98-5544. Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Notice of Public Workshop on Clothes Washers Energy Efficiency Standards Rulemaking

[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 42 (Wednesday, March 4, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 10571-10572]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-5544]


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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. 63, No. 42 / Wednesday, March 4, 1998 / 
Proposed Rules

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

10 CFR Part 430

[Docket No. EE-RM-94-403]
RIN 1904-AA67


Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Notice of 
Public Workshop on Clothes Washers Energy Efficiency Standards 
Rulemaking

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

ACTION: Notice of Public Workshop.

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SUMMARY: The Department will convene a public workshop to discuss 
revised analytical tools (e.g., life cycle cost, national energy 
forecasting, and shipment spreadsheets) and the assumptions to be used 
for the life-cycle-cost (LCC) analysis including some sample LCC 
results if available. The Department also will present a document 
stating the methodology and assumptions used for the reverse 
engineering analysis for the typical vertical-axis clothes washers. 
Additionally, the Department will report a tabulation of existing 
consumer research which it plans to use to address consumer issues.

DATES: The public workshop will be held on Wednesday, March 11, 1998, 
from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Thursday, March 12, 1998, from 9:00 
a.m. to noon. Written comments (3 copies) must be received on or before 
April 15, 1998.

ADDRESSES: The workshop will be held at the U.S. Department of Energy, 
Room 1E-245, on March 11, 1998, and in Room 6E-069 on March 12, 1998, 
1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585. Comments should be 
addressed to Bryan Berringer at the address indicated below under 
Further Information.
    Copies of the transcript of the public workshop, public comments 
received, and this notice may be read or purchased at the DOE Freedom 
of Information Reading Room, U.S. DOE, Forrestal Building, Room 1E-190, 
1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585, [phone], 
between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Bryan Berringer, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency 
and Renewable Energy, Forrestal Building, Mail Station EE-43, 1000 
Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585-0121, [phone], E-
mail: [email protected]
Eugene Margolis, Esq., U. S. Department of Energy, Office of General 
Counsel, Forrestal Building, Mail Station GC-72, 1000 Independence 
Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585-3410, [phone], E-mail: 
[email protected]
    Ms. Brenda Edwards-Jones, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of 
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy, Mail 
Station EE-43, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585-0121, 
[phone], E-mail: [email protected] DOE.GOV

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    The following topics will be discussed at this workshop:
    1. Overview of the current clothes washers rulemaking schedule and 
process.
    2. Discussion of Revised Analytical Tools, Data and Assumptions: 
The Department seeks input on the revised analytical tools, data, and 
assumptions to be used for the life-cycle-cost analysis.
    A. Life-Cycle-Cost: The Department will present a revised life-
cycle-cost spreadsheet model that has been developed which will account 
for variability of key criteria, such as, energy prices and water 
heater fuel type. The spreadsheet includes the cost and energy 
efficiency level data obtained.
    B. Price: To obtain prices as an input to the LCC spreadsheet, the 
Department will present a draft discussion paper on the assumptions for 
mark-ups for clothes washer rulemaking analysis.
    C. National Energy Savings Forecasts: The Department will review 
the spreadsheet discussed at the previous workshop.
    D. Shipment Forecasts: The Department will present alternative 
approaches to obtain shipment data for the National Energy Savings 
spreadsheet.
    3. Reverse Engineering Approach: The Department will present a 
document stating the methodology and assumptions used for the reverse 
engineering analysis for the typical vertical-axis clothes washers.
    4. Consumer Issues: The Department will report a tabulation of 
existing consumer research which it plans to use to address consumer 
issues.
    Previously released and distributed information pertaining to this 
rulemaking include the following: An Advance Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking to Amend the Energy Conservation Standards for Three 
Cleaning Products, published on November 14, 1994 (59 FR 56423), and 
comments thereon; Draft Report on the Preliminary Engineering Analysis 
for Clothes Washers (October, 1996); Draft Report on Design Options for 
Clothes Washers (October, 1996); Draft Clothes Washers Rulemaking 
Framework (July 8, 1997); and the transcript from the November 15, 
1996, and July 23, 1997, Workshops and comments relating to the 
workshops. Copies of these materials may be read or purchased at the 
DOE Freedom of Information Reading Room. You can contact the Freedom of 
Information Reading Room at the above address and phone number for 
further information.
    The Department also welcomes written comments on the items to be 
presented at the workshop until April 15, 1998. Written comments or 
recommendations (3 copies) should be submitted to Bryan Berringer at 
the above listed address.
    Copies of the preliminary material for the workshop, including 
spreadsheets, will be available beginning the week of February 16, 
1998, on the Office of Codes and Standards web site which is as 
follows: http://www.eren.doe.gov/buildings/codes__standards/index.htm. 
If you have any questions, or plan to attend the workshop, or if you 
are unable to access the web site and wish to obtain material for the 
workshop, please contact Ms. Brenda Edwards-Jones at [phone] or 
Mr. Bryan Berringer at [phone], or [phone] by fax.


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    Issued in Washington, DC, on February 26, 1998.
Dan W. Reicher,
Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
[FR Doc. 98-5544 Filed 3-3-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P