[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 101 (Wednesday, May 24, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 33525]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-12994]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION


Petition Requesting Rule Declaring Natural Rubber Latex a Strong 
Sensitizer; Extension of Comment Period

AGENCY: Consumer Product Safety Commission.

ACTION: Notice of extension of comment period.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Commission is extending its comment period to receive 
information concerning a petition asking the Commission to declare 
natural rubber latex a strong sensitizer under the Federal Hazardous 
Substances Act (``FHSA''). In response to seven requests, the 
Commission is extending the comment period to allow submission of 
comments 30 days after the original comment period of May 22, 2000.

DATES: The Office of the Secretary should receive comments on the 
petition by June 21, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Comments, preferably in five copies, on the petition should 
be mailed to the Office of the Secretary, Consumer Product Safety 
Commission, Washington, DC 20207; telephone (301) 504-0800; or 
delivered to the Office of the Secretary, Room 502, 4330 East-West 
Highway, Bethesda, Maryland 20814. Comments may also be filed by 
telefacsimile to (301) 504-0127 or by email to [email protected]. 
Comments should be captioned ``Petition HP 00-2, Petition on Natural 
Rubber Latex.'' A copy of the petition is available for inspection at 
the Commission's Public Reading Room, Room 419, 4330 East-West Highway, 
Bethesda, Maryland.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about the substance of 
the petition call or write to Suzanne Barone, Ph.D., Directorate for 
Health Sciences, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, 
DC 20207; telephone (301) 504-0477, extension 1196. For information 
about submitting comments call or write to Rockelle Hammond, Office of 
the Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, DC 
20207; telephone (301) 504-0800, ext. 1232.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 21, 2000, the Commission published 
a notice announcing that it has docketed a petition asking that the 
Commission declare natural rubber latex (``NRL'') a strong sensitizer 
and requesting comments on the petition. 65 FR 15133. The petitioner, 
Debi Adkins, editor of Latex Allergy News, asserts that a portion of 
the population is allergic to NRL and can become seriously ill after 
contact with consumer products that contain NRL. The March 21 Federal 
Register notice provided for a 60-day comment period to end May 22, 
2000. The Commission has received seven requests to extend the comment 
period. Four letters requested a 30-day extension, two letters 
requested 60 days, and another asked for 90 days. After considering 
these requests, the Commission has decided to extend the comment period 
30 days until June 21, 2000.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Chairman Ann Brown and Commissioner Mary Gall voted to 
extend the comment period 30 days. Commissioner Thomas Moore voted 
for a 60-day extension.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission will consider the comments received on the petition, 
as well as information presented by the staff, and will decide whether 
to grant or deny the petition. Should the Commission decide to grant 
the petition and begin a rulemaking proceeding, there would be another 
opportunity for the public to comment before the Commission could issue 
a rule declaring NRL a strong sensitizer.

    Dated: May 18, 2000.
Sadye E. Dunn,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 00-12994 Filed 5-23-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6355-01-P