[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 40 (Thursday, March 1, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9310-9311]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-3628]



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CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION


Proposed Extension of Approval of Information Collection; Comment 
Request--Safety Standard for Multi-Purpose Lighters

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 requests comments 
on a proposed request for an extension of approval of a collection of 
information from manufacturers and importers of multi-purpose lighters. 
Multi-purpose lighters are hand-held flame-producing products that 
operate on fuel and have an ignition mechanism. They typically are used 
to light devices such as charcoal and gas grills and fireplaces. 
Devices intended primarily for igniting smoking materials are excluded 
from the multi-purpose lighter category.
    This collection of information consists of testing and 
recordkeeping requirements in certification regulations implementing 
the Safety Standard for Multi-Purpose Lighters. 16 CFR part 1212. The 
Commission will consider all comments received in response to this 
notice before requesting an extension of approval of this collection of 
information from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

DATES: The Office of the Secretary must receive written comments not 
later than April 30, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be captioned ``Multi-Purpose 
Lighters'' 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 
renewal of this collection of information, or to obtain a copy of the 
pertinent regulations, 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, or by e-mail to [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 1999, the Commission issued the Safety 
Standard for Multi-Purpose Lighters (16 CFR part 1212) under provisions 
of the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA) (15 U.S.C. 2051-2084) to 
eliminate or reduce risks of death and burn injury from fires 
accidentally started by children playing with these lighters. The 
standard contains performance requirements for multi-purpose lighters 
that are intended to make lighters subject to the standard resist 
operation by children younger than five years of age.

A. Certification Requirements

    Section 14(a) of the CPSA (15 U.S.C. 2063(a)) requires 
manufacturers, importers, and private labelers of a consumer product 
subject to a consumer product safety standard to issue a certificate 
stating that the product complies with all applicable consumer product 
safety standards. Section 14(a) of the CPSA also requires that the 
certificate of compliance must be based on a test of each product or 
upon a reasonable testing program.
    Section 14(b) of the CPSA authorizes the Commission to issue 
regulations to prescribe a reasonable testing program to support 
certificates of compliance with a consumer product safety standard. 
Section 16(b) of the CPSA (15 U.S.C. 2065(b)) authorizes the Commission 
to issue rules to require that firms ``establish and maintain'' records 
to permit the Commission to determine compliance with rules issued 
under the authority of the CPSA.
    The Commission has issued regulations prescribing requirements for 
a reasonable testing program to support certificates of compliance with 
the standard for multi-purpose lighters. These regulations require 
manufacturers and importers to submit a description of each model of 
lighter, results of prototype qualification tests for compliance with 
the standard, and other information before the introduction of each 
model of lighter into commerce. These regulations also require 
manufacturers, importers, and private labelers of multi-purpose 
lighters to establish and maintain records to demonstrate successful 
completion of all required tests to support the certificates of 
compliance that they issue. 16 CFR part 1212, subpart B.
    The Commission uses the information compiled and maintained by 
manufacturers, importers, and private labelers of multi-purpose 
lighters to protect consumers from risks of accidental deaths and burn 
injuries associated with those lighters. More specifically, the 
Commission uses this information to determine whether lighters comply 
with the standard by resisting operation by young children. The 
Commission also uses this information to obtain corrective actions if 
multi-purpose lighters fail to comply with the standard in a manner 
that creates a substantial risk of injury to the public.
    OMB approved the collection of information in the certification 
regulations for multi-purpose lighters under control number 3041-0130. 
OMB's approval will expire on July 31, 2007. The Commission proposes to 
request an extension of approval for these collection of information 
requirements.

B. Estimated Burden

    The cost of the rule's testing, reporting, recordkeeping, and other 
certification-related provisions is comprised of time spent by testing 
organizations on behalf of manufacturers and importers, and time spent 
by firms to prepare, maintain and submit records to CPSC. Currently, 
there are an estimated 16 firms that import, distribute and/or sell 
multi-purpose lighters in the United States. Most manufacturers and 
importers have 1 to 15 models for each firm. Based on past experience, 
an estimate of 2 models per firm was a reasonable number for 
calculating the burden. Each manufacturer would spend approximately 50 
hours per model. Therefore, the total annual amount of time that will 
be required for complying with the testing, recordkeeping, and 
reporting requirements of the rule is approximately 1,600 hours. (16 
firms x two models x 50 hours = 1,600 hours.) The annualized cost to 
industry for the 1,600 hour burden for collection of information is 
$71,712 at $44.82/hr based on total compensation of all civilian 
workers in management and professional fields in the U.S., July 2006, 
Bureau of Labor Statistics).

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

[[Page 9311]]

minimized by use of automated, electronic or other technological 
collection techniques, or other forms of information technology.

    Dated: February 26, 2007.
Todd A. Stevenson,
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission.
[FR Doc. E7-3628 Filed 2-28-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6355-01-P