[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 230 (Friday, November 29, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65789-65790]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-25890]


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CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION

[Docket No. CPSC-2019-0033]


CPSC Forum on Crib Bumpers

AGENCY: Consumer Product Safety Commission.

ACTION: Announcement of meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is announcing a 
public forum on crib bumpers. We invite interested parties to attend 
the forum and make presentations.

DATES: The forum will begin at 10:00 a.m. on January 22, 2020. The 
Commission forum also will be available through webcast. However, 
viewers will not be able to interact with the panels and presenters 
through the webcast. Individuals interested in presenting information 
at the forum should submit a summary of their presentation, as well as 
a brief biography, by January 6, 2020. Written comments will be 
received until February 25, 2020.

ADDRESSES: The forum will be held in the Hearing Room at CPSC's 
headquarters at: 4330 East West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814. There is 
no charge to attend the forum.
    Requests to make oral presentations, and the texts of oral 
presentations should be captioned: ``CPSC Forum on Crib Bumpers,'' and 
sent by email to [email protected], or mailed or delivered to the 
Division of the Secretariat, Consumer Product Safety Commission, 4330 
East-West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814, no later than 5 p.m. on January 
6, 2020.
    You may submit written comments, identified by Docket No. [CPSC-
2019-0033], by any of the following methods:
    Electronic Submissions: Submit electronic comments to the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal at: www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for 
submitting comments. The Commission does not accept comments submitted 
by email, except through www.regulations.gov. The Commission encourages 
you to submit electronic comments by using the Federal eRulemaking 
Portal, as described above.
    Paper Submissions: Send paper submissions by mail/hand delivery/
courier to: Division of the Secretariat, 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: 
www.regulations.gov. Do not submit confidential business information, 
trade secret information, or other sensitive or protected information 
that you do not want to be available to the public. If furnished at 
all, such information should be submitted in accordance with the 
directions for paper submissions above.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read comments received, go to: 
www.regulations.gov, and insert the docket number CPSC-2019-0033 into 
the ``Search'' box, and follow the prompts.

[[Page 65790]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alberta E. Mills, Division of the 
Secretariat, Office of the General Counsel, Consumer Product Safety 
Commission, 4330 East West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814; telephone 301-
504-7479; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    For several years, CPSC has been studying the potential risks 
associated with crib bumpers. In May 2012, the Juvenile Products 
Manufacturers Associated (JPMA) submitted a petition asking the 
Commission to initiate rulemaking under sections 7 and 9 of the 
Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA) to distinguish ``hazardous pillow-
like'' crib bumpers from ``non-hazardous traditional'' crib bumpers. In 
2013, the Commission voted to grant the petition and provided specific 
direction to staff. In the FY 2017 Operating Plan, the Commission 
directed staff to develop a proposed standard under section 104 of the 
Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA). On September 
4, 2019, in response to this direction, CPSC staff submitted a briefing 
package, including a draft proposed rule, for crib bumpers/liners. 
[https://www.cpsc.gov/s3fs-public/Proposed%20Rule%20-%20Safety%20Standard%20for%20Crib%20Bumpers-Liners%20Under%20the%20Danny%20..__0.pdf].

II. The Forum

A. Topics for Discussion

    The Commission would like to hear comments and information from 
interested parties concerning the potential hazards associated with 
crib bumpers. The goal of the forum is to hear from the public about 
their views of the potential hazards associated with crib bumpers and 
their suggestions for ways to address those hazards. In addition to 
these general issues, the Commission invites comments on the following, 
more specific topics:
    1. The utility/benefit of crib bumpers, including, but not limited 
to:
    (a) Whether babies suffer head injuries from crib slats without 
crib bumpers; and
    (b) whether babies suffer limb injuries from entrapment in crib 
slats without crib bumpers.
    2. Consumers' understanding of the ``Bare is Best'' safety 
messaging related to infant sleep safety, including, but not limited 
to, whether consumers consider the presence of crib bumpers to be 
consistent with that messaging.
    3. Any current or proposed state laws relating to crib bumpers, and 
whether and how those laws reflect or conflict with staff's 
recommendation.
    4. Any performance requirements and test methods for crib bumpers 
(or similar crib accessories) relevant to the identification and 
elimination of suffocation hazards, including, but not limited to:
    (a) Air permeability;
    (b) Firmness or the conforming of bumper materials to the facial 
features of infants, and
    (c) Any other aspects of crib bumpers (or similar crib 
accessories).
    5. The potential effects of the preemption of state and local laws 
addressing crib bumpers.

B. How To Make a Presentation, Attend, or Provide Written Comments

    The forum will be held at 10 a.m. on January 22, 2020, at the 
CPSC's office in Bethesda, MD (see the ADDRESSES section of this notice 
for more information). The Commission forum will also be available 
through a webcast, but viewers will not be able to interact with the 
panels and presenters through the webcast.
     If you would like to make an oral presentation at the 
forum, please send an email to [email protected] by January 6, 2020, 
with a summary of your presentation, as well as a brief biography. 
Presentations should be limited to approximately 10 minutes. The 
Commission reserves the right to impose further time limitations or 
other restrictions, if needed, to avoid duplication of presentations.
     If you would like to provide written comments, please 
follow the instructions in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.

Abioye E. Mosheim,
Acting Secretary, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
[FR Doc. 2019-25890 Filed 11-27-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6355-01-P