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Proposed Rule2021-14878

Semiannual Regulatory Agenda

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Published

July 30, 2021

Issuing agencies

Consumer Product Safety Commission

Abstract

In this document, the Commission publishes its semiannual regulatory flexibility agenda. In addition, this document includes an agenda of regulations that the Commission expects to develop or review during the next year. This document meets the requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act and Executive Order 12866.

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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 144 (Friday, July 30, 2021)]
[Unknown Section]
[Pages 41324-41327]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-14878]

[[Page 41323]]

Vol. 86

Friday,

No. 144

July 30, 2021

Part XXII

Consumer Product Safety Commission

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Semiannual Regulatory Agenda

Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 144 / Friday, July 30, 2021 / UA: Reg
Flex Agenda

[[Page 41324]]

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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 regulations that the Commission expects to develop or review
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 August 30, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Caption comments on the regulatory agenda, ``Regulatory
Flexibility Agenda.'' You can submit comments by email to: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f192818292dc9e82b192818292df969e87">[email&#160;protected]</a>. You can 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, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e18c8a848d928289a182919282cf868e97">[email&#160;protected]</a>. For further information
regarding a particular item on the agenda, contact the person listed in
the column titled, ``Contact,'' for that 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 a 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. In
addition, the regulatory flexibility agenda must contain the name and
telephone number of an agency official who is knowledgeable about the
listed items. 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.
In addition, Executive Order 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review
(Sep. 30, 1993), requires each agency to publish, twice a 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 the regulations the agency expects to develop 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 2020 agenda and completed before 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
developing or completing each activity; and the name and telephone
number of an agency official who is knowledgeable about items in the
agenda.
The internet is the primary means for disseminating the Unified
Agenda. The complete Unified Agenda will be available online at:
<a href="http://www.reginfo.gov">www.reginfo.gov</a>, in a format that allows users to obtain information
from the agenda database.
Because agencies must publish in the Federal Register 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.
The entries in the Commission's printed agenda are limited to
fields that contain information that the RFA requires in an agenda.
Additional information on these entries is available in the Unified
Agenda published on the internet.
The agenda reflects the Commission's 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, you should not infer from this agenda a final determination
by the Commission or its staff regarding the need for, or the substance
of, any rule or regulation.

Dated: March 17, 2021.
Alberta E. Mills,
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Consumer Product Safety Commission--Final Rule Stage
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulation
Sequence No. Title Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
296....................... Flammability Standard for 3041-AB35
Upholstered Furniture.
297....................... Regulatory Options for 3041-AC31
Table Saws.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Consumer Product Safety Commission--Long-Term Actions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulation
Sequence No. Title Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
298....................... Portable Generators....... 3041-AC36
299....................... Recreational Off-Road 3041-AC78
Vehicles.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 41325]]

CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION (CPSC)

Final Rule Stage

296. Flammability Standard for Upholstered Furniture

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, Congress signed into law, ``COVID-19 Regulatory
Relief and Work From Home Safety Act,'' Public Law 116-260 (COVID-19
Act). Section 2101 of the COVID-19 Act mandates that, 180 days after
the date of enactment of the COVID-19 Act, the standard for upholstered
furniture set forth by the Bureau of Electronic and Appliance Repair,
Home Furnishings and Thermal Insulation of the Department of Consumer
Affairs of the State of California in Technical Bulletin 117-2013,
entitled ``Requirements, Test Procedure and Apparatus for Testing the
Smolder Resistance of Materials Used in Upholstered Furniture,''
originally published June 2013, ``shall be considered to be a
flammability standard promulgated by the Consumer Product Safety
Commission under section 4 of the Flammable Fabrics Act (15 U.S.C.
1193).'' In light of the enactment of the COVID-19 Act, in FY 2021,
staff intends to submit a briefing package to the Commission that
recommends that the NPRM be withdrawn.
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 Submits Final Rule Briefing 09/00/21 .......................
Package Withdrawing the NPRM.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4d2c21222e260d2e3d3e2e632a223b">[email&#160;protected]</a>.
RIN: 3041-AB35

297. Regulatory Options for Table Saws

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.
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.
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.

[[Page 41326]]

Staff Sends a Status Briefing 08/28/19 .......................
Package on Table Saws to Commission.
Commission Decision................. 09/10/19 .......................
Staff Sends Final Rule Briefing 09/00/21 .......................
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: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#89eaf9e8fce5c9eaf9faeaa7eee6ff">[email&#160;protected]</a>.
RIN: 3041-AC31

CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION (CPSC)

Long-Term Actions

298. Portable Generators

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) in 2016, proposing a performance standard that would
limit the CO emission rates 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 developed a simulation and analysis
plan to evaluate the effectiveness of those voluntary standards'
requirements. In 2019, the Commission sought public comments on staff's
plan. In August 2020, staff submitted to the Commission a draft notice
of availability of the modified plan, based on staff's review and
consideration of the comments, for evaluating the voluntary standards;
the Commission published the notice of availability in August 2020.
Staff is now executing the modified plan.
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 Sends Notice of Availability 08/12/20 .......................
to Commission.
Commission Decision................. 08/19/20 .......................
Notice of Availability.............. 08/24/20 85 FR 52096
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Staff Report on Evaluation of To Be Determined
Voluntary 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: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#abc1c9ded2ced9ebc8dbd8c885ccc4dd">[email&#160;protected]</a>.
RIN: 3014-AC36

299. Recreational Off-Road Vehicles

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.
In the FY 2020 Operating Plan, the Commission directed staff to prepare
a rulemaking termination briefing package. Staff submitted a briefing
package to the Commission on September 16, 2020 that recommended
termination of rulemaking. On September 22, 2020 the Commission voted
2-2 on this matter. A majority was not reached and no action will be
taken.
Timetable:

[[Page 41327]]

------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 .......................
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 09/16/20 .......................
Commission.
Commission Decision: majority not 09/22/20 .......................
reached, no action will be taken.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Next Step Undetermined.............. To Be Determined
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#9dfeedfce8f1ddfeedeefeb3faf2eb">[email&#160;protected]</a>.
RIN: 3041-AC78

[FR Doc. 2021-14878 Filed 7-29-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6355-01-P

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