[Federal Register: July 29, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 145)]
[Notices]
[Page 41095-41096]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr29jy99-38]
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CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION
Proposed Collection; Comment Request--Testing and Recordkeeping
Requirements for Carpets and Rugs
AGENCY: Consumer Product Safety Commission.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C.
Chapter 35), the Consumer Product Safety Commission requests comments
on a proposed extension of approval, through November 30, 2002, of
information collection requirements for manufacturers and importers of
carpets and rugs. The collection of information is in regulations
implementing the Standard for the Surface Flammability of Carpets and
Rugs (16 CFR Part 1630) and the Standard for the Surface Flammability
of Small Carpets and Rugs (16 CFR Part 1631). These regulations
establish requirements for testing and recordkeeping for manufacturers
and importers who furnish guaranties for products subject to the carpet
flammability standards. The Commission will consider all comments
received in response to this notice before requesting an extension of
approval of this collection of information from the Office of
Management and Budget.
DATES: The Office of the Secretary must receive comments not later than
September 27, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be captioned ``Carpets and Rugs;
Paperwork Reduction Act,'' and mailed to the Office of the Secretary,
Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, DC 20207, or delivered
to that office, room 502, 4330 East-West Highway, Bethesda, Maryland
20814. Written comments may also be sent to the Office of the Secretary
by facsimile at (301) 504-0127 or by e-mail at cpsc-os@cpsc.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about the proposed
collection of information call or write Linda L. Glatz, Management and
Program Analyst, Office of Planning and Evaluation, Consumer Product
Safety Commission, Washington, DC 20207; (301) 504-0416, Ext. 2226.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
A. The Standards
Carpets and rugs that have one dimension greater than six feet, a
surface area greater than 24 square feet, and are manufactured for sale
in or imported into the United States are subject to the Standard for
the Surface Flammability of Carpets and Rugs (16 CFR Part 1630).
Carpets and rugs that have no dimension greater than six feet and a
surface area not greater than 24 square feet are subject to the
Standard for the Surface Flammability of Small Carpets and Rugs (16 CFR
Part 1631).
Both of these standards were issued under the Flammable Fabrics Act
(FFA) (15 U.S.C. 1191 et seq.). Both standards require that products
subject to their provisions must pass a flammability test that measures
resistance to a small, timed ignition source. Small carpets and rugs
that do not pass the flammability test comply with the standard for
small carpets and rugs if they are permanently labeled with the
statement that they fail the standard and should not be used near
sources of ignition.
Section 8 of the FFA (15 U.S.C. 1197) provides that a person who
receives a guaranty in good faith that a product complies with an
applicable flammability standard is not subject to criminal prosecution
for a violation of the FFA resulting from the sale of any product
covered by the guaranty. Section 8 of the FFA requires that a guaranty
must be based on ``reasonable and representative'' tests. Many
manufacturers and importers of carpets and rugs issue guaranties that
the products they produce or import comply with the applicable
standard. Regulations implementing the carpet flammability standards
prescribe requirements for testing and recordkeeping by firms that
issue guaranties. See 16 CFR Part 1630, Subpart B, and 16 CFR Part
1631, Subpart B. The Commission uses the information compiled and
maintained by firms that issue these guaranties to help protect the
public from risks of injury or death associated with carpet fires. More
specifically, the information helps the Commission arrange corrective
actions if any products covered by a guaranty fail to comply with the
applicable standard in a manner that creates a substantial risk of
injury or death to the public. The Commission also uses this
information to determine whether the requisite testing was performed to
support the guaranties.
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approved the collection
of information in the regulations under control number 3041-0017. OMB's
most recent extension of approval expires on November 30, 1999. The
Commission now proposes to request an extension of approval without
change for the collection of information in the regulations.
B. Estimated Burden
The Commission staff estimates that the enforcement rules result in
an industry expenditure of a total of 63,840 hours for testing and
recordkeeping. However, the Commission is unable to estimate the total
dollar cost incurred by the industry. The Commission staff estimates
that 120 firms are subject to the information collection requirements
because the firms have elected to issue a guaranty of compliance with
the FFA. The number of tests that a firm issuing a guaranty of
compliance would be required to perform each year varies, depending
upon the number of carpet styles and the annual volume of production.
The staff estimates that the average firm issuing a continuing guaranty
under the FFA is required to conduct a maximum of 200 tests per year.
The actual number of tests required by a given firm may vary from 1 to
200, depending upon the number of carpet styles and the annual
production volume. For example, if a firm manufactures 100,000 linear
yards of carpet each year, and has obtained consistently passing test
results, only one test per year is required. The time required to
conduct each test is estimated by the staff to be 2\1/2\ hours plus the
time required to establish and maintain the test record.
The estimated annual cost of the information and collection
requirements to the Federal government is approximately $15,000. This
sum includes three staff months and travel costs expended for
examination of the records required to be maintained.
C. Request for Comments
The Commission solicits written comments from all interested
persons about the proposed collection of information. The Commission
specifically solicits information relevant to the following topics:
--Whether the collection of information described above is necessary
for the proper performance of the Commission's functions, including
whether the information would have practical utility;
--Whether the estimated burden of the proposed collection of
information is accurate;
--Whether the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be
collected could be enhanced; and
[[Page 41096]]
--Whether the burden imposed by the collection of information could be
minimized by use of automated, electronic or other technological
collection techniques, or other forms of information technology.
Dated: July 22, 1999.
Sadye E. Dunn,
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission.
[FR Doc. 99-19343 Filed 7-28-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6355-01-P