[Federal Register: February 12, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 28)]
[Notices]
[Page 6535]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12fe07-45]
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CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION
Collection of Information; Proposed Extension of Approval;
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 April 13, 2007.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be captioned ``Bicycle Helmets'' and
e-mailed to cpsc-os@cpsc.gov. Comments may also be sent by facsimile to
(301) 504-0127, or by mail to the Office of the Secretary, Consumer
Product Safety Commission, 4330 East West Highway, Bethesda, Maryland
20814.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about the proposed
renewal of this collection of information, or to obtain a copy of the
pertinent regulations, call or write Linda L. Glatz, Division of Policy
and Planning, Office of Information Technology and Technology Services,
Consumer Product Safety Commission, 4330 East West Highway, Bethesda,
Maryland 20814; (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'' Public Law 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
durable 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 for the collection of information in the certification
regulations.
A. 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 $896,000-$1,345,000 based on 20,000-30,000
hours times $44.82/hour (based on total compensation of all civilian
workers in managerial and professional positions in the U.S., July
2006, Bureau of Labor Statistics).
B. 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
collection techniques, or other forms of information technology.
Dated: February 7, 2007.
Todd A. Stevenson,
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission.
[FR Doc. E7-2316 Filed 2-9-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6355-01-P