[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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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: [email protected]. 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, [email protected]. 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
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
283.......................  Regulatory Options for             3041-AC31
                             Table Saws.
284.......................  Recreational Off-Road              3041-AC78
                             Vehicles.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


          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
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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: [email protected].
    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:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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: [email protected].
    RIN: 3041-AC78

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:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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: [email protected].
    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]]



------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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: [email protected].
    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.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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: [email protected].
    RIN: 3041-AC36

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