[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 48 (Monday, March 11, 2024)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 17338-17343]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-04772]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

10 CFR Part 430

[EERE-2024-BT-STD-0002]


Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for 
Dishwashers, Residential Clothes Washers, and Consumer Clothes Dryers

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

ACTION: Request for information.

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SUMMARY: In light of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth 
Circuit recently granting a petition for review of a final rule 
published by the U.S. Department of Energy (``DOE'') on January 19, 
2022, and remanding the matter to DOE for further proceedings, DOE is 
initiating an information and data gathering effort on whether ``short-
cycle'' product classes for dishwashers, residential clothes washers, 
and consumer clothes dryers are warranted under the Energy Policy and 
Conservation Act. In this request for information, DOE solicits data 
and information from the public to help

[[Page 17339]]

DOE in its rulemaking to evaluate whether: products with a ``short 
cycle'' as the normal cycle are available in the market; and products 
with a ``short cycle'' as the normal cycle should be subject to 
different standards than products without a ``short cycle'' as the 
normal cycle.

DATES: Written comments and information are requested and will be 
accepted on or before April 10, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are encouraged to submit comments using 
the Federal eRulemaking Portal at www.regulations.govunder docket 
number EERE-2024-BT-STD-0002. Follow the instructions for submitting 
comments. Alternatively, interested persons may submit comments may 
submit comments, identified by docket number EERE-2024-BT-STD-0002, by 
any of the following methods:
    (1) Email: [email protected]. Include the docket 
number EERE-2024-BT-STD-0002 in the subject line of the message.
    (2) 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. Telephone: 
(202) 287-1445. If possible, please submit all items on a compact disc 
(``CD''), in which case it is not necessary to include printed copies.
    (3) Hand Delivery/Courier: Appliance and Equipment Standards 
Program, U.S. Department of Energy, Building Technologies Office, 1000 
Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20585-0121. 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 section III of this document.
    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-2024-BT-STD-0002. The docket web page contains instructions on how 
to access all documents, including public comments, in the docket. See 
section III for information on how to submit comments through 
www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
    Dr. Carl Shapiro, 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) 287-5649. Email: [email protected]">ApplianceStandards[email protected].
    Mr. Pete Cochran, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the General 
Counsel, GC-33, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585-0121. 
Telephone: (202) 586-9496. 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]">ApplianceStandards[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Table of Contents

I. Introduction
    A. Authority
    B. History of Rulemakings for Short-Cycle Dishwashers, 
Residential Clothes Washers, and Consumer Clothes Dryers
II. Request for Information and Comments
III. Submission of Comments
IV. Approval of the Office of the Secretary

I. Introduction

    The following section briefly discusses the statutory authority 
underlying this request for information (``RFI''), as well as some of 
the historical background relevant to dishwashers, residential clothes 
washers (``RCWs''), and consumer clothes dryers.

A. Authority

    The Energy Policy and Conservation Act, Public Law 94-163, as 
amended (``EPCA''),\1\ authorizes DOE to regulate the energy efficiency 
of a number of consumer products and certain industrial equipment. (42 
U.S.C. 6291-6317, as codified) Title III, Part B of EPCA \2\ 
established the Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products Other 
Than Automobiles. (42 U.S.C. 6291-6309) These products include 
dishwashers, RCWs, and consumer clothes dryers, the subjects of this 
document. (42 U.S.C. 6292(a)(6), (7), and (8), respectively)
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    \1\ 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.
    \2\ For editorial reasons, upon codification in the U.S. Code, 
Part B was redesignated Part A.
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    The energy conservation program under EPCA consists essentially of 
four parts: (1) testing, (2) labeling, (3) the establishment of 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).
    Federal energy efficiency requirements for covered products 
established under EPCA generally supersede State laws and regulations 
concerning energy conservation testing, labeling, and standards. (42 
U.S.C. 6297(a)-(c)) DOE may, however, grant waivers of Federal 
preemption in limited circumstances for particular State laws or 
regulations, in accordance with the procedures and other provisions set 
forth under EPCA. (42 U.S.C. 6297(d))
    Subject to certain criteria and conditions, DOE is required to 
develop test procedures to measure the energy efficiency, energy use, 
or estimated annual operating cost of each covered product. (42 U.S.C. 
6295(r)) Manufacturers of covered products must use the prescribed DOE 
test procedure as the basis for certifying to DOE that their product 
complies with the applicable energy conservation standards and as the 
basis for any representations regarding the energy use or energy 
efficiency of the product. (42 U.S.C. 6295(s) and 42 U.S.C. 6293(c)). 
Similarly, DOE must use these test procedures to evaluate whether a 
basic model complies with the applicable energy conservation 
standard(s). (42 U.S.C. 6295(s)). The DOE test procedures for 
dishwashers appear at title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 
part 430, subpart B, appendices C1 and C2. The DOE test procedures for 
RCWs appear at 10 CFR part 430, subpart B, appendices J and J2. The DOE 
test procedures for consumer clothes dryers appear at 10 CFR part 430, 
subpart B, appendices D1 and D2.
    EPCA prescribed energy conservation standards for dishwashers, 
RCWs, and consumer clothes dryers (42 U.S.C. 6295(g)(1) and (10)(A); 42 
U.S.C. 6295(g)(2) and (9)(A); and 42 U.S.C. 6295(g)(3)) and directed 
DOE to conduct future rulemakings to determine whether to amend these 
standards. (42 U.S.C. 6295(g)(4) and (10)(B); 42 U.S.C. 6295(g)(4) and 
(9)(B); and 42 U.S.C. 6295(g)(4)) Not later than six years after

[[Page 17340]]

the issuance of any final rule establishing or amending a standard, DOE 
must publish either a notice of determination (``NOPD'') that standards 
for the product do not need to be amended, or a NOPR including new 
proposed energy conservation standards (proceeding to a final rule, as 
appropriate). (42 U.S.C. 6295(m)(1)) DOE must make the analysis on 
which a NOPD or NOPR is based publicly available and provide an 
opportunity for written comment. (42 U.S.C. 6295(m)(2)) Not later than 
two years after a NOPR is issued, DOE must publish a final rule 
amending the energy conservation standard for the product. (42 U.S.C. 
6295(m)(3)(A))
    DOE must follow specific statutory criteria for prescribing new or 
amended standards for covered products, including dishwashers, RCWs, 
and consumer clothes dryers. Any new or amended standard for a covered 
product must be designed to achieve the maximum improvement in energy 
efficiency that the Secretary of Energy (``Secretary'') determines is 
technologically feasible and economically justified. (42 U.S.C. 
6295(o)(2)(A)) Furthermore, DOE may not adopt any standard that would 
not result in the significant conservation of energy. (42 U.S.C. 
6295(o)(3)(B))
    Moreover, DOE may not prescribe a standard if DOE determines by 
rule that the establishment of such standard will not result in 
significant conservation of energy (or, for certain products, water), 
or is not technologically feasible or economically justified. (42 
U.S.C. 6295(o)(3)(B)) In deciding whether a proposed standard is 
economically justified, DOE must determine whether the benefits of the 
standard exceed its burdens. (42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(2)(B)(i)) DOE must make 
this determination after receiving comments on the proposed standard, 
and by considering, to the greatest extent practicable, the following 
seven statutory factors:
    (1) The economic impact of the standard on manufacturers and 
consumers of the products subject to the standard;
    (2) The savings in operating costs throughout the estimated average 
life of the covered products in the type (or class) compared to any 
increase in the price, initial charges, or maintenance expenses for the 
covered products that are likely to result from the standard;
    (3) The total projected amount of energy (or as applicable, water) 
savings likely to result directly from the standard;
    (4) Any lessening of the utility or the performance of the covered 
products likely to result from the standard;
    (5) The impact of any lessening of competition, as determined in 
writing by the Attorney General, that is likely to result from the 
standard;
    (6) The need for national energy and water conservation; and
    (7) Other factors the Secretary considers relevant.

(42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(2)(B)(i)(I)-(VII))
    Further, EPCA, as codified, establishes a rebuttable presumption 
that a standard is economically justified if the Secretary finds that 
the additional cost to the consumer of purchasing a product complying 
with an energy conservation standard level will be less than three 
times the value of the energy savings during the first year that the 
consumer will receive as a result of the standard, as calculated under 
the applicable test procedure. (42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(2)(B)(iii))
    EPCA, as codified, also contains what is known as an ``anti-
backsliding'' provision, which prevents the Secretary from prescribing 
any amended standard that either increases the maximum allowable energy 
use or decreases the minimum required energy efficiency of a covered 
product. (42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(1)) Also, the Secretary may not prescribe 
an amended or new standard if interested persons have established by a 
preponderance of the evidence that the standard is likely to result in 
the unavailability in the United States in any covered product type (or 
class) of performance characteristics (including reliability), 
features, sizes, capacities, and volumes that are substantially the 
same as those generally available in the United States. (42 U.S.C. 
6295(o)(4))
    Additionally, EPCA specifies requirements when promulgating an 
energy conservation standard for a covered product that has two or more 
subcategories. A rule prescribing an energy conservation standard for a 
type (or class) of product must specify a different standard level for 
a type or class of products that has the same function or intended use 
if DOE determines that products within such group (A) consume a 
different kind of energy from that consumed by other covered products 
within such type (or class); or (B) have a capacity or other 
performance-related feature which other products within such type (or 
class) do not have and such feature justifies a higher or lower 
standard. (42 U.S.C. 6295(q)(1)) In determining whether a performance-
related feature justifies a different standard for a group of products, 
DOE considers such factors as the utility to the consumer of such a 
feature and other factors DOE deems appropriate. Id. Any rule 
prescribing such a standard must include an explanation of the basis on 
which such higher or lower level was established. (42 U.S.C. 
6295(q)(2))
    Finally, pursuant to the amendments to EPCA contained in the Energy 
Independence and Security Act of 2007, Public Law 110-140, any final 
rule for new or amended energy conservation standards promulgated after 
July 1, 2010, is required to address standby mode and off mode energy 
use. (42 U.S.C. 6295(gg)(3)) Specifically, when DOE adopts a standard 
for a covered product after that date, it must, if justified by the 
criteria for adoption of standards under EPCA (42 U.S.C. 6295(o)), 
incorporate standby mode and off mode energy use into a single 
standard, or, if that is not feasible, adopt a separate standard for 
such energy use for that product. (42 U.S.C. 6295(gg)(3)(A)-(B)) DOE's 
current test procedures and standards for dishwashers, RCWs, and 
consumer clothes dryers address standby mode and off mode energy use.

B. History of Rulemakings for Short-Cycle Dishwashers, Residential 
Clothes Washers, and Consumer Clothes Dryers

    The Administrative Procedure Act (``APA''), 5 U.S.C. 551 et seq., 
provides among other things, that ``[e]ach agency shall give an 
interested person the right to petition for the issuance, amendment, or 
repeal of a rule.'' (5 U.S.C. 553(e)) Pursuant to this provision of the 
APA, the Competitive Enterprise Institute (``CEI'') petitioned DOE for 
the issuance of a rule establishing a new product class under 42 U.S.C. 
6295(q) that would cover dishwashers with a cycle time of less than one 
hour from washing through drying.\3\ On October 30, 2020, DOE published 
a final rule that established a product class for standard-size 
dishwashers with a cycle time for the normal cycle \4\ of 60 minutes or 
less. 85 FR 68723 (``October 2020 Final Rule'').
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    \3\ Available at www.regulations.gov/document/EERE-2018-BT-STD-0005-0006.
    \4\ Through the remainder of this document, DOE uses the term 
``normal cycle'' to refer to the cycle required for test under the 
applicable DOE test procedure.
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    Following this, having determined that similarities exist between 
the consumer use of dishwashers, RCWs, and consumer clothes dryers 
(i.e., products that provide consumer utility over discrete cycles with 
programmed cycle times, and consumers run these cycles multiple times 
per week on average), DOE published a final rule on December 16, 2020, 
that established product classes for top-loading RCWs and certain 
classes of consumer clothes

[[Page 17341]]

dryers with a cycle time of less than 30 minutes, and front-loading 
RCWs with a cycle time of less than 45 minutes. 85 FR 81359 (``December 
2020 Final Rule'').
    The October 2020 Final Rule and the December 2020 Final Rule 
specified that the short-cycle product classes created by their 
respective rules are not currently subject to energy or water 
conservation standards. 85 FR 68723, 68742; 85 FR 81359, 81376.
    On January 19, 2022, DOE published a final rule (``January 2022 
Final Rule'') revoking the October 2020 Final Rule and the December 
2020 Final Rule on the basis that those earlier rules resulted in 
amended energy conservation standards for the short-cycle product 
classes, but did not determine whether relevant statutory criteria for 
amending standards were met. 87 FR 2673. The January 2022 Final Rule 
reinstated the prior product classes and applicable standards for these 
covered products. Id.
    On March 17, 2022, various States filed a petition in the Fifth 
Circuit Court of Appeals seeking review of a final rule revoking two 
final rules that established product classes for residential 
dishwashers with a cycle time for the normal cycle of 60 minutes or 
less, top-loading RCWs and certain classes of consumer clothes dryers 
with a cycle time of less than 30 minutes, and front-loading RCWs with 
a cycle time of less than 45 minutes (collectively, ``short-cycle 
product classes''). The petitioners argued that the final rule revoking 
the short-cycle product classes violated EPCA and was arbitrary and 
capricious. On January 8, 2024, the United States Court of Appeals for 
the Fifth Circuit granted the petition for review and remanded the 
matter to DOE for further proceedings consistent with the Fifth 
Circuit's opinion. See Louisiana v. United States Department of Energy, 
90 F.4th 461 (5th Cir. 2024).
    In this request for information, DOE is commencing a rulemaking 
process on remand from the Fifth Circuit (the Remand Proceeding) by 
soliciting further information, relevant to the issues identified by 
the Fifth Circuit, regarding any short cycle product classes. DOE 
intends to use the data and information collected in response to this 
request for information to conduct the analysis required by 42 U.S.C. 
6295(q)(1)(B) to determine whether any short-cycle products have a 
``capacity or other performance-related feature [that] . . . justifies 
a higher or lower standard from that which applies (or will apply) to 
other products. . . .''
    The current standards applicable to residential clothes washers, 
dishwashers, and consumers clothes dryers are in 10 CFR 430.32(g)(4), 
10 CFR 430.32(f)(1), and 10 CFR 430.32(h)(3), respectively. In 
addition, EPCA's anti-backsliding provision precludes DOE from 
prescribing any amended standard ``which increases the maximum 
allowable energy use'' of a covered product. 42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(1).

II. Request for Information and Comments

    In this request for information, DOE is soliciting further 
information, relevant to the issues identified by the Fifth Circuit, 
regarding short-cycle product classes for dishwashers, RCWs, and 
consumer clothes dryers. DOE intends to use the data and information 
collected in response to this request for information to conduct the 
analysis required by 42 U.S.C. 6295(q)(1)(B) to determine whether 
short-cycle products should be subject to a different standard than 
non-short-cycle products.
    In this section, DOE has identified specific information and data 
on which it seeks input regarding ``short cycles'' for dishwashers, 
RCWs, and consumer clothes dryers.
    As discussed, the October 2020 Final Rule and December 2020 Final 
Rule established short-cycle product classes for dishwashers with a 
normal cycle time of 60 minutes or less; top-loading standard-size RCWs 
with an average cycle time of less than 30 minutes and front-loading 
standard-size RCWs with an average cycle time of less than 45 minutes; 
and vented electric standard-size clothes dryers and vented gas clothes 
dryers with a cycle time of less than 30 minutes. 85 FR 68723; 85 FR 
81359, 81360.
    Issue 1: DOE requests information on whether manufacturers optimize 
their dishwasher, RCW, or consumer clothes dryer normal cycles for a 
target cycle length, and if so, what target cycle times are considered. 
DOE requests data indicating what a consumer-acceptable cycle time is 
for the normal cycle in dishwashers, RCWs, and consumer clothes dryers.
    Issue 2: DOE requests data indicating how consumers trade off 
preferences between cycle time and other product characteristics.
    As presented in the rulemaking dockets for the October 2020 Final 
Rule and the December 2020 Final Rule, DOE has previously published the 
following cycle time data: the results of DOE testing of 31 standard-
size dishwashers, including Cleaning Indexes; \5\ individual test cycle 
and average cycle time data for 23 top-loading standard-size RCWs and 
20 front-loading standard-size RCWs tested by DOE; \6\ cycle time data 
for 6 vented electric standard-size and 8 vented gas consumer clothes 
dryers tested by DOE; \7\ and cycle time data for an additional 245 
vented electric standard-size and 110 vented gas consumer clothes 
dryers from the ENERGY STAR product database.\8\
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    \5\ Available at www.regulations.gov/document/EERE-2018-BT-STD-0005-3213.
    \6\ Available at www.regulations.gov/document/EERE-2020-BT-STD-0001-0007.
    \7\ Ibid.
    \8\ Ibid.
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    Issue 3: DOE requests information on dishwashers, RCWs, and 
consumer clothes dryers that are currently available on the market with 
normal cycle times that meet consumer expectations of a short cycle for 
each product. For any such models, DOE requests data on the energy and 
water consumption. DOE also requests data and information on whether 
and how such products contain any unique design attributes or 
performance characteristics compared to other products with longer 
normal cycle times, and what drives such differences from a design 
perspective.
    Issue 4: DOE seeks data regarding the historical change in cycle 
times for dishwashers, RCWs, and consumer clothes dryers.
    In addition, DOE notes that most basic models of dishwashers, RCWs, 
and consumer clothes dryers also provide multiple cycles outside the 
normal cycle. For instance, a dishwasher may have a quick cycle, heavy 
cycle, delicates, etc. in addition to the normal cycle. These 
additional cycles may provide either longer or shorter cycle times than 
the normal cycle and may also be designed to optimize other performance 
characteristics or be optimized for different loads than the normal 
cycle.
    Issue 5: For all models, DOE requests comment on how manufacturers 
design or optimize any shorter cycle(s) on a given model differently 
than the normal cycle on that same model. DOE further requests 
information on whether any design or performance tradeoffs are made on 
these shorter cycles, and if so, what those tradeoffs are and to what 
extent they differ from the normal cycle.
    Issue 6: DOE requests comment on whether manufacturers plan to (or 
would continue to) maintain two separate product lines--one optimized 
to meet consumer demand for short cycles, and one optimized for 
attributes other than cycle time--and if so, DOE requests information 
on the financial impacts of developing and maintaining two separate 
product lines instead of one. DOE further requests comment on

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which product line manufacturers would prioritize, if they decided to 
offer only a single product line.
    Issue 7: DOE requests information on consumer preferences for: (1) 
a short cycle as the normal cycle and (2) the presence of short cycles 
available as cycle types outside the normal cycle.
    Issue 8: DOE requests historical market information on any 
dishwashers, RCWs, or consumer clothes dryers that have been advertised 
or designed to provide a short cycle, and the relevant performance 
attributes of such products (including but not limited to energy use, 
water use, and cleaning performance).
    Issue 9: For all models, not limited to those designed for a short 
cycle as the normal cycle, DOE requests data and information about 
consumer behaviors that affect energy and water consumption, such as 
pre-washing, handwashing, and running multiple cycles on the same load, 
and whether and how these behaviors may change according to the cycle 
selected.
    Issue 10: For all models, not limited to those designed for a short 
cycle as the normal cycle, DOE requests data regarding cycle time and 
energy and water consumption that would demonstrate whether a separate 
standard level whether higher or lower should be considered for 
products with a given cycle length pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 6295(q)(2).

III. Submission of Comments

    DOE invites all interested parties to submit in writing by the date 
specified in the DATES section of this document, comments and 
information on matters addressed in this document and on other matters 
relevant to short cycles for dishwashers, RCWs, and consumer clothes 
dryers.
    Submitting comments via www.regulations.gov. The 
www.regulations.gov web page requires you to provide your name and 
contact information. Your contact information will be viewable to DOE 
Building Technologies Office 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 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. 
No faxes will 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. Pursuant 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. 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).
    DOE considers public participation to be a very important part of 
the process for developing energy conservation standards. DOE actively 
encourages the participation and interaction of the public during the 
comment period in this process. Interactions with and between members 
of the public provide a balanced discussion of the issues and assist 
DOE. Anyone who wishes to be added to the DOE mailing list to receive 
future notices and information about this process or would like to 
request a public meeting should contact Appliance and Equipment 
Standards Program staff at (202) 287-1445 or via email at 
[email protected]">ApplianceStandards[email protected].

IV. Approval of the Office of the Secretary

    The Secretary of Energy has approved publication of this request 
for information.

Signing Authority

    This document of the Department of Energy was signed on February 
29, 2024, by Jeffrey Marootian, 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

[[Page 17343]]

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 1, 2024.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2024-04772 Filed 3-8-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P