[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 61 (Wednesday, March 31, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15350-15351]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-7903]


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CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION


All-Terrain Vehicles; Commission Resolution

AGENCY: Consumer Product Safety Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Consumer Product Safety Commission (``Commission'') hereby 
announces its issuance of a Resolution commending Bombardier Inc. 
(``Bombardier'') for the company's action plan regarding all-terrain 
vehicle (``ATV'') safety.\1\
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    \1\ Chairman Ann Brown and Commissioner Thomas H. Moore voted to 
approve the Resolution. Commissioner Mary Sheila Gall abstained from 
voting and issued a statement explaining the basis for her 
abstention. The statement of Commissioner Gall is available to the 
public through the Office of the Secretary, Consumer Product Safety 
Commission, Washington, DC 20207.

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[[Page 15351]]

    Historical information regarding ATV safety-related actions by the 
Commission and other members of the ATV industry is included in the 
Commission's Federal Register notice of September 9, 1998 (63 FR 
48199). That notice also requested public comment on whether the 
Commission should issue a Resolution commending certain members of the 
industry for their ATV action plans. After consideration of public 
comments, the Commission issued its Resolution commending such other 
industry members (63 FR 67861).
    Bombardier's action plan is similar to action plans being carried 
out by other ATV manufacturers/distributors that the Commission 
commended. Therefore, the Commission views the public comments received 
in response to its Federal Register notice of September 9, 1998 as 
applicable to the question of whether the Commission should also 
commend Bombardier, and has considered those comments in deciding to 
issue this commendation. Accordingly, the Commission has determined 
that it is not necessary to solicit comment on whether it should issue 
its Resolution regarding Bombardier.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about the Resolution, 
call or write Leonard H. Goldstein, Office of the General Counsel, 
Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, DC 20207; (301) 504-
0980, Ext. 2202.

    Dated: March 26, 1999.
Sadye E. Dunn,
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Resolution of the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission 
Commending Bombardier Inc.

    The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (the 
``Commission''), by vote on March 19, 1999, Resolves that:
    Whereas, Bombardier Inc. has announced its intention to sell ATVs 
in the United States; and
    Whereas, Bombardier has agreed to undertake voluntary actions 
(``Bombardier's ATV Action Plan'') that are comparable to those being 
undertaken by the current manufacturers and/or distributors of ATVs 
that the Commission has commended (See 63 FR 67861), including actions 
to (i) promote training, including through the offer of a cash 
incentive to first-time ATV purchasers, (ii) implement a multi-year 
information and education safety campaign emphasizing, among other 
things, the risks created when children younger than 16 operate or ride 
on adult-sized ATVs, (iii) not market, sell or offer to sell adult-size 
ATVs to or for use by children younger than 16, (iv) not market or sell 
three-wheel ATVs, (v) provide safety information on and with ATVs, 
including giving an ATV Safety Alert to each purchaser, (vi) retain the 
services of an independent organization to conduct the undercover 
monitoring of an agreed-upon minimum number of randomly selected 
dealers to monitor compliance with minimum age requirements, (vii) 
undertake various other safety measures, and (viii) notify the 
Commission at least 60 days in advance of any material changes to 
Bombardier's ATV Action Plan; and
    Whereas, a copy of Bombardier's ATV Action Plan is available to the 
public upon request to the Commission's Office of the Secretary; and
    Whereas, notwithstanding implementation of Bombardier's ATV Action 
Plan, the Commission reserves all its statutory enforcement, regulatory 
and oversight powers with respect to ATVs.
    Now, therefore:
    1. The Commission commends Bombardier for its ATV Action Plan, 
which the Commission believes will provide safety benefits to 
consumers.
    2. The Commission will actively monitor the voluntary actions of 
Bombardier as well as those of the current manufacturers and/or 
distributors of ATVs by, among other things, increasing the undercover 
inspections it conducts of ATV dealerships to ensure compliance with 
age recommendations; increasing its inspections to ensure proper use of 
labels and hangtags; and collecting and assessing information regarding 
the effectiveness of training incentives. Other activities are set 
forth in the Federal Register notice of September 9, 1998 (63 FR 
48199), which notified the public of the voluntary actions of the 
current manufacturers/distributors of ATVs. The Commission will take 
appropriate action based on the results of its monitoring activity. The 
Commission also will continue to track the death and injury rate 
associated with ATVs and reserves its authority to take action based on 
this data.

[FR Doc. 99-7903 Filed 3-30-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6355-01-P