[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 62 (Friday, March 31, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19291-19296]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-06750]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[Case Number 2022-008; EERE-2022-BT-WAV-0027]


Energy Conservation Program: Notification of Petition for Waiver 
of Alliance Laundry Systems From the Department of Energy Clothes 
Washer Test Procedure and Notification of Grant of Interim Waiver

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

ACTION: Notification of petition for waiver and grant of an interim 
waiver; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This notification announces receipt of and publishes a 
petition for waiver and interim waiver from Alliance Laundry Systems 
(``Alliance''), which seeks a waiver for a specified residential 
clothes washer basic models from the U.S. Department of Energy 
(``DOE'') test procedure used for determining the efficiency of clothes 
washers. DOE also gives notification of an Interim Waiver Order that 
requires Alliance to test and rate the specified residential clothes 
washer basic models in accordance with the alternate test procedure set 
forth in the Interim Waiver Order. DOE solicits comments, data, and 
information concerning Alliance's petition and its suggested alternate 
test procedure to inform DOE's final decision on Alliance's waiver 
request.

DATES: Written comments and information are requested and will be 
accepted on or before May 1, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are encouraged to submit comments using 
the Federal eRulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov under docket 
number EERE-2022-BT-WAV-0027. Follow the instructions for submitting 
comments. Alternatively, interested persons may submit comments, 
identified by docket number EERE-2022-BT-WAV-0027, by any of the 
following methods:
    Email: [email protected]. Include the 
case number [Case No. 2022-008] in the subject line of the message.
    Postal Mail: Appliance and Equipment Standards Program, U.S. 
Department of Energy, Building Technologies Office, Mailstop EE-5B, 
Petition for Waiver [Case No. 2022-008], 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, 6th Floor, 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 telefacsimiles (``faxes'') will be accepted. For detailed 
instructions on submitting comments and additional information on this 
process, see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document.
    Docket: The docket for this activity, which includes Federal 
Register notices, public meeting attendee lists and transcripts (if a 
public meeting is held), 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, not all documents listed in the index may be publicly 
available, such as information that is exempt from public disclosure.
    The docket web page can be found at www.regulations.gov/docket/EERE-2022-BT-WAV-0027. The docket web page contains instructions on how 
to access all documents, including public comments, in the docket.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Julia Hegarty, U.S. Department of 
Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building 
Technologies Office, Mailstop EE-5B, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, 
Washington, DC 20585-0121. Telephone: (202) 586-0729. Email: 
[email protected]. Ms. Melanie Lampton, 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: (240) 751-5157. Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: DOE is publishing Alliance's petition for 
waiver in its entirety, pursuant to 10 CFR 430.27(b)(1)(iv).\1\ DOE is 
also publishing the Interim Waiver Order granted to Alliance, which 
serves as notification of DOE's determination regarding Alliance's 
petition for an interim waiver, pursuant to 10 CFR 430.27(e)(3). DOE 
invites all interested parties to submit in writing by May 1, 2023, 
comments and information on all aspects of the petition, including the 
alternate test procedure. Pursuant to 10 CFR 430.27(d), any person 
submitting written comments to DOE must also send a copy of such 
comments to the petitioner. The contact information for the petitioner 
is Daryl Johnson, [email protected], P.O. Box 990, Shepard 
Street, Ripon, WI 54971.
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    \1\ The petition did not identify any of the information 
contained therein as confidential business information.
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    Submitting comments via www.regulations.gov. The 
www.regulations.gov web page will require you to provide your name and 
contact information. Your contact information will be viewable to DOE 
Building Technologies staff only. Your contact information will not be 
publicly viewable except for your first and last names, organization 
name (if any), and submitter representative name (if any). If your 
comment is not processed properly because of technical difficulties, 
DOE will use this information to contact you. If DOE cannot read your 
comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for 
clarification, DOE may not be able to consider your comment.
    However, your contact information will be publicly viewable if you 
include it in the comment or in any documents attached to your comment. 
Any information that you do not want to be publicly viewable should not 
be included in your comment, nor in any document attached to your 
comment. If this instruction is followed, persons viewing comments will 
see only first and last names, organization names, correspondence 
containing comments, and any documents submitted with the comments.
    Do not submit to www.regulations.gov information for which 
disclosure is restricted by statute, such as trade secrets and 
commercial or financial information (hereinafter referred to as 
Confidential Business Information (``CBI'')). Comments submitted 
through www.regulations.gov cannot be claimed as CBI. Comments received 
through the website will waive any CBI claims for the information 
submitted. For

[[Page 19292]]

information on submitting CBI, see the Confidential Business 
Information section.
    DOE processes submissions made through www.regulations.gov before 
posting. Normally, comments will be posted within a few days of being 
submitted. However, if large volumes of comments are being processed 
simultaneously, your comment may not be viewable for up to several 
weeks. Please keep the comment tracking number that www.regulations.gov 
provides after you have successfully uploaded your comment.
    Submitting comments via email, hand delivery/courier, or postal 
mail. Comments and documents submitted via email, hand delivery/
courier, or postal mail also will be posted to www.regulations.gov. If 
you do not want your personal contact information to be publicly 
viewable, do not include it in your comment or any accompanying 
documents. Instead, provide your contact information on a cover letter. 
Include your first and last names, email address, telephone number, and 
optional mailing address. The cover letter will not be publicly 
viewable as long as it does not include any comments.
    Include contact information each time you submit comments, data, 
documents, and other information to DOE. If you submit via postal mail 
or hand delivery/courier, please provide all items on a CD, if 
feasible, in which case it is not necessary to submit printed copies. 
Faxes will not be accepted.
    Comments, data, and other information submitted to DOE 
electronically should be provided in PDF (preferred), Microsoft Word or 
Excel, WordPerfect, or text (ASCII) file format. Provide documents that 
are not secured, written in English and free of any defects or viruses. 
Documents should not contain special characters or any form of 
encryption and, if possible, they should carry the electronic signature 
of the author.
    Campaign form letters. Please submit campaign form letters by the 
originating organization in batches of between 50 to 500 form letters 
per PDF or as one form letter with a list of supporters' names compiled 
into one or more PDFs. This reduces comment processing and posting 
time.
    Confidential Business Information. According to 10 CFR 1004.11, any 
person submitting information that he or she believes to be 
confidential and exempt by law from public disclosure should submit via 
email two well-marked copies: one copy of the document marked 
confidential including all the information believed to be confidential, 
and one copy of the document marked ``non-confidential'' with the 
information believed to be confidential deleted. Submit these documents 
via email. DOE will make its own determination about the confidential 
status of the information and treat it according to its determination.
    It is DOE's policy that all comments may be included in the public 
docket, without change and as received, including any personal 
information provided in the comments (except information deemed to be 
exempt from public disclosure).

Case Number 2022-008

Interim Waiver Order

I. Authority

    The Energy Policy and Conservation Act, as amended (``EPCA''),\2\ 
authorizes the U.S. Department of Energy (``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 B of EPCA 
\3\ established the Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products 
Other Than Automobiles, which sets forth a variety of provisions 
designed to improve energy efficiency for certain types of consumer 
products. These products include residential clothes washers, the 
subject of this document. (42 U.S.C. 6292(a)(7))
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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), which reflect the last statutory amendments that impact 
Parts A and A-1 of EPCA.
    \3\ For editorial reasons, upon codification in the U.S. Code, 
Part B was redesignated as Part A.
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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. 6291), test 
procedures (42 U.S.C. 6293), labeling provisions (42 U.S.C. 6294), 
energy conservation standards (42 U.S.C. 6295), and the authority to 
require information and reports from manufacturers (42 U.S.C. 6296).
    The Federal testing requirements consist of test procedures that 
manufacturers of covered products must use as the basis for: (1) 
certifying to DOE that their products comply with the applicable energy 
conservation standards adopted pursuant to EPCA (42 U.S.C. 6295(s)), 
and (2) making representations about the efficiency of that product (42 
U.S.C. 6293(c)). Similarly, DOE must use these test procedures to 
determine whether the product complies with relevant standards 
promulgated under EPCA. (42 U.S.C. 6295(s))
    Under 42 U.S.C. 6293, EPCA sets forth the criteria and procedures 
DOE is required to follow when prescribing or amending test procedures 
for covered products. 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 a covered product during a 
representative average use cycle or period of use and requires that 
test procedures not be unduly burdensome to conduct. (42 U.S.C. 
6293(b)(3)) The test procedure for clothes washers is contained in the 
Code of Federal Regulations (``CFR'') at 10 CFR part 430, subpart B, 
appendix J2, Uniform Test Method for Measuring the Energy Consumption 
of Automatic and Semi-Automatic Clothes Washers (``appendix J2'').
    Under 10 CFR 430.27, any interested person may submit a petition 
for waiver from DOE's test procedure requirements. 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 consumption characteristics as to 
provide materially inaccurate comparative data. 10 CFR 430.27(f)(2). A 
petitioner must include in its petition any alternate test procedures 
known to the petitioner to evaluate the performance of the product type 
in a manner representative of the energy consumption characteristics of 
the basic model. 10 CFR 430.27(b)(1)(iii). DOE may grant the waiver 
subject to conditions, including adherence to alternate test 
procedures. 10 CFR 430.27(f)(2).
    As soon as practicable after the granting of any waiver, DOE will 
publish in the Federal Register a notice of proposed rulemaking to 
amend its regulations so as to eliminate any need for the continuation 
of such waiver. 10 CFR 430.27(l). As soon thereafter as practicable, 
DOE will publish in the Federal Register a final rule to that effect. 
Id.
    The waiver process also provides that DOE may grant an interim 
waiver if it appears likely that the underlying petition for waiver 
will be granted and/or if DOE determines that it would be desirable for 
public policy reasons to grant immediate relief pending a

[[Page 19293]]

determination on the underlying petition for waiver. 10 CFR 
430.27(e)(3). Within one year of issuance of an interim waiver, DOE 
will either: (i) publish in the Federal Register a determination on the 
petition for waiver; or (ii) publish in the Federal Register a new or 
amended test procedure that addresses the issues presented in the 
waiver. 10 CFR 430.27(h)(1).
    If the interim waiver test procedure methodology is different than 
the decision and order test procedure methodology, certification 
reports to DOE required under 10 CFR 429.12 and any representations 
must be based on either of the two methodologies until 180 days after 
the publication date of the decision and order. Thereafter, 
certification reports and any representations must be based on the 
decision and order test procedure methodology, unless otherwise 
specified by DOE. 10 CFR 430.27(i)(1). When DOE amends the test 
procedure to address the issues presented in a waiver, the waiver or 
interim waiver will automatically terminate on the date on which use of 
that test procedure is required to demonstrate compliance. 10 CFR 
429.27(h)(3).

II. Background

    On June 1, 2022, DOE published a final rule (``June 2022 Final 
Rule'') amending DOE's clothes washer test procedures prescribed at 10 
CFR part 430, subpart B, appendix J2. 87 FR 33316. Appendix J2 is 
currently required for use to demonstrate compliance with the currently 
applicable energy conservation standards. The June 2022 Final Rule also 
established a new test procedure at 10 CFR part 430, subpart B, 
appendix J (``appendix J''). Use of appendix J is not required until 
the compliance date of any energy conservation standards amended based 
on the test procedure in appendix J, should such amendments be adopted.
    Prior to the amendments promulgated by the June 2022 Final Rule, 
section 1 of appendix J2 defined an automatic WFCS as ``a clothes 
washer water fill control system that does not allow or require the 
user to determine or select the water fill level, and includes adaptive 
water fill control systems and fixed water fill control systems.'' A 
fixed WFCS was defined as ``a clothes washer automatic water fill 
control system that automatically terminates the fill when the water 
reaches an appropriate level in the clothes container;'' \4\ and an 
adaptive WFCS was defined as ``a clothes washer automatic water fill 
control system that is capable of automatically adjusting the water 
fill level based on the size or weight of the clothes load placed in 
the clothes container.'' Prior to the amendments promulgated by the 
June 2022 Final Rule, appendix J2 did not provide an explicit 
definition for user-adjustable automatic WFCS; however, section 
3.2.6.2.2 of appendix J2 specified that a user-adjustable automatic 
WFCS ``affect[s] the relative wash water levels.'' Section 3.2.6.2.2 
also specified the testing provisions applicable to clothes washers 
with a user-adjustable automatic WFCS.\5\
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    \4\ In the June 2022 Final Rule, DOE amended the definition of 
fixed WFCS to mean ``a clothes washer automatic water fill control 
system that automatically terminates the fill when the water reaches 
a pre-defined level that is not based on the size or weight of the 
clothes load placed in the clothes container, without allowing or 
requiring the user to determine or select the water fill level.'' 87 
FR 33316, 33358, 33396.
    \5\ Specifically, section 3.2.6.2.2 of appendix J2 (prior to the 
amendments promulgated by the June 2022 Final Rule) specified that 
on clothes washers with a user-adjustable automatic WFCS, four tests 
are conducted: (1) using the maximum test load and the WFCS set in 
the setting that gives the most energy intensive result, (2) using 
the minimum test load and the WFCS set in the setting that that 
gives the most energy intensive result, (3) using the average test 
load and the WFCS set in the setting that that gives the most energy 
intensive result, and (4) using the average test load and the WFCS 
set in the setting that that gives the most energy intensive result.
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    In the June 2022 Final Rule, DOE established a more explicit 
definition of a user-adjustable adaptive WFCS as ``a clothes washer 
fill control system that allows the user to adjust the amount of water 
that the machine provides, which is based on the size or weight of the 
clothes load placed in the clothes container.'' \6\ 87 FR 33316, 33358, 
33396. In conjunction with this change, DOE amended all instances of 
the term ``user-adjustable automatic'' to instead read ``user-
adjustable adaptive.'' \7\ Id. As a result of this change in 
terminology, the testing provisions at section 3.2.6.2.2 in appendix J2 
as amended by the June 2022 Final Rule apply only to clothes washers 
with a user-adjustable adaptive WFCS, rather than a user-adjustable 
automatic WFCS (i.e., the provisions at section 3.2.6.2.2 no longer 
accommodate a user-adjustable fixed WFCS).
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    \6\ In the notice of proposed rulemaking preceding the June 2022 
Final Rule, DOE had proposed to establish this definition for the 
term user-adjustable automatic WFCS [emphasis added]. 86 FR 49140, 
49181 (Sep. 1, 2021). In response to this proposal, DOE received a 
comment stating that the proposed definition--by referencing that 
the amount of water is adjusted based on the size or weight of the 
clothes load placed in the clothes container--would include only 
user-adjustable adaptive WFCSs and not user-adjustable fixed WFCSs 
(since fixed WFCSs do not adjust the amount of water based on the 
size or weight of the clothing load). 87 FR 33316, 33358.
    \7\ In the June 2022 Final Rule, DOE posited that that a WFCS 
that provides user-adjustable fixed fill water levels would 
essentially be a manual WFCS, in the sense that a manual fill WFCS 
automatically terminates the fill when the water reaches the level 
in the clothes container corresponding to the level select by the 
user (i.e., a ``fixed'' water level that is not automatically 
determined based on the size or weight of the clothes load and is 
selectable (i.e., adjustable) by the user). 87 FR 33316, 33358-
33359.
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III. Alliance's Petition for Waiver and Interim Waiver

    On October 28, 2022, DOE received from Alliance a petition for 
waiver and interim waiver from the test procedure for clothes washers 
set forth at 10 CFR part 430, subpart B, appendix J2.\8\ (Alliance, No. 
1 at p. 1) \9\ Pursuant to 10 CFR 430.27(e)(1), DOE posted the petition 
on the DOE website, at: www.energy.gov/eere/buildings/current-test-procedure-waivers#Clothes%20Washers. The petition did not identify any 
of the information contained therein as confidential business 
information.
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    \8\ The specific basic models for which the petition applies are 
Speed Queen R16 and Huebsch R16. These basic model names were 
provided by Alliance in its October 28, 2022, petition.
    \9\ A notation in this form provides a reference for information 
that is in the docket for this test procedure waiver (Docket No. 
EERE-2022-BT-WAV-0027) (available at www.regulations.gov/document/EERE-2022-BT-WAV-0027-0001). This notation indicates that the 
statement preceding the reference is document number 1 in the docket 
and appears at page 1 of that document.
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    In its petition for waiver and interim waiver, Alliance asserts 
that the change in wording from user-adjustable automatic WFCS to user-
adjustable adaptive WFCS in the appendix J2 test procedure as finalized 
in the June 2022 Final Rule results in a lack of instruction as to how 
to test clothes washer basic models from Alliance that have a user-
adjustable fixed WFCS. (Alliance, No. 1 at p. 1)
    As presented in Alliance's petition, the specified basic models 
have a fixed WFCS and also have a ``Deep Fill'' button that allows the 
user to adjust the relative water level for each cycle. (Id.) Alliance 
stated that the specified basic models met the definition of a ``user-
adjustable automatic water fill control system,'' as defined in 
appendix J2 prior to the June 2022 Final Rule. (Id.) Alliance noted 
that since the term was changed to be ``user-adjustable adaptive water 
fill control system'' in the June 2022 Final Rule, the specified basic 
models are no longer included in the definition. (Id.) \10\
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    \10\ New appendix J, which will be required for use at the time 
of any potential amended standards, resolves this issue by not 
differentiating test provisions by type of WFCS. If granted, this 
waiver would apply only to appendix J2 testing.

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[[Page 19294]]

    As discussed in the following section of this document, Alliance 
requested a waiver that would reinstate testing instructions for 
clothes washers with a user-adjustable fixed WFCS.
    Alliance also requested an interim waiver from the existing DOE 
test procedure, explaining that if DOE were to deny its application for 
waiver and interim waiver, its affected models would need to be taken 
off the market, resulting in the loss of around 40 percent of 
Alliance's retail top-loading clothes washer sales and accompanying 
clothes dryers. (Id. at p. 2) DOE will grant an interim waiver if it 
appears likely that the petition for waiver will be granted, and/or if 
DOE determines that it would be desirable for public policy reasons to 
grant immediate relief pending a determination of the petition for 
waiver. 10 CFR 430.27(e)(3).

IV. Requested Alternate Test Procedure

    EPCA requires that manufacturers use DOE test procedures when 
making representations about the energy consumption and energy 
consumption costs of covered products. (42 U.S.C. 6293(c)) Consistency 
is important when making representations about the energy efficiency of 
covered products, including when demonstrating compliance with 
applicable DOE energy conservation standards. Pursuant to 10 CFR 
430.27, and after consideration of public comments on the petition, DOE 
may establish in a subsequent Decision and Order an alternate test 
procedure for the basic models addressed by the Interim Waiver Order.
    Alliance seeks to use an alternate test procedure to test and rate 
its clothes washer basic models subject to its petition. The alternate 
test procedure requested by Alliance would apply the provisions 
specified in section 3.2.6.2.2 of appendix J2 (as amended by the June 
2022 Final Rule) for a user-adjustable adaptive WFCS to Alliance's 
models with a user-adjustable fixed WFCS.\11\ These provisions are 
consistent with the provisions in section 3.2.6.2.2 of appendix J2 
(prior to the June 2022 Final Rule) that were previously applicable to 
models with a user-adjustable fixed WFCS. (Alliance, No. 1 at pp. 1-2)
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    \11\ Specifically, section 3.2.6.2.2 of appendix J2 as amended 
by the June 2022 Final Rule specifies the following test provisions 
for clothes washers with a user-adjustable adaptive WFCS: Conduct 
four tests on clothes washers with user-adjustable adaptive water 
fill controls. Conduct the first test using the maximum test load 
and with the adaptive water fill control system set in the setting 
that uses the most water. Conduct the second test using the minimum 
test load and with the adaptive water fill control system set in the 
setting that uses the least water. Conduct the third test using the 
average test load and with the adaptive water fill control system 
set in the setting that uses the most water. Conduct the fourth test 
using the average test load and with the adaptive water fill control 
system set in the setting that uses the least water. Average the 
results of the third and fourth tests to obtain the energy and water 
consumption values for the average test load size.
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    In its petition, Alliance asserted that testing provisions 
specified in appendix J2 as amended by the June 2022 Final Rule for a 
clothes washer with a user-adjustable adaptive WFCS would provide 
results that most represent real water and energy characteristics of 
the basic models subject to its petition because these provisions 
reflect how the end user would interact with these products, which 
would be the same as for other manufacturers' models that also include 
a deep fill option and are tested using this method. Additionally, 
Alliance asserted that this method would require half of the test runs 
to be run with deep fill off and half with deep fill on, such that the 
water usage for all possible settings that affect water level in the 
DOE test cycle would be tested and factored into the final result. (Id. 
at p. 2)

V. Interim Waiver Order

    DOE has reviewed Alliance's application for an interim waiver, the 
alternate test procedure requested by Alliance, and the control panel 
and user manual of the basic models subject to the petition as well as 
control panels and user manuals of other clothes washer models on the 
market with similar ``Deep Fill'' type options, but which have a user-
adjustable adaptive WFCS.\12\
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    \12\ The user manual for an individual model concerned by the 
waiver request is available at docs.alliancelaundry.com/tech_pdf/Production/204807en.pdf. User manuals for other models with ``Deep 
Fill'' options are available at products.geappliances.com/MarketingObjectRetrieval/Dispatcher?RequestType=PDF&Name=49-3000255-2.pdf&_ga=2.25206205.1455460763.1668610312-280138474.1643989292 and 
www.maytag.com/content/dam/global/documents/201910/owners-manual-w11197727-reva.pdf.
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    DOE's review of these materials indicates that the basic models 
subject to this petition provide the same user interface and 
implementation of the ``Deep Fill'' setting as other models with a 
user-adjustable adaptive WFCS, suggesting that consumer usage of this 
feature on the Alliance basic models would be similar to the consumer 
usage of the deep fill feature on other clothes washer models with a 
user-adjustable adaptive WFCS. Given this comparison, DOE has initially 
determined that testing the basic models subject to Alliance's petition 
using the alternate test procedure requested by Alliance would evaluate 
the performance of these basic models in a manner representative of the 
basic models' energy and water consumption characteristics.
    In summary, DOE has initially determined that the alternate test 
procedure appears to allow for the accurate measurement of the 
efficiency of the specified basic models, while alleviating the testing 
problems cited by Alliance in implementing the DOE test procedure for 
these basic models. Consequently, DOE has determined that Alliance's 
petition for waiver likely will be granted. Furthermore, DOE has 
determined that it is desirable for public policy reasons to grant 
Alliance immediate relief pending a determination of the petition for 
waiver.
    For the reasons stated, it is ordered that:
    (1) Alliance must test and rate the following residential clothes 
washer basic models with the alternate test procedure set forth in 
paragraph (2).

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 Basic
                            Brand                                model
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Speed Queen..................................................        R16
Huebsch......................................................        R16
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    (2) The alternate test procedure for the Alliance basic models 
identified in paragraph (1) of this Interim Waiver Order is the test 
procedure for clothes washers prescribed by DOE at 10 CFR part 430, 
subpart B, appendix J2, using the provisions specified in section 
3.2.6.2.2 of appendix J2 for a clothes washer with a user-adjustable 
adaptive WFCS. All other requirements of appendix J2 and DOE's 
regulations remain applicable.
    (3) Representations. Alliance may not make representations about 
the efficiency of a basic model listed in paragraph (1) of this Interim 
Waiver Order for compliance, marketing, or other purposes unless that 
basic model has been tested in accordance with the provisions set forth 
in this alternate test procedure and such representations fairly 
disclose the results of such testing.
    (4) This Interim Waiver Order shall remain in effect according to 
the provisions of 10 CFR 430.27.
    (5) This Interim Waiver Order is issued on the condition that the 
statements, representations, test data, and documentary materials 
provided by Alliance are valid. If Alliance makes any modifications to 
the controls or configurations of a basic model subject to this Interim 
Waiver Order, such modifications will render the waiver

[[Page 19295]]

invalid with respect to that basic model, and Alliance 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 
waiver at any time if it determines the factual basis underlying the 
petition for the Interim Waiver Order is incorrect, or the results from 
the alternate test procedure are unrepresentative of the basic model's 
true energy consumption characteristics. 10 CFR 430.27(k)(1). Likewise, 
Alliance may request that DOE rescind or modify the Interim Waiver 
Order if Alliance discovers an error in the information provided to DOE 
as part of its petition, determines that the interim waiver is no 
longer needed, or for other appropriate reasons. 10 CFR 430.27(k)(2).
    (6) Issuance of this Interim Waiver Order does not release Alliance 
from the applicable requirements set forth at 10 CFR part 429.
    DOE makes decisions on waivers and interim waivers for only those 
basic models specifically set out in the petition, not future models 
that may be manufactured by the petitioner. Alliance may submit a new 
or amended petition for waiver and request for grant of interim waiver, 
as appropriate, for additional basic models of clothes washers. 
Alternatively, if appropriate, Alliance 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 consistent with 10 CFR 430.27(g).

Signing Authority

    This document of the Department of Energy was signed on March 28, 
2023, by Francisco Alejandro Moreno, 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.

    Signed in Washington, DC, on March 28, 2023.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
October 28, 2022
Julia Hegarty
[email protected]
Re: Waiver Petition
    On behalf of Alliance Laundry Systems, I would like to submit this 
petition for waiver and interim waiver for our R16 basic model of 
clothes washer. Please see the items below for the information required 
for this petition.
    1. Identify the particular basic model(s) for which a waiver is 
requested.
    a. The requested waiver will cover models included in Alliance 
Laundry Systems basic model R16.
    2. Brand names under which the identified basic model(s) will be 
distributed in commerce.
    a. These models are distributed under the Speed Queen and Huebsch 
brand names.
    3. Design characteristic(s) constituting the grounds for the 
petition.
    a. This basic model has a user adjustable ``automatic'' water fill 
control system, rather than a user adjustable ``adaptive'' water fill 
control system as redefined in the amended J2 procedure which machines 
must be tested to starting November 28, 2022.
    4. Specific requirements sought to be waived.
    a. Requesting that the requirement to meet the definition of user 
adjustable ``adaptive'' water fill control system as redefined in the 
amended J2 test procedure effective July 1, 2022 is waived, and allow 
this basic model to continue being testing as a user adjustable 
``automatic'' water fill control system until the next standards 
revision.
    5. Discuss in detail the need for the requested waiver.
    a. The amended test J2 test procedure with effective date of July 
1, 2022 would make a small change in wording that would have a profound 
effect for the Alliance R16 basic model of clothes washer. The Alliance 
washer has a fixed fill system, and also has a ``Deep Fill'' button 
that allows the user to adjust the relative water level for each cycle. 
This fits within the current test procedure applicable to a ``user-
adjustable automatic water fill control system.'' See current 10 CFR 
part 430, subpart B, App. J2 (Uniform Test Method for Measuring the 
Energy Consumption of Automatic and Semi-automatic Clothes Washers), 
Sec.  3.2.6.2. The definition in the amended version of J2 would make a 
material change by changing ``automatic'' to ``adaptive'' (``user-
adjustable adaptive water fill control system''). It appears that this 
change could exclude the Alliance washer from the new definition 
``user-adjustable adaptive water fill control system.'' For the new 
Appendix J there is a clear definition (Table III.2) that would move 
this product into the category of a ``manual fill'', but there is not a 
new definition for this type of WFCS in the amended J2.
    6. Identify manufacturers of all other basic models distributed in 
commerce in the United States and known to the petitioner to 
incorporate design characteristic(s) similar to those found in the 
basic model that is the subject of the petition.
    a. Samsung, Whirlpool, LG, GE all have models which use a ``Deep 
Fill'' modifier button to add more water relative to the default fill 
level, but most of them would likely still fit the revised definition 
of user adjustable adaptive WFCS. The user interacts with these 
products in the same way as they would with our R16 basic model with 
``Deep Fill'' option. However, without testing the competitor's models 
there is no way to know if they are fixed fill or adaptive fill.
    7. Include any alternate test procedures known to the petitioner to 
evaluate the performance of the product type in a manner representative 
of the energy and/or water consumption characteristics of the basic 
model.
    a. We believe that the procedure described in the amended J2 for a 
user adjustable adaptive WFCS would provide results that most represent 
real water and energy characteristics of this basic model, for the 
reasons shown below.
    i. Reflects how the end user would interact with this product, 
which is the same as with other manufacturers models that also include 
a deep fill option and are tested using this method.
    ii. Requires half of the test runs to be done with deep fill off 
and half with it turned on, so water usage for all possible settings 
that affect water level in the DOE test cycle are being tested and 
factored into the final result with equal weighting.
    iii. The default fill level on this product is a fixed fill, which 
is still classified as an automatic fill system in the amended J2 
procedure, and the deep fill option adjusts the water level relative to 
the default level. There are no manually selectable small, medium, or 
large load sizes.
    iv. Selecting the deep fill option only changes the water level 
relative to the

[[Page 19296]]

default level. It does not add any additional hot water, increase wash 
time, or change the cycle in any other way that would have a noticeable 
effect on energy usage of this product.
    8. Each petition for interim waiver must reference the related 
petition for waiver.
    a. Not applicable.
    9. Demonstrate likely success of the petition for waiver and 
interim waiver, and address what economic hardship and/or competitive 
disadvantage is likely to result absent a favorable determination on 
the petition for waiver and interim waiver.
    a. The amended J2 test procedure does not have a clear definition 
for testing a user adjustable fixed WFCS. Based on other similar 
products on the market that have a Deep Fill option and the fact that 
our R16 basic model interacts with the user in the same manner, we 
believe that testing using the procedure defined for user adjustable 
adaptive WFCS is appropriate for this product. If the waiver were to be 
denied and our R16 basic model had to be taken off the market, it would 
result in the loss of about 40% of our retail top load washer sales and 
the accompanying dryers.

Sincerely,
/s/
Daryl T. Johnson,
Manager--Small Chassis Engineering.

[FR Doc. 2023-06750 Filed 3-30-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P