Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Clothes Washer Energy Conservation Standards

On November 19, 1998 (63 FR 64344), the Department of Energy published a Supplemental Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to revise energy conservation standards for clothes washers under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act. The notice announced that February 2, 1999, would be the closing date for receiving public comments. At the December 15, 1998, workshop on clothes washers, Amana requested that the comment period be extended for two months, to allow additional time for understanding the financial model and to give better responses to concerns raised in the notice. The Department is committed to issuing the final rule on schedule. In light of the fact that much of the information discussed in the notice was presented at the March 11, 1998, Clothes Washer Workshop, the Department agrees to a more limited extension of the comment period.