[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 199 (Wednesday, October 15, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59377-59378]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-26057]


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CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION


Chairman's Public Field Hearing Concerning All Terrain Vehicles

AGENCY: Consumer Product Safety Commission.

ACTION: Notice of public field hearing.

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SUMMARY: The Chairman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (``CPSC 
or Commission'') will conduct a public field hearing in Albuquerque, 
New Mexico on November 6, 2003 to obtain information and views from the 
public concerning all terrain vehicles (``ATVs'').
    The Chairman requests members of the public to participate in this 
hearing. The Chairman is particularly interested in participation from 
users of ATVs (both recreational and occupational); persons who have 
been involved in accidents or have been injured while riding ATVs; 
state and local government officials or organizations involved with 
ATVs; medical professionals and emergency service providers; and 
manufacturers, distributors and dealers of ATVs.

DATES: The hearing will be held on November 6, 2003, beginning at 9 
a.m. Requests to make oral presentations, and 10 copies of the text of 
the presentation, must be received by the Office of the Secretary no 
later than November 3, 2003. Persons making presentations at the 
meeting should provide an additional 10 copies for dissemination on the 
date of the meeting. The Chairman reserves the right to limit the 
number of persons who make presentations and the duration of their 
presentations. To prevent similar presentations, groups will be 
directed to designate a spokesperson.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at Smith Brasher Hall, 717 
University Blvd., S.W. (On the corner of University Blvd. and Coal 
Avenue), Albuquerque, New Mexico. Requests to make oral presentations, 
and texts of oral presentations should be captioned ``ATV Hearing'' and 
mailed to the Office of the Secretary, Consumer Product Safety 
Commission, Washington, DC 20207, or delivered to that office, room 
502, 4330 East-West Highway, Bethesda, Maryland 20814. Requests and 
texts of oral presentations may also be submitted by facsimile to (301) 
504-0127 or by e-mail to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about the schedule for 
submission of requests to make oral presentations and submission of 
texts of oral presentations, contact Rockelle Hammond, office of the 
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, DC 20207; 
telephone (301) 504-6833; fax (301) 504-0127; or e-mail 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

    This meeting will be the third in a series of field hearings on 
ATVs. During the summer the Chairman conducted hearings in Alaska, and 
the Commission held a hearing in Morgantown, West Virginia. The 
question of ATV safety has been an issue of interest to the Commission 
since the 1980's when the Commission filed a lawsuit under section 12 
of the Consumer Product Safety Act (``CPSA'') to declare ATVs an 
imminently hazardous consumer product. 15 U.S.C. 2061(b)(1). The 
lawsuit was settled in 1988 by Consent Decrees between the Commission 
and ATV distributors that were effective for 10 years. The Commission 
continues to gather information about ATV-related injuries and deaths.
    From 1997 to 2001 the estimated number of ATV-related injuries 
treated in hospital emergency rooms rose from 54,700 to 111,700 (a 104% 
increase). Deaths have also been increasing, and the Commission staff 
has estimated that there were 547 deaths associated with the use of 
ATVs in 2000. From 1997 to 2001 the estimated number of ATV drivers 
rose from 12 million to 16.3 million (a 36% increase), the estimated 
total number of driving hours rose from 1575 million to 2364 million (a 
50% increase), and the estimated number of ATVs rose from 4 million to 
5.6 million (a 40% increase). None of the increases in these measures 
of exposure to the risk of operating ATVs accounts for the increases in 
the number of injuries during the same time period.
    The Commission has been petitioned by the Consumer Federation of 
America and other groups (Petition CP-02-4/HP-02-1) requesting that the 
Commission ban adult-size four wheel ATVs that are sold for the use of 
children under 16 years of age. The Commission requested written 
comments on the petition (67 FR 64353 and 67 FR 78776). This hearing 
will provide an additional opportunity for the public to express their 
views about this petition.

[[Page 59378]]

B. The Public Hearing

    The purpose of the public hearing is to provide a forum for oral 
presentations concerning ATVs. Specifically, the Chairman requests 
comments from interested stakeholders and citizens on the following 
areas of interest:
    1. Information about local and state ATV use restrictions, 
regulations and licensing activities and their impact upon ATV safety.
    2. Current ATV use patterns (recreational, industrial, 
agricultural, or other uses), injuries and safety issues related to 
those specific uses.
    3. Information from ATV owners and users regarding ATV use, safety 
issues, accidents and injuries, minimum riding and purchasing age 
requirements, and future government action.
    4. Current local, state and industry safety efforts and training 
programs.
    5. Information from ATV manufacturers and dealers regarding the 
availability and use of safety training for ATV purchasers, and ATV 
consumer purchasing patterns (age, model type and size, experienced vs. 
inexperienced riders, etc.).
    6. Whether factors such as the rider's age, ATV engine size, and/or 
the large used ATV sales market (or any other factors) have influenced 
the increase in injuries and deaths observed by the Commission staff 
during its recent ATV risk analysis study.
    7. Whether there should be a performance standard for ATVs and what 
requirements related to safety should be included.
    Participation in the hearing is open. See the DATES section of this 
notice for information on making requests to give oral presentations at 
the hearing.

    Dated: October 8, 2003.
Todd A. Stevenson,
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission.
[FR Doc. 03-26057 Filed 10-14-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6355-01-P