Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2011/10/18/2011-26883/notice-of-petition-for-waiver-of-lg-electronics-usa-inc-from-the-department-of-energy-residential
Timestamp: 2020-07-11 15:02:06
Document Index: 114435659

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 430', 'art 430', 'art 429', '§\u2009430', '§\u20096291', 'art 430']

Federal Register :: Notice of Petition for Waiver of LG Electronics U.S.A., Inc. From the Department of Energy Residential Clothes Washer Test Procedure, and Grant of Interim Waiver
A Notice by the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Office on 10/18/2011
DOE will accept comments, data, and information with respect to the LG petition until, but no later than November 17, 2011.
76 FR 64330
64330-64335 (6 pages)
Case No. CW-021
2011-26883
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2011-26883
You may submit comments, identified by case number CW-021, by any of the following methods:
E-mail: AS_Waiver_Requests@ee.doe.gov Include “Case No. CW-021” in the subject line of the message.
Hand Delivery/Courier: Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department of Energy, Start Printed Page 64331Building 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., (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.
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 clothes washers that are the focus of this notice.[1] 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)) 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. 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. 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).
On October 3, 2011, LG's submitted a petition for waiver from the DOE test procedure applicable to automatic and semi-automatic clothes washers set forth in 10 CFR part 430, subpart B, appendix J1. LG requested the waiver because the mass of 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. In its petition, LG seeks a waiver for the specified basic models with capacities 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. LG requests that DOE grant a waiver for testing and rating based on a revised Table 5.1. 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 (September 21, 1010), which was altered slightly (to correct rounding errors) by the supplemental proposed rule issued on July 26, 2011 http://www.eere.energy.gov/​buildings/​appliance_​standards/​residential/​pdfs/​rcw_​tp_​snopr.pdf.
DOE has determined that LG'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 LG might experience absent a favorable determination on its application for interim waiver. Previously, however, DOE granted test procedure waivers to Whirlpool (75 FR 69653 (November 15, 2010)), General Electric Company (GE) (75 FR 76968 (December 10, 2010)), Samsung (76 FR 13169 (March 10, 2011), (76 FR 50207 (August 12, 2011)), and Electrolux (76 FR 11440 (March 2, 2011)) for products with capacities larger than currently specified in the test procedure. DOE has also granted previous waivers to LG for similar products. (76 FR 11233, Mar. 1, 2011; 76 FR 21879, Apr. 19, 2011). In these waivers, DOE established an alternate test procedure extending the linear relationship between the maximum test load size and clothes washer container volume up to 6.0 cubic feet, the same test procedure that would be established by adoption of DOE's September 2010 test procedure NOPR and requested by LG in its current and previous petitions. As noted above, DOE published a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking to adjust the proposed test procedure (specifically, Table 5.1) to correct rounding errors in a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking issued on July 26, 2011.Start Printed Page 64332
The current DOE test procedure specifies test load sizes only for machines with capacities up to 3.8 cubic feet. For the reasons set forth in DOE's September 2010 NOPR, DOE believes that extending the linear relationship between test load size and container capacity to larger capacities is valid. In addition, testing a basic model with a capacity larger than 3.8 cubic feet using the current procedure could evaluate the basic model in a manner so unrepresentative of its true energy consumption as to provide materially inaccurate comparative data. Based on these considerations, and the waivers granted to Whirlpool, GE, Electrolux and Samsung, as well as the previous waivers granted to LG for similar models, it appears likely that the petition for waiver will be granted. As a result, DOE grants an interim waiver to LG for the basic models of clothes washers with container volumes greater than 3.8 cubic feet specified in its petition for waiver, pursuant to 10 CFR 430.27(g). DOE also provides for the use of an alternative test procedure extending the linear relationship between test load size and container capacity, described below. Therefore, it is ordered that:
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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. LG may submit a subsequent petition for waiver and request for grant of interim waiver, as appropriate, for additional models of clothes washers 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 release a petitioner from the certification requirements set forth at 10 CFR part 429.
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 applicable to waivers and interim waivers from applicable test procedures at 10 CFR 430.27, DOE will consider setting an alternate test procedure for LG in a subsequent Decision and Order.
The alternate procedure approved today is intended to allow LG to make valid representations regarding its clothes washers with basket capacities larger than provided for in the current test procedure. This alternate test procedure is based on the expanded Table 5.1 of Appendix J1 that appears in DOE's clothes washer test procedure NOPR. 75 FR 57556 (September 21, 1010), altered slightly to correct rounding errors as specified in DOE's supplemental proposal issued on July 26, 2011.
Start Printed Page 64333
Through today's notice, DOE announces receipt of LG's petition for waiver from certain parts of the test procedure that apply to clothes washers and grants an interim waiver to LG. DOE is publishing LG's petition for waiver in its entirety pursuant to 10 CFR 430.27(b)(1)(iv). The petition contains no confidential information. The petition includes a suggested alternate test procedure to measure the energy consumption of clothes washers with capacities larger than the 3.8 cubic feet specified in the current DOE test procedure.
DOE solicits comments from interested parties on all aspects of the petition. Pursuant to 10 CFR 430.27(b)(1)(iv), 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 John I. Taylor, Vice President, Government Relations and Communications, LG Electronics USA, Inc., 1776 K Street, NW., Washington, DC 20006. All submissions received must include the agency name and case number for this proceeding. Submit electronic comments in 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).
The Honorable Henry Kelly
Acting Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
LG Electronics, Inc. (LG) respectfully submits this Petition for Waiver and Application for Interim Waiver, pursuant to 10 C.F.R. § 430.27, as related to DOE's test procedure for clothes washers. DOE has already granted LG waivers relating to testing of certain models. 76 Fed. Reg. 21879 (April 19, 2011); id. 11228 (March 1, 2011); id. 11233 (March 1, 2011); 75 Fed. Reg. 71680 (Nov. 24, 2010). The current Petition and Application would expand the number of models subject to the grant of a waiver. LG requests expedited treatment of the Petition and Application.
The test procedure under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA), 42 U.S.C. § 6291 et seq., provides for Start Printed Page 64334clothes washers to be tested with specified allowable test load sizes. See 10 C.F.R. Pt. 430, Subpt. B, App. Jl, Table 5.1. The largest average load under Table 5.1 is 9.20 lbs. LG believes that it is appropriate for DOE to grant a waiver that would allow for testing and rating of specified models (see Appendix 1 hereto) with larger test loads where the model has a container volume that is greater than the largest volume shown on Table 5.1.
DOE has already granted waivers and/or interim waivers to a number of manufacturers, including LG, Whirlpool, General Electric, Samsung, and Electrolux for testing with larger test loads for specified models with container volumes in excess of 3.8 cubic feet. See, e.g., 76 Fed. Reg. 48149 (Aug. 8, 2011) (Samsung); id. 21879 (April 19, 2011 (LG); id. 21881 (April 19, 2011) (Samsung); id. 13169 (March 10, 2011) (Samsung); id. 11440 (March 2, 2011) (Electrolux); id. 11228 (March 1, 2011) (LG); id. 11233 (March 1, 2011) (LG); 75 Fed. Reg. 81258 (Dec. 27, 2010) (Electrolux); id. 76968 (Dec. 10, 2010) (GE); id. 71680 (Nov. 24, 2010) (LG); id. 57915 (Sept. 23, 2010) (GE); id. 57937 (Sept. 23, 2010) (Samsung); id. 69653 (Nov. 15, 2010) (Whirlpool); id. 76962 (Dec. 10, 2010) (Electrolux); id. 76968 (Dec. 10, 2010) (GE); id. 81258 (Dec. 27, 2010) (Electrolux); 71 Fed. Reg. 48913 (Aug. 22, 2006) (Whirlpool). The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) has submitted comments to DOE suggesting that the DOE test procedure be amended to provide for testing with loads in excess of those shown in Table 5.1 when testing is done on clothes washers with volumes in excess of 3.8 cubic feet. See AHAM Comments on the Framework Document for Residential Clothes Washers; EERE-2008-BT-STD-0019; RIN 1904-AB90, at Appendix B—AHAM Proposed Changes to J1 Table 5.1 (Oct. 2, 2009). In addition, DOE has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposing to amend the DOE test procedure to adopt the AHAM proposed Table 5.1. 75 Fed. Reg. 57556 (Sept. 21, 2010). Further, DOE has issued a guidance document indicating the appropriateness of waivers for testing with larger test loads for clothes washers with volumes in excess of 3.8 cubic feet. DOE, GC Enforcement Guidance on the Application of Waivers and on the Waiver Process (Dec. 23, 2010), at http://www.gc.energy.gov/​documents/​LargeCapacityRCW_​guidance_​22210.pdf.
LG requests that DOE grant a waiver for testing and rating based on the revised Table 5.1 in Appendix 2 hereto. This is the Table 5.1 as already set forth in the waivers granted to LG for certain models. See 76 Fed. Reg. 21879 (April 19, 2011); id. 11228 (March 1, 2011); id. 11233 (March 1, 2011); 75 Fed. Reg. 71680 (Nov. 24, 2010). The revised Table 5.1 should be applied to LG's testing and rating of other models as specified in Appendix 1 hereto.[1]
LG also requests an interim waiver for its testing and rating of the foregoing models. The petition for waiver is likely to be granted, as evidenced not only by its merits, but also because DOE has granted waivers and/or interim waivers to LG, Whirlpool, GE, Samsung, and Electrolux and has proposed a corresponding amendment to its test procedure. Hence, grant of an interim waiver for LG is appropriate.
LG requests expedited treatment of the Petition and Application. In that regard, DOE has stated in its December 23, 2010 Enforcement Guidance (supra) that it “commits to act promptly on waiver requests.” LG repeated this in its March 7, 2011 notice concerning its certification, compliance and enforcement rule. 76 Fed. Reg. 12422, 12442 (“The Department renews its commitment to act swiftly on waiver requests”).[2] LG appreciates this commitment by DOE.
1776 K Street, NW.,
E-mail: john.taylor@lge.com
1776 K Street NW.,
E-mail: jhodges@wileyrein.com
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WM4070H*** LG
4153#21# Kenmore
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Start Printed Page 64335
[Letters are not included in the published document.]
1. All LG models are measured in accordance with DOE's final guidance for measuring clothes container capacity under the test procedure in 10 C.F.R. Part 430, Subpart B, Appendix J1.
2. DOE goes on to state that “DOE, as a matter of policy, will refrain from enforcement actions related to a waiver request that is pending with the Department” Id.
[FR Doc. 2011-26883 Filed 10-17-11; 8:45 am]