[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 184 (Thursday, September 23, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57937-57941]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-23835]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

[Case No. CW-014]


Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Notice of 
Petition for Waiver of Samsung Electronics America, Inc. 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 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 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 Samsung petition.

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

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by case number CW-014, 
by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     E-mail: [email protected]. Include ``Case 
No. CW-014'' in the subject line of the message.
     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.
     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 avoid the use of special characters or any form of 
encryption. Wherever possible, include the electronic

[[Page 57938]]

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: Mr. Michael Moss, Director, Samsung Electronics 
America, Inc., 18600 Broadwick Street, Rancho Dominguez, CA 90220.
    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: 
[email protected].
    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: [email protected].

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 July 20, 2010, Samsung 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, Samsung 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.
    Samsung'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. Samsung 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. Samsung has 
submitted a revised table to extend the maximum basket volume from 3.8 
cubic feet to 6.0 cubic feet, a table is similar to one developed 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 is a reasonable 
procedure because the DOE test procedure defines test load sizes as 
linear functions of the basket volume AHAM's extrapolation was 
performed on the load weight in pounds, and AHAM seems to have used the 
conversion formula of 1/2.2 (or 0.45454545) to convert pounds to 
kilograms. Samsung used the more accurate conversion value of 
0.45359237, rounding the results in kilograms to two decimal places.
    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 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. In a previous 
similar case, DOE granted an

[[Page 57939]]

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 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\. General Electric Company (GE) 
submitted a petition very similar to Samsung's on June 22, 2010, and 
DOE granted an interim waiver to GE published elsewhere in today's 
Federal Register.
    DOE believes that the values in the test load size chart submitted 
by Samsung are appropriate, and extending the linear relationship 
between test load size and container capacity to larger capacities is 
valid. Based on this, and the interim waivers granted to Whirlpool and 
GE, it appears likely that the petition for waiver will be granted. As 
a result, the Department of Energy grants an interim waiver to Samsung 
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 Samsung is hereby 
granted for the specified Samsung clothes washer basic models, subject 
to the specifications and conditions below.
    1. Samsung 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. Samsung 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:
WA51A****
WA52A****
WA53A****
WA54A****
WA55A****
WA56A****
WF221***
WF231***
WF241***
WF251***
WF330***
WF331***
WF340***
WF350***
WF409***
WF410***
WF419***
WF421***
WF428***
WF431***
WF438***
WF441***
WF448***
WF451***
WF461***
WF471***
WF500***
WF510***
WF511***
WF512***
WF520***
where *** designates design characteristics such as color, manufactured 
by Samsung that are greater than 3.8 cubic feet.
    DOE notes that Samsung requested a waiver and interim waiver for 
not only the model numbers specified above, but for ``other clothes 
washer models manufactured by Samsung that are greater than 3.8 cubic 
feet''. DOE makes decisions on waivers and interim waivers for only 
those models specifically set out in the petition, not future models 
that may or may not 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 clothes 
washers for which it seeks a waiver from the DOE test procedure.

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 Samsung 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 Samsung. Furthermore, if DOE specifies an alternate test procedure 
for Samsung, DOE may consider applying the alternate test procedure to 
similar waivers for residential clothes washers.
    During the period of the interim waiver granted in this notice, 
Samsung 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
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              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

[[Page 57940]]

 
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
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 0.10 lbs (0.05 kg).

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 that apply to 
clothes washers and grants an interim waiver to Samsung. DOE is 
publishing Samsung'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 
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 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.
July 20, 2010

Catherine Zoi
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Department of Energy
1000 Independence Avenue, SW.
Washington, DC 20585

Subject: Petition for Waiver and Application for Interim Waiver, 
Clothes Washers Capacity Greater than 3.8 Cubic Feet

    Dear Assistant Secretary Zoi:
    Samsung Electronics America, Inc., a subsidiary of Samsung 
Electronics Co., Ltd. (Samsung), respectfully submits this Petition 
for Waiver and Application for Interim Waiver to the Department of 
Energy (DOE) for the testing of clothes washers with capacity 
greater than 3.8 cubic feet.
    The 10 CFR Part 430.27(a)(1) allows a person to submit a 
petition to waive for a particular basic model any requirements of 
Sec.  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. Additionally, 
10 CFR Part 430.27(b)(2) allows an applicant to request an Interim 
Waiver if economic hardship and/or competitive disadvantage is 
likely to result absent a favorable determination on the Application 
for Interim Waiver.

Reasoning

    In order to meet current market demands, Samsung designed and 
will be marketing clothes washers with capacities greater than

[[Page 57941]]

3.8 cubic feet. Samsung expects that the majority of Samsung clothes 
washers will be greater than 3.8 cubic feet in capacity. The current 
test procedure, Appendix J1 to Subpart B of Part 430, leaves an open 
gap for determining load sizes not covered by Table 5.1, preventing 
Samsung from appropriately testing clothes washer models with 
capacity greater than 3.8 cubic feet. The Department recognized this 
test method deficiency in the Interim Waiver granted to 
Whirlpool.\1\
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    \1\ 71 FR 48913.
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    Samsung expects that future clothes washer capacities will 
expand beyond 3.8 cubic feet, and through extrapolating the linear 
relationship between test load sizes and container volume in Table 
5.1, Samsung proposes the following table for various Samsung 
clothes washer models WF***, where 
 designates model number and *** 
designates design characteristics such as color, or other clothes 
washer models manufactured by Samsung that are greater than 3.8 
cubic feet:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Container volume                 Minimum load              Maximum load              Average load
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  cu. ft. >= <      (liter) >= <          lb          (kg)          lb          (kg)          lb         (kg)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     3.80-3.90         107.6-110.4         3.00         1.36        15.80         7.17         9.40        4.26
     3.90-4.00         110.4-113.3         3.00         1.36        16.20         7.35         9.60        4.35
     4.00-4.10         113.3-116.1         3.00         1.36        16.60         7.53         9.80        4.45
     4.10-4.20         116.1-118.9         3.00         1.36        17.00         7.71        10.00        4.54
     4.20-4.30         118.9-121.8         3.00         1.36        17.40         7.89        10.20        4.63
     4.30-4.40         121.8-124.6         3.00         1.36        17.80         8.07        10.40        4.72
     4.40-4.50         124.6-127.4         3.00         1.36        18.20         8.26        10.60        4.81
     4.50-4.60         127.4-130.3         3.00         1.36        18.70         8.48        10.85        4.92
     4.60-4.70         130.3-133.1         3.00         1.36        19.10         8.66        11.05        5.01
     4.70-4.80         133.1-135.9         3.00         1.36        19.50         8.85        11.25        5.10
     4.80-4.90         135.9-138.8         3.00         1.36        19.90         9.03        11.45        5.19
     4.90-5.00         138.8-141.6         3.00         1.36        20.30         9.21        11.65        5.28
     5.00-5.10         141.6-144.4         3.00         1.36        20.70         9.39        11.85        5.38
     5.10-5.20         144.4-147.2         3.00         1.36        21.10         9.57        12.05        5.47
     5.20-5.30         147.2-150.1         3.00         1.36        21.50         9.75        12.25        5.56
     5.30-5.40         150.1-152.9         3.00         1.36        21.90         9.93        12.45        5.65
     5.40-5.50         152.9-155.7         3.00         1.36        22.30        10.12        12.65        5.74
     5.50-5.60         155.7-158.6         3.00         1.36        22.80        10.34        12.90        5.85
     5.60-5.70         158.6-161.4         3.00         1.36        23.20        10.52        13.10        5.94
     5.70-5.80         161.4-164.2         3.00         1.36        23.60        10.70        13.30        6.03
     5.80-5.90         164.2-167.1         3.00         1.36        24.00        10.89        13.50        6.12
     5.90-6.00         167.1-169.9         3.00         1.36        24.40        11.07        13.70        6.21
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The extrapolation was performed on the load weight in pounds 
(lb). The weight in kilograms (kg) was converted from lb, where 1 lb 
= 0.45359237 kg. The results in kg were rounded to two decimal 
places.
    A similar test load size table was submitted by the Association 
of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) to the Department (AHAM 
Comments on the Framework Document for Residential Clothes Washers; 
EERE-2008-BT-STD-0019; RIN 1904-AB90, October, 2, 2009).

Conclusion

    Without the Interim Waiver, Samsung will face economic hardship 
due to lost opportunity for sales, and lost investments in 
development and manufacturing.
    On the grounds that current test methods for clothes washers 
will prevent Samsung from testing the majority of new clothes washer 
models and likelihood of economic hardship, Samsung requests that 
DOE grants Samsung the Interim Waiver and Waiver, to utilize the 
test load size table above for the testing of all Samsung clothes 
washers with capacity greater than 3.8 cubic feet.

Affected Persons

    Primarily affected persons in the clothes washers category 
include Alliance Laundry Systems, LLC., BSH Home Appliances Corp., 
Electrolux Home Products, Equator, Fisher & Paykel Appliances, Inc., 
GE Appliances, Haier America Trading, L.L.C., LG Electronics Inc., 
Miele Appliances, Inc., and Whirlpool Corporation. Samsung will 
notify all these entities as required by the Department's rules and 
provide them with a version of this Petition. A copy was also 
provided to the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM).

    Sincerely,

Michael Moss,
Director

[FR Doc. 2010-23835 Filed 9-22-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P