[Federal Register: March 1, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 40)]
[Notices]
[Page 9310-9311]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr01mr07-35]
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CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION
Proposed Extension of Approval of Information Collection; Comment
Request--Safety Standard for Multi-Purpose Lighters
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 request for an extension of approval of a collection of
information from manufacturers and importers of multi-purpose lighters.
Multi-purpose lighters are hand-held flame-producing products that
operate on fuel and have an ignition mechanism. They typically are used
to light devices such as charcoal and gas grills and fireplaces.
Devices intended primarily for igniting smoking materials are excluded
from the multi-purpose lighter category.
This collection of information consists of testing and
recordkeeping requirements in certification regulations implementing
the Safety Standard for Multi-Purpose Lighters. 16 CFR part 1212. 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 (OMB).
DATES: The Office of the Secretary must receive written comments not
later than April 30, 2007.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be captioned ``Multi-Purpose
Lighters'' 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 1999, the Commission issued the Safety
Standard for Multi-Purpose Lighters (16 CFR part 1212) under provisions
of the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA) (15 U.S.C. 2051-2084) to
eliminate or reduce risks of death and burn injury from fires
accidentally started by children playing with these lighters. The
standard contains performance requirements for multi-purpose lighters
that are intended to make lighters subject to the standard resist
operation by children younger than five years of age.
A. Certification Requirements
Section 14(a) of the CPSA (15 U.S.C. 2063(a)) requires
manufacturers, importers, and private labelers of a consumer product
subject to a consumer product safety standard to issue a certificate
stating that the product complies with all applicable consumer product
safety standards. Section 14(a) of the CPSA also requires that the
certificate of compliance must be based on a test of each product or
upon a reasonable testing program.
Section 14(b) of the CPSA authorizes the Commission to issue
regulations to prescribe a reasonable testing program to support
certificates of compliance with a consumer product safety standard.
Section 16(b) of the CPSA (15 U.S.C. 2065(b)) authorizes the Commission
to issue rules to require that firms ``establish and maintain'' records
to permit the Commission to determine compliance with rules issued
under the authority of the CPSA.
The Commission has issued regulations prescribing requirements for
a reasonable testing program to support certificates of compliance with
the standard for multi-purpose lighters. These regulations require
manufacturers and importers to submit a description of each model of
lighter, results of prototype qualification tests for compliance with
the standard, and other information before the introduction of each
model of lighter into commerce. These regulations also require
manufacturers, importers, and private labelers of multi-purpose
lighters to establish and maintain records to demonstrate successful
completion of all required tests to support the certificates of
compliance that they issue. 16 CFR part 1212, subpart B.
The Commission uses the information compiled and maintained by
manufacturers, importers, and private labelers of multi-purpose
lighters to protect consumers from risks of accidental deaths and burn
injuries associated with those lighters. More specifically, the
Commission uses this information to determine whether lighters comply
with the standard by resisting operation by young children. The
Commission also uses this information to obtain corrective actions if
multi-purpose lighters fail to comply with the standard in a manner
that creates a substantial risk of injury to the public.
OMB approved the collection of information in the certification
regulations for multi-purpose lighters under control number 3041-0130.
OMB's approval will expire on July 31, 2007. The Commission proposes to
request an extension of approval for these collection of information
requirements.
B. Estimated Burden
The cost of the rule's testing, reporting, recordkeeping, and other
certification-related provisions is comprised of time spent by testing
organizations on behalf of manufacturers and importers, and time spent
by firms to prepare, maintain and submit records to CPSC. Currently,
there are an estimated 16 firms that import, distribute and/or sell
multi-purpose lighters in the United States. Most manufacturers and
importers have 1 to 15 models for each firm. Based on past experience,
an estimate of 2 models per firm was a reasonable number for
calculating the burden. Each manufacturer would spend approximately 50
hours per model. Therefore, the total annual amount of time that will
be required for complying with the testing, recordkeeping, and
reporting requirements of the rule is approximately 1,600 hours. (16
firms x two models x 50 hours = 1,600 hours.) The annualized cost to
industry for the 1,600 hour burden for collection of information is
$71,712 at $44.82/hr based on total compensation of all civilian
workers in management and professional fields in the U.S., July 2006,
Bureau of Labor Statistics).
C. 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
[[Page 9311]]
minimized by use of automated, electronic or other technological
collection techniques, or other forms of information technology.
Dated: February 26, 2007.
Todd A. Stevenson,
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission.
[FR Doc. E7-3628 Filed 2-28-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6355-01-P