[Federal Register: May 24, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 101)]
[Notices]
[Page 33525]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr24my00-37]
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CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION
Petition Requesting Rule Declaring Natural Rubber Latex a Strong
Sensitizer; Extension of Comment Period
AGENCY: Consumer Product Safety Commission.
ACTION: Notice of extension of comment period.
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SUMMARY: The Commission is extending its comment period to receive
information concerning a petition asking the Commission to declare
natural rubber latex a strong sensitizer under the Federal Hazardous
Substances Act (``FHSA''). In response to seven requests, the
Commission is extending the comment period to allow submission of
comments 30 days after the original comment period of May 22, 2000.
DATES: The Office of the Secretary should receive comments on the
petition by June 21, 2000.
ADDRESSES: Comments, preferably in five copies, on the petition should
be mailed to the Office of the Secretary, Consumer Product Safety
Commission, Washington, DC 20207; telephone (301) 504-0800; or
delivered to the Office of the Secretary, Room 502, 4330 East-West
Highway, Bethesda, Maryland 20814. Comments may also be filed by
telefacsimile to (301) 504-0127 or by email to cpsc-os@cpsc.gov.
Comments should be captioned ``Petition HP 00-2, Petition on Natural
Rubber Latex.'' A copy of the petition is available for inspection at
the Commission's Public Reading Room, Room 419, 4330 East-West Highway,
Bethesda, Maryland.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about the substance of
the petition call or write to Suzanne Barone, Ph.D., Directorate for
Health Sciences, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington,
DC 20207; telephone (301) 504-0477, extension 1196. For information
about submitting comments call or write to Rockelle Hammond, Office of
the Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, DC
20207; telephone (301) 504-0800, ext. 1232.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 21, 2000, the Commission published
a notice announcing that it has docketed a petition asking that the
Commission declare natural rubber latex (``NRL'') a strong sensitizer
and requesting comments on the petition. 65 FR 15133. The petitioner,
Debi Adkins, editor of Latex Allergy News, asserts that a portion of
the population is allergic to NRL and can become seriously ill after
contact with consumer products that contain NRL. The March 21 Federal
Register notice provided for a 60-day comment period to end May 22,
2000. The Commission has received seven requests to extend the comment
period. Four letters requested a 30-day extension, two letters
requested 60 days, and another asked for 90 days. After considering
these requests, the Commission has decided to extend the comment period
30 days until June 21, 2000.\1\
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\1\ Chairman Ann Brown and Commissioner Mary Gall voted to
extend the comment period 30 days. Commissioner Thomas Moore voted
for a 60-day extension.
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The Commission will consider the comments received on the petition,
as well as information presented by the staff, and will decide whether
to grant or deny the petition. Should the Commission decide to grant
the petition and begin a rulemaking proceeding, there would be another
opportunity for the public to comment before the Commission could issue
a rule declaring NRL a strong sensitizer.
Dated: May 18, 2000.
Sadye E. Dunn,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 00-12994 Filed 5-23-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6355-01-P