[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 11 (Thursday, January 18, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2264-2265]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-579]


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CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION


Proposed Collection; Comment Request--Consumer Focus Groups

AGENCY: Consumer Product Safety Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
Chapter 35), the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC or 
Commission) requests comments on a proposed collection of information 
from persons who may participate in Consumer Focus Groups. The 
Commission will consider all comments received in response to this 
notice before requesting approval of this collection of information 
from the Office of Management and Budget.

DATES: Written comments must be received by the Office of the Secretary 
not later than March 19, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be captioned ``Consumer Focus 
Groups'' and e-mailed to [email protected]. Comments may also be sent by 
facsimile to (301) 504-0127, or by mail to the Office of the Secretary, 
Consumer Product Safety Commission, 4330 East West Highway, Bethesda, 
Maryland 20814.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about the proposed 
collection of information call or write Linda L. Glatz, Division of 
Policy and Planning, Office of Information Technology and Technology 
Services, Consumer Product Safety Commission, 4330 East West Highway, 
Bethesda, Maryland 20814; (301) 504-7671.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

    The Commission is authorized under section 5(a) of the Consumer 
Product Safety Act (CPSA), 15 U.S.C. 2054(a), to collect information, 
conduct research, and perform studies and investigations relating to 
the causes and prevention of deaths, accidents, injuries, illnesses, 
other health impairments, and economic losses associated with consumer 
products. Section 5(b) of the CPSA, 15 U.S.C. 2054(b), further provides 
that the Commission may conduct research, studies and investigations on 
the safety of consumer products or test consumer products and develop 
product safety test methods and testing devices.
    In order to better identify and evaluate the risks of product-
related incidents, the Commission staff seeks to solicit and obtain 
direct feedback from consumers on issues related to product safety such 
as recall effectiveness, product use, and perceptions regarding safety 
issues. Through participation in certain focus groups, consumers will 
be able to answer questions and provide information regarding their 
actual experiences, opinions and/or perceptions on the use or pattern 
of use of a specific product or type of product, including recalled 
products.
    The information collected from the Consumer Focus Groups will help 
inform the Commission's evaluation of consumer products and product use 
by providing insight and information into consumer perceptions and 
usage patterns. Such information may also assist the Commission in its 
efforts to support voluntary standards activities, and help the staff 
identify areas

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regarding consumer safety issues that need additional research. In 
addition, based on the information obtained, the staff may be able to 
provide safety information to the public that is easier to read and is 
more easily understood by a wider range of consumers. The Consumer 
Focus Groups also may be used to solicit consumer opinions and feedback 
regarding the effectiveness of product recall communications and in 
determining what action is being taken by consumers in response to such 
communications and why. This may aid in tailoring future recall 
activities to increase the success of those activities. If this 
information is not collected, the Commission may not have available 
certain useful information regarding consumer experiences, opinions, 
and perceptions related to specific product use, on which the 
Commission uses, in part, in its ongoing efforts to improve the safety 
of consumer products on behalf of consumers.

B. Estimated Burden

    The Commission staff currently estimates that there may be up to 48 
participants annually in the Consumer Focus Groups. The Commission 
staff estimates that the burden hours for each participant will not 
exceed 4 hours total. Thus, the Commission staff estimates that the 
annual burden could total approximately 192 hours per year.
    The Commission staff estimates the value of the time of respondents 
to this collection of information at $26.86 an hour. This is based on 
the 2006 U.S. Department of Labor Employer Costs for Employee 
Compensation. At this valuation, the estimated annual cost to the 
public of this information collection will be about $5,517 per year.

C. Request for Comments

    The Commission solicits written comments from all interested 
persons about the proposed collection of information. The Commission 
specifically solicits information relevant to the following topics:

--Whether the collection of information described above is necessary 
for the proper performance of the Commission's functions, including 
whether the information would have practical utility;
--Whether the estimated burden of the proposed collection of 
information is accurate;
--Whether the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be 
collected could be enhanced; and
--Whether the burden imposed by the collection of information could be 
minimized by use of automated, electronic or other technological 
collection techniques, or other forms of information technology.

    Dated: January 10, 2007.
Todd A. Stevenson,
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission.
[FR Doc. E7-579 Filed 1-17-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6355-01-P