Federal Register, Volume 85 Issue 166 (Wednesday, August 26, 2020)

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 166 (Wednesday, August 26, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 52815-52819]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-16768]

[[Page 52815]]

Vol. 85

Wednesday,

No. 166

August 26, 2020

Part XXIV

Consumer Product Safety Commission

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Semiannual Regulatory Agenda

Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 166 / Wednesday, August 26, 2020 /
UA: Reg Flex Agenda

[[Page 52816]]

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CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION

16 CFR Ch. II

Semiannual Regulatory Agenda

AGENCY: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

ACTION: Semiannual regulatory agenda.

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SUMMARY: In this document, the Commission publishes its semiannual
regulatory flexibility agenda. In addition, this document includes an
agenda of regulatory actions that the Commission expects to be under
development or review by the agency during the next year. This document
meets the requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act and Executive
Order 12866.

DATES: The Commission welcomes comments on the agenda and on the
individual agenda entries. Submit comments to the Division of the
Secretariat on or before September 25, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Caption comments on the regulatory agenda, ``Regulatory
Flexibility Agenda.'' You may submit comments by email to: cpsc-os@cpsc.gov. You may also submit comments by mail or delivery to the
Division of the Secretariat, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission,
Room 820, 4330 East West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814-4408.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information on the agenda,
in general, contact Meridith L. Kelsch, Office of the General Counsel,
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 4330 East West Highway,
Bethesda, MD 20814-4408, mkelsch@cpsc.gov. For further information
regarding a particular item on the agenda, contact the person listed in
the column titled, ``Contact,'' for that particular item.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA; 5
U.S.C. 601-612) contains several provisions intended to reduce
unnecessary and disproportionate regulatory requirements on small
businesses, small governmental organizations, and other small entities.
Section 602 of the RFA requires each agency to publish, twice each
year, a regulatory flexibility agenda containing ``a brief description
of the subject area of any rule which the agency expects to propose or
promulgate which is likely to have a significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities.'' 5 U.S.C. 602. The agency must
provide a summary of the nature of the rule, the objectives and legal
basis for the rule, and an approximate schedule for acting on each rule
for which the agency has issued a notice of proposed rulemaking. Id. In
addition, the regulatory flexibility agenda must contain the name and
telephone number of an agency official who is knowledgeable about the
items listed. Id. Agencies must attempt to provide notice of their
agendas to small entities and solicit their comments, by directly
notifying them, or by including the agenda in publications that small
entities are likely to obtain. Id.
In addition, Executive Order 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review
(Sep. 30, 1993), requires each agency to publish, twice each year, a
regulatory agenda of regulations under development or review during the
next year. 58 FR 51735 (Oct. 4, 1993). The executive order states that
agencies may combine this agenda with the regulatory flexibility agenda
required under the RFA. The agenda required by Executive Order 12866
must include all of the regulatory activities the agency expects to be
under development or review during the next 12 months, regardless of
whether they may have a significant economic impact on a substantial
number of small entities. This agenda also includes regulatory
activities that the Commission listed in the fall 2019 agenda and has
completed prior to publishing this agenda.
The agenda contains a brief description and summary of each
regulatory activity, including the objectives and legal basis for each;
an approximate schedule of target dates, subject to revision, for the
development or completion of each activity; and the name and telephone
number of an agency official who is knowledgeable about items in the
agenda.
The internet is the basic means for disseminating the Unified
Agenda. The complete Unified Agenda will be available online at:
www.reginfo.gov, in a format that offers users the ability to obtain
information from the Agenda database.
Because publication in the Federal Register is mandated for the
regulatory flexibility agenda required by the RFA (5 U.S.C. 602), the
Commission's printed Agenda entries include only:
(1) Rules that are in the agency's regulatory flexibility agenda,
in accordance with the RFA, because they are likely to have a
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities;
and
(2) Rules that the agency has identified for periodic review under
section 610 of the RFA.
Printing of these entries is limited to fields that contain
information required by the RFA's agenda requirements. Additional
information on these entries is available in the Unified Agenda
published on the internet.
The agenda reflects an assessment of the likelihood that the
specified event will occur during the next year; the precise dates for
each rulemaking are uncertain. New information, changes of
circumstances, or changes in the law, may alter anticipated timing. In
addition, no final determination by staff or the Commission regarding
the need for, or the substance of, any rule or regulation should be
inferred from this agenda.

Alberta E. Mills,
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Consumer Product Safety Commission--Final Rule Stage
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Regulation
Sequence No. Title Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
283....................... Regulatory Options for 3041-AC31
Table Saws.
284....................... Recreational Off-Road 3041-AC78
Vehicles.
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Consumer Product Safety Commission--Long-Term Actions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulation
Sequence No. Title Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
285....................... Flammability Standard for 3041-AB35
Upholstered Furniture.
286....................... Fireworks Devices......... 3041-AC35

[[Page 52817]]

287....................... Portable Generators....... 3041-AC36
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CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION (CPSC)

Final Rule Stage

283. Regulatory Options for Table Saws

E.O. 13771 Designation: Independent agency.
Legal Authority: 5 U.S.C. 553(e); 15 U.S.C. 2051
Abstract: In 2006, the Commission granted a petition asking that
the Commission issue a rule to prescribe performance standards for an
active injury mitigation system to reduce or prevent injuries from
contacting the blade of a table saw. The Commission subsequently issued
a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that would establish a
performance standard requiring table saws to limit the depth of cut to
3.5 millimeters when a test probe, acting as a surrogate for a human
body/finger, contacts the table saw's spinning blade. Staff has
conducted several studies to provide information for the rulemaking.
Staff is working on a final rule briefing package, which will be
submitted to the Commission in FY 2020.
Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commission Decision to Grant 07/11/06 .......................
Petition.
ANPRM............................... 10/11/11 76 FR 62678
Notice of Extension of Time for 12/02/11 76 FR 75504
Comments.
ANPRM Comment Period End............ 12/12/11 .......................
Comment Period End.................. 02/10/12 .......................
Notice to Reopen Comment Period..... 02/15/12 77 FR 8751
Reopened Comment Period End......... 03/16/12 .......................
Staff Sent NPRM Briefing Package to 01/17/17 .......................
Commission.
Commission Decision................. 04/27/17 .......................
NPRM................................ 05/12/17 82 FR 22190
NPRM Comment Period End............. 07/26/17 .......................
Public Hearing...................... 08/09/17 82 FR 31035
Staff Sent 2016 NEISS Table Saw Type 08/15/17 .......................
Study Status Report to Commission.
Staff Sent 2017 NEISS Table Saw 11/13/18 .......................
Special Study to Commission.
Notice of Availability of 2017 NEISS 12/04/18 83 FR 62561
Table Saw Special Study.
Staff Sends a Status Briefing 08/28/19 .......................
Package on Table Saws to Commission.
Commission Decision................. 09/10/19 .......................
Staff Sends Final Rule Briefing 09/00/20 .......................
Package to Commission.
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Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Caroleene Paul, Project Manager, Directorate for
Engineering Sciences, Consumer Product Safety Commission, National
Product Testing and Evaluation Center, 5 Research Place, Rockville, MD
20850, Phone: 301-987-2225, Email: cpaul@cpsc.gov.
RIN: 3041-AC31

284. Recreational Off-Road Vehicles

E.O. 13771 Designation: Independent agency.
Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 2056; 15 U.S.C. 2058
Abstract: The Commission is considering whether recreational off-
road vehicles (ROVs) present an unreasonable risk of injury that should
be regulated. Staff conducted testing and evaluation programs to
develop performance requirements addressing vehicle stability, vehicle
handling, and occupant protection. In 2014, the Commission issued an
NPRM proposing standards addressing vehicle stability, vehicle
handling, and occupant protection. Congress directed in fiscal year
2016, and reaffirmed in subsequent fiscal year appropriations, that
none of the amounts made available by the Appropriations Bill may be
used to finalize or implement the proposed Safety Standard for
Recreational Off-Highway Vehicles until after the National Academy of
Sciences completes a study to determine specific information as set
forth in the Appropriations Bill. Staff ceased work on a Final Rule
briefing package and instead engaged the Recreational Off-Highway
Vehicle Association (ROHVA) and Outdoor Power Equipment Institute
(OPEI) in the development of voluntary standards for ROVs. Staff
conducted dynamic and static tests on ROVs, shared test results with
ROHVA and OPEI, and participated in the development of revised
voluntary standards to address staff's concerns with vehicle stability,
vehicle handling, and occupant protection. The voluntary standards for
ROVs were revised and published in 2016 (ANSI/ROHVA 1-2016 and ANSI/
OPEI B71.9-2016). Staff assessed the new voluntary standard
requirements and prepared a termination of rulemaking briefing package
that was submitted to the Commission on November 22, 2016. The
Commission voted not to terminate the rulemaking associated with ROVs.
However, in the FY 2020 Operating Plan, the Commission directed staff
to prepare a rulemaking termination briefing package.
Timetable:

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Action Date FR Cite
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Staff Sends ANPRM Briefing Package 10/07/09 .......................
to Commission.
Commission Decision................. 10/21/09 .......................
ANPRM............................... 10/28/09 74 FR 55495
ANPRM Comment Period Extended....... 12/22/09 74 FR 67987
Extended Comment Period End......... 03/15/10 .......................
Staff Sends NPRM Briefing Package to 09/24/14 .......................
Commission.
Staff Sends Supplemental Information 10/17/14 .......................
on ROVs to Commission.
Commission Decision................. 10/29/14 .......................

[[Page 52818]]

NPRM Published in Federal Register.. 11/19/14 79 FR 68964
NPRM Comment Period Extended........ 01/23/15 80 FR 3535
Extended Comment Period End......... 04/08/15 .......................
Staff Sends Briefing Package 11/22/16 .......................
Assessing Voluntary Standards to
Commission.
Commission Decision Not to Terminate 01/25/17 .......................
Staff Sends Briefing Package to 09/00/20 .......................
Commission.
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CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION (CPSC)

Long-Term Actions

285. Flammability Standard for Upholstered Furniture

E.O. 13771 Designation: Independent agency.
Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 1193; 5 U.S.C. 801
Abstract: The Commission published a notice of proposed rulemaking
(NPRM) to prescribe flammability standards for upholstered furniture
under the Flammable Fabrics Act (FFA) to address the risk of fire
associated with cigarette and small open-flame ignitions of upholstered
furniture. The Commission's proposed rule would require that
upholstered furniture have cigarette-resistant fabrics or cigarette and
open flame-resistant barriers. The proposed rule would not require
flame-resistant chemicals in fabrics or fillings. Since the Commission
published the NPRM, CPSC staff has conducted testing of upholstered
furniture, using both full-scale furniture and bench-scale models. In
addition, staff has worked with the California Bureau of Household
Goods and services (BHGS, formerly BEARHFTI), as well as voluntary
standards development organizations, to improve upon and further refine
the technical aspects of voluntary flammability requirements in
upholstered furniture. Staff will continue to work with voluntary
standards organizations.
Timetable:

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Action Date FR Cite
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ANPRM............................... 06/15/94 59 FR 30735
Commission Hearing May 5 & 6, 1998 03/17/98 63 FR 13017
on Possible Toxicity of Flame-
Retardant Chemicals.
Meeting Notice...................... 03/20/02 67 FR 12916
Notice of Public Meeting............ 08/27/03 68 FR 51564
Public Meeting...................... 09/24/03 .......................
ANPRM............................... 10/23/03 68 FR 60629
ANPRM Comment Period End............ 12/22/03 .......................
Staff Held Public Meeting........... 10/28/04 .......................
Staff Held Public Meeting........... 05/18/05 .......................
Staff Sent Status Report to 01/31/06 .......................
Commission.
Staff Sent Status Report to 11/03/06 .......................
Commission.
Staff Sent Status Report to 12/28/06 .......................
Commission.
Staff Sent Options Package to 12/22/07 .......................
Commission.
Commission Decision to Direct Staff 12/27/07 .......................
to Prepare Draft NPRM.
Staff Sent Draft NPRM to Commission. 01/22/08 .......................
Commission Decision to Publish NPRM. 02/01/08 .......................
NPRM................................ 03/04/08 73 FR 11702
NPRM Comment Period End............. 05/19/08 .......................
Staff Published NIST Report on 05/19/09 .......................
Standard Test Cigarettes.
Staff Publishes NIST Report on 09/14/12 .......................
Standard Research Foam.
Notice of April 25 Public Meeting 03/20/13 78 FR 17140
and Request for Comments.
Staff Holds Upholstered Furniture 04/25/13 .......................
Fire Safety Technology Meeting.
Comment Period End.................. 07/01/13 .......................
Staff Sends Briefing Package to 09/08/16 .......................
Commission on California's TB 117-
2013.
Staff Sends Options Package to the 09/25/19 .......................
Commission.
Commission Decision................. 10/04/19 .......................
-----------------------------------
Staff Works to Improve Voluntary To Be Determined
Standards Related to Upholstered
Furniture.
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Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Andrew Lock, Project Manager, Directorate for
Laboratory Sciences, Consumer Product Safety Commission, National
Product Testing and Evaluation Center, 5 Research Place, Rockville, MD
20850, Phone: 301 987-2099, Email: alock@cpsc.gov.
RIN: 3041-AB35

286. Fireworks Devices

E.O. 13771 Designation: Independent agency.
Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 1261
Abstract: In July 2016, the Commission issued an ANPRM, requesting
comments on whether there was a need for the agency to update and
strengthen its regulations on fireworks devices. In FY 2012, staff
concentrated efforts on developing an updated test method to evaluate
aerial firework break charge energy release, assess potential hazards
to consumers associated with ``adult snapper'' fireworks, and propose
appropriate solutions. Staff released status reports providing
information regarding staff's fireworks research. In December 2015,
staff prepared a rule review of the fireworks regulations.
Subsequently, the Commission issued an NPRM, proposing several changes
and additions to the fireworks regulations. The NPRM proposed
requirements that fall into three categories: (1) New hazardous
substance bans, (2) changes to ease the burdens associated with
existing requirements, and (3) clarifications of existing requirements.
CPSC received more than 2,400 written comments in response to the NPRM.
Staff sent a final rule briefing package to the Commission in September
2018. In September 2019, the Commission voted to not approve staff's
recommended final rule.
Timetable:

[[Page 52819]]

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Action Date FR Cite
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Staff Sent Draft ANPRM to Commission 06/26/06 .......................
Commission Decision................. 06/30/06 .......................
ANPRM............................... 07/12/06 71 FR 39249
ANPRM Comment Period End............ 09/11/06 .......................
Staff Released a Fireworks Safety 01/31/13 .......................
Standards Development Status Report.
Staff Released a Fireworks Safety 10/23/13 .......................
Standards Development Status Report.
Staff Released Fireworks Safety 11/24/14 .......................
Standards Development Status Report
Draft.
Staff Sent Briefing Package to 12/30/15 .......................
Commission with Rule Review
Recommendations.
Staff Sent Draft NPRM to Commission. 12/14/16 .......................
Commission Decision................. 01/25/17 .......................
NPRM................................ 02/02/17 82 FR 9012
Comment Period Extended............. 04/18/17 82 FR 17947
Comment Period End.................. 07/17/17 .......................
Notice of Opportunity for Oral 02/05/18 83 FR 5056
Presentation of Comments.
Staff Sent Final Rule Briefing 09/26/18 .......................
Package to Commission.
Commission Decision................. 09/24/19 .......................
Gather further information.......... 06/00/21 .......................
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Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Rodney Valliere Ph.D., Project Manager, Directorate
for Laboratory Sciences, Consumer Product Safety Commission, National
Product Testing and Evaluation Center, 5 Research Place, Rockville, MD
20850, Phone: 301-987-2526, Email: rvalliere@cpsc.gov.
RIN: 3041-AC35

287. Portable Generators

E.O. 13771 Designation: Independent agency.
Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 2051
Abstract: In 2006, the Commission issued an advance notice of
proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) under the Consumer Product Safety Act
(CPSA) concerning portable generators. The ANPRM discussed regulatory
options that could reduce deaths and injuries related to portable
generators, particularly those involving carbon monoxide (CO)
poisoning. In FY 2006, staff awarded a contract to develop a prototype
generator engine with reduced CO in the exhaust. Also, in FY 2006,
staff entered into an interagency agreement (IAG) with the National
Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to conduct tests with a
generator, in both off-the-shelf and prototype configurations,
operating in the garage attached to NIST's test house. In FY 2009,
staff entered into a second IAG with NIST with the goal of developing
CO emission performance requirements for a possible proposed regulation
that would be based on health effects criteria. After additional staff
and contractor work, the Commission issued a notice of proposed
rulemaking (NPRM) proposing a performance standard that would limit the
CO emissions from operating portable generators. In 2018, two voluntary
standards adopted different CO mitigation requirements intended to
address the CO poisoning hazard associated with portable generators.
Staff is evaluating those voluntary standards. The Commission sought
public comments on staff's plans to assess the effectiveness of the
voluntary standards' requirements.
Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Staff Sent ANPRM to Commission...... 07/06/06 .......................
Staff Sent Supplemental Material to 10/12/06 .......................
Commission.
Commission Decision................. 10/26/06 .......................
Staff Sent Draft ANPRM to Commission 11/21/06 .......................
ANPRM............................... 12/12/06 71 FR 74472
ANPRM Comment Period End............ 02/12/07 .......................
Staff Releases Research Report for 10/10/12 .......................
Comment.
NPRM................................ 11/21/16 81 FR 83556
NPRM Comment Period Extended........ 12/13/16 81 FR 89888
Public Hearing for Oral Comments.... 03/08/17 82 FR 8907
NPRM Comment Period End............. 04/24/17 .......................
Staff Sends Notice of Availability 06/26/19 .......................
to the Commission.
Commission Decision................. 07/02/19 .......................
Notice of Availability.............. 07/09/19 84 FR 32729
Staff is Evaluating the Voluntary 06/00/21 .......................
Standards.
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Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Janet L. Buyer, Project Manager, Directorate for
Engineering Sciences, Consumer Product Safety Commission, National
Product Testing and Evaluation Center, 5 Research Place, Rockville, MD
20850, Phone: 301-987-2293, Email: jbuyer@cpsc.gov.
RIN: 3041-AC36

[FR Doc. 2020-16768 Filed 8-25-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6355-01-P