Agency information collection activities; proposals, submissions, and approvals,

[Federal Register: March 30, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 61)]

[Notices]

[Page 16526-16527]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr30mr04-46]

CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION

Proposed Collection of Information; Comment Request--Safety Standard for Multi-Purpose Lighters

AGENCY: Consumer Product Safety Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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.

DATES: The Office of the Secretary must receive written comments not later than June 1, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be captioned ``Multi-Purpose Lighters'' and 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. Written comments may also be sent to the Office of the Secretary by facsimile at (301) 504-0127 or by e-mail to cpsc-os@cpsc.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about this proposed extension of approval of the collection of information, or to obtain a copy of 16 CFR part 1212, call or write Linda L. Glatz, Office of Planning and Evaluation, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, DC 20207; telephone (301) 504-7671.

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.

1. 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

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   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 multipurpose lighters 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 for multi-purpose lighters under control number 3041-0130. OMB's approval will expire on July 31, 2004. The Commission proposes to request an extension of approval without change for these collection of information requirements.

2. 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. There are an estimated 100 firms involved. Currently the Commission believes that there may be as many as 200 different models of multi-purpose lighters on the market. With a few exceptions, most manufacturers and importers have more than one model. 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 10,000 hours. (100 firms x two models x 50 hours = 10,000 hours.) The annualized cost to industry for the 10,000 hour burden for collection of information is $244,800 based on an estimated hourly wage of $24.48/hr for the testing and recordkeeping required by the regulation.

3. 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: March 25, 2004. Todd A. Stevenson, Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission.

   [FR Doc. 04-7086 Filed 3-29-04; 8:45 am]

   BILLING CODE 6355-01-P