[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 95 (Tuesday, May 18, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27733-27734]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-11754]
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CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection;
Comment Request; Standard for the Flammability of Mattresses and
Mattress Pads
AGENCY: Consumer Product Safety Commission.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Consumer Product Safety Commission (``CPSC'' or
``Commission'') is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the
proposed collection of certain information by the agency. Under the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (``the PRA''), Federal agencies are
required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each
proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension
of an existing collection of information, and to allow 60 days for
public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments
on the proposed extension of approval of a collection of information
from manufacturers and importers of mattresses and mattress pads.
DATES: Submit written or electronic comments on the collection of
information by July 19, 2010.
ADDRESSES: Submit written submissions in the following way:
Written comments should be captioned ``Proposed Collection of
Information--Mattresses and Mattress Pads'' and e-mailed to the Office
of the Secretary at [email protected]. Comments may also be sent by
facsimile to (301) 504-0127, or by Mail/Hand delivery/Courier (for
paper, disk, or CD-ROM submissions), preferably in five copies, to:
Office of the Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Room 502,
4330 East West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814; telephone (301) 504-7923.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Linda Glatz, Division of Policy and
Planning, Office of Information Technology, Consumer Product Safety
Commission, 4330 East West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814. 301-504-7671.
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), Federal
agencies must obtain approval from the Office of Management and Budget
(``OMB'') for each collection of information they conduct or sponsor.
``Collection of information'' is defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(3) and 5 CFR
1320.3(c) and includes agency requests or requirements that members of
the public submit reports, keep records, or provide information to a
third party. Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A))
requires Federal agencies to provide a 60-day notice in the Federal
Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including
each proposed extension of an existing collection of information,
before submitting the collection to OMB for approval. To comply with
this requirement, the CPSC is publishing notice of the proposed
collection of information set forth in this document.
With respect to the following collection of information, the CPSC
invites comments on these topics: (1) Whether the proposed collection
of information is necessary for the proper
[[Page 27734]]
performance of CPSC's functions, including whether the information will
have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of CPSC's estimate of the
burden of the proposed collection of information, including the
validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance
the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected;
and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on
respondents, including through the use of automated collection
techniques, when appropriate, and other forms of information
technology.
Title: Standard for the Flammability of Mattresses and Mattress
Pads--16 CFR part 1632 (OMB Control Number 3041-0014--Extension).
Description: The Standard for the Flammability of Mattresses and
Mattress Pads was promulgated under section 4 of the Flammable Fabrics
Act (``FFA''), 15 U.S.C. 1193, to reduce unreasonable risks of burn
injuries and deaths from fires associated with mattresses and mattress
pads. The standard prescribes a test to assure that a mattress or
mattress pad will resist ignition from a smoldering cigarette. The
standard requires manufacturers to perform prototype tests of each
combination of materials and construction methods used to produce
mattresses or mattress pads and to obtain acceptable results from such
testing. Manufacturers and importers are required to maintain the
records and test results specified under the standard. OMB previously
approved the collection of information under control number 3041-0014.
The Commission now proposes to request an extension of approval for the
collection of information of the testing and recordkeeping requirements
under 16 CFR part 1632.
In addition, the Standard for the Flammability (Open Flame) of
Mattress Sets was promulgated under section 4 of the FFA, 16 CFR part
1633, to reduce deaths and injuries related to mattress fires,
particularly those ignited by open flame sources such as lighters,
candles and matches. The standard established new performance
requirements for mattresses and mattress sets that will generate a
smaller size fire from open flame source ignitions. Part 1633 also
contains recordkeeping requirements to document compliance with the
standard. OBM approved that collection of information under Control
Number 3041-0133, with an expiration date of March 31, 2013. The
testing and recordkeeping requirements under 16 CFR part 1633 do not
replace the testing and recordkeeping requirements under 16 CFR part
1632.
In May 2006, an Interim Enforcement Policy for Mattresses subject
to 16 CFR parts 1632 and 1633, effective May 1, 2006, was issued that
reduced prototype surface testing and recordkeeping requirements from
six mattress surfaces to two mattress surfaces for each new prototype
created after March 15, 2006. Manufacturers that avail themselves of
the reduced testing program will have to maintain records on the
cigarette test performed but they will be testing only two surfaces
rather than the required six surfaces. The policy is available at
http://www.cpsc.gov/BUSINFO/Interimmattress.pdf. Mattress prototypes
created before March 15, 2006, are subject to the full requirements of
16 CFR part 1632. In addition, mattress pads are not subject to this
policy and must continue to adhere to all the requirements set forth in
16 CFR part 1632.
We estimate the burden of this collection of information as
follows. The CPSC staff estimates that there are 671 respondents (571
establishments producing conventional mattresses and 100 establishments
producing non-conventional mattresses in the United States, a total of
671). It is estimated that each respondent will spend 26 hours for
testing and record keeping annually for a total of 17,446 hours (671
firms x 26 hours = 17,446 total hours requested). The annualized cost
to respondents would be $993,201 based on 17,446 hours times $56.93/
hour (based on total compensation of all management, professional, and
related occupations in goods-producing industries in the United States,
September 2009, Bureau of Labor Statistics).
The estimated annual cost of the information collection
requirements to the Federal government is approximately $142,000. This
sum includes 10 staff months and travel costs expended for examination
of the information in records required to be maintained by the standard
and enforcement rule.
Dated: May 12, 2010.
Todd A. Stevenson,
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission.
[FR Doc. 2010-11754 Filed 5-17-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6355-01-P