[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 29 (Wednesday, February 12, 2003)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 7072-7073]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-3423]


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CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION

16 CFR Part 1512


Requirements for Low-Speed Electric Bicycles

AGENCY: Consumer Product Safety Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: Public Law 107-319, 116 Stat. 2776 (the Act), enacted December 
4, 2002, subjects low-speed electric bicycles to the Commission's 
existing regulations at 16 CFR part 1512 and 16 CFR 1500.18(a)(12) for 
bicycles that are solely human powered. For purposes of this 
requirement, the Act defines a low-speed electric bicycle as ``a two-or 
three-wheeled vehicle with fully operable pedals and an electric motor 
of less than 750 watts (1 h.p.), whose maximum speed on a paved level 
surface, when powered solely by such a motor while ridden by an 
operator who weighs 170 pounds, is less than 20 mph.'' Public Law No. 
107-319, section 1, 116 Stat. 2776 (2002). The Commission is issuing 
this immediately effective amendment to its requirements for bicycles 
at 16 CFR part 1512 to promptly inform the public of the newly enacted 
statutory requirement on low-speed electric bicycles.

DATES: This amendment is effective upon publication in the Federal 
Register, that is, on February 12, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lowell Martin, Esq., Office of the 
General Counsel, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, DC 
20207; telephone (301) 504-7628; e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public Law 107-319 (the Act), enacted 
December 4, 2002, amends the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA), 15 
U.S.C. 2051, et seq., by adding a new

[[Page 7073]]

section 38 establishing requirements for low speed electric bicycles.
    Specifically, section 1 of the Act makes low-speed electric 
bicycles subject to the Commission's existing regulations on bicycles.

    (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, low-speed 
electric bicycles are consumer products within the meaning of 
section 3(a)(1)[of the CPSA] and shall be subject to the Commission 
regulations published at Sec.  1500.18(a)(12) and part 1512 of title 
16, Code of Federal Regulations.

    Public Law 107-319, section 1, 116 Stat. 2776.
    The Act defines the term ``low-speed electric bicycle'' as follows:

    (b) for purposes of this section, the term ``low-speed electric 
bicycle'' means a two- or three-wheeled vehicle with fully operable 
pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts (1 h.p.), whose 
maximum speed on a paved level surface, when powered solely by such 
a motor while ridden by an operator who weighs 170 pounds, is less 
than 20 mph.

    Id.
    The Commission's regulation at 16 CFR 1500.18(a)(12) makes the 
determination that bicycles that do not comply with the requirements of 
16 CFR part 1512 present a mechanical hazard within the meaning of 
section 2(s) of the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA). 15 U.S.C. 
1261(s). The effect of this determination is that noncomplying bicycles 
are ``hazardous substances'' for purposes of section 2(f)(1)(D) of the 
FHSA, and are also ``banned hazardous substances'' pursuant to section 
2(q)(1)(A) of the FHSA. 15 U.S.C. 1261(f)(1)(D), 1261(q)(1)(A). See 
also, Forester v. Consumer Product Safety Com'n, 559 F.2d 774, 783-786 
(D.C. Cir. 1977).
    The amendment to Sec.  1512.2 of 16 CFR part 1512 promulgated today 
incorporates the Act's definition of ``low-speed electric bicycle,'' 
thereby helping to inform the public of the statutory application of 
part 1512 to low-speed electric bicycles.
    Section 553(b)(3)(B) of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) 
authorizes an agency to dispense with certain notice procedures for a 
rule when it finds ``good cause'' to do so. 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B). 
Specifically, under section 553(b)(3)(B), the requirement for notice 
and an opportunity to comment does not apply when the agency, for good 
cause, finds that those procedures are ``impracticable, unnecessary, or 
contrary to the public interest.'' The requirement reflected in this 
amendment is imposed by the Act and is not discretionary with the 
Commission. Accordingly, the Commission hereby finds that notice and an 
opportunity for comment on this amendment are unnecessary.
    Section 553(d)(3) of the APA authorizes an agency, ``for good cause 
found and published with the rule,'' to dispense with the otherwise 
applicable requirement that a rule be published in the Federal Register 
at least 30 days before its effective date. The Commission hereby finds 
that the 30 day delay in effective date is unnecessary because the 
requirement reflected in the amendment was imposed by the Act and is 
not discretionary with the Commission.
    Because this amendment incorporates a requirement mandated by 
statute that is not discretionary with the Commission, and thus is not 
subject to notice and comment, this rule is not subject to the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601, et seq. Because this 
amendment incorporates a statutory requirement not subject to agency 
discretion, it is not an agency action subject to the National 
Environmental Policy Act, 42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.
    Pursuant to Executive Order No. 12988, the Commission states the 
preemptive effect of this regulation as follows. Section 1 of the Act 
provides that its requirements ``shall supercede any State law or 
requirement with respect to low-speed electric bicycles to the extent 
that such State law or requirement is more stringent than the Federal 
law or requirements referred to in subsection (a)[the Commission's 
regulations on bicycles at 16 CFR part 1512].'' Public Law No. 107-319, 
section 1, 116 Stat. 2776.

List of Subjects in 16 CFR Part 1512

    Consumer protection, Hazardous substances, Imports, Infants and 
children, Labeling, Law enforcement, and Toys.

    For the foregoing reasons, the Commission amends Title 16 of the 
Code of Federal Regulation to read as follows:

PART 1512--REQUIREMENTS FOR BICYCLES

    1. The authority citation for Part 1512 is revised to read as 
follows:

    Authority: Secs. 2(f)(1)(D), (q)(1)(A), (s), 3(e)(1), 74 Stat. 
372, 374, 375, as amended, 80 Stat. 1304-05, 83 Stat. 187-89 (15 
U.S.C. 1261, 1262); Pub. L. 107-319, 116 Stat. 2776.


Sec.  1512.2.  [Amended]

    2. Amend Sec.  1512.2, to revise paragraph (a) to read as follows:
    (a) Bicycle means:
    (1) A two-wheeled vehicle having a rear drive wheel that is solely 
human-powered;
    (2) A two- or three-wheeled vehicle with fully operable pedals and 
an electric motor of less than 750 watts (1 h.p.), whose maximum speed 
on a paved level surface, when powered solely by such a motor while 
ridden by an operator who weighs 170 pounds, is less than 20 mph.

    Dated: February 6, 2003.
Todd A. Stevenson,
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission.
[FR Doc. 03-3423 Filed 2-11-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6355-01-P