[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 122 (Monday, June 25, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 37836-37837]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-15328]


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CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION

16 CFR Chapter II

[Docket No. CPSC-2012-0034]


Petition Requesting Commission Action Regarding Crib Bumpers

AGENCY: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

ACTION: Petition for rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (``Commission'') 
has received a petition (CPSC-2012-0034), requesting that the 
Commission initiate rulemaking to distinguish and regulate ``hazardous 
pillow-like'' crib bumpers from ``non-hazardous traditional'' crib 
bumpers under sections 7 and 9 of the Consumer Product Safety Act 
(``CPSA''). The Commission invites written comments concerning the 
petition.

DATES: The Office of the Secretary must receive comments on the 
petition by August 24, 2012.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by Docket No. CPSC-2012-
0034, by any of the following methods:

Electronic Submissions

    Submit electronic comments in the following way:
    Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments.
    To ensure timely processing of comments, the Commission is no 
longer accepting comments submitted by electronic mail (email), except 
through www.regulations.gov.

Written Submissions

    Submit written submissions in the following way:
    Mail/Hand delivery/Courier (for paper, disk, or CD-ROM 
submissions), preferably in five copies, to: Office of the Secretary, 
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Room 820, 4330 East West 
Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814; telephone (301) 504-7923.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name 
and docket number for this notice. All comments received may be posted 
without change, including any personal identifiers, contact 
information, or other personal information provided, to: http://www.regulations.gov. Do not submit confidential business information, 
trade secret information, or other sensitive or protected information 
electronically. Such information should be submitted in writing.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received, go to: http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rockelle Hammond, Office of the 
Secretary, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Room 820, 4330 East 
West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814; telephone (301) 504-6833.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commission has received correspondence 
from the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA), 
(``petitioner''), dated May 9, 2012, requesting that the Commission 
initiate rulemaking to distinguish and regulate ``hazardous pillow-
like'' crib bumpers from ``non-hazardous traditional'' crib bumpers 
under sections 7 and 9 of the Consumer Product Safety Act (``CPSA''). 
The Commission is docketing this request as a petition under the 
Consumer Product Safety Act. 15 U.S.C. 2056 and 2058. Petitioner states 
that, despite information to the contrary regarding the safety of 
traditional crib bumpers, some are advocating banning bumpers 
altogether from the marketplace. Petitioner believes that banning 
traditional crib bumpers may lead to caregivers adding unsafe soft 
bedding to cribs to serve as a protective barrier from the tight 
dimensions and hard wooden surface of the crib slats. Petitioner 
includes a third party review of previous studies of crib bumper pads 
as support of the fact that claims of increased risk to infants from 
traditional crib bumper use are unfounded. Petitioner also includes a 
copy of proposed ASTM performance requirements that petitioner believes 
provide a reasonable basis for a mandatory crib bumper performance 
standard.
    By this notice, the Commission seeks comments concerning this 
petition. Interested parties may obtain a copy of the petition by 
writing or calling the Office of the Secretary, U.S. Consumer

[[Page 37837]]

Product Safety Commission, Room 820, 4330 East West Highway, Bethesda, 
MD 20814; telephone (301) 504-7923. A copy of the petition also will be 
made available for viewing under ``Supporting and Related Materials'' 
in www.regulations.gov under this docket number.

    Dated: June 18, 2012.
Todd A. Stevenson,
Secretary, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
[FR Doc. 2012-15328 Filed 6-22-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6355-01-P