[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 123 (Thursday, June 25, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 38106-38107]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-13279]


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 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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  Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 123 / Thursday, June 25, 2020 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 38106]]



DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

10 CFR Parts 430 and 431

[EERE-2016-BT-TP-0011]
RIN 1904-AD95


Energy Conservation Program: Test Procedures for Residential and 
Commercial Clothes Washers

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

ACTION: Reopening of public comment period.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (``DOE'') is reopening the 
public comment period for its Request for Information (``RFI'') 
regarding test procedures for residential and commercial clothes 
washers. DOE published the RFI in the Federal Register on May 22, 2020, 
establishing a 30-day public comment period that ended June 22, 2020. 
On June 10, 2020, DOE received a comment requesting extension of the 
comment period by 30 days (and no less than two weeks). In addition, on 
June 11, 2020, DOE received a comment requesting extension of the 
comment period by 60 days. DOE is reopening the public comment period 
for submitting comments and data on the RFI to July 6, 2020.

DATES: The comment period for the RFI published on May 22, 2020 (85 FR 
31065), is reopened. DOE will accept comments, data, and information 
regarding this RFI received no later than July 6, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are encouraged to submit comments, 
identified by docket number EERE-2016-BT-TP-0011, by any of the 
following methods:
    Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments.
    Email: [email protected]. Include the docket 
number EERE-2016-BT-TP-0011 and/or RIN 1904-AD95 in the subject line of 
the message. Submit electronic comments in WordPerfect, Microsoft Word, 
PDF, or ASCII file format, and avoid the use of special characters or 
any form of encryption.
    Postal Mail: Appliance and Equipment Standards Program, U.S. 
Department of Energy, Building Technologies Office, Mailstop EE-5B, 
1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585-0121. If possible, 
please submit all items on a compact disc (``CD''), in which case it is 
not necessary to include printed copies.
    Hand Delivery/Courier: Appliance and Equipment Standards Program, 
U.S. Department of Energy, Building Technologies Office, 950 L'Enfant 
Plaza SW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20024. Telephone: (202) 287-1445. 
If possible, please submit all items on a CD, in which case it is not 
necessary to include printed copies.
    No telefacsimilies (faxes) will be accepted.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents, or 
comments received, go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=EERE-2016-BT-TP-0011.
    The docket, which includes Federal Register notices, public meeting 
attendee lists and transcripts, comments, and other supporting 
documents/materials, is available for review at http://www.regulations.gov. All documents in the docket are listed in the 
http://www.regulations.gov index. However, some documents listed in the 
index may not be publicly available, such as those containing 
information that is exempt from public disclosure.
    The docket web page can be found at: http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=EERE-2016-BT-TP-0011. The docket web page contains 
instructions on how to access all documents, including public comments, 
in the docket.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
    Mr. Bryan Berringer, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy 
Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building Technologies Office, EE-5B, 
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, GC-33, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 
20585-0121. Telephone: (202) 586-7796. Email: 
[email protected].
    For further information on how to submit a comment or review other 
public comments and the docket contact the Appliance and Equipment 
Standards Program staff at (202) 287-1445 or by email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 22, 2020, DOE published a RFI in the 
Federal Register soliciting public comment on its test procedures for 
residential and commercial clothes washers. 85 FR 31065. Comments were 
originally due on June 22, 2020. On June 10, 2020, DOE received a 
comment from Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (``AHAM'') 
requesting extension of the comment period by 30 days (and no less than 
two weeks).\1\ In addition, on June 11, 2020, DOE received a comment 
from the Appliance Standards Awareness Project (ASAP), Northwest Energy 
Efficiency Alliance (NEEA), Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), 
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), San Diego Gas and Electric 
(SDG&E), and Southern California Edison (SCE) to extend the DOE comment 
period for the Test Procedure RFI for Residential and Commercial 
Clothes Washers by 60 days, extending the comment submission deadline 
from June 22, 2020, to August 21, 2020.\2\ DOE has reviewed the 
requests and considered the benefit to stakeholders in providing 
additional time to review the RFI and gather information/data that DOE 
is seeking. Accordingly, DOE has determined that a reopening of the 
comment period is appropriate, and will accept comments period until 
July 6, 2020. DOE will consider any comments received from June 22, 
2020 through the end of the comment period to be timely submitted. DOE 
feels that the additional time provided is adequate for stakeholders to 
respond to the RFI.
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    \1\ DOE has posted this comment to the docket at https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=EERE-2016-BT-TP-0011-0002.
    \2\ DOE has posted this comment to the docket at https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=EERE-2016-BT-TP-0011-0003.

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[[Page 38107]]

Signing Authority

    This document of the Department of Energy was signed on June 16, 
2020, by Alexander N. Fitzsimmons, Deputy Assistant Secretary for 
Energy Efficiency, pursuant to delegated authority from the Secretary 
of Energy. That document with the original signature and date is 
maintained by DOE. For administrative purposes only, and in compliance 
with requirements of the Office of the Federal Register, the 
undersigned DOE Federal Register Liaison Officer has been authorized to 
sign and submit the document in electronic format for publication, as 
an official document of the Department of Energy. This administrative 
process in no way alters the legal effect of this document upon 
publication in the Federal Register.

    Signed in Washington, DC, on June 16, 2020.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2020-13279 Filed 6-24-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P