[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 97 (Thursday, May 19, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 30433-30434]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-10713]


 ========================================================================
 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. 87, No. 97 / Thursday, May 19, 2022 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 30433]]



DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

10 CFR Part 430

[EERE-2017-BT-STD-0014]
RIN 1904-AD98


Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for 
Residential Clothes Washers; Reopening of Comment Period

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

ACTION: Notification of data availability; reopening of public comment 
period.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (``DOE'') is reopening the 
public comment period for the notification of data availability 
(``NODA'') that published in the Federal Register on April 13, 2022, 
regarding additional testing conducted in furtherance of the 
development of the translations between the current test procedure and 
the proposed new test procedure for residential clothes washers.

DATES: The comment period for the NODA that published in the Federal 
Register on April 13, 2022 (87 FR 21816) is reopened. DOE will accept 
comments, data, and information regarding this NODA no later than May 
27, 2022.

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, identified by docket number EERE-2017-BT-STD-0014 
by any of the following methods:
    (1) Federal eRulemaking Portal: www.regulations.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments.
    (2) Email: [email protected]. Include the 
docket number EERE-2017-BT-STD-0014 or regulatory information number 
(``RIN'') 1904-AD98 in the subject line of the message.
    No telefacsimiles (``faxes'') will be accepted.
    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 COVID-19 pandemic. DOE is currently suspending receipt of 
public comments via postal mail and hand delivery/courier. 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.
    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-2017-BT-STD-0014. 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 test 
procedure notice of proposed rulemaking proposing to establish a new 
test procedure for residential clothes washers (``RCWs'') at 10 CFR 
part 430, subpart B, appendix J, which would establish new energy 
efficiency metrics: An ``energy efficiency ratio'' and a ``water 
efficiency ratio.'' 86 FR 49140.
    On September 29, 2021, DOE published a preliminary analysis of 
energy conservation standards for RCWs, which presented preliminary 
translations between the energy and water efficiency metrics as 
measured by the current test procedure and the new energy and water 
efficiency metrics as measured by the proposed new test procedure. 86 
FR 53886.
    On April 13, 2022, DOE published a NODA presenting the results of 
additional testing conducted in furtherance of the development of the 
translations between the current test procedure and the proposed new 
test procedure. 87 FR 21816. DOE requested comments, data, and 
information regarding the data. Comments were originally due on May 13, 
2022.
    On May 4, 2022, DOE received a comment from the Association of Home 
Appliance Manufacturers (``AHAM'') requesting that DOE hold a public 
meeting where stakeholders may raise questions and seek clarity on 
DOE's data presented in the NODA. In its comment, AHAM summarized its 
questions regarding the data presented in the NODA. AHAM additionally 
requested a comment period extension of 30 days from the date of the 
public meeting.
    DOE has reviewed the request, including the specific questions 
raised in the comment, and has considered the benefit to stakeholders 
in providing additional data and information to address these questions 
and additional time to review such information. DOE will provide 
additional data and information in a separate notification to be made 
available in the rulemaking docket. Accordingly, DOE has determined 
that an extension of the comment period is appropriate and is hereby 
reopening the comment to May 27, 2022. DOE specifically encourages AHAM 
to submit data and results of any testing performed by AHAM members so 
that these may be made available to

[[Page 30434]]

interested parties in the docket for this rulemaking.

Signing Authority

    This document of the Department of Energy was signed on May 13, 
2022, by Kelly J. Speakes-Backman, Principal Deputy 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.

    Signed in Washington, DC, on May 13, 2022.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2022-10713 Filed 5-18-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P