00.....................     138.8-141.6       3.00       1.36       20.3       9.21      11.65       5.28
5.00-5.10.....................     141.6-144.4       3.00       1.36       20.7       9.39      11.85       5.38
5.10-5.20.....................     144.4-147.3       3.00       1.36       21.1       9.58      12.06       5.47
5.20-5.30.....................     147.3-150.1       3.00       1.36       21.5       9.76      12.26       5.56
5.30-5.40.....................     150.1-152.9       3.00       1.36       21.9       9.95      12.46       5.65
5.40-5.50.....................     152.9-155.8       3.00       1.36       22.3      10.13      12.67       5.75
5.50-5.60.....................     155.8-158.6       3.00       1.36       22.7      10.32      12.87       5.84
5.60-5.70.....................     158.6-161.4       3.00       1.36       23.2      10.51      13.08       5.93
5.70-5.80.....................     161.4-164.3       3.00       1.36       23.6      10.69      13.29       6.03
5.80-5.90.....................     164.3-167.1       3.00       1.36       24.0      10.88      13.49       6.12
5.90-6.00.....................     167.1-169.9       3.00       1.36       24.4      11.06      13.70       6.21
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[FR Doc. 2010-23874 Filed 9-22-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P


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