[Federal Register: June 9, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 111)]
[Notices]
[Page 32329-32330]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr09jn04-42]
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CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION
Proposed Collection of Information; Comment Request--Safety
Standard for Bicycle Helmets
AGENCY: Consumer Product Safety Commission.
ACTION: Notice.
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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 bicycle helmets. The collection of
information is in regulations implementing the Safety Standard for
Bicycle Helmets. 16 CFR part 1203. These regulations establish testing
and recordkeeping requirements for manufacturers and importers of
bicycle helmets subject to the 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 August 9, 2004.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be mailed to the Office of the
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, DC 20207, or
delivered to that office, room 502, 4330 East-West Highway, Bethesda,
Maryland, 20814. Alternatively, comments may be filed by telefacsimile
to (301) 504-0127 or by e-mail to cpsc-os@cpsc.gov. Comments should be
captioned ``Bicycle Helmets.''
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 1203, call or write Linda L. Glatz, Office of
Planning and Evaluation, Consumer Product Safety Commission,
Washington, DC 20207; telephone (301) 504-7671, or by e-mail to
lglatz@cpsc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
In 1994, Congress passed the ``Child Safety Protection Act,''
which, among other things, included the ``Children's Bicycle Helmet
Safety Act of 1994'' Pub. L. 103-267, 108 Stat. 726. This law directed
the Commission to issue a final standard applicable to bicycle helmets
that would replace several existing voluntary standards with a single
uniform standard that would include provisions to protect against the
risk of helmets coming off the heads of bicycle riders, address the
risk of injury to children, and cover other issues as appropriate. The
Commission issued the final bicycle helmet standard in 1998. It is
codified at 16 CFR part 1203.
The standard requires all bicycle helmets manufactured after March
10, 1999, to meet impact-attenuation and other requirements. The
standard also contains testing and recordkeeping requirements to ensure
that bicycle helmets meet the standard's requirements. Certification
regulations implementing the standard require manufacturers, importers,
and private labelers of bicycle helmets subject to the standard to (1)
perform tests to demonstrate that those products meet the requirements
of the standard, (2) maintain records of those tests, and (3) affix
permanent labels to the helmets stating that the helmet complies with
the applicable standard. The certification regulations are codified at
16 CFR part 1203, subpart B.
The Commission uses the information compiled and maintained by
manufacturers, importers, and private labelers of bicycle helmets
subject to the standard to help protect the public from risks of injury
or death associated with head injury associated with bicycle riding.
More specifically, this information helps the Commission determine
whether bicycle helmets subject to the standard comply with all
applicable requirements. The Commission also uses this information to
obtain corrective actions if bicycle helmets fail to comply with the
standard in a manner that 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
3041-0127. 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 approximately 30 firms
manufacture or import bicycle helmets subject to the standard. There
are an estimated 200 different models of bicycle helmets currently
marketed in the U.S. The Commission staff estimates that the time
required to comply with the collection of information requirements is
approximately 100 to 150 hours per model per year. The total amount of
time estimated for compliance with these requirements will be 20,000 to
30,000 hours per year (200 models x 100-150 hours/model = 20,000-30,000
hours). The annualized cost to respondents for the hour burden for
collection of information is $489,600-$734,400 based on 20,000-30,000
hours times $24.48/hour (based on total compensation of all civilian
workers in the U.S., September 2003, Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Request for Comments
The Commission solicits written comments from all interested
persons about the proposed collection of information. The Commission
specifically solicits information relevant to the following topics:
--Whether the collection of information described above is necessary
for the proper performance of the Commission's functions, including
whether the information would have practical utility;
--Whether the estimated burden of the proposed collection of
information is accurate;
--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
[[Page 32330]]
collection techniques, or other forms of information technology.
Dated: June 2, 2004.
Todd A. Stevenson,
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission.
[FR Doc. 04-12960 Filed 6-8-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6355-01-P