[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 138 (Thursday, July 22, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38696-38699]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-15578]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[Case Number 2020-025, EERE-2017-BT-WAV-0041]


Energy Conservation Program: Extension of Waiver to AHT Cooling 
Systems GmbH and AHT Cooling Systems USA Inc. From the Department of 
Energy Commercial Refrigerator, Freezer, and Refrigerator-Freezer Test 
Procedure

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

ACTION: Notification of extension of waiver.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (``DOE'') is granting a waiver 
extension (Case No. 2020-025) to AHT Cooling Systems GmbH and AHT 
Cooling Systems USA Inc. (``AHT'') from specified portions of the DOE 
Commercial Refrigerators, Freezers, and Refrigerator-Freezers 
(collectively ``commercial refrigeration equipment'' or ``CRE'') test 
procedure for determining the energy consumption of the specified AHT 
CRE basic models. Under this extension, AHT is required to test and 
rate the specified basic models in accordance with the alternate test 
procedure specified in the Order.

DATES: The Extension of Waiver is effective on July 22, 2021. The 
Extension of Waiver will terminate upon the compliance date of any 
future amendment to the test procedure for CRE located in 10 CFR part 
431, subpart C, appendix B that addresses the issues presented in this 
waiver. At such time, AHT must use the relevant test procedure for the 
specified basic models of CRE for any testing to demonstrate compliance 
with standards, and any other representations of energy use.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
    Ms. Lucy deButts, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy 
Efficiency and

[[Page 38697]]

Renewable Energy, Building Technologies Office, EE-5B, 1000 
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585-0121. Email: 
[email protected].
    Mr. Pete Cochran, 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) 586-9496. Email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with Title 10 of the Code of 
Federal Regulations (10 CFR 431.401(g)), DOE gives notice of the 
issuance of an Extension of Waiver as set forth below. The Extension of 
Waiver extends the Decision and Order granted to AHT on October 30, 
2018 (83 FR 54581, ``October 2018 Decision and Order'') to include the 
AHT basic models specified in this waiver, as requested by AHT on 
November 12, 2020.\1\ AHT must test and rate the specifically 
identified CRE basic models in accordance with the alternate test 
procedure specified in the October 2018 Decision and Order. AHT's 
representations concerning the energy consumption of the specified 
basic models must be based on testing according to the provisions and 
restrictions in the alternate test procedure set forth in the October 
2018 Decision and Order, and the representations must fairly disclose 
the test results. Distributors, retailers, and private labelers are 
held to the same requirements when making representations regarding the 
energy consumption of this equipment. (42 U.S.C. 6314(d))
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    \1\ AHT's request is available at https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=EERE-2017-BT-WAV-0041. The specified basic models are: 
IBIZA 100 (U) NAM-F, IBIZA 145 (U) NAM-F, IBIZA 210 (U) NAM-F, MALTA 
145 (U) NAM-F, MALTA 185 (U) NAM-F, MANHATTAN XL 175 (U) NAM-F, 
MANHATTAN XL 210 (U) NAM-F, MIAMI 145 (U) NAM-F, MIAMI XL EC 185 (U) 
NAM-F, MIAMI 210 (U) NAM-F, MIAMI 250 (U) NAM-F, PARIS 145 (U) NAM-
F, PARIS EC 185 (U) NAM-F, PARIS 210 (U) NAM-F, PARIS 250 (U) NAM-F, 
SYDNEY 175 (U) NAM-F, SYDNEY 210 (U) NAM-F, SYDNEY EC 213 (U) NAM-F, 
SYDNEY EC 223 (U) NAM-F, SYDNEY 230 (U) NAM-F, SYDNEY 250 (U) NAM-F, 
SYDNEY XL 175 (U) NAM-F, SYDNEY XL 210 (U) NAM-F, SYDNEY XL 250 (U) 
NAM-F, MONTREAL SLIM 175 (U) NAM-F, MONTREAL SLIM 210 (U) NAM-F, 
MONTREAL SLIM 250 (U) NAM-F, MONTREAL SLIM PUSH 175 (U) NAM F, 
MONTREAL SLIM PUSH 210 (U) NAM-F, MONTREAL SLIM PUSH 250 (U) NAM-F, 
MONTREAL XL 175 (U) NAM-F, MONTREAL XL 210 (U) NAM-F, MONTREAL XL 
250 (U) NAM-F, MONTREAL XL EC 185 (U) NAM-F, MONTREAL XL EC 210 (U) 
NAM-F, MONTREAL XL EC PUSH 185 (U) NAM-F, MONTREAL XL EC PUSH 210 
(U) NAM-F, MONTREAL XL PUSH 175 (U) NAM-F, MONTREAL XL PUSH 210 (U) 
NAM-F, and MONTREAL XL PUSH 250 (U) NAM-F.
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    DOE makes decisions on waiver extensions for only those basic 
models specifically set out in the request, not future models that may 
be manufactured by the petitioner. AHT may submit a new or amended 
petition for waiver and request for grant of interim waiver, as 
appropriate, for additional basic models of CRE. Alternatively, if 
appropriate, AHT may request that DOE extend the scope of a waiver to 
include additional basic models employing the same technology as the 
basic models set forth in the original petition consistent with 10 CFR 
431.401(g).

Case Number 2020-025

Extension of Waiver

I. Background and Authority

    The Energy Policy and Conservation Act, as amended (``EPCA''),\2\ 
authorizes DOE to regulate the energy efficiency of a number of 
consumer products and certain industrial equipment. (42 U.S.C. 6291-
6317) Title III, Part C \3\ of EPCA established the Energy Conservation 
Program for Certain Industrial Equipment, which sets forth a variety of 
provisions designed to improve energy efficiency for certain types of 
industrial equipment. This equipment includes Commercial Refrigerators, 
Freezers, and Refrigerator-Freezers (collectively ``commercial 
refrigeration equipment'' or ``CRE''), the focus of this document. (42 
U.S.C. 6311(1)(E))
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    \2\ All references to EPCA in this document refer to the statute 
as amended through the Energy Act of 2020, Public Law 116-260 (Dec. 
27, 2020).
    \3\ For editorial reasons, upon codification in the U.S. Code, 
Part C was redesignated as Part A-1.
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    The energy conservation program under EPCA consists essentially of 
four parts: (1) Testing, (2) labeling, (3) Federal energy conservation 
standards, and (4) certification and enforcement procedures. Relevant 
provisions of EPCA include definitions (42 U.S.C. 6311), energy 
conservation standards (42 U.S.C. 6313), test procedures (42 U.S.C. 
6314), labeling provisions (42 U.S.C. 6315), and the authority to 
require information and reports from manufacturers (42 U.S.C. 6316).
    The Federal testing requirements consist of test procedures that 
manufacturers of covered equipment must use as the basis for: (1) 
Certifying to DOE that their equipment complies with the applicable 
energy conservation standards adopted pursuant to EPCA (42 U.S.C. 
6316(a); 42 U.S.C. 6295(s)), and (2) making representations about the 
efficiency of that equipment (42 U.S.C. 6314(d)). Similarly, DOE must 
use these test procedures to determine whether the equipment complies 
with relevant standards promulgated under EPCA. (42 U.S.C. 6316(a); 42 
U.S.C. 6295(s))
    Under 42 U.S.C. 6314, EPCA sets forth the criteria and procedures 
DOE is required to follow when prescribing or amending test procedures 
for covered equipment. EPCA requires that any test procedures 
prescribed or amended under this section must be reasonably designed to 
produce test results which reflect the energy efficiency, energy use or 
estimated annual operating cost of covered equipment during a 
representative average use cycle and requires that test procedures not 
be unduly burdensome to conduct. (42 U.S.C.6314(a)(2)) The test 
procedure for CRE is contained in 10 CFR part 431, subpart C, appendix 
B--Amended Uniform Test Method for the Measurement of Energy 
Consumption of Commercial Refrigerators, Freezers, and Refrigerator-
Freezers (``Appendix B'').
    Any interested person may submit a petition for waiver from DOE's 
test procedure requirements. 10 CFR 431.401(a)(1). DOE will grant a 
waiver from the test procedure requirements if DOE determines either 
that the basic model for which the waiver was requested contains a 
design characteristic that prevents testing of the basic model 
according to the prescribed test procedures, or that the prescribed 
test procedures evaluate the basic model in a manner so 
unrepresentative of its true energy or water consumption 
characteristics as to provide materially inaccurate comparative data. 
10 CFR 431.401(f)(2). DOE may grant the waiver subject to conditions, 
including adherence to alternate test procedures. Id.
    A petitioner may request that DOE extend the scope of a waiver or 
an interim waiver to include additional basic models employing the same 
technology as the basic model(s) set forth in the original petition. 10 
CFR 431.401(g). DOE will publish any such extension in the Federal 
Register. Id.

II. Request for an Extension of Waiver: Assertions and Determinations

    On October 30, 2018, DOE issued a Decision and Order in Case Number 
2017-007 granting AHT a waiver to test its AHT basic models specified 
in that Order using an alternate test procedure. 83 FR 54581 (``October 
2018 Decision and Order''). AHT stated that the basic models listed in 
the petition do not have a defrost cycle when operated in freezer mode, 
and therefore cannot be tested under Appendix B, which references 
defrosts for the start of the test period and door-opening period.
    Based on its review, including the information provided by AHT, DOE

[[Page 38698]]

determined that the CRE basic models specified in the October 2018 
Decision and Order contain a design characteristic that prevents 
testing the basic models according to the prescribed test procedure at 
Appendix B. 83 FR 54581, 54582. The October 2018 Decision and Order 
specifies that AHT must test and rate the subject basic models 
according to Appendix B, but with the test period starting after the 
unit achieves steady state conditions and the door-opening period 
starting 3 hours after the start of the test period. Id at 83 FR 54583.
    On November 12, 2020, AHT submitted a request to extend the scope 
of the waiver, Case Number 2020-025, to specified additional AHT basic 
models.\4\ AHT stated that these basic models have the same 
characteristics as the models covered by the existing waiver.
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    \4\ The specified basic models are: IBIZA 100 (U) NAM-F, IBIZA 
145 (U) NAM-F, IBIZA 210 (U) NAM-F, MALTA 145 (U) NAM-F, MALTA 185 
(U) NAM-F, MANHATTAN XL 175 (U) NAM-F, MANHATTAN XL 210 (U) NAM-F, 
MIAMI 145 (U) NAM-F, MIAMI XL EC 185 (U) NAM-F, MIAMI 210 (U) NAM-F, 
MIAMI 250 (U) NAM-F, PARIS 145 (U) NAM-F, PARIS EC 185 (U) NAM-F, 
PARIS 210 (U) NAM-F, PARIS 250 (U) NAM-F, SYDNEY 175 (U) NAM-F, 
SYDNEY 210 (U) NAM-F, SYDNEY EC 213 (U) NAM-F, SYDNEY EC 223 (U) 
NAM-F, SYDNEY 230 (U) NAM-F, SYDNEY 250 (U) NAM-F, SYDNEY XL 175 (U) 
NAM-F, SYDNEY XL 210 (U) NAM-F, SYDNEY XL 250 (U) NAM-F, MONTREAL 
SLIM 175 (U) NAM-F, MONTREAL SLIM 210 (U) NAM-F, MONTREAL SLIM 250 
(U) NAM-F, MONTREAL SLIM PUSH 175 (U) NAM F, MONTREAL SLIM PUSH 210 
(U) NAM-F, MONTREAL SLIM PUSH 250 (U) NAM-F, MONTREAL XL 175 (U) 
NAM-F, MONTREAL XL 210 (U) NAM-F, MONTREAL XL 250 (U) NAM-F, 
MONTREAL XL EC 185 (U) NAM-F, MONTREAL XL EC 210 (U) NAM-F, MONTREAL 
XL EC PUSH 185 (U) NAM-F, MONTREAL XL EC PUSH 210 (U) NAM-F, 
MONTREAL XL PUSH 175 (U) NAM-F, MONTREAL XL PUSH 210 (U) NAM-F, and 
MONTREAL XL PUSH 250 (U) NAM-F.
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    DOE has reviewed AHT's waiver extension request and determined that 
the CRE basic models identified in AHT's request incorporate the same 
design characteristics as those basic models covered under the waiver 
in Case Number 2017-007 (i.e., lack of defrost cycle when operated in 
freezer mode), which prevents testing the basic models according to the 
prescribed test procedure at Appendix B. DOE also determined that the 
alternate procedure specified in Case Number 2017-007 will allow for 
the accurate measurement of the energy use of the CRE basic models 
identified by AHT in its waiver extension request, while alleviating 
the testing problems associated with AHT's implementation of DOE's 
applicable commercial refrigeration equipment test procedure for the 
specified basic models.

III. Order

    After careful consideration of all the material submitted by AHT in 
this matter, it is ordered that:
    (1) AHT must, as of the date of publication of this Extension of 
Waiver in the Federal Register, test and rate the following AHT brand 
commercial freezer basic models (which do not have defrost cycle 
capability when operated in freezer mode) with the alternate test 
procedure as set forth in paragraph (2):

------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Brand                             Basic model
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AHT.........................  IBIZA 100 (U) NAM-F.
AHT.........................  IBIZA 145 (U) NAM-F.
AHT.........................  IBIZA 210 (U) NAM-F.
AHT.........................  MALTA 145 (U) NAM-F.
AHT.........................  MALTA 185 (U) NAM-F.
AHT.........................  MANHATTAN XL 175 (U) NAM-F.
AHT.........................  MANHATTAN XL 210 (U) NAM-F.
AHT.........................  MIAMI 145 (U) NAM-F.
AHT.........................  MIAMI XL EC 185 (U) NAM-F.
AHT.........................  MIAMI 210 (U) NAM-F.
AHT.........................  MIAMI 250 (U) NAM-F.
AHT.........................  PARIS 145 (U) NAM-F.
AHT.........................  PARIS EC 185 (U) NAM-F.
AHT.........................  PARIS 210 (U) NAM-F.
AHT.........................  PARIS 250 (U) NAM-F.
AHT.........................  SYDNEY 175 (U) NAM-F.
AHT.........................  SYDNEY 210 (U) NAM-F.
AHT.........................  SYDNEY EC 213 (U) NAM-F.
AHT.........................  SYDNEY EC 223 (U) NAM-F.
AHT.........................  SYDNEY 230 (U) NAM-F.
AHT.........................  SYDNEY 250 (U) NAM-F.
AHT.........................  SYDNEY XL 175 (U) NAM-F.
AHT.........................  SYDNEY XL 210 (U) NAM-F.
AHT.........................  SYDNEY XL 250 (U) NAM-F.
AHT.........................  MONTREAL SLIM 175 (U) NAM-F.
AHT.........................  MONTREAL SLIM 210 (U) NAM-F.
AHT.........................  MONTREAL SLIM 250 (U) NAM-F.
AHT.........................  MONTREAL SLIM PUSH 175 (U) NAM F.
AHT.........................  MONTREAL SLIM PUSH 210 (U) NAM-F.
AHT.........................  MONTREAL SLIM PUSH 250 (U) NAM-F.
AHT.........................  MONTREAL XL 175 (U) NAM-F.
AHT.........................  MONTREAL XL 210 (U) NAM-F.
AHT.........................  MONTREAL XL 250 (U) NAM-F.
AHT.........................  MONTREAL XL EC 185 (U) NAM-F.
AHT.........................  MONTREAL XL EC 210 (U) NAM-F.
AHT.........................  MONTREAL XL EC PUSH 185 (U) NAM-F.
AHT.........................  MONTREAL XL EC PUSH 210 (U) NAM-F.
AHT.........................  MONTREAL XL PUSH 175 (U) NAM-F.
AHT.........................  MONTREAL XL PUSH 210 (U) NAM-F.
AHT.........................  MONTREAL XL PUSH 250 (U) NAM-F.
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    (2) The alternate test procedure for the AHT basic models 
referenced in paragraph (1) of this Order is the test procedure for CRE 
prescribed by DOE at 10 CFR part 431, subpart C, appendix B, except 
that the test period shall be selected as detailed. All other 
requirements of Appendix B and DOE's regulations remain applicable.
    The test shall begin when steady state conditions occur (per ASHRAE 
Standard 72- 2005, Section 3, definitions, which defines steady state 
as ``the condition where the average temperature of all test simulators 
changes less than 0.2 [deg]C (0.4 [deg]F) from one 24-hour period or 
refrigeration cycle to the next''). Additionally, the door-opening 
requirements shall be as defined in ASHRAE 72-2005 Section 7.2, with 
the exception that the eight-hour period of door openings shall begin 
three hours after the start of the test. Ambient temperature, test 
simulator temperatures, and all other data shall be recorded at three-
minute intervals beginning at the start of the test and throughout the 
24-hour testing period.
    (3) Representations. AHT may not make representations about the 
energy use of a basic model listed in paragraph (1) of this Order for 
compliance, marketing, or other purposes unless that basic model has 
been tested in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (2) of this 
Order and such representations fairly disclose the results of such 
testing.
    (4) This Extension of Waiver shall remain in effect according to 
the provisions of 10 CFR 431.401.
    (5) This Extension of Waiver is issued on the condition that the 
statements, representations, and documentation provided by AHT are 
valid. If AHT makes any modifications to the controls or capabilities 
(e.g., adding automatic defrost to freezer mode) of these basic models, 
the waiver will no longer be valid and AHT will either be required to 
use the current Federal test method or submit a new application for a 
test procedure waiver. DOE may rescind or modify this Extension of 
Waiver (and/or the underlying Order issued in Case Number 2017-007) at 
any time if it determines the factual basis underlying the petition for 
extension of waiver (and/or the underlying Order issued in Case Number 
2017-007) is incorrect, or the results from the alternate test 
procedure are unrepresentative of a basic model's true energy 
consumption characteristics. 10 CFR 431.401(k)(1). Likewise, AHT may 
request that DOE rescind or modify the Extension of Waiver (and/or the 
underlying Order issued in Case Number 2017-007) if AHT discovers an 
error in the information provided to DOE as part of its petition, 
determines that the waiver is no longer needed, or for other 
appropriate reasons. 10 CFR 431.401(k)(2).
    (6) AHT remains obligated to fulfill all applicable requirements 
set forth at 10 CFR part 429.

Signing Authority

    This document of the Department of Energy was signed on July 17, 
2021, by Kelly Speakes-Backman, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary 
and Acting Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable 
Energy, pursuant to delegated authority from the Secretary of Energy. 
That document with the original signature and date is maintained by 
DOE. For administrative

[[Page 38699]]

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 July 19, 2021.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2021-15578 Filed 7-21-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P