[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 101 (Tuesday, May 26, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31476-31477]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-11226]


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CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION

[Docket No. CPSC-2009-0092]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request--Standard for the Flammability of Clothing 
Textiles and Standard for the Flammability of Vinyl Plastic Film

AGENCY: Consumer Product Safety Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Consumer Product Safety Commission (Commission or CPSC) announces that 
the Commission has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) a request for extension of approval of a collection of 
information associated with the Standard for the Flammability of 
Clothing Textiles and the Standard for the Flammability of Vinyl 
Plastic Film, previously approved under OMB control number 3041-0024. 
On March 13, 2020, the CPSC published a notice in the Federal Register 
to announce the agency's intention to seek extension of approval of the 
collection of information. The Commission received no comments. 
Therefore, by publication of this notice, the Commission announces that 
CPSC has submitted to the OMB a request for extension of approval of 
that collection of information, without change.

DATES: Written comments on this request for extension of approval of 
information collection requirements should be submitted by June 25, 
2020.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments about this request by email: 
[email protected] or fax: 202-395-6881. Comments by mail 
should be sent to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
Attn: OMB Desk Officer for the CPSC, Office of Management and Budget, 
Room 10235, 725 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20503. In addition, 
written comments that are sent to OMB also should be submitted 
electronically at http://www.regulations.gov, under Docket No. CPSC-
2009-0092.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cynthia Gillham, Consumer Product 
Safety Commission, 4330 East West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814; (301) 
504-7791, or by email to: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

A. Background

    The Commission has promulgated several standards under section 4 of 
the

[[Page 31477]]

Flammable Fabrics Act (FFA), 15 U.S.C. 1193, to prohibit the use of 
dangerously flammable textiles and related materials in wearing 
apparel. Clothing and fabrics intended for use in clothing (except 
children's sleepwear in sizes 0 through 14) are subject to the Standard 
for the Flammability of Clothing Textiles (16 CFR part 1610). Clothing 
made from vinyl plastic film and vinyl plastic film intended for use in 
clothing (except children's sleepwear in sizes 0 through 14) are 
subject to the Standard for the Flammability of Vinyl Plastic Film (16 
CFR part 1611). These standards prescribe a test to ensure that 
articles of wearing apparel, and fabrics and film intended for use in 
wearing apparel, are not dangerously flammable because of rapid and 
intense burning. (Children's sleepwear and fabrics and related 
materials intended for use in children's sleepwear in sizes 0 through 
14 are subject to other, more stringent flammability standards codified 
at 16 CFR parts 1615 and 1616).
    Section 8 of the FFA (15 U.S.C. 1197) provides that a person who 
receives a guaranty in good faith that a product complies with an 
applicable flammability standard is not subject to criminal prosecution 
for a violation of the FFA resulting from the sale of any product 
covered by the guaranty. The CPSC uses the information compiled and 
maintained by firms that issue these guaranties to help protect the 
public from risks of injury or death associated with flammable clothing 
and fabrics and vinyl film intended for use in clothing. In addition, 
the information helps the CPSC arrange corrective actions if any 
products covered by a guaranty fail to comply with the applicable 
standard in a manner that creates a substantial risk of injury or death 
to the public. Section 8 of the FFA requires that a guaranty must be 
based on ``reasonable and representative tests.'' The testing and 
recordkeeping requirements by firms that issue guaranties are set forth 
under 16 CFR part 1610, subpart B, and 16 CFR part 1611, subpart B.
    On March 13, 2020, the CPSC published a notice in the Federal 
Register (85 FR 14654), to announce the agency's intention to seek 
extension of approval of the collection of information. The Commission 
received no comments. Therefore, by publication of this notice, the 
Commission announces that CPSC has submitted to the OMB a request for 
extension of approval of that collection of information, without 
change.

B. Burden

    The CPSC estimates that approximately 1,000 firms issue guaranties. 
Although the CPSC's past records indicate that approximately 675 firms 
have filed continuing guaranties at the CPSC, staff believes additional 
guarantees may be issued that are not filed with the Commission. 
Accordingly, staff has estimated the number of firms upwards to account 
for those guaranties to 1,000 firms. Staff estimated the burden hours 
based on an estimate of the time for each firm to conduct testing, 
issue guaranties, and to establish and maintain associated records.
     Burden Hours per Firm--An estimated 5 hours for testing 
per firm, using either the test and conditioning procedures in the 
regulations or alternate methods. Although many firms are exempt from 
testing to support guaranties under 16 CFR 1610.1(d), CPSC staff does 
not know the proportion of those firms that are testing vs. those that 
are exempt. Thus, staff has included testing for all firms in the 
burden estimates.
     Guaranties Issued per Firm--On average, 20 new guaranties 
are issued per firm per year for new fabrics or garments.
     Estimated Annual Testing Time per Firm--100 hours per firm 
(5 hours for testing x 20 guaranties issued = 100 hours per firm).
     Estimated Annual Recordkeeping per Firm--1 hour to create, 
record, and enter test data into a computerized dataset; 20 minutes (= 
0.3 hours) for annual review/removal of records; 20 minutes (= 0.3 
hours) to respond to one CPSC records request per year; for a total of 
1.6 recordkeeping hours per firm (1 hour + .3 hours + .3 hours = 1.6 
hours per firm).
     Total Estimated Annual Burden Hours per Firm--100 hours 
estimated annual testing time per firm + 1.6 estimated annual 
recordkeeping hours per firm = 101.6 hours per firm.
     Total Estimated Annual Industry Burden Hours--101.6 hours 
per firm x 1,000 firms issuing guaranties = 101,600 industry burden 
hours. The total annual industry burden imposed by the flammability 
standards for clothing textiles and vinyl plastic film and enforcement 
regulations on manufacturers and importers of garments, fabrics, and 
related materials is estimated to be about 101,600 hours (101.6 hours 
per firm x 1,000 firms).
     Total Annual Industry Cost--The hourly wage for the 
testing and recordkeeping required by the standards is approximately 
$70.17 (for management, professional, and related occupations in goods-
producing industries, Bureau of Labor Statistics, September, 2019), for 
an estimated annual cost to the industry of approximately $7.1 million 
(101,600 x $70.17 = $7,129,272).

Alberta E. Mills,
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission.
[FR Doc. 2020-11226 Filed 5-22-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6355-01-P