Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2011/09/01/2011-22399/petition-for-waiver-and-notice-of-granting-the-application-for-interim-waiver-of-samsung-from-the
Timestamp: 2018-07-19 02:50:42
Document Index: 603996755

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 430', 'art 430', 'art 430', 'art 429', 'art 430', '§\u2009430', 'art 430', '§\u2009430']

Federal Register :: Petition for Waiver and Notice of Granting the Application for Interim Waiver of Samsung from the Department of Energy Residential Refrigerator and Refrigerator-Freezer Test Procedure
A Notice by the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Office on 09/01/2011
DOE will accept comments, data, and information with respect to the Samsung Petition until, but no later than October 3, 2011.
76 FR 54456
2011-22399
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2011-22399 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2011-22399
This notice announces receipt of and publishes the Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (Samsung) petition for waiver (hereafter, “petition”) from specified portions of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) test procedure for determining the energy consumption of electric refrigerators and refrigerator-freezers. The waiver request pertains to certain basic models in Samsung's product lines that incorporate multiple defrost cycles. In its petition, Samsung provides an alternate test procedure that is the same as the test procedure DOE published in an interim final rule. DOE solicits comments, data, and information concerning Samsung's petition and the suggested alternate test procedure. DOE also publishes notice of the grant of an interim waiver to Samsung.
You may submit comments, identified by case number “RF-019,” by any of the following methods:
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 rulemakings regarding similar refrigerator-freezers. Please call Ms. Brenda Edwards at the above telephone number for additional information regarding visiting the Resource Room.
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 refrigerators and refrigerator-freezers that are the focus of this notice.[1] Part B includes definitions, test procedures, Start Printed Page 54457labeling 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 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 test procedure for automatic electric refrigerators and refrigerator-freezers is contained in 10 CFR part 430, subpart B, appendix A1.
On July 19, 2011, Samsung filed a petition for waiver for new refrigerator-freezer models from the test procedure applicable to residential electric refrigerators and refrigerator-freezers 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 DOE published in an interim final rule (75 FR 78810, December 16, 2010). On January 27, 2011, Samsung had filed a similar petition for waiver and request for interim waiver for other basic models of refrigerator-freezers that incorporate multiple defrost cycles.
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 understands, however, that absent an interim waiver, Samsung's products would not be accurately tested and rated for energy consumption because the current energy test procedure does not include test procedures for products with multiple defrost cycle types. Therefore, it appears likely that Samsung's petition for waiver will be granted. In addition, it is desirable for public policy reasons to grant immediate relief pending a decision on the petition for waiver. DOE previously granted a waiver to Samsung for other basic models incorporating multiple defrost technology. In addition, DOE's test procedure interim final rule would resolve the technical issues in this waiver, but use of the test procedure would not be required until the compliance date of any amended standards (approximately 2014). (75 FR 78810, December 16, 2010).
DOE makes decisions on waivers and interim waivers for only those models specifically set out in the petition, not future models that may be manufactured by the petitioner. Samsung may submit a new or amended 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 grant of an interim waiver or waiver does not Start Printed Page 54458release a petitioner from the certification requirements set forth at 10 CFR part 429.
1. In section 1, Definitions, the following definition at the end:
2. In section 4, Test Period, the following at the end:
3. In section 5, Test Measurements, the following at the end:
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:
Through today's notice, DOE grants Samsung an interim waiver from the specified portions of the test procedure applicable to Samsung's new line of refrigerator-freezers with multiple defrost cycles and announces receipt of Samsung's petition for waiver from those same portions of the test procedure. DOE publishes Samsung's petition for waiver pursuant to 10 CFR 430.27(b)(1)(iv). The petition includes a suggested alternate test procedure and calculation methodology to determine the energy consumption of Samsung's specified refrigerator-freezers with multiple defrost cycles. Samsung is required to follow this alternate procedure as a condition of its interim waiver, and DOE is considering including this alternate procedure in its subsequent Decision and Order.
Issued in Washington, DC, on August 25, 2011.
Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (“Samsung”) respectfully submits this request Application for Interim Waiver and Petition for Waiver to the Department of Energy (“DOE” or “the Department”) for single compressor refrigerator-freezers with multiple defrost cycles that are manufactured by Samsung.
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 Start Printed Page 54459procedures 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 represent the energy consumption of its refrigerator-freezers with multiple defrost cycles. DOE concurred with Samsung's understanding in the interim waiver granted to Samsung in 76 FR 16760.[2] Additionally, DOE communicated that all manufacturers planning on marketing refrigerator-freezers with multiple defrost cycles must seek a waiver from the Department.[3]
In 75 FR 78810 (December 16, 2010), DOE issued an interim final rule for Appendix A (“Appendix A”), that effectively addresses test methodologies for refrigerator-freezers with multiple defrost cycles. Samsung requests that the Appendix A test methodology be expeditiously granted for Samsung refrigerator-freezers with multiple defrost cycles. Meanwhile, Samsung believes for the time being that the existing energy efficiency limits are adequate. Samsung therefore does not seek an alternate energy efficiency limit for these models at this time. Samsung requests that the efficient limits under § 430.32(a) are applied to the following Samsung manufactured basic models:
2. DOE understands, however, that absent an interim waiver, Samsung's products would not be accurately tested and rated for energy consumption because the current energy test procedure does not include test procedures for products with multiple defrost cycle types.
[FR Doc. 2011-22399 Filed 8-31-11; 8:45 am]