[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 128 (Thursday, July 3, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 36024-36025]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-17483]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

10 CFR Part 430

[Docket No. EE-RM-94-403]
RIN 1904-AA67


Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Notice of 
Public Workshop on Clothes Washers Energy Efficiency Standards 
Rulemaking

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

ACTION: Notice of Public Workshop.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (the Department or DOE) today gives 
notice that it will convene a public workshop to discuss the proposed 
analytical framework and tools for evaluating possible revisions to the 
clothes washer energy efficiency standards.

DATES: The public workshop will be held on Wednesday, July 23, 1997, 
from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The workshop will be held at the U.S. Department of Energy, 
Room 1E-245, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585.
    Copies of the transcript of the public workshop, public comments 
received, and this notice may be read at the Department of Energy, 
Freedom of Information Reading Room, U.S. DOE, Forrestal Building, Room 
1E-190, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-
6020, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Qonnie Laughlin, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency 
and Renewable Energy, Forrestal Building, Mail Station EE-43, 1000 
Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585-0121, (202) 586-9632.
Ms. Sandy Beall, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency 
and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy, Mail Station EE-43, 
1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585-0121, (202) 586-
7574.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In continuing the work on possible revisions 
to energy efficiency standards on clothes washers, the Department is 
convening a workshop to present and receive public comments on the 
proposed analytical approach for evaluating the clothes washer 
standards. At this workshop the following will be discussed:
    Preliminary Clothes Washers Rulemaking Schedule.
    Review of the Rulemaking Framework: The Department will seek 
comment on the draft analytical framework for the clothes washers 
rulemaking.
    Identification of Analytical Methods and Tools: The Department 
seeks input into the selection of engineering and economic analytical 
tools to be used during the rulemaking.

    Engineering Analysis/Data Collection: The Department plans to 
collect data using the energy efficiency approach to derive a cost 
efficiency curve within a range for the engineering analysis. The 
Department will review the key issues surrounding data collection 
and the reporting of manufacturing costs for incorporation into the 
engineering analysis.
    Price: The Department will lead a discussion on possible 
approaches to generating retail prices to be used in the consumer 
life-cycle-cost analysis.

[[Page 36025]]

    Life-Cycle-Cost: The Department plans to demonstrate a new life-
cycle-cost spreadsheet model which can account for variability of 
key criteria, such as utility rates and water heater fuel type.
    Shipment Forecasts: The Department will present a base-line 
shipment forecast for stakeholder review. This forecast will 
incorporate expected improvement in efficiencies as a result of 
market forces or voluntary programs and how the distribution of 
efficiency impacts different consumers.
    Energy Savings Forecasts: The Department will present an example 
of energy savings forecasting results using a simple spreadsheet to 
show how the growth in efficiency can be accounted for over time.

    Identification of Experts and Other Interested Parties for Peer 
Review: The Department wishes to identify a group of independent 
experts and other interested parties who can provide expert review of 
the results of the engineering and economic analyses.
    Background on the approach to be followed in evaluating clothes 
washer standards is found in Appendix A of Subpart C of 10 CFR Part 
430, see 61 FR 36973 (July 15, 1996), which outlines the planning and 
prioritization process, data collection and analysis, and decision 
making criteria. Information pertaining to this rulemaking include the 
following: An Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to Amend the Energy 
Conservation Standards for Three Cleaning Products, published on 
November 14, 1994 (59 FR 56423), and comments thereon; Draft Report on 
the Preliminary Engineering Analysis for Clothes Washers; Draft Report 
on Design Options for Clothes Washers; and the transcript from the 
November 15, 1996, Workshop and comments relating to the workshop. 
Copies of these may be read at the DOE Freedom of Information Reading 
Room.
    The Department also welcomes written comments or recommendations on 
the process and the tools to be used for the clothes washers 
rulemaking. Written comments or recommendations should be submitted to 
Sandy Beall at the address listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT section.
    Please notify Sandy Beall or Qonnie Laughlin at the address listed 
in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section if you intend to attend 
the workshop, if you wish to receive material prepared for the workshop 
(including the draft analytical framework), or if you wish to be added 
to the DOE mailing list for receipt of future notices and information 
concerning clothes washers matters relating to energy efficiency.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on June 27, 1997.
Brian T. Castelli,
Chief of Staff, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
[FR Doc. 97-17483 Filed 7-2-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P