[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 186 (Monday, September 26, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59394-59395]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-24611]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

[Case No. RF-018]


Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Publication of 
the Extension of Interim Waiver Granted to Samsung Electronics America, 
Inc. From the Department of Energy Residential Refrigerator and 
Refrigerator-Freezer Test Procedure

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

ACTION: Notice of extension of interim waiver.

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SUMMARY: On March 25, 2011, the Department of Energy (DOE) published in 
the Federal Register a petition for waiver and notice granting an 
application for interim waiver to Samsung Electronics America, Inc. 
(Samsung) from energy efficiency test procedure requirements that are 
applicable to residential refrigerators and refrigerator-freezers. In 
today's action, DOE is extending the interim waiver for 180 days.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dr. Michael G. Raymond, U.S. Department of Energy, Building 
Technologies Program, Mailstop EE-2J, 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, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 
20585-0103, (202) 586-7796; E-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 18, 2011, DOE granted to Samsung an 
interim waiver from the energy efficiency test procedure requirements 
in 10 CFR part 430 that are applicable to Samsung's electric 
refrigerators and refrigerator-freezers that incorporate multiple 
defrost cycles, and requested comments on Samsung's petition. 76 FR 
16760 (March 25, 2011). Pursuant to 10 CFR 430.27(h), an interim waiver 
will terminate 180 days after issuance or upon the determination on the 
petition for waiver, whichever occurs first. An

[[Page 59395]]

interim waiver may be extended by DOE for 180 days. Notice of such 
extension and/or any modification of the terms or duration of the 
interim waiver shall be published in the Federal Register and shall be 
based on relevant information contained in the record and any comments 
received subsequent to issuance of the interim waiver.
    On August 17, 2011, Samsung requested an extension of its interim 
waiver. DOE recently published a notice reopening the comment period on 
its interim final rule for the refrigerator test procedure. 76 FR 57612 
(Sept. 15, 2011). DOE intends to consider the comments received in 
response to this notice before publishing a decision and order 
concerning Samsung's petition for waiver from the energy efficiency 
test procedure requirements for residential refrigerators and 
refrigerator-freezers in 10 CFR part 430, which are applicable to 
Samsung's electric refrigerators and refrigerator-freezers that 
incorporate multiple defrost cycles. Therefore, DOE has determined that 
it is appropriate to grant an extension of the interim waiver to 
Samsung for an additional 180 days, or until March 12, 2012, or until 
the determination on the petition for waiver, whichever occurs first.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on September 20, 2011.
Kathleen Hogan,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency, Office of Technology 
Development, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
[FR Doc. 2011-24611 Filed 9-23-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P