[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 129 (Wednesday, July 8, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32572-32573]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-16011]


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CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION


Proposed Extension of Approval of Information Collection; Comment 
Request--Electrically Operated Toys and Children's Articles

AGENCY: Consumer Product Safety Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 
35), the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC or Commission) 
requests comments on a proposed extension of approval of a collection 
of information from manufacturers and importers of certain electrically 
operated toys and children's articles. The collection of information 
consists of testing and recordkeeping requirements in regulations 
entitled ``Requirements for Electrically Operated Toys or Other 
Electrically Operated Articles Intended for Use by Children,'' codified 
at 16 CFR Part 1505.
    The Commission will consider all comments received in response to 
this notice before requesting an extension 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 September 8, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be captioned ``Electrically Operated 
Toys'' and sent by e-mail 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. [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about the proposed 
collection of information call or write Linda Glatz, Division of Policy 
and Planning, Office of Information Technology and Technology Services, 
Consumer Product Safety Commission, 4330 East-West Highway, Bethesda, 
MD 20814; telephone: (301) 504-7671 or by e-mail to [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 1973, the Commission issued safety 
requirements for electrically operated toys and children's articles to 
protect children from unreasonable risks of injury from electric shock, 
electrical burns, and thermal burns. These regulations are codified at 
16 CFR Part 1505 and were issued under the authority of sections 2 and 
3 of the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (15 U.S.C. 1261, 1262).

A. Requirements for Electrically Operated Toys

    These regulations are applicable to toys, games, and other articles 
intended for use by children that are powered by electrical current 
from a nominal 120 volt circuit. Video games and articles designed 
primarily for use by adults that may be incidentally used by children 
are not subject to these regulations.
    The regulations prescribe design, construction, performance, and 
labeling requirements for electrically operated toys and children's 
articles. The regulations also require manufacturers and importers of 
those products to develop and maintain a quality assurance program. 
Additionally, section 1505.4(a)(3) of the regulations requires those 
firms to maintain records for three years containing information about: 
(1) The material and production specifications and the description of 
the quality assurance program required by 16 CFR 1505.4(a)(2); (2) the 
results of all inspections and tests conducted; and (3) records of 
sales and distribution.
    OMB approved the collection of information requirements in the 
regulations under control number 3041-0035. OMB's most recent extension 
of approval expires on September 30, 2009. The Commission now proposes 
to request an extension of approval for the information collection 
requirements in the regulations.
    The safety need for this collection of information remains. 
Specifically, if a manufacturer or importer distributes products that 
violate the requirements of the regulations, the records required by 
section 1505.4(a)(3) can be used by the firm and the Commission to: (i) 
Identify specific lots or production lines of products which fail to 
comply with applicable requirements; and (ii) notify distributors and 
retailers in the event the products are subject to recall.

B. Estimated Burden

    The Commission staff estimates that about 40 firms are subject to 
the testing and recordkeeping requirements of the regulations. Each one 
may have an average of ten products each year for which testing and 
recordkeeping would be required, resulting in approximately 400 
records. The Commission staff estimates that the tests required by the 
regulations can be performed on one product in 16 hours and that 
recordkeeping can be performed for one product in four hours. Thus, the 
estimated testing burden hours are 6,400 (16 hours x 400) and the 
estimated recordkeeping burden hours are 1,600 hours (400 records x 4 
hours).
    The Commission staff estimates that each firm may spend 30 minutes 
or less per model on the labeling requirements. Assuming each firm 
produces 10 new models each year, the estimated labeling burden hours 
are 200 hours (40 firms x 10 models per firm x 0.5 hours per model = 
200 hours) per year. The estimated total burden hours for recordkeeping 
and labeling are 1,800 hours for all firms (1,600 hours for 
recordkeeping + 200 hours for labeling).
    The CPSC staff estimates that the hourly wage for the time required 
to perform the required testing and recordkeeping is approximately 
$54.88

[[Page 32573]]

(Bureau of Labor Statistics, All workers, goods-producing industries, 
management, professional and related September 2008), and the hourly 
wage for the time required to maintain the labeling requirements is 
approximately $27.14 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, All workers, goods-
producing industries, sales and office September 2008). The annualized 
total cost to the industry is estimated to be $400,084 (6,400 x $54.88 
+ 1,800 x $27.14).
    The Commission staff will expend less than one staff month 
reviewing records required to be maintained for electrically operated 
toys and children's articles. The annual cost to the Federal government 
of the collection of information in these regulations is estimated to 
be less than $13,839.

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: June 30, 2009.
Todd A. Stevenson,
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission.
[FR Doc. E9-16011 Filed 7-7-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6355-01-P