[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 167 (Thursday, August 28, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45630-45631]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-22851]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION
Proposed Collection of Information; Comment Request--Amended
Interim Safety Standard for Cellulose Insulation
AGENCY: Consumer Product Safety Commission.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 of a collection of information from
manufacturers and importers of cellulose insulation. The collection of
information is in regulations implementing the Amended Interim Safety
Standard for Cellulose Insulation (16 CFR Part 1209). These regulations
establish testing and recordkeeping requirements for manufacturers and
importers of cellulose insulation subject to the amended interim
standard. 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 October 27, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be 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. Alternatively, comments may be filed by
telefacsimile to (301) 504-0127 or by e-mail to cpsc-os@cpsc.gov.
Comments should be captioned ``Cellulose Insulation.''
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about the proposed
extension of approval of the collection of information, or to obtain a
copy of 16 CFR Part 1204, call or write Robert E. Frye, Director,
Office of Planning and Evaluation, Consumer Product Safety Commission,
Washington, D.C. 20207; telephone (301) 504-0416, extension 2264.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Cellulose insulation is a form of thermal
insulation used in houses and other residential buildings. Most
cellulose insulation is manufactured by shredding and grinding used
newsprint and adding fire-retardant chemicals.
In 1978, Congress passed the Emergency Interim Consumer Product
Safety Standard Act of 1978 (Pub. L. 95-319, 92 Stat. 386). That
legislation is contained in section 35 of the Consumer Product Safety
Act (15 U.S.C. 2080). This law directed the Commission to issue an
interim safety standard incorporating the provisions for flammability
and corrosiveness of cellulose insulation set forth in a purchasing
specification issued by the General Services Administration (GSA). The
law provided further that the interim safety standard should be amended
to incorporate the requirements for flammability and corrosiveness of
cellulose insulation in each revision to the GSA purchasing
specification.
In 1978, the Commission issued the Interim Safety Standard for
Cellulose Insulation in accordance with section 35 of the CPSA. In
1979, the Commission amended that standard to incorporate the latest
revision of the GSA purchasing specification. The Amended Interim
Safety Standard for Cellulose Insulation is codified at 16 CFR Part
1209.
The amended interim standard contains performance tests to assure
that cellulose insulation will resist ignition from sustained heat
sources, such as smoldering cigarettes or recessed light fixtures, and
from small open-flame sources such as matches or candles. The standard
also contains tests to assure that cellulose insulation will not be
corrosive to copper, aluminum, or steel if exposed to water.
Certification regulations implementing the standard require
manufacturers, importers, and private labelers of cellulose insulation
subject to the standard to perform tests to demonstrate that those
products meet the requirements of the standard, and to maintain records
of those tests. The certification regulations are codified at 16 CFR
Part 1209, Subpart B.
The Commission uses the information compiled and maintained by
manufacturers, importers, and private labelers of cellulose insulation
subject to the standard to help protect the public from risks of injury
or death associated with fires involving cellulose insulation. More
specifically, this information helps the Commission determine whether
cellulose insulation subject to the standard complies with all
applicable requirements. The Commission also uses this information to
obtain corrective actions if cellulose insulation fails 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 in the certification regulations under control number
3041-0022. OMB's most recent extension of approval will expire on
November 30, 1997. The Commission now proposes to request an extension
of approval without change for the collection of information in the
certification regulations.
Estimated Burden
The Commission staff estimates that about 45 firms manufacture or
import cellulose insulation subject to the amended interim standard.
The Commission staff estimates that the certification regulations will
impose an average annual burden of about 1,320 hours on each of those
firms. That burden will result from conducting the testing required by
the regulations and maintaining records of the results of that testing.
The total annual burden imposed by the regulations on manufacturers and
importers of cellulose insulation is approximately 59,400 hours.
The hourly wage for the testing and recordkeeping required to
conduct the testing and maintain records required by the regulations is
about $15, for an estimated annual cost to the industry of
approximately $891,000.
The Commission will expend approximately one week of professional
staff time each year reviewing and evaluating the records maintained by
manufacturers and importers of cellulose insulation. The annual cost to
the Federal government of the collection of information in these
regulations is estimated to be $1,400.
[[Page 45631]]
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 regulations implementing the Amended
Interim Safety Standard for Cellulose Insulation. 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: August 22, 1997.
Sadye E. Dunn,
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission.
[FR Doc. 97-22851 Filed 8-27-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6355-01-P
