[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 21 (Wednesday, January 31, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3373-3374]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-1763]



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CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION


Request for Comments Concerning Proposed Extension of Approval of 
a Collection of Information, Safety Standard for Walk-Behind Power Lawn 
Mowers

AGENCY: Consumer Product Safety Commission.

 
[[Page 3374]]

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (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 walk-behind power lawn 
mowers. This collection of information consists of testing and 
recordkeeping requirements in certification regulations implementing 
the Safety Standard for Walk-Behind Power Lawn Mowers (16 CFR Part 
1205). 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 1, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be captioned ``Walk-Behind Power 
Lawn Mowers'' and mailed to the Office of the Secretary, Consumer 
Product Safety Commission, Washington, D.C. 20207, or delivered to that 
office, room 502, 4330 East West Highway, Bethesda, Maryland.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about the proposed 
extension of the collection of information, or to obtain a copy of 16 
CFR Part 1205, call or write Nicholas V. Marchica, Director, Office of 
Planning and Evaluation, Consumer Product Safety Commission, 
Washington, D.C. 20207; telephone (301) 504-0416, extension 2243.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 1979, the Commission issued the Safety 
Standard for Walk-Behind Power Lawn Mowers (16 CFR Part 1205) under 
provisions of the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA) (15 U.S.C. 2051 et 
seq.) to eliminate or reduce risks of amputations, avulsions, 
lacerations, and other serious injuries which have resulted from the 
accidental contact of some part of an operator's body with the rotating 
blade of a power lawn mower. The standard contains performance and 
labeling requirements for walk-behind power lawn mowers to address 
risks of blade-contact injuries.

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 walk-behind power mowers. These regulations also 
require manufacturers, importers, and private labelers of walk-behind 
power mowers to establish and maintain records to demonstrate 
compliance with the requirements for testing to support certification 
of compliance. 16 CFR Part 1205, Subpart B.
    The Commission uses the information compiled and maintained by 
manufacturers and importers of walk-behind power mowers to protect 
consumers from risks of injuries associated with walk-behind power lawn 
mowers. More specifically, the Commission uses this information to 
determine whether the mowers they produce and import comply with the 
applicable standard. The Commission also uses this information to 
obtain corrective actions if walk-behind power mowers fail to comply 
with the standard in a manner which creates a substantial risk of 
injury to the public.
    The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approved the collection 
of information requirements for walk-behind mowers under control number 
3041-0091. OMB's most recent extension of approval will expire on March 
31, 1996. The Commission proposes to request an extension of approval 
without change for these collection of information requirements.

B. Estimated Burden

    The Commission staff estimates that about 75 firms are subject to 
the testing and recordkeeping requirements of the certification 
regulations. The Commission staff estimates further that the annual 
testing and recordkeeping burden imposed by the regulations on each of 
these firms on average is approximately 390 hours. Thus, the total 
annual burden imposed by the certification regulations on all 
manufacturers and importers of walk-behind power mowers is about 29,250 
hours.
    The Commission staff estimates that the hourly wage for the time 
required to perform the required testing and to maintain the required 
records is about $12, and that the annual total cost to the industry is 
approximately $351,000.
    During a typical year, the Commission will expend approximately two 
weeks of professional staff time reviewing records required to be 
maintained by the certification regulations for walk-behind power 
mowers. The annual cost to the Federal government of the collection of 
information in these regulations is estimated to be $2,800.

C. Request for Comments

    The Commission solicits written comments from all interested 
persons about the proposed extension of approval of the collection of 
information in the certification and recordkeeping regulations for 
walk-behind power mowers. The Commission specifically solicits 
information about the hourly burden and monetary costs imposed by the 
collection of information on firms subject to this collection of 
information. The Commission also seeks information relevant to the 
following topics:
     Whether the collection of information is necessary for the 
proper performance of the Commission's functions;
     Whether the information will have practical utility for 
the Commission;
     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 form of information 
technology.

    Dated: January 25, 1996.
Sadye E. Dunn,
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission.
[FR Doc. 96-1763 Filed 1-30-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6355-01-P