[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 206 (Thursday, October 28, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 59652-59653]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-23242]


 ========================================================================
 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. 86, No. 206 / Thursday, October 28, 2021 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 59652]]



DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

10 CFR Parts 429, 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: Notice of proposed rulemaking; extension of public comment 
period.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (``DOE'') is extending the 
public comment period for the notice of proposed rulemaking (``NOPR'') 
regarding proposals to amend the test procedures for residential and 
commercial clothes washers. DOE published the NOPR in the Federal 
Register on September 1, 2021, establishing a 61-day public comment 
period ending November 1, 2021. On October 11, 2021, DOE received a 
comment requesting extension of the comment period by an additional 92 
days to February 1, 2022. DOE is extending the public comment period 
for submitting comments and data on the NOPR document by an additional 
28 days, to November 29, 2021, for a total of an 89-day comment period.

DATES: The comment period for the NOPR published on September 1, 2021 
(86 FR 49140), is extended. DOE will accept comments, data, and 
information regarding this NOPR no later than November 29, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are encouraged to submit comments using 
the Federal eRulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments. Alternatively, interested persons 
may submit comments by email to the following address: 
[email protected]. Include ``Energy Conservation 
Program: Test Procedures for Residential and Commercial Clothes 
Washers'' and docket number EERE-2016-BT-TP-0011 and/or RIN number 
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.
    Although DOE has routinely accepted public comment submissions 
through a variety of mechanisms, including postal mail and hand 
delivery/courier, the Department has found it necessary to make 
temporary modifications to the comment submission process in light of 
the ongoing corona virus (COVID-19) pandemic. DOE is currently 
accepting only electronic submissions at this time. If a commenter 
finds that this change poses an undue hardship, please contact 
Appliance Standards Program staff at (202) 586-1445 to discuss the need 
for alternative arrangements. Once the COVID-19 pandemic health 
emergency is resolved, DOE anticipates resuming all of its regular 
options for public comment submission, including postal mail and hand 
delivery/courier.
    No telefacsimilies (faxes) will be accepted.
    Docket: The docket for this activity, which includes Federal 
Register notices, comments, and other supporting documents/materials, 
is available for review at www.regulations.gov. All documents in the 
docket are listed in the www.regulations.gov index. However, some 
documents listed in the index, such as those containing information 
that is exempt from public disclosure, may not be publicly available.
    The docket web page can be found at www.regulations.gov/docket/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. Kathryn McIntosh, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the 
General Counsel, GC-33, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 
20585-0121. Telephone: (202) 586-2002. 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 September 1, 2021, DOE published a NOPR 
in the Federal Register soliciting public comment on its proposed 
amendments to the test procedures for residential and commercial 
clothes washers. 86 FR 49140. Comments were originally due on November 
1, 2021. On October 11, 2021, DOE received a comment from the 
Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers to extend the comment 
period by 92 days to February 1, 2022.\1\
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    \1\ DOE has posted this comment to the docket at 
www.regulations.gov/comment/EERE-2016-BT-TP-0011-0020.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    DOE has reviewed the request and considered the benefit to 
stakeholders in providing additional time to review the NOPR and gather 
information/data that DOE is seeking. Accordingly, DOE has determined 
that an extension of the comment period is appropriate and is hereby 
extending the comment period by an additional 28 days to November 29, 
2021, for a total of an 89-day comment period.

Signing Authority

    This document of the Department of Energy was signed on October 19, 
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 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.


[[Page 59653]]


    Signed in Washington, DC, on October 20, 2021.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2021-23242 Filed 10-27-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P