[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 198 (Friday, October 14, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 60031-60036]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-20557]


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

CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION

16 CFR Chapter II


All Terrain Vehicles; Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking; 
Request for Comments and Information

AGENCY: Consumer Product Safety Commission.

ACTION: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking.

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

SUMMARY: The Commission is considering whether there may be 
unreasonable risks of injury and death associated with some all terrain 
vehicles (``ATVs''). The Commission is considering what actions, both 
regulatory and non-regulatory, it could take to reduce ATV-related 
deaths and injuries. As described below, the Commission has had 
extensive involvement with ATVs since 1984. However, in recent years 
there has been a dramatic increase in both the numbers of ATVs in use 
and the numbers of ATV-related deaths and injuries. According to the 
Commission's 2004 annual report of ATV deaths and injuries (the most 
recent annual report issued by the Commission), on December 31, 2004, 
the Commission had reports of 6,494 ATV-related deaths that have 
occurred since 1982. Of these, 2,019 (31 percent of the total) were 
under age 16, and 845 (13 percent of the total) were under age 12. The 
2004 annual report states that in 2004 alone, an estimated 129,500 
four-wheel ATV-related injuries were treated in hospital emergency 
rooms nationwide. While this represents an increase in injuries in 2004 
compared with 2003, the total number of four-wheel ATVs in use in the 
United States has increased and the estimated risk of injury per 10,000 
four-wheel ATVs in use remained essentially level over the previous 
year.
    This advance notice of proposed rulemaking (``ANPR'') initiates a 
rulemaking proceeding under the Consumer Product Safety Act (``CPSA'') 
and the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (``FHSA'').\1\ However, the 
notice discusses a broad range of regulatory and non-regulatory 
alternatives that could be used to reduce ATV-related deaths and 
injuries. The Commission invites public comment on these alternatives 
and any other approaches that could reduce ATV-related deaths and 
injuries. The Commission also solicits written comments concerning the 
risks of injury associated with ATVs, ways these risks could be 
addressed, and the economic impacts of the various alternatives 
discussed. The Commission also invites interested persons to submit an 
existing standard, or a statement of intent to modify or develop a 
voluntary standard, to address the risk of injury described in this 
ANPR.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Chairman Hal Stratton and Commissioners Thomas H. Moore and 
Nancy A. Nord issued statements, copies of which are available from 
the Commission's Office of the Secretary or from the Commission's 
Web site, http://www.cpsc.gov.

DATES: Written comments and submissions in response to this ANPR must 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
be received by December 13, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be e-mailed to [email protected]. Comments 
should be captioned ``ATV ANPR.'' Comments may also be mailed, 
preferably in five copies, to the Office of the Secretary, Consumer 
Product Safety Commission, Washington, DC 20207-0001, or delivered to 
the Office of the Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Room 
502, 4330 East-West Highway, Bethesda, Maryland; telephone (301) 504-
7923. Comments also may be filed by facsimile to (301) 504-0127.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elizabeth Leland, Project Manager, ATV 
Safety Review, Directorate for Economic Analysis, Consumer Product 
Safety Commission, Washington, DC 20207; telephone (301) 504-7706 or e-
mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

    The Commission's involvement with ATVs is longstanding. ATVs first 
appeared on the market in the early 1970's. After a marked increase in 
their sales and in ATV-related incidents, the Commission became 
concerned about their safety in the early 1980's. On May 31, 1985, the 
Commission published an ANPR stating the Commission's safety concerns 
and outlining a range of options the Commission was considering to 
address ATV-related hazards. 50 FR 23139. At that time, the Commission 
had reports of 161 ATV-related fatalities which had occurred between 
January 1982 and April 1985, and the estimated number of emergency room 
treated injuries associated with ATVs was 66,956 in 1984. The majority 
of ATVs in use at that time were three-wheel models. One of the options 
mentioned in the ANPR was proceeding under section 12 of the CPSA to 
declare ATVs an imminently hazardous consumer product, see 15 U.S.C. 
2061(b)(1). In 1987, the Commission filed such a lawsuit against the 
five companies that were major ATV distributors at that time. The 
lawsuit was settled by Consent Decrees filed on

[[Page 60032]]

April 28, 1988 that were effective for ten years.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ The five distributors were American Honda Motor Co., Inc., 
American Suzuki Motor Corp., Polaris Industries, L.P., Yamaha Motor 
Corp., USA, and Kawasaki Motors Corp., USA. In 1996, Arctic Cat, 
Inc. began manufacturing ATVs and entered into an Agreement and 
Action Plan with the Commission in which the company agreed to take 
substantially the same actions as required under the Consent 
Decrees.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. The Consent Decrees

    The Consent Decrees included a broad range of provisions. In them, 
the distributors agreed to: (1) Halt the distribution of three-wheel 
ATVs, (2) attempt ``in good faith'' to devise a voluntary performance 
standard satisfactory to the Commission; (3) label ATVs with four types 
of warnings, the language and format of which were specified in the 
Consent Decrees; (4) supplement existing owners manuals with safety 
text and illustrations specified in the Consent Decrees and to prepare 
new owners manuals with specified safety information; (5) provide point 
of purchase safety materials meeting guidelines specified by the 
Consent Decrees, including hangtags, a safety video, a safety alert for 
dissemination to all purchasers stating the number of ATV deaths (to be 
updated annually), a 4 foot by 4 foot safety poster for dealers to 
display stating the number of ATV-associated fatalities (updated 
annually); (6) offer a rider training course to ATV purchasers and 
members of their immediate families at no cost; (7) run prime-time 
television spots on ATV safety; (8) include safety messages in all 
subsequent advertising and promotional materials and (9) conduct a 
nationwide ATV safety public awareness and media campaign. The 
distributors also agreed in the Consent Decrees that they would 
``represent affirmatively'' that ATVs with engine sizes between 70 and 
90 cc should be used only by those age 12 and older, and that ATVs with 
engine sizes larger than 90 cc should be used only by those 16 and 
older. Because distributors did not sell their products directly to 
consumers but through dealerships (which were not parties to the 
Consent Decrees), distributors agreed to ``use their best efforts to 
reasonably assure'' that ATVs would ``not be purchased by or for the 
use of'' anyone who did not meet the age restrictions. While the 
Consent Decrees were in effect, the distributors entered into 
agreements with the Commission and the Department of Justice agreeing 
to monitor their dealers to determine whether they were complying with 
the age recommendations and to terminate the franchises of dealers who 
repeatedly failed to provide the appropriate age recommendations.

2. The Voluntary Standard

    Industry had begun work on a voluntary standard before the Consent 
Decrees were in place. Distributors that were parties to the Decrees 
agreed to work in good faith to develop a voluntary standard that was 
satisfactory to the Commission within four months of the signing of the 
Consent Decrees. The five companies, working through the Specialty 
Vehicle Institute of America (``SVIA''), submitted a standard for 
approval as an American National Standards Institute (``ANSI'') 
standard in December 1988. On January 13, 1989, the Commission 
published a notice in the Federal Register concluding that the 
voluntary standard was ``satisfactory'' to the Commission.\3\ 54 FR 
1407. The standard, known as ANSI/SVIA 1-2001, The American National 
Standard for Four Wheel All-Terrain Vehicles--Equipment, Configuration, 
and Performance Requirements, was first published in 1990, and was 
revised in 2001. The ANSI standard has requirements for equipment, 
configuration, and performance of four-wheel ATVs. It does not contain 
any provisions concerning labeling, owners manuals or other information 
to be provided to the purchaser because such requirements were stated 
in the Consent Decrees that were in effect when the ANSI standard was 
developed. Provisions of the ANSI standard are discussed in more detail 
in section D.1 below.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ In the FR notice, the Commission noted that it 
``specifically reserved its rights under the consent decrees to 
institute certain enforcement or rulemaking proceedings in the 
future.'' 54 FR 1407.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

3. ATV Action Plans

    The Consent Decrees expired in April 1998. The Commission entered 
into ``Action Plans'' (also known as letters of undertaking) with seven 
major ATV distributors (the five who had been parties to the Consent 
Decrees, plus Arctic Cat, Inc. and Bombardier, Inc.) See 63 FR 48199 
(summarizing Action Plans). Except for Bombardier's, all of the Action 
Plans took effect in April 1998 at the expiration of the Consent 
Decrees. (Bombardier's took effect in 1999 when the company began 
selling ATVs.) The substance of the Action Plans is described in 
letters of undertaking submitted by each of the companies.\4\ The 
letters are not identical, but the companies agreed to take 
substantially similar actions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ These documents are available on CPSC's Web site at http://www.cpsc.gov/library/foia/foia98/fedreg/honda.pdf; http://www.cpsc.gov/library/foia/foia98/fedreg/suzuki.pdf; http://www.cpsc.gov/library/foia/foia98/fedreg/kawasaki.pdf; http://www.cpsc.gov/library/foia/foia98/fedreg/polaris; http://www.cpsc.gov/library/foia/foia98/fedreg/yamaha.pdf; http://www.cpsc.gov/library/foia/foia98/fedred/arctic.pdf; and http://www.cpsc.gov/library/foia/foia99/pubcom/bobard.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Generally, under the Action Plans the companies agreed to continue 
many of the actions the Consent Decrees had required concerning the age 
recommendations, point of sale information (i.e., warning labels, 
owners manuals, hang tags, safety alerts, and safety video), 
advertising and promotional materials, training, and stopping 
distribution of three-wheel ATVs. The companies also agreed to 
implement an information/education program directed primarily at 
discouraging children under 16 from operating adult-size ATVs. The 
Action Plans are discussed in greater detail in section D.2 below.

4. Termination of Previous Rulemaking

    As mentioned above, the Commission issued an ANPR concerning ATVs 
in 1985. However, the Commission chose to pursue legal action under 
section 12 to address ATV deaths and injuries rather than taking 
regulatory action. In 1991, the Commission terminated the rulemaking 
proceeding it had started with the 1985 ANPR. 56 FR 47166. At the time 
of the rulemaking termination, the Consent Decrees were in effect, the 
five ATV distributors had agreed to conduct monitoring of dealers' 
compliance with the Consent Decrees' provisions, and ATV-related 
injuries and deaths were declining. The termination notice stated that 
the ATV-related injury rate for the general population (per ATV) had 
dropped by about 50 percent between 1985 and 1989, and ATV-related 
fatalities had declined from an estimated 347 in 1986 to about 258 in 
1989. Id. At 47170. The Commission concluded that under the 
circumstances present at that time, a rule was not reasonably necessary 
to eliminate or reduce an unreasonable risk of injury associated with 
ATVs.
    The Commission's termination of its rulemaking proceeding was 
challenged by Consumer Federation of America (``CFA'') and U.S. PIRG 
arguing that withdrawing the ANPR rather than pursuing a ban on the 
sale of new adult-size ATVs for use by children under 16 was arbitrary 
and capricious. The court upheld the Commission's decision. Consumer 
Federation Of America v. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 990 F.2d 
1298 (D.C. Cir. 1993). The court noted that it was reasonable for the 
Commission to determine the

[[Page 60033]]

effectiveness of the Consent Decrees and monitoring activities before 
considering whether additional action would be necessary. Id. at 1306.

5. CFA's Petition and the Chairman's Memo

    In August 2002, CFA and eight other groups requested that the 
Commission take several actions regarding ATVs. CPSC docketed the 
portion of the request that met the Commission's docketing requirements 
in 16 CFR 1051.5(a). That request asked for a rule banning the sale of 
adult-size four wheel ATVs for the use of children under 16 years old. 
The staff prepared a briefing package analyzing the petition which was 
provided to the Commission on February 2, 2005 (available on CPSC's Web 
site in four parts beginning with http://www.cpsc.gov/library/foia/foia05/brief/atvpt1.pdf). The staff concluded that, given the 
Commission's lack of authority to regulate the use of ATVs and the 
difficulties of enforcing a sales ban, the requested sales ban would 
likely have little impact on reducing ATV-related deaths and injuries.
    On June 8, 2005, Chairman Hal Stratton delivered a memorandum to 
the staff asking the staff to review all ATV safety actions and make 
recommendations on a number of issues. The memo directed the staff to 
consider whether: (1) The current ATV voluntary standards are adequate 
in light of trends in ATV-related deaths and injuries; (2) the current 
ATV voluntary standards or other standards pertaining to ATVs should be 
adopted as mandatory standards by the Commission; and (3) other 
actions, including rulemaking, should be taken to enhance ATV safety. 
The memo also identified several specific issues for the staff to 
review, namely: (1) Pre-sale training/certification requirements; (2) 
enhanced warning labels; (3) formal notification of safety rules by 
dealers to buyers; (4) the addition of a youth ATV model appropriate 
for 14-year olds; (5) written notification of child injury data at the 
time of sale; (6) separate standards for vehicles designed for two 
riders; and (7) performance safety standards. The memo directed the 
staff to give particular attention to improving the safety of young 
riders.
    The Commission is issuing this ANPR as part of the review requested 
by the Chairman. The staff will consider the general and specific 
issues highlighted in the Chairman's memo, as well as any other 
approaches that could reduce ATV-related deaths and injuries. This ANPR 
is issued under the authority of the Consumer Product Safety Act 
(``CPSA''), 15 U.S.C. 2051 et seq., and the Federal Hazardous 
Substances Act (``FHSA''), 15 U.S.C. 1261 et seq.

B. The Product

    ATVs are motorized vehicles having broad, low pressure tires and 
are designed for off-road use. Originally, three-wheel ATVs 
predominated. However, since the Consent Decrees, only four-wheel ATVs 
have been marketed and sold in the United States (although some three-
wheel ATVs are still in use).
    Sales of ATVs have increased dramatically in recent years. Between 
1996 and 2003 annual sales increased each year for a cumulative 
increase of about 150 percent to about 800,000 units in 2003. Annual 
rates of increase in sales may be slowing, but sales during 2000-2002 
were still at record levels compared to the mid-1980s when sales were 
about 500,000 units annually. There also appears to be a trend toward 
producing larger ATVs. The engine sizes of ATVs currently for sale 
range from 40 cc to 760 cc, with at least one company planning to have 
an 800 cc ATV in its 2006 product line. The 1985 ANPR stated that 
typical ATVs at that time had engines between 50 cc and 250 cc. In the 
mid-1990s, new entrants began developing and marketing youth ATV 
models. Sales of youth models have continued to increase, and in 2002, 
an estimated 80,000 youth ATVs (or about 10-12 percent of all new ATVs) 
were sold.
    The staff identified 32 domestic and foreign manufacturers of model 
year 2003 ATVs. About half of these manufacturers have business 
operations in the U.S. Some of these produce ATVs in the U.S. while 
others produce ATVs abroad but have a U.S. subsidiary or affiliate that 
distributes them in the U.S. The remaining 16 of the 32 manufacturers 
are foreign manufacturers that export ATVs to independently owned 
American importers who distribute the ATVs under the name of the 
foreign manufacturer, under their own name or under the name of a 
private labeler, or who deal directly with the ultimate consumer. Many 
of these foreign manufacturers entered the U.S. market in the past five 
years, originally selling only a youth ATV model. They are now 
beginning to market and sell adult ATVs as well.
    Most ATVs are sold through manufacturers' networks of dealers. 
About 5000 dealers are affiliated with the major ATV distributors. ATVs 
are also sold in such places as lawn and garden shops, boat and marine 
product dealerships and farm equipment dealerships. ATVs, particularly 
those manufactured by the newer foreign entrants, are also now sold on 
various Web sites, through ``big box'' retailers, and in some instances 
directly to consumers by the manufacturer.

C. The Risk of Injury

    The most recent annual report of ATV deaths and injuries that the 
Commission has issued is the 2004 Annual Report (issued in September 
2005). According to that report, the Commission had reports of 6,494 
ATV-related deaths that have occurred since 1982. Of these, 2,019 (31 
percent of the total) were under 16 years of age and 845 (13 percent of 
the total) were under 12 years of age. According to the 2004 Annual 
Report, 569 ATV-related deaths were reported to the Commission for 
2003. Deaths reported to the Commission represent a minimum count of 
ATV-related deaths. To account for ATV-related deaths that are not 
reported to the Commission, the staff calculates an estimated number of 
ATV deaths. The most recent estimate of ATV-related deaths for 2003 is 
740.
    CPSC collects information on hospital emergency room treated 
injuries. The estimated number of ATV-related injuries treated in 
hospital emergency rooms in 2004 was 136,100. This is an increase of 
about eight percent over the 2003 estimate. The estimated number of 
injuries to children under 16 in 2004 was 44,700 (about 33 percent of 
the total estimated injuries for 2004).
    The staff also estimates the risk of injury and the risk of death 
per 10,000 ATVs in use. According to the 2004 Annual Report, the 
estimated risk of injury for four-wheel ATVs for 2004 was 187.9 
injuries per 10,000 four-wheel ATVs in use. A recent high in the 
estimated risk of injury occurred at 200.9 in 2001. The estimated risk 
of death for four-wheel ATVs in 2003 was 1.1 deaths per 10,000 four-
wheel ATVs in use. In 1999, the earliest comparable year due to changes 
in data collection, the estimated risk of death was 1.4 deaths per 
10,000 four-wheel ATVs in use.
    Based on injury and exposure studies conducted in 1997 and, most 
recently, in 2001, the estimated number of ATV-related injuries treated 
in hospital emergency rooms rose from 52,800 to 110,100 (a 109 percent 
increase). Injuries to children under 16 rose 60 percent. During these 
years, the estimated number of ATV drivers rose from 12 to 16.3 million 
(a 36 percent increase); the estimated number of driving hours rose 
from 1,580 to 2,360 million (a 50 percent increase); and the estimated 
number of ATVs rose from 4 to 5.6 million (a 40 percent increase). The 
chief finding of the 2001 Report

[[Page 60034]]

was that increases in the estimated numbers of drivers, driving hours 
and vehicles did not account for all of the increase in the estimated 
number of ATV injuries.

D. Current Safety Efforts

1. ANSI Standard

    The ANSI voluntary standard for ATVs, ANSI/SVIA 1-2001, was first 
published in 1990 and was revised in 2001. The ANSI standard defines an 
ATV as a vehicle designed to travel on four low pressure tires, having 
a seat designed to be straddled by the operator, having handlebars for 
steering control, and intended for use by a single operator. Under the 
standard, ATVs are divided into four categories: Category G for general 
recreational and utility use; Category S for recreational use by 
experienced operators; Category U intended primarily for utility use; 
and Category Y intended for operators under 16 years old. The Category 
Y is further subdivided into Y-6 for children age 6 and older and Y-12 
for children age 12 and older.
    General requirements cover service and parking brakes, mechanical 
suspension, clutch and gearshift controls, engine and fuel cutoff 
devices, throttle controls, lighting, tires, operator foot environment, 
electromagnetic compatibility, and sound level limits. Vehicle 
performance requirements are specified for service and parking brake 
operation, and pitch stability. In addition, for youth ATVs, there are 
requirements for maximum speed capability and for speed limiting 
devices. ATVs in the Y-6 category must have a speed limit capability of 
10 mph and a maximum unrestricted speed of 15 mph. ATVs in the Y-12 
category must have speed limit capability of 15 mph and a maximum 
unrestricted speed of 30 mph. The ANSI standard does not contain any 
labeling requirements or other provisions concerning safety 
information.
    The major ATV distributors have indicated that they comply with the 
voluntary standard. However, the staff has not conducted any studies to 
determine the level of compliance by all ATV companies. The degree to 
which all ATV companies comply with the voluntary standard's provisions 
is an issue that the staff will examine as it pursues its review. 
Additionally, the adequacy of the voluntary standard is an issue that 
the staff will examine in the course of its review.

2. ATV Action Plans

    As explained above, the ATV Action Plans are voluntary agreements 
that the seven major ATV distributors have with the Commission. Through 
their Action Plans, these distributors agreed to continue many of the 
actions that the Consent Decrees required. Specifically, the companies 
agreed to continue to (1) abide by the age recommendations in the 
Consent Decrees and to monitor their dealers for compliance; \5\ (2) 
use the warning labels previously approved by the Commission on all 
ATVs; \6\ (3) use owners manuals that include the substantive 
informational content required under the Consent Decrees; (4) use 
advertising and promotional materials that conform to the advertising 
guidelines in the Consent Decrees; (5) affix hang tags to their ATVs 
that provide the same substantive safety messages as required under the 
Consent Decrees; (6) provide to dealers, for dissemination to 
purchasers, information that contains the same substantive safety 
messages as the ATV safety alerts required under the Consent Decrees 
(except for Honda); (7) provide each purchaser with a safety video with 
the same substantive safety messages as required under the Consent 
Decrees; (8) offer free hands-on ATV training to ATV purchasers and 
their immediate families; \7\ and (9) not market or sell three-wheel 
ATVs. Some of these actions are discussed in greater detail below.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ Arctic Cat had established a minimum age of 16 for its ATVs 
with engine size greater than 90 cc up to 350 cc, and a minimum age 
of 18 for its ATVs with an engine size greater than 350 cc.
    \6\ The labels were revised in the mid-1990s based on 
recommendations of the Commission's Human Factors staff.
    \7\ The companies also agreed to offer incentives for training 
to first time ATV purchasers without prior training (most offer $100 
cash, while Honda offers entrance into a contest for prizes).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Dealer Monitoring. The Consent Decrees were signed by the five 
major ATV distributors of the time, but they did not bind ATV dealers. 
The distributors agreed to use their best efforts to accomplish the 
goals of the age recommendations through their retail dealers or other 
representatives selling ATVs. To gauge the level of dealer compliance 
with the age recommendations, the Commission conducted two surveys. See 
56 FR 47166. In December 1988, the Commission surveyed all dealers in 
Virginia and found that approximately 70 percent were making age 
recommendations that were inconsistent with provisions of the Consent 
Decrees. In June and July of 1989, the Commission conducted a 
nationwide statistical survey using a sample of 227 ATV dealers to 
determine the level of compliance with the age recommendations. This 
survey found that about 56 percent of dealers surveyed were not 
complying with the age recommendations. The Commission and the Justice 
Department negotiated with the distributors, and the distributors 
agreed to monitor their dealers and take steps to terminate the 
franchises of dealers who repeatedly failed to comply with the age 
recommendations. Under the Action Plans, ATV distributors continue to 
monitor their dealers. The Commission staff has continued to conduct 
monitoring as well.
    From 2000-2003 the seven ATV manufacturers with Action Plans 
conducted undercover monitoring and reported their results to CPSC. 
During this time period, they reported that in 76 percent of the 
undercover monitoring visits, dealers were in compliance with the age 
recommendations. During this 2000-2003 period CPSC staff or its 
contractors also conducted monitoring. Of the dealers visited, 60 
percent were in compliance with the age recommendations. The 2004 
undercover monitoring results show a compliance rate of 70 percent of 
dealers visited. Note, however, that the monitoring is not a 
statistical sample and may not be representative of a nationwide level 
of compliance.
    Training. The Commission has consistently taken the position that 
ATV training is an important aspect of safety. The Commission's studies 
have shown that ATV drivers who receive formal ATV training have a 
lower risk of injury than those who do not receive formal training. 
Yet, according to the 2001 exposure study, only 7 percent of all ATV 
drivers had received formal training.
    Under the Action Plans, manufacturers agreed to continue to provide 
free hands-on training to purchasers and family members as had been 
required under the Consent Decrees. Most of these companies provide 
training through the ATV Safety Institute (``ASI''). Usually within 48 
hours of purchase, ASI contacts the new owner (and family) to give them 
information about available rider training courses and encouraging them 
to enroll. Courses are available at nearly 1,000 locations in the U.S.
    Warning Labels. The Consent Decrees required that manufacturers 
affix four warning labels to ATVs: (1) A general warning label,\8\ (2) 
a warning label stating that operating the ATV if you are under the 
appropriate age (12 or 16

[[Page 60035]]

depending on the ATV) increases the chance of injury or death, (3) a 
warning label stating that riding as a passenger can cause the ATV to 
go out of control, and (4) a warning label (or labels) warning against 
use of improper air pressure in the ATV's tires and against 
overloading. The Consent Decrees specified the precise wording, format 
and location for these warnings based on information and advice from 
CPSC staff. In the mid-1990s, the content of the warning labels was 
revised, in consultation with CPSC staff. In the Action Plans the 
companies agreed to continue using the warning labels required under 
the Consent Decrees (as modified by the mid-90s revisions). As part of 
its review, the staff will examine the adequacy of the Action Plans.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ This label was required to state that the vehicle can be 
hazardous to operate and that ``severe injury or death'' can result 
unless specified instructions are followed (such as having proper 
training, wearing a helmet etc.).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

3. Corrective Actions

    Under section 15 of the CPSA, if the Commission determines that a 
product presents a substantial product hazard the Commission may order 
the manufacturer, distributor or retailer of the product to repair the 
problem in the product, replace the product, or refund the purchase 
price of the product. 15 U.S.C. 2064(d). Most corrective actions (often 
called recalls) are undertaken voluntarily by the manufacturer of a 
product. There have been numerous recalls of ATVs covering a variety of 
mechanical problems--about 50 between July 2001 and August 2005 (see 
Commission's Web site http://www.cpsc.gov).

E. Regulatory and Non-Regulatory Alternatives To Address the Risks of 
Injury

    The Chairman's memo directed the staff to conduct a broad review of 
existing ATV safety measures and make recommendations to reduce ATV-
related deaths and injuries. The memo requested the staff to consider 
rulemaking as well as other activities. Following is a discussion of 
options available to the Commission and issues raised by the Chairman's 
memo.
    1. Rulemaking. As directed by the Chairman's memo, the staff will 
examine the possibility of rulemaking to make aspects of the voluntary 
standard or of the Voluntary Action Plans mandatory requirements, or to 
issue other mandatory requirements.
    Under section 7 of the CPSA, the Commission has the authority to 
issue a consumer product safety standard consisting of performance 
requirements for the product and/or requirements that the product be 
marked with or accompanied by warnings or instructions when such 
requirements are reasonably necessary to prevent or reduce an 
unreasonable risk of injury associated with the product. Such a rule 
could also include a certification requirement as authorized by section 
14 of the CPSA.
    Under section 8 of the CPSA, 15 U.S.C. 2057, the Commission has the 
authority to act if the Commission finds that no feasible consumer 
product safety rule would adequately protect the public from an 
unreasonable risk of injury associated with ATVs. Additionally, under 
section 12 of the CPSA, 15 U.S.C. 2061, the Commission has authority to 
file an action in Federal district court against an imminently 
hazardous consumer product, against the manufacturer, distributor or 
retailer of such a product, or against both.
    With regard to ATVs intended for use by children, section 3(e) of 
the FHSA authorizes the Commission to issue a rule declaring ATVs that 
do not meet specified requirements to be hazardous substances if they 
present a mechanical hazard as defined by section 2(s) of the FHSA. An 
article that is intended for children and is or contains a hazardous 
substance is banned under section 2(q)(1)(A) of the FHSA. In addition, 
section 10 of the FHSA could be used by the Commission as the basis for 
establishing a certification requirement for ATVs.
    2. Voluntary standard. As discussed above, the current voluntary 
standard for ATVs, ANSI/SVIA-1-2001, contains requirements for 
equipment, configuration, and performance of four-wheel ATVs. The staff 
will consider whether any possible changes or additions to the 
voluntary standard could help reduce ATV-related deaths and injuries.
    3. Corrective Actions under Section 15. The Commission has 
authority under section 15 of the CPSA, 15 U.S.C. 2064, to pursue 
corrective actions on a case-by-case basis if the Commission determines 
that a product presents a substantial product hazard.
    4. Submission of Performance and Technical Data. Section 27(e) of 
the CPSA authorizes the Commission to require (by rule) that 
manufacturers provide the Commission with performance and technical 
data related to performance and safety. The Commission also may require 
that manufacturers provide such performance and technical data to 
prospective purchasers. The staff will consider whether a rule under 
section 27(e) could help reduce ATV-related deaths and injuries.
    5. Information and Education. Section 5 of the CPSA authorizes the 
Commission to disseminate information to the public concerning data and 
information related to the causes and prevention of death and injury 
associated with consumer products. The staff will consider whether an 
information and education (``I&E'') program could be developed that 
would help reduce ATV-related deaths and injuries and what such a 
program might include.
    In accordance with the Chairman's memo, the staff will also 
consider the need for and possible means to accomplish the following 
proposals mentioned in the Chairman's memo:
    (1) Pre-sale training/certification requirements;
    (2) Formal notification of safety rules by dealers to buyers;
    (3) The addition of a youth ATV model appropriate for 14-year olds;
    (4) Written notification of child injury data at the time of sale; 
and
    (5) Separate standards for tandem (two up) vehicles.

F. Request for Information and Comments

    This ANPR is the first step in a review of ATV activities to 
develop regulatory and/or non-regulatory actions that will reduce ATV-
related deaths and injuries. The proceeding could result in a mandatory 
rule for ATVs. All interested persons are invited to submit to the 
Commission their comments on any aspect of the alternatives discussed 
above.
    In accordance with section 9(a) of the CPSA, the Commission 
solicits:
    1. Written comments with respect to the risk of injury identified 
by the Commission, the regulatory alternatives being considered, and 
other possible alternatives for addressing the risk.
    2. Any existing standard or portion of a standard which could be 
issued as a proposed regulation.
    3. A statement of intention to modify or develop a voluntary 
standard to address the risk of injury discussed in this notice, along 
with a description of a plan (including a schedule) to do so.
    In addition, the Commission is interested in receiving the 
following information:
    1. Research suggesting a maximum safe speed for teens for any off-
road vehicle;
    2. Information about the adequacy of age/size guidelines for 
today's youth;
    3. Technical reports of testing, evaluation and analysis of the 
dynamic stability, braking and handling characteristics of ATVs 
currently on the market;
    4. Technical reports or standards that describe the minimum 
performance requirements for stability, braking and handling 
characteristics for ATVs;

[[Page 60036]]

    5. Technical information on test and evaluation methods for 
defining ATV characteristics that are specifically relevant to the 
vehicles' stability.
    6. Technical information on motion sensing technology that can be 
used to measure displacement, velocity, and acceleration of both the 
test operator and test vehicle.
    7. Technical reports and evaluations of any prototype ATVs with 
enhanced safety designs.
    8. Technical reports and evaluations of ATV low pressure tire 
performance on various surfaces.
    9. Information about ATV rider training programs, including 
descriptions of these programs, copies of materials used, expertise of 
instructors, consumer reactions to the programs, evaluations of the 
effectiveness of these programs, etc.
    10. Information about ATV rider training and education programs 
(including public service campaigns, videos, school materials, Web 
sites, etc.) targeted to children and teenagers and/or targeted to 
parents and any evaluations of the effectiveness of these programs.
    11. Studies, reports, focus group information, etc. dealing with 
children and teenagers' attitudes and/or behavior regarding ATVs or 
other off-road vehicles.
    12. Information about the feasibility and marketability of a 
transitional ATV geared to larger children and/or small adults, and the 
effect such an ATV might have on safety.
    13. Information about the applicability of sensor technology to 
improve the safety of ATVs;
    14. Studies documenting the effectiveness of state and local 
legislation;
    15. Studies documenting the effectiveness of ATV helmet use; and
    16. Information about tandem ATVs, particularly their similarities 
to and differences from traditional ATVs.
    17. All other relevant information and suggestions about ways in 
which ATV safety might be improved, including proposals and specific 
suggestions for greater public information efforts, enhanced safety 
activities by ATV dealers, associations and clubs, etc.
    Comments should be e-mailed to [email protected]. and should be 
captioned ``ATV ANPR.'' Comments may also be mailed, preferably in five 
copies, to the Office of the Secretary, Consumer Product Safety 
Commission, Washington, DC 20207-0001, or delivered to the Office of 
the Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Room 502, 4330 East-
West Highway, Bethesda, Maryland 20814; telephone (301) 504-0800. 
Comments also may be filed by telefacsimile to (301) 504-0127. All 
comments and submissions should be received no later than December 13, 
2005.

    Dated: October 7, 2005.
Todd A. Stevenson,
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission.
[FR Doc. 05-20557 Filed 10-13-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6355-01-P