Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Test Procedure for Dishwashers

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

10 CFR Part 430

[Docket No. EE-RM/TP-99-500]

RIN 1904-AB04

Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Test Procedure

for Dishwashers

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

Energy.

ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of the comment period.

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SUMMARY: On September 28, 1999, the Department of Energy published a

proposed rule to revise the test procedure for dishwashers under the

Energy Policy and Conservation Act (64 FR 54428). In response to a

request from the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM), we

are reopening the comment period for this rulemaking.

DATES: The Department will accept comments, data, and information

regarding the proposed rule no later than Monday, February 14, 2000.

Please submit ten (10) copies. In addition, the Department requests

that you provide an electronic copy (3\1/2\'' diskette) of the comments

in WordPerfectTM format.

ADDRESSES: Please send written comments regarding the proposed rule to

Ms. Brenda Edwards-Jones at the following address: U.S. Department of

Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, EE-41, 1000

Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585-0121.

You should identify all documents both on the envelope and on the

documents as ``Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Test

Procedure for Dishwashers, Docket No. EE-RM/TP-99-500.''

You can read copies of the transcript of the public workshop held

on November 2, 1999, and public comments in the Freedom of Information

Reading Room (Room No. 1E-190) at the U.S. Department of Energy,

Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC,

between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday,

except Federal holidays.

The latest information regarding the dishwasher test procedure

rulemaking is available on the Building Research and Standards web site

at the following address: http://www.eren.doe.gov/buildings/

codes__standards/notices/notc0024/index.htm

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barbara Twigg, U.S. Department of

Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, EE-41, 1000

Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585-0121, (202) 586-8714,

email: [email protected]; or Eugene Margolis, Esq., U.S.

Department of Energy, Office of General Counsel, GC-72, 1000

Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-9507, email:

[email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department published a Notice of

Proposed Rulemaking on September 28, 1999, entitled ``Energy

Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Test Procedure for

Dishwashers.'' The notice announced December 13, 1999, as the end of

the written comment period. In a letter dated December 9, 1999, AHAM

requested a postponement of the deadline for the comment period in

order to pursue possible testing alternatives, gather additional data,

and comply with some of the requests for information made by the

Department during the November 2, 1999, workshop.

Because of the complex issues raised at the workshop concerning the

selection of a test method that accurately measures the energy

consumption of a variety of soil-sensing dishwasher models, we are

reopening the comment period until Monday, February 14, 2000. We are

especially interested in obtaining additional information and

suggestions regarding the proposed formulas and procedures for testing

soil-sensing models. We hope that this time extension will permit a

more comprehensive investigation into the performance mechanisms of

soil-sensing machines pertaining to cycle length, cycle response, and

corresponding energy and water consumption levels.

Issued in Washington, DC, on January 7, 2000.

Dan W. Reicher,

Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

[FR Doc. 00-852 Filed 1-12-00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6450-01-P