[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 14 (Thursday, January 22, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 3280-3285]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-1457]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION
16 CFR Chapter II
Bunk Beds; Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking; Request for
Comments and Information
AGENCY: Consumer Product Safety Commission.
ACTION: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Commission has reason to believe that unreasonable risks
of injury and death may be associated with bunk beds constructed so
that children can become entrapped in the beds' structure or become
wedged between the bed and a wall.
This advance notice of proposed rulemaking (``ANPR'') initiates a
rulemaking proceeding that could result in a rule mandating bunk bed
performance requirements to reduce this hazard. This rule could be
issued under either the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (``FHSA'') or
the Consumer Product Safety Act (``CPSA''), or separate rules might be
issued under the FHSA and CPSA addressing bunk beds intended for use by
children or adults, respectively.
The Commission solicits written comments from interested persons
concerning the risks of injury and death associated with bunk beds, the
regulatory alternatives discussed in this ANPR, other possible ways to
address these risks, and the economic impacts of the various regulatory
alternatives. The Commission also invites interested persons to submit
an existing standard, or a statement of intent to modify or develop a
voluntary standard, to address the risks of injury and death described
in this ANPR.
DATES: Written comments and submissions in response to this ANPR must
be received by the Commission by April 7, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be mailed, preferably in five copies, to the
Office of the Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission,
Washington, D.C. 20207-0001, or delivered to the Office of the
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Room 502, 4330 East-West
Highway, Bethesda, Maryland; telephone (301) 504-0800. Comments also
may be filed by telefacsimile to (301) 504-0127 or by email to os@cpsc.gov. Comments should be captioned ``ANPR for Bunk Beds.''
1
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ This ANPR was approved by a 2-1 vote of the Commission.
Chairman Ann Brown and Commissioner Thomas H. Moore voted to approve
this ANPR; Commissioner Mary S. Gall voted not to publish the ANPR.
[[Page 3281]]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Preston, Directorate for
Engineering Sciences, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington,
D.C. 20207; telephone (301) 504-0494, ext. 1315.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
A. Background; History of Voluntary Standards Activities
Bunk beds have been long recognized as a potential source of
serious injury to children. In 1978, an Inter-Industry Bunk Bed Safety
Task Group developed a Bunk Bed Safety Guideline for voluntary use by
manufacturers and retailers of bunk beds intended for home use. Members
of this group included the National Association of Bedding
Manufacturers, the National Association of Furniture Manufacturers, the
Southern Furniture Manufacturers Association, and the National Home
Furnishings Association. The guideline became effective on January 1,
1979.
In February 1981, an American National Standard for Bedding
Products and Components (ANSI Z357.1) was published. For the most part,
this standard contained dimensional requirements for mattresses and
foundations for all beds. However, it also incorporated the
requirements of the January 1, 1979, industry safety guideline for bunk
beds. In May 1986, the American Furniture Manufacturer's Association
(``AFMA'') published Voluntary Bunk Bed Safety Guidelines developed by
the Inter-Industry Bunk Bed Committee (``IIBBC'').
On August 26, 1986, the Consumer Federation of America (``CFA'')
filed a petition with CPSC requesting the promulgation of a mandatory
safety regulation for bunk beds. In its petition, CFA cited three
different risks of injury posed by bunk beds: Inadequate mattress
supports that can allow the mattress to fall to the bunk below or to
the floor, entrapment in the space between the guardrails and the
mattress, and entrapment between the bed and the wall. CFA alleged that
the voluntary industry guidelines did not fully address the hazards
posed to consumers.
In July 1988, AFMA published Revised Voluntary Bunk Bed Safety
Guidelines, with an effective date of April 1989. A majority of the
revisions were made as a result of CPSC staff comments on the May 1986
guidelines, which included comments that the requirements addressing
entrapment in openings in guardrails were not adequate and that bunk
beds should be required to be sold with two guardrails. To prevent
entrapment, the 1989 revised guidelines did require two guardrails to
accompany a bunk bed, and required that any opening in the structure of
the upper bunk be less than 3\1/2\ inches.
On July 21, 1988, the Commission voted to deny the petition filed
by the CFA, but directed its staff to prepare a letter to AFMA and
IIBBC urging that AFMA reconsider the CPSC staff comments that had not
been included in the Revised Voluntary Bunk Bed Safety Guidelines. That
letter was sent in August 1988. It also requested (a) that AFMA
consider additional staff recommendations, (b) that AFMA submit the
revised guidelines to a voluntary standards organization such as ANSI
or ASTM for development as a voluntary safety standard, and (c) that
AFMA develop, and provide to the Commission, a plan and proposed
implementation date for a certification program to ensure that bunk
beds complied with the guidelines. AFMA responded that a certification
program would be established upon publication of an ASTM bunk bed
standard.
In October 1992, ASTM published the Standard Consumer Safety
Specification for Bunk Beds, ASTM F1427-92, in response to the
Commission's August 1988 request. The performance requirements in that
standard primarily addressed falls from the upper bunk, entrapment in
the upper bunk structure or between the upper bunk and a wall, and
security of the foundation support system. The standard also had a
requirement for a warning label and for instructions to accompany the
bed. In June 1994, the ASTM bunk bed standard was republished with
additional provisions (requested by CPSC staff) to address collapse of
tubular metal bunk beds. The most current version of the ASTM bunk bed
standard was published in September 1996 and contains additional
revisions suggested by CPSC staff. These address entrapment in lower
bunk end structures; mattress size information on the warning label and
carton; and the name and address of the manufacturer, distributor, or
seller on the bed.
Because of continued reports of deaths and other incidents
associated with bunk beds, and because of indications that there is
inadequate compliance with the voluntary ASTM standard, the CPSC staff
prepared a briefing package that summarized the available information.
Copies of this briefing package can be obtained from the Commission's
Office of the Secretary. After considering the available information,
the Commission decided to publish this advance notice of proposed
rulemaking to begin a rulemaking proceeding that could result in
performance or other standards to address the risk of entrapment
associated with bunk beds.
B. Incident Data
From January 1990 through September 1997, CPSC received reports of
85 bunk-bed-related deaths of children under age 15. As shown below, 54
(64 percent) were caused by entrapment. An additional 23 children died
when they were inadvertently hanged from the bed by such items as
belts, ropes, clothing, and bedding. Eight children died in falls from
bunk beds during this period. Almost all (96 percent) of the entrapment
victims were ages 3 and younger, whereas hanging and fall victims
tended to be older than 3 years. The Commission continues to receive
reports of incidents and other information concerning bunk bed
entrapment hazards.
Available data indicate that the number of bunk-bed-related deaths
has not decreased in recent years and that the majority of fatal
incidents continue to involve entrapment. To better evaluate the extent
of the entrapment problem, the Commission's staff also developed
national estimates of the total number of entrapment deaths that
occurred each year, using statistical methodology that examined the
extent of overlap between data-reporting sources. These estimates
projected that about 10 bunk bed entrapment deaths have occurred each
year in the United States since 1990.
Fatal Bunk Bed Incidents Reported to CPSC, by Year and Hazard Pattern
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hazard pattern
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Year Total Entrap. Hanging Falls
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1990........................................................ 7 5 2 ...........
1991........................................................ 15 10 2 3
[[Page 3282]]
1992........................................................ 4 3 1 ...........
1993........................................................ 19 10 7 2
1994........................................................ 10 6 3 1
1995........................................................ 12 5 5 2
1996........................................................ 11 10 1 ...........
1997........................................................ 7 5 2 ...........
---------------------------------------------------
Total................................................... 85 54 23 8
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: CPSC Data Files, January 1990-September 1997, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission/EHHA.
CPSC staff reviewed available information on entrapment-related
incidents, which accounted for the majority of deaths, to obtain
additional detail about the circumstances involved. In all, CPSC
received reports of 103 entrapment incidents from January 1990 through
September 1997, including 54 that involved deaths and 49 that involved
``near-misses'' (where a child was entrapped, but usually with no or
minor injury, often because another person intervened). Most reported
incidents involved wooden bunk beds, and entrapment occurred most often
on the top bunk. Common areas of entrapment were under the guardrail,
within the end structures of the bed, and between the bed and the wall.
With three exceptions, almost all of the incidents involving fatal
entrapment in the structure of bunk beds occurred in areas of the beds
that apparently did not conform to the entrapment provisions in the
current voluntary standard. Two of the three exceptions involved
entrapment on the upper bunk. These beds had guardrails that did not
run the entire length of the bed and, in each of the two incidents, a
child slipped through the space between the end of the guardrail and
the bed's end structure and became wedged between the bed and a wall.
(The current standard permits guardrails that terminate before reaching
the bed's end structure, provided there is no more than 15 inches
between either end of the guardrail and the bed's closest end
structure.)
The third death involving a conforming bunk bed occurred when a 22-
month-old child was playing with an older sibling on a bunk bed and
placed his head into a tapered opening between the underside of the
upper bunk foundation and a structural member. This child is believed
to have been standing on the lower bunk mattress, and, when his feet
slipped off the mattress, he was suspended by his head. (The current
standard only addresses openings in lower bunk end structures that are
within 9 inches above the sleeping surface of the mattress.)
C. Market Information
Industry sources estimate that about 500,000 bunk beds are sold
each year for residential use (excluding institutional sales), and that
sales have been relatively stable over time. The annual retail value of
sales has been estimated by AFMA at about $150 million. Industry
sources estimate the average retail price of bunk beds to be about
$300, but prices range from about $100 to $700. Bunk beds are marketed
in specialty stores, furniture stores, department stores, and by mail
order. There is also a market for used bunk beds in thrift shops,
garage sales, and classified advertising.
Trade sources estimate the expected useful life of bunk beds to be
13-17 years. Based on available information, there are about 7-9
million bunk beds available for use, including bunk beds that are not
currently used for sleeping, and those that are now used as two
separate beds.
CPSC staff is aware of at least 106 bunk bed manufacturers, which
are believed to produce the bulk of annual sales. Of the 106 identified
firms, 40 are either members of AFMA or are members of the ASTM
subcommittee that developed the existing voluntary standard for bunk
beds. According to AFMA, these 40 firms represent 75-80 percent of the
total annual shipments of bunk beds. While there are likely many other
small regional manufacturers or importers of bunk beds in addition to
the 106 identified firms, these are not likely to account for a
significant share of the U.S. market.
D. Compliance With the Existing Voluntary Standard
There has been a continuing pattern of nonconformance to the
voluntary standard. From June through August 1994, the Commission's
Office of Compliance (Compliance) identified and sent letters of
inquiry to 85 bunk bed manufacturers/importers, as part of a voluntary
standard conformance monitoring project. Responses to these letters
revealed that 17 companies were marketing bunk bed designs that
presented potential entrapment hazards. Based on these responses, as
well as on retail inspections, consumer complaints, and reported
incidents, 41 manufacturers have, since November 1994, recalled wooden
and metal bunk beds that did not conform to the entrapment requirements
in the ASTM standard. The recalls involve over one-half million bunk
beds.
In February 1997, Compliance assigned 45 inspections of bunk bed
retailers nationwide. Examination of 77 beds from 35 different
manufacturers by staff from CPSC's regional offices revealed that 12
bunk bed designs, each from a different manufacturer, did not conform
with the entrapment requirements of the ASTM voluntary standard.
Problems identified through these inspections resulted both in
voluntary recalls of already produced beds and in corrections of future
production. The most recent recall, in September 1997, involved five
companies and pertained to 16,500 beds. One of these beds was involved
in a fatal entrapment incident.
As noted above, CPSC's staff identified 106 manufacturers and
importers of wooden and metal bunk beds. The Commission believes that
the actual number of manufacturers and importers could be much higher.
Because of the relative ease of constructing bunk beds, many small
companies are formed each year. These may quickly go in and out of the
business of making bunk beds. These companies are normally not
associated with industry organizations, and are often unaware of the
voluntary standard or misinterpret its requirements. Accordingly, the
Commission preliminarily concludes that it is very likely that there
will continue to be serious conformance problems with the voluntary
standard.
[[Page 3283]]
E. The Potential Need for a Mandatory Standard
Although the voluntary standard improves the safety of bunk beds,
companies are not required to comply with it. Some manufacturers
contacted by Compliance did not see an urgency to comply with a
``voluntary'' standard, and they did not recognize the hazards
associated with noncompliance. As a result, entrapment hazards will
continue to exist on beds in use and for sale. Currently, all 106
manufacturers identified by CPSC staff appear to be producing beds that
conform to the entrapment requirements in the ASTM F1427 bunk bed
standard. However, small regional manufacturers that periodically enter
the marketplace may not be aware of the voluntary standard, or of the
hazards that are associated with bunk beds.
The Commission believes that a mandatory entrapment standard may be
needed for the following reasons:
1. The adoption of a mandatory standard could increase the
awareness and sense of urgency of manufacturers regarding compliance
with the entrapment provisions, thereby increasing the degree of
conformance to those provisions.
2. A mandatory standard would allow the Commission to seek
penalties for violations. Publicizing fines for noncompliance with a
mandatory standard would deter other manufacturers from making
noncomplying beds.
3. A mandatory standard would allow state and local officials to
assist CPSC staff in identifying noncomplying bunk beds and take action
to prevent the sale of these beds.
4. Under a mandatory standard, retailers, and distributors would
violate the law if they sold noncomplying bunk beds. Retailers and
retail associations would then insist that manufacturers and importers
provide complying bunk beds.
5. The bunk bed industry is extremely competitive. Manufacturers
who now conform with the ASTM standard have expressed concern about
those firms that do not. Nonconforming beds can undercut the cost of
conforming beds. A mandatory standard would establish a level playing
field and take away any competitive cost advantage for unsafe beds.
6. A mandatory standard would help prevent noncomplying beds made
by foreign manufacturers from entering the United States. CPSC could
use the resources of U.S. Customs to assist in stopping hazardous beds
at the docks.
7. The absence of manufacturer identification on many beds has
resulted in extremely low recall effectiveness rates. A mandatory
standard could require companies to include identification on the beds.
8. Although the Commission currently believes that the ASTM
voluntary standard for bunk beds adequately addresses the most common
entrapment hazards associated with these products, the Commission is
aware of three entrapment fatalities that occurred in conforming beds.
A mandatory standard could modify the provisions in the voluntary
standard so as to address the deaths that can occur on beds that comply
with the voluntary standard.
Therefore, the Commission decided to issue an ANPR to begin a
rulemaking proceeding and to seek public comment on all aspects of this
proceeding, including (a) the need for a mandatory standard and (b) any
additional requirements that may be needed to address fatalities known
to have occurred on bunk beds conforming to the current voluntary
standard.
However, the available information does not support a conclusion
that changes to currently produced bunk beds would significantly reduce
the number of fatalities due to falls and hangings. Thus, although
information on these hazards is welcome, the Commission does not at
this time intend to propose performance requirements to address falls
or hangings from bunk beds.
F. Cost/Benefit Considerations
To provide some preliminary information on additional costs to
conform to the entrapment requirements of the existing voluntary
standard, CPSC's Economics staff contacted four manufacturers who had
modified their production for that reason. The most expensive
modification was the addition of a second guardrail to the top bunk.
Two firms estimated that the additional guardrail would add $15-20 to
the retail price of these products. The other two manufacturers, who
market beds in the ``mid to upper'' price range, estimated a $30-40
increase in the retail price of their products. This increased cost
would be incurred only by those firms that do not now conform to the
voluntary standard.
CPSC estimates that the costs to society of bunk bed entrapment
deaths is about $174-346 per bed over its expected useful life. The
costs of bringing bunk beds into conformance with entrapment
requirements range from $15-40 per bed. If the measures taken to
address bunk-bed-related entrapment deaths were only about 4 to 23
percent effective in reducing these deaths, the costs and the benefits
of such an activity would be about equal. In fact, the Commission
expects that a mandatory standard would be substantially more effective
than this.
G. Statutory Authorities for This Proceeding
What statute is appropriate for regulating bunk beds? CPSA section
3(a)(1), 15 U.S.C. 2052(a)(1). The Federal Hazardous Substances Act
(``FHSA'') authorizes the regulation of unreasonable risks of injury
associated with articles intended for use by children that present
mechanical (or electrical or thermal) hazards. FHSA section 2(f)(D), 15
U.S.C. 1261(f)(D). The hazards associated with bunk beds that are
described above are mechanical. See FHSA section 2(s), 15 U.S.C.
1261(s). The Consumer Product Safety Act (``CPSA'') authorizes the
regulation of unreasonable risks of injury associated with ``consumer
products,'' which include bunk beds--whether intended for the use of
children or adults. CPSA section 3(a)(1), 15 U.S.C. 2052(a)(1). Thus,
bunk beds intended for the use of adults can be regulated only under
the CPSA, while bunk beds intended for the use of children potentially
could be regulated under either the FHSA or the CPSA. Bunk beds
probably would be considered as intended for use by children only if
they have smaller than twin-size mattresses or incorporate styling or
other features especially intended for use or enjoyment by children.
Section 30(d) of the CPSA, however, provides that a risk associated
with a consumer product that can be reduced to a sufficient extent by
action under the FHSA can be regulated under the CPSA only if the
Commission, by rule, finds that it is in the public interest to do so.
15 U.S.C. 2079(d). Accordingly, children's bunk beds could be regulated
only under the FHSA, unless the Commission finds that it is in the
public interest to regulate them under the CPSA. Thus, assuming that
``adult'' and ``children's'' bunk beds each present an unreasonable
risk of injury, the Commission could:
1. Issue a rule for children's bunk beds under the FHSA and a rule
for adult bunk beds under the CPSA; or
2. Issue a rule under the CPSA for both adult and children's bunk
beds, and issue a rule under CPSA Sec. 30(d) that it is in the public
interest to do so.
A possible reason for finding that it is in the public interest to
regulate both adult and children's bunk beds under the CPSA would be to
avoid confusion as to which act applied to a particular bunk bed. The
Commission will make a decision on which act(s) should be used
[[Page 3284]]
if and when it decides to issue a proposed rule addressing the hazards
of bunk beds. As discussed below, the procedure and statutory findings
required to issue a rule for bunk beds are essentially identical under
either act. Accordingly, any final rule may be issued under the CPSA,
the FHSA, or a combination of the two acts.
What effect will the existence of the voluntary standard have on
the rulemaking? The Commission may not issue a standard under either
the CPSA or the FHSA if industry has adopted and implemented a
voluntary standard to address the risk, unless the Commission finds
that ``(i) compliance with such voluntary * * * standard is not likely
to result in the elimination or adequate reduction of such risk of
injury; or (ii) it is unlikely that there will be substantial
compliance with such voluntary * * * standard.'' In this case, it
appears that a high percentage of bunk beds comply with ASTM F1427-92.
Accordingly, the Commission has addressed the issue of whether the
relatively high degree of compliance with the ASTM standard (possibly
90 percent or more) constitutes ``substantial compliance'' that would
prevent the Commission from issuing a mandatory standard for bunk beds.
Neither statute defines the term ``substantial compliance.''
However, guidance is provided by the legislative history of the CPSA:
In determining whether or not it is likely that there will be
substantial compliance with such voluntary * * * standard, the
Commission should determine whether or not there will be sufficient
compliance to eliminate or adequately reduce an unreasonable risk of
injury in a timely fashion. Therefore, compliance generally should
be measured in terms of the number of complying products rather than
in terms of complying manufacturers.
H.R. Conf. Rep. No. 208, 97th Cong., 1st Sess. 873 (1981): ``Adequately
reduce'' means to reduce the risk ``to a sufficient extent that there
will no longer exist an unreasonable risk of injury.'' Id. This
legislative history suggests that substantial compliance means that
there will be sufficient compliance with the voluntary standard to
reduce the product's risk to the point that the risk is no longer
``unreasonable.''
Factors that are relevant both to a determination of unreasonable
risk and to whether there is substantial compliance are the severity of
the remaining injuries and the vulnerability of the injured population.
The CPSC staff's analysis shows that issuing a mandatory rule could
save a significant number of children's lives. Thus, the injuries are
severe, and the affected population is extremely vulnerable. The cost/
benefit information discussed above indicates a likelihood that the
benefits of a rule for bunk beds would bear a reasonable relationship
to its costs, and the remaining risks from bunk beds are thus
``unreasonable.'' See 15 U.S.C. 1262(i)(2)(B), 2058(f)(3)(E).
Accordingly, the Commission preliminarily concludes that there
currently is not substantial compliance with the ASTM standard.
Rulemaking procedure. Before adopting a CPSA standard or FHSA rule,
the Commission first must issue an ANPR as provided in section 3(f) of
the FHSA or section 9(a) of the CPSA. 15 U.S.C. 1262(f), 2058(a). If
the Commission decides to continue the rulemaking proceeding after
considering responses to the ANPR, the Commission must then publish the
text of the proposed rule, along with a preliminary regulatory
analysis, in accordance with section 3(h) of the FHSA or section 9(c)
of the CPSA. 15 U.S.C. 1262(h), 2058(c). If the Commission then wishes
to issue a final rule, it must publish the text of the final rule and a
final regulatory analysis that includes the elements stated in 3(i)(1)
of the FHSA or section 9(f)(2) of the CPSA. 15 U.S.C. 1262(i)(1),
2058(f)(2). And before issuing a final regulation, the Commission must
make certain statutory findings concerning voluntary standards, the
relationship of the costs and benefits of the rule, and the burden
imposed by the regulation. FHSA section 3(i)(2), CPSC section 9(f)(3),
15 U.S.C. 2058(f)(3).
H. Regulatory Alternatives Under Consideration
The Commission is considering alternatives to reduce the number of
injuries and deaths associated with bunk beds. In addition to possible
performance standards similar to the current ASTM standard, additional
performance standards may be developed to supplement the entrapment
provisions of the ASTM standard. Further, the potential for labeling or
instructions requirements and information and education campaigns to
reduce the risk will be considered, either instead of or in addition to
a mandatory standard.
It is also possible that a voluntary standard could be developed
that would adequately reduce the risks of entrapment, falls, and
hanging. The Commission is not aware of any voluntary standard in
effect that applies to the identified risks of bunk beds other than
ASTM F1427-96. As noted above, the Commission has preliminarily
concluded that the degree of compliance with this ASTM standard may be
insufficient and some fatalities have occurred that are not adequately
addressed by that standard. However, if improved voluntary standards
are developed and implemented, the Commission would take that into
account in deciding whether a mandatory standard is necessary.
I. Solicitation of Information and Comments
This ANPR is the first step of a proceeding which could result in a
mandatory performance, labeling, or instructions standard for bunk beds
to address the risk of entrapment. All interested persons are invited
to submit to the Commission their comments on any aspect of the
alternatives discussed above. In particular, CPSC solicits the
following additional information:
1. The models and numbers of bunk beds produced for sale in the
U.S. each year from 1990 to the present;
2. The names and addresses of manufacturers and distributors of
bunk beds;
3. The number of persons injured or killed by the hazards
associated with bunk beds;
4. The circumstances under which these injuries and deaths occur,
including the ages of the victims;
5. An explanation of designs that could be adapted to bunk beds to
reduce the risk of entrapment;
6. Characteristics of the product that could or should not be used
to define which products might be subject to the requested rule, and
which products, if any, are intended for use by children, and which for
adults;
7. Other information on the potential costs and benefits of
potential rules;
8. Steps that have been taken by industry or others to reduce the
risk of injuries from the product;
9. The likelihood and nature of any significant economic impact of
a rule on small entities;
10. The costs and benefits of mandating a labeling or instructions
requirement.
Also, in accordance with section 3(f) of the FHSA and section 9(a)
of the CPSA, the Commission solicits:
1. Written comments with respect to the risk of injury identified
by the Commission, the regulatory alternatives being considered, and
other possible alternatives for addressing the risk.
2. Any existing standard or portion of a standard which could be
issued as a proposed regulation.
3. A statement of intention to modify or develop a voluntary
standard to address the risk of injury discussed in this notice, along
with a description of a plan (including a schedule) to do so.
[[Page 3285]]
Comments should be mailed, preferably in five copies, to the Office
of the Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, D.C.
20207-0001, or delivered to the Office of the Secretary, Consumer
Product Safety Commission, Room 502, 4330 East-West Highway, Bethesda,
Maryland 20814; telephone (301) 504-0800. Comments also may be filed by
telefacsimile to (301) 504-0127 or by email to cpsc-os@cpsc.gov.
Comments should be captioned ``ANPR for Bunk Beds.'' All comments and
submissions should be received no later than April 7, 1998.
Dated: January 15, 1998.
Sadye E. Dunn,
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission.
[FR Doc. 98-1457 Filed 1-21-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6355-01-P