Notice of Petition for Waiver of Whirlpool Corporation From the Department of Energy Clothes Washer Test Procedure, and Grant of Interim Waiver

This notice announces receipt of a petition for waiver from Whirlpool Corporation (Whirlpool) seeking an exemption from specified portions of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) test procedure for determining the energy consumption of residential clothes washers. Whirlpool seeks to use an alternate test procedure to address certain issues involved in testing certain specific basic clothes washer models identified in its petition that container volumes between 6.0 cubic feet and 8.0 cubic feet that Whirlpool contends cannot be accurately tested using the currently applicable DOE test procedure. DOE solicits comments, data, and information concerning Whirlpool's petition and its suggested alternate test procedure. This notice also grants Whirlpool with an interim waiver from the residential clothes washer test procedure, subject to use of the alternative test procedure set forth in this notice.