[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 21 (Wednesday, January 31, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3373-3374]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-1763]
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CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION
Request for Comments Concerning Proposed Extension of Approval of
a Collection of Information, Safety Standard for Walk-Behind Power Lawn
Mowers
AGENCY: Consumer Product Safety Commission.
[[Page 3374]]
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter
35), the Consumer Product Safety Commission requests comments on a
proposed request for an extension of approval of a collection of
information from manufacturers and importers of walk-behind power lawn
mowers. This collection of information consists of testing and
recordkeeping requirements in certification regulations implementing
the Safety Standard for Walk-Behind Power Lawn Mowers (16 CFR Part
1205). 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: Written comments must be received by the Office of the Secretary
not later than April 1, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be captioned ``Walk-Behind Power
Lawn Mowers'' and mailed to the Office of the Secretary, Consumer
Product Safety Commission, Washington, D.C. 20207, or delivered to that
office, room 502, 4330 East West Highway, Bethesda, Maryland.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about the proposed
extension of the collection of information, or to obtain a copy of 16
CFR Part 1205, call or write Nicholas V. Marchica, Director, Office of
Planning and Evaluation, Consumer Product Safety Commission,
Washington, D.C. 20207; telephone (301) 504-0416, extension 2243.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 1979, the Commission issued the Safety
Standard for Walk-Behind Power Lawn Mowers (16 CFR Part 1205) under
provisions of the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA) (15 U.S.C. 2051 et
seq.) to eliminate or reduce risks of amputations, avulsions,
lacerations, and other serious injuries which have resulted from the
accidental contact of some part of an operator's body with the rotating
blade of a power lawn mower. The standard contains performance and
labeling requirements for walk-behind power lawn mowers to address
risks of blade-contact injuries.
A. Certification Requirements
Section 14(a) of the CPSA (15 U.S.C. 2063(a)) requires
manufacturers, importers, and private labelers of a consumer product
subject to a consumer product safety standard to issue a certificate
stating that the product complies with all applicable consumer product
safety standards. Section 14(a) of the CPSA also requires that the
certificate of compliance must be based on a test of each product or
upon a reasonable testing program.
Section 14(b) of the CPSA authorizes the Commission to issue
regulations to prescribe a reasonable testing program to support
certificates of compliance with a consumer product safety standard.
Section 16(b) of the CPSA (15 U.S.C. 2065(b)) authorizes the Commission
to issue rules to require that firms ``establish and maintain'' records
to permit the Commission to determine compliance with rules issued
under the authority of the CPSA.
The Commission has issued regulations prescribing requirements for
a reasonable testing program to support certificates of compliance with
the standard for walk-behind power mowers. These regulations also
require manufacturers, importers, and private labelers of walk-behind
power mowers to establish and maintain records to demonstrate
compliance with the requirements for testing to support certification
of compliance. 16 CFR Part 1205, Subpart B.
The Commission uses the information compiled and maintained by
manufacturers and importers of walk-behind power mowers to protect
consumers from risks of injuries associated with walk-behind power lawn
mowers. More specifically, the Commission uses this information to
determine whether the mowers they produce and import comply with the
applicable standard. The Commission also uses this information to
obtain corrective actions if walk-behind power mowers fail to comply
with the standard in a manner which creates a substantial risk of
injury to the public.
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approved the collection
of information requirements for walk-behind mowers under control number
3041-0091. OMB's most recent extension of approval will expire on March
31, 1996. The Commission proposes to request an extension of approval
without change for these collection of information requirements.
B. Estimated Burden
The Commission staff estimates that about 75 firms are subject to
the testing and recordkeeping requirements of the certification
regulations. The Commission staff estimates further that the annual
testing and recordkeeping burden imposed by the regulations on each of
these firms on average is approximately 390 hours. Thus, the total
annual burden imposed by the certification regulations on all
manufacturers and importers of walk-behind power mowers is about 29,250
hours.
The Commission staff estimates that the hourly wage for the time
required to perform the required testing and to maintain the required
records is about $12, and that the annual total cost to the industry is
approximately $351,000.
During a typical year, the Commission will expend approximately two
weeks of professional staff time reviewing records required to be
maintained by the certification regulations for walk-behind power
mowers. The annual cost to the Federal government of the collection of
information in these regulations is estimated to be $2,800.
C. Request for Comments
The Commission solicits written comments from all interested
persons about the proposed extension of approval of the collection of
information in the certification and recordkeeping regulations for
walk-behind power mowers. The Commission specifically solicits
information about the hourly burden and monetary costs imposed by the
collection of information on firms subject to this collection of
information. The Commission also seeks information relevant to the
following topics:
Whether the collection of information is necessary for the
proper performance of the Commission's functions;
Whether the information will have practical utility for
the Commission;
Whether the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected could be enhanced; and
Whether the burden imposed by the collection of
information could be minimized by use of automated, electronic or other
technological collection techniques, or other form of information
technology.
Dated: January 25, 1996.
Sadye E. Dunn,
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission.
[FR Doc. 96-1763 Filed 1-30-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6355-01-P
