[Federal Register: June 5, 1995 (Volume 60, Number 107)] [Notices] [Page 29577-29578] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION Commission Agendas and Priorities; Public Hearing AGENCY: Consumer Product Safety Commission. ACTION: Notice of public hearing. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Commission will conduct a public hearing to receive views from all interested parties about its agenda and priorities for Commission attention during fiscal year 1997, which begins October 1, 1996. Participation by members of the public is invited. Written comments and oral presentations concerning the Commission's agenda and priorities for fiscal year 1997 will become part of the public record. DATES: The hearing will be on June 23, 1995, immediately after the conclusion of the Commission's meeting which begins at 10 a.m. the same day. Written comments and requests from members of the public desiring to make oral presentations must be received by the Office of the Secretary not later than June 16, 1995. Persons desiring to make oral presentations at this hearing must submit a written text of their presentations not later than June 16, l995. ADDRESSES: The hearing will be in room 420 of the East-West Towers Building, 4330 East West Highway, Bethesda, Maryland. Written comments, requests to make oral presentations, and texts of oral presentations should be captioned ``Agenda and Priorities'' 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 hearing or to request an opportunity to make an oral presentation, call or write Rockelle Hammond, Office of the Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, D.C. 20207; telephone (301) 504-0800; telefax (301) 504-0127. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 4(j) of the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA) (15 U.S.C. 2053(j)) requires the Commission to establish an agenda for action under the laws it administers, and, to the extent feasible, to select priorities for action at least 30 days before the beginning of each fiscal year. Section 4(j) of the CPSA provides further that before establishing its agenda and priorities, the Commission shall conduct a public hearing and provide an opportunity for the submission of comments. [[Page 29578]] The Office of Management and Budget requires all Federal agencies to submit their budget requests 13 months before the beginning of each fiscal year. The Commission is formulating its budget request for fiscal year 1997, which begins on October 1, 1996. For this reason, the Commission will conduct a public hearing on June 23, 1995, to receive comments from the public concerning its agenda and priorities for fiscal year 1997. The Commissioners desire to obtain the views of a wide range of interested persons including consumers; manufacturers, importers, distributors, and retailers of consumer products; members of the academic community; consumer advocates; and health and safety officers of state and local governments. The Commission is charged by Congress with protection of the public from unreasonable risks of injury associated with consumer products. The Commission enforces and administers the Consumer Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 2051 et seq.); the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (15 U.S.C. 1261 et seq.); the Flammable Fabrics Act (15 U.S.C. 1191 et seq.); the Poison Prevention Packaging Act (15 U.S.C. 1471 et seq.); and the Refrigerator Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 1211 et seq.). Standards and regulations issued under provisions of those statutes are codified in the Code of Federal Regulations, title 16, chapter II. While the Commission has broad jurisdiction over products used by consumers in or around their homes, in schools, in recreation, and other settings, its staff and budget are limited. Section 4(j) of the CPSA expresses Congressional direction to the Commission to establish an agenda for action each fiscal year and, if feasible, to select from that agenda some of those projects for priority attention. When the Commission selects priorities, it does so in accordance with its policy statement governing establishment of priorities codified at 16 CFR 1009.8. That policy statement includes the following factors to be considered by the Commission when selecting its priorities: Frequency and severity of injuries. Causality of injuries. Chronic illness and future injuries. Costs and benefits of Commission action. Unforeseen nature of a risk of injury. Vulnerability of the population at risk. Probability of exposure to hazard. The order of listing of these criteria does not indicate their relative importance. Persons who desire to make oral presentations at the hearing on June 23, 1995, should call or write Rockelle Hammond, Office of the Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, D.C. 20207, telephone (301) 504-0800, telefax (301) 504-0127, not later than June 16, 1995. Presentations should be limited to approximately ten minutes. Persons desiring to make presentations must submit the written text of their presentations to the Office of the Secretary not later than June 16, 1995. The Commission reserves the right to impose further time limitations on all presentations and further restrictions to avoid duplication of presentations. The hearing will be immediately after the completion of the Commission meeting which begins at 10 a.m. on June 23, 1995, and will conclude the same day. Written comments on the Commission's agenda and priorities for fiscal year 1997, should be received in the Office of the Secretary not later than June 16, 1995. Dated: May 30, 1995. Sadye E. Dunn, Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission. [FR Doc. 95-13598 Filed 6-2-95; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6355-01-P