[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 167 (Thursday, August 28, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45630-45631]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-22851]


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CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION


Proposed Collection of Information; Comment Request--Amended 
Interim Safety Standard for Cellulose Insulation

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 cellulose insulation. The collection of 
information is in regulations implementing the Amended Interim Safety 
Standard for Cellulose Insulation (16 CFR Part 1209). These regulations 
establish testing and recordkeeping requirements for manufacturers and 
importers of cellulose insulation subject to the amended interim 
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 October 27, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be 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. Alternatively, comments may be filed by 
telefacsimile to (301) 504-0127 or by e-mail to [email protected]. 
Comments should be captioned ``Cellulose Insulation.''

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 1204, call or write Robert E. Frye, Director, 
Office of Planning and Evaluation, Consumer Product Safety Commission, 
Washington, D.C. 20207; telephone (301) 504-0416, extension 2264.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Cellulose insulation is a form of thermal 
insulation used in houses and other residential buildings. Most 
cellulose insulation is manufactured by shredding and grinding used 
newsprint and adding fire-retardant chemicals.
    In 1978, Congress passed the Emergency Interim Consumer Product 
Safety Standard Act of 1978 (Pub. L. 95-319, 92 Stat. 386). That 
legislation is contained in section 35 of the Consumer Product Safety 
Act (15 U.S.C. 2080). This law directed the Commission to issue an 
interim safety standard incorporating the provisions for flammability 
and corrosiveness of cellulose insulation set forth in a purchasing 
specification issued by the General Services Administration (GSA). The 
law provided further that the interim safety standard should be amended 
to incorporate the requirements for flammability and corrosiveness of 
cellulose insulation in each revision to the GSA purchasing 
specification.
    In 1978, the Commission issued the Interim Safety Standard for 
Cellulose Insulation in accordance with section 35 of the CPSA. In 
1979, the Commission amended that standard to incorporate the latest 
revision of the GSA purchasing specification. The Amended Interim 
Safety Standard for Cellulose Insulation is codified at 16 CFR Part 
1209.
    The amended interim standard contains performance tests to assure 
that cellulose insulation will resist ignition from sustained heat 
sources, such as smoldering cigarettes or recessed light fixtures, and 
from small open-flame sources such as matches or candles. The standard 
also contains tests to assure that cellulose insulation will not be 
corrosive to copper, aluminum, or steel if exposed to water.
    Certification regulations implementing the standard require 
manufacturers, importers, and private labelers of cellulose insulation 
subject to the standard to perform tests to demonstrate that those 
products meet the requirements of the standard, and to maintain records 
of those tests. The certification regulations are codified at 16 CFR 
Part 1209, Subpart B.
    The Commission uses the information compiled and maintained by 
manufacturers, importers, and private labelers of cellulose insulation 
subject to the standard to help protect the public from risks of injury 
or death associated with fires involving cellulose insulation. More 
specifically, this information helps the Commission determine whether 
cellulose insulation subject to the standard complies with all 
applicable requirements. The Commission also uses this information to 
obtain corrective actions if cellulose insulation fails 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 in the certification regulations under control number 
3041-0022. OMB's most recent extension of approval will expire on 
November 30, 1997. 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 about 45 firms manufacture or 
import cellulose insulation subject to the amended interim standard. 
The Commission staff estimates that the certification regulations will 
impose an average annual burden of about 1,320 hours on each of those 
firms. That burden will result from conducting the testing required by 
the regulations and maintaining records of the results of that testing. 
The total annual burden imposed by the regulations on manufacturers and 
importers of cellulose insulation is approximately 59,400 hours.
    The hourly wage for the testing and recordkeeping required to 
conduct the testing and maintain records required by the regulations is 
about $15, for an estimated annual cost to the industry of 
approximately $891,000.
    The Commission will expend approximately one week of professional 
staff time each year reviewing and evaluating the records maintained by 
manufacturers and importers of cellulose insulation. The annual cost to 
the Federal government of the collection of information in these 
regulations is estimated to be $1,400.

[[Page 45631]]

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 regulations implementing the Amended 
Interim Safety Standard for Cellulose Insulation. 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: August 22, 1997.
Sadye E. Dunn,
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission.
[FR Doc. 97-22851 Filed 8-27-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6355-01-P