[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 67 (Monday, April 10, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17229-17231]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-07108]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

[Case No. CW-027]


Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Decision and 
Order Granting a Waiver to Samsung Electronics America, Inc. From the 
Department of Energy Residential Clothes Washer Test Procedure

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

ACTION: Decision and order.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) gives notice of a decision 
and order (Case No. CW-027) that grants to Samsung Electronics America, 
Inc. (Samsung) a waiver from the DOE test procedure for determining the 
energy consumption of clothes washers. Under this decision and order, 
Samsung is required to test and rate its clothes washers with clothes 
containers greater than 6.0 cubic feet using an alternate test 
procedure that takes this larger capacity into account when measuring 
energy consumption.

DATES: This Decision and Order is effective April 10, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Bryan Berringer, U.S. Department 
of Energy, Building Technologies Program, Mail Stop EE-5B, Forrestal 
Building, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121. 
Telephone: (202) 586-0371. Email: [email protected].
    Ms. Elizabeth Kohl, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the 
General Counsel, Mail Stop GC-33, Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence 
Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585-0103. Telephone: (202) 586-7796. 
Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with Title 10 of the Code of 
Federal Regulations (10 CFR 430.27(f)(2)), DOE gives notice of the 
issuance of its decision and order as set forth below. The decision and 
order grants Samsung a waiver from the applicable clothes washer test 
procedure in 10 CFR part 430, subpart B, appendix J2 for certain basic 
models of clothes washers with capacities greater than 6.0 cubic feet, 
provided that Samsung tests and rates such products using the alternate 
test procedure described in this notice. Samsung's representations 
concerning the energy efficiency of these products must be based on 
testing consistent with the provisions and restrictions in the 
alternate test procedure set forth in the decision and order below, and 
the representations must fairly disclose the test results. 
Distributors, retailers, and private labelers are held to the same 
standard when making representations regarding the energy efficiency of 
these products. 42 U.S.C. 6293(c).
    Not later than June 9, 2017, any manufacturer currently 
distributing in commerce in the United States a product employing a 
technology or characteristic that results in the same need for a waiver 
from the clothes washer test procedure must submit a petition for 
waiver. 10 CFR 430.27(j). Manufacturers not currently distributing such 
products in commerce in the United States must petition for and be 
granted a waiver prior to distribution in commerce in the United 
States. Manufacturers may also submit a request for interim waiver 
pursuant to the requirements of 10 CFR 430.27.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on April 4, 2017.
Kathleen Hogan,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency, Energy Efficiency and 
Renewable Energy.

Decision and Order

    In the Matter of: Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (Case No. CW-
027)
I. Background and Authority
    Title III, Part B of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 
(EPCA) (42 U.S.C. 6291-6309) established the Energy Conservation 
Program for Consumer Products Other Than Automobiles, a program that 
includes residential clothes washers.\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 measuring 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 residential clothes washers is 
contained in 10 CFR part 430, subpart B, appendix J2.
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    \1\ For editorial reasons, upon codification in the U.S. Code, 
Part B was re-designated Part A.
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    The regulations set forth in 10 CFR 430.27 contain provisions that 
allow a person to seek a waiver from the test procedure requirements 
for a particular basic model of a type of covered product when that 
basic model contains one or more design characteristics that: (1) 
Prevent testing according to the prescribed test procedure, or (2) 
cause the prescribed test procedures to 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(a)(1). DOE may grant the waiver subject to conditions, 
including adherence to alternate test procedures. 10 CFR 430.27(f)(2).
II. Samsung's Petition for Waiver: Assertions and Determinations
    On August 24, 2016, Samsung 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 J2. 
Samsung 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 6.0 cubic feet. In 
its petition, Samsung seeks a waiver for a specified basic model with a 
capacity greater than 6.0 cubic feet. Table 5.1 of Appendix J2 defines 
the test load sizes used in the test procedure as linear functions of 
the basket volume. Samsung requests that DOE grant a waiver for testing 
and rating based on a revised Table 5.1. (See 77 FR 13888, Mar. 7, 
2012; the ``March 2012 Final Rule'')
    Samsung also requested an interim waiver from the existing DOE test 
procedure, which DOE granted. See 81 FR at 87030 (Dec. 2, 2016). After 
reviewing the alternate procedure suggested by Samsung, DOE granted the

[[Page 17230]]

interim waiver because DOE concluded that it would allow for the 
accurate measurement of the energy use of these products, while 
alleviating the testing problems associated with testing clothes 
washers with capacities greater than 6.0 cubic feet.
    Samsung's petition was published in the Federal Register on 
December 2, 2016. 81 FR 87030. DOE received three comments from 
consumers opposing Samsung's petition due to recent recall of Samsung 
clothes washers. (Consumer Commenters, Nos. 3 at p. 1, 4 at p. 4, and 5 
at p. 1) \2\ The recall pertains to the washing machine top can 
unexpectedly detach from the washing machine chassis during use, posing 
a risk of injury from impact. This recall involves 34 models of Samsung 
top-load washing machines. Although the comments are about specific 
Samsung clothes washers that have been manufactured, the comments did 
not address the merits of the waiver, which would extend Table 5.1 of 
appendix J2 up to 8.0 cu. ft. for clothes washers that have not been 
manufactured for sale to date.
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    \2\ A notation in the form ``Consumer Commenters, No. 3 at p. 1, 
4 at p. 4 and 5 at p. 1'' identifies written comments: (1) Made by 
the Coy Garrett, Liz Rowan and Julia Ramirez (hereinafter the 
``Consumer Commenters''); (2) recorded in document numbers 3, 4 and 
5 that are filed in the docket of this waiver (Docket No. EERE-2016-
BT-WAV-0038) and available for review at www.regulations.gov; and 
(3) which appears on page 1 of document number 3, page 4 of document 
4, and page 1 of document 5.
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    DOE granted a waiver to Whirlpool under a Decision and Order (81 FR 
26251, May 2, 2016) to allow for the testing of clothes washers with 
container volumes between 6.0 cubic feet and 8.0 cubic feet. DOE also 
granted a waiver to Samsung for a similar request under two Decisions 
and Orders (76 FR 13169, Mar. 10, 2011; 76 FR 50207, Aug. 12, 2011) to 
allow for the testing of clothes washers with container volumes between 
3.8 cubic feet and 6.0 cubic feet. In addition to the previous waiver 
granted to Samsung, DOE granted waivers to LG (CW-016 (76 FR 11233, 
Mar. 1, 2011), CW-018 (76 FR 21879, Apr. 19, 2011), and CW-021 (76 FR 
64330, Oct. 18, 2011)); General Electric (75 FR 76968, Dec. 10, 2010); 
Whirlpool (75 FR 69653, Nov. 15, 2010); and Electrolux (76 FR 11440, 
Mar. 2, 2011) to allow for the testing of clothes washers with 
container volumes between 3.8 cubic feet and 6.0 cubic feet.
    For the reasons set forth in DOE's March 2012 Final Rule, DOE 
concludes that extending the linear relationship between test load size 
and container capacity to larger capacities represents the best 
possible approach to determining load size for large capacity washers. 
DOE will continue to evaluate this issue in the next revision to the 
DOE test procedure in appendix J2. In addition, DOE determines that 
testing a basic model with a capacity larger than 6.0 cubic feet using 
the current procedure at Appendix J2 could evaluate the basic models in 
a manner so unrepresentative of their true energy consumption as to 
provide materially inaccurate comparative data.
III. Consultations with Other Agencies
    DOE consulted with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) staff 
concerning the Samsung petition for waiver. The FTC staff did not have 
any objections to granting a waiver to Samsung.
IV. Order
    After careful consideration of all the material that was submitted 
by Samsung and the commenters, the testing and analysis conducted for 
the March 2012 Final Rule, and consultation with the FTC staff, in 
accordance with 10 CFR 430.27, it is ORDERED that:
    (1) The petition for waiver submitted by the Samsung Electronics 
America, Inc. (Case No. CW-027) is hereby granted as set forth in the 
paragraphs below.
    (2) Samsung must test and rate the Samsung basic model specified in 
paragraph (3) on the basis of the current test procedure contained in 
10 CFR part 430, subpart B, appendix J2, except that Table 5.1 of 
appendix J2 is supplemented by the following additional rows:

                                                         Table 5.1--Test Load Sizes--Supplement
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                        Container volume                               Minimum load              Maximum load              Average load
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                                                       liter
                 cu. ft. [gteqt] <                   [gteqt] <        lb           kg           lb           kg           lb           Kg
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6.00-6.10.........................................  169.9-172.7         3.00         1.36        24.80        11.25        13.90         6.30
6.10-6.20.........................................  172.7-175.6         3.00         1.36        25.20        11.43        14.10         6.40
6.20-6.30.........................................  175.6-178.4         3.00         1.36        25.60        11.61        14.30         6.49
6.30-6.40.........................................  178.4-181.2         3.00         1.36        26.00        11.79        14.50         6.58
6.40-6.50.........................................  181.2-184.1         3.00         1.36        26.40        11.97        14.70         6.67
6.50-6.60.........................................  184.1-186.9         3.00         1.36        26.90        12.20        14.95         6.78
6.60-6.70.........................................  186.9-189.7         3.00         1.36        27.30        12.38        15.15         6.87
6.70-6.80.........................................  189.7-192.6         3.00         1.36        27.70        12.56        15.35         6.96
6.80-6.90.........................................  192.6-195.4         3.00         1.36        28.10        12.75        15.55         7.05
6.90-7.00.........................................  195.4-198.2         3.00         1.36        28.50        12.93        15.75         7.14
7.00-7.10.........................................  198.2-201.0         3.00         1.36        28.90        13.11        15.95         7.23
7.10-7.20.........................................  201.0-203.9         3.00         1.36        29.30        13.29        16.15         7.33
7.20-7.30.........................................  203.9-206.7         3.00         1.36        29.70        13.47        16.35         7.42
7.30-7.40.........................................  206.7-209.5         3.00         1.36        30.10        13.65        16.55         7.51
7.40-7.50.........................................  209.5-212.4         3.00         1.36        30.60        13.88        16.80         7.62
7.50-7.60.........................................  212.4-215.2         3.00         1.36        31.00        14.06        17.00         7.71
7.60-7.70.........................................  215.2-218.0         3.00         1.36        31.40        14.24        17.20         7.80
7.70-7.80.........................................  218.0-220.9         3.00         1.36        31.80        14.42        17.40         7.89
7.80-7.90.........................................  220.9-223.7         3.00         1.36        32.20        14.61        17.60         7.98
7.90-8.00.........................................  223.7-226.5         3.00         1.36        32.60        14.79        17.80         8.07
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    (3) This order applies only to the following basic model: 
WA63M97**A*.
    (4) This waiver shall remain in effect consistent with the 
provisions of 10 CFR 430.27.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on 4/4/2017.

Kathleen B. Hogan,


[[Page 17231]]


Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency, Energy Efficiency 
and Renewable Energy.

[FR Doc. 2017-07108 Filed 4-7-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6450-01-P