00-852. Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Test Procedure for Dishwashers

[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 9 (Thursday, January 13, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 2077]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-852]


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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. 65, No. 9 / Thursday, January 13, 2000 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 2077]]


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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, [phone], 
email: [e-mail]; or Eugene Margolis, Esq., U.S. 
Department of Energy, Office of General Counsel, GC-72, 1000 
Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585, [phone], email: 
[e-mail]

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