Energy Conservation Program: Test Procedures for Residential and Commercial Clothes Washers and Consumer Clothes Dryers

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY <CFR>10 CFR Part 430</CFR> <DEPDOC>[EERE-2024-BT-TP-0009]</DEPDOC> <RIN>RIN 1904-AF68</RIN> <SUBJECT>Energy Conservation Program: Test Procedures for Residential and Commercial Clothes Washers and Consumer Clothes Dryers</SUBJECT> <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD> Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy. <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD> Notice of proposed rulemaking and request for comment. <SUM> <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD> The U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) proposes to amend the test procedures for residential and commercial clothes washers and consumer clothes dryers to update the test cloth specifications. DOE also proposes to reorganize the test procedures for improved readability. DOE is conducting this rulemaking to address specific issues and to make minor corrections to the current test procedures. However, this rulemaking does not satisfy the statutory requirement that, at least once every 7 years, DOE review the test procedures for clothes washers and consumer clothes dryers. DOE is seeking comment from interested parties on the proposal. </SUM> <DATES> <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD> <E T="03">Comments:</E> DOE will accept comments, data, and information regarding this proposal no later than December 5, 2024. <E T="03">Meeting:</E> DOE will hold a public meeting on this NOPR if one is requested by November 12, 2024. If a public meeting is requested, DOE will announce its date and participation information on the DOE website and via email. </DATES> <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD> Interested persons are encouraged to submit comments using the Federal eRulemaking Portal at <E T="03">www.regulations.gov</E> under docket number EERE-2024-BT-TP-0009. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. Alternatively, interested persons may submit comments, identified by docket number EERE-2024-BT-TP-0009, by any of the following methods: (1) <E T="03">Email: WashersDryers2024TP0009@ee.doe.gov.</E> Include the docket number EERE-2024-BT-TP-0009 in the subject line of the message. (2) <E T="03">Postal Mail:</E> 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) <E T="03">Hand Delivery/Courier:</E> Appliance and Equipment Standards Program, U.S. Department of Energy, Building Technologies Office, 1000 Independence Avenue 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, <E T="03">see</E> section V of this document. <E T="03">Docket:</E> The docket for this activity, which includes <E T="04">Federal Register</E> notices, public meeting attendee lists and transcripts (if a public meeting is held), comments, and other supporting documents/materials, is available for review at <E T="03">www.regulations.gov.</E> All documents in the docket are listed in the <E T="03">www.regulations.gov</E> 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 <E T="03">www.regulations.gov/docket/EERE-2024-BT-TP-0009.</E> The docket web page contains instructions on how to access all documents, including public comments, in the docket. <E T="03">See</E> section V of this document for information on how to submit comments through <E T="03">www.regulations.gov.</E> <FURINF> <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD> 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: <E T="03">ApplianceStandardsQuestions@ee.doe.gov.</E> Mr. Uchechukwu “Emeka” Eze, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the General Counsel, GC-33, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585-0121. Telephone: (202) 586-4798. Email: <E T="03">uchechukwu.eze</E> @ <E T="03">hq.doe.gov.</E> For further information on how to submit a comment, review other public comments and the docket, or participate in a public meeting (if one is held), contact the Appliance and Equipment Standards Program staff at (202) 287-1445 or by email: <E T="03">ApplianceStandardsQuestions@ee.doe.gov.</E> </FURINF> <SUPLINF> <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD> DOE proposes to incorporate by reference the following industry standard into 10 CFR part 430: AATCC LP1-2021, <E T="03">Laboratory Procedure for Home Laundering: Machine Washing,</E> Revised 2023. Copies of AATCC test methods can be obtained from the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (“AATCC”), P.O. Box 12215, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, (919) 549-3526, or <E T="03">www.aatcc.org.</E> <E T="03">See</E> section IV.M of this document for a further discussion of this standard. <HD SOURCE="HD1">Table of Contents</HD> <EXTRACT> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">I. Authority and Background</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A. Authority</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B. Background</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">C. Deviation From Process Rule</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">II. Synopsis of the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">III. Discussion</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A. Scope of Applicability</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B. Relevant Historical Background</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">C. Test Cloth Specifications and Requirements</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. Cut Orientation</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. Fabric Weight and Thread Count</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">3. Granite Weave</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">4. Alternate Test Cloth</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">5. Uniformity Criteria</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">6. Variance P-Value Threshold and Root-Mean-Square Error</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">D. Other Clarifying and Restructuring Edits</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. Introductory Paragraph</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. Pre-Conditioning Instructions</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">3. Harmonizing Clothes Washer and Clothes Dryer Test Procedures</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">4. Restructuring Appendix J3</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">E. Test Procedure Costs and Impact</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">F. Compliance Date</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">IV. Procedural Issues and Regulatory Review</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A. Review Under Executive Orders 12866, 13563, and 14094</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B. Review Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">C. Review Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">D. Review Under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">E. Review Under Executive Order 13132</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">F. Review Under Executive Order 12988</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">G. Review Under the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">H. Review Under the Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act, 1999</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">I. Review Under Executive Order 12630</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">J. Review Under Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act, 2001</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">K. Review Under Executive Order 13211</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">L. Review Under Section 32 of the Federal Energy Administration Act of 1974</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">M. Description of Materials Incorporated by Reference</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">V. Public Participation</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A. Submission of Comments</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B. Issues on Which DOE Seeks Comment</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">VI. Approval of the Office of the Secretary</FP> </EXTRACT> <HD SOURCE="HD1">I. Authority and Background</HD> Consumer (residential) clothes washers (“RCWs”), commercial clothes washers (“CCWs”), and consumer clothes dryers are included in the list of “covered products/equipment” for which DOE is authorized to establish and amend energy conservation standards and test procedures. (42 U.S.C. 6292(a)(7)-(8); 42 U.S.C. 6311(1)(H)) DOE's test procedures for RCWs are currently prescribed at 10 CFR part 430, subpart B, appendices J (“appendix J”) and J2 (“appendix J2”). The test procedures for CCWs must be the same as those established for RCWs. (42 U.S.C. 6314(a)(8)). DOE's test procedures for consumer clothes dryers are currently prescribed at 10 CFR part 430, subpart B, appendices D1 (“appendix D1”) and D2 (“appendix D2”). DOE also prescribes specifications for the test cloth to be used for testing clothes washers at appendix J3 to subpart B (“appendix J3”). The following sections discuss DOE's authority to establish and amend test procedures for RCWs, CCWs, and consumer clothes dryers and relevant background information regarding DOE's consideration of test procedures for these products. <HD SOURCE="HD2">A. Authority</HD> The Energy Policy and Conservation Act, Public Law 94-163, as amended (“EPCA”), <SU>1</SU> <FTREF/> 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  <SU>2</SU> <FTREF/> established the Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products Other Than Automobiles, which sets forth a variety of provisions designed to improve energy efficiency. These products include RCWs and consumer clothes dryers. (42 U.S.C. 6292(a)(7)-(8)) Title III, Part C of EPCA, <SU>3</SU> <FTREF/> added by Public Law 95-619, Title IV, section 441(a), established the Energy Conservation Program for Certain Industrial Equipment which sets forth a variety of ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ Preview showing 10k of 133k characters. Full document text is stored and available for version comparison. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━