[Federal Register: March 7, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 45)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 11009-11010]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07mr03-19]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
10 CFR Part 430
[Docket No. EE-RM/TP-02-001]
RIN 1904-AB12
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy; Energy
Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Test Procedure for
Refrigerators and Refrigerator-Freezers
AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of
Energy.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
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SUMMARY: This notice of proposed rulemaking contains an amendment to
the test procedure for measuring the energy consumption of
refrigerators and refrigerator-freezers for models with a long-time
automatic defrost function. The amendment gives credit for a slight
improvement in energy efficiency because the defrost heater on such
models of refrigerators and refrigerator-freezers is not required to
heat the evaporator from its coldest temperature. This change in the
test procedure will encourage use of efficiency enhancing technology.
Because the amendment to the rule is not expected to receive any
significant adverse comments, the amendment is also being issued as a
direct final rule in this Federal Register.
DATES: Public comments on the amendment proposed herein will be
accepted until April 7, 2003.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be addressed to: Ms. Brenda Edwards-
Jones, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy, EE-2J, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC
20585-0121. E-mail address: Brenda.Edwards-Jones@ee.doe.gov. You should
identify all such documents both on the envelope and on the documents
as Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Test Procedures
for Refrigerators and Refrigerator-Freezers, Docket No. EE-RM/TP-02-
001.
Copies of public comments received may be read in the Freedom of
[[Page 11010]]
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 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Raymond, U.S. Department of
Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, EE-2J, 1000
Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585-0121, (202) 586-9611, e-
mail: Michael.Raymond@ee.doe.gov; or Francine Pinto, Esq., U.S.
Department of Energy, Office of General Counsel, GC-72, 1000
Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-9507, e-mail:
Francine.Pinto@hq.doe.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR)
proposes an amendment to the test procedure for measuring the energy
consumption of refrigerators and refrigerator-freezers. The amendment
changes the calculation of the test time period for long-time automatic
defrost to allow for a control capable of timing defrost to occur other
than during a compressor ``on'' cycle, thereby taking advantage of the
natural warming of the evaporator during an ``off'' cycle, and saving
additional energy. The amendment has no effect on the testing of
refrigerators and refrigerator-freezers that do not have a long-time
automatic defrost system.
Today, the Department of Energy (Department) is also publishing,
elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, a direct final rule
that makes the change to this test procedure that is being proposed in
this NOPR. As explained in the preamble of the direct final rule, the
Department considers this amendment to be uncontroversial and unlikely
to generate any significant adverse or critical comments. If no
significant adverse or critical comments are received by the Department
on the amendment, the direct final rule will become effective on the
date specified in that rule, and there will be no further action on
this proposal. If significant adverse or critical comments are timely
received on the direct final rule, the direct final rule will be
withdrawn. The public comments will then be addressed in a subsequent
final rule based on the rule proposed in this NOPR (which is the same
as the rule set forth in the direct final rule). Because the Department
will not institute a second comment period on this proposed rule, any
parties interested in commenting should do so during this comment
period.
For further supplemental information, the detailed rationale, and
the rule amendment, see the information provided in the direct final
rule in this Federal Register.
List of Subjects in 10 CFR Part 430
Administrative practice and procedure, Energy conservation,
Household appliances.
Issued in Washington, DC, on February 28, 2003.
David K. Garman,
Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
[FR Doc. 03-5405 Filed 3-6-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P