Collection of Information; Proposed Extension of Approval; Comment Request -Safety Standard for Bicycle Helmets, 6535 [E7-2316]

Agencies

• Consumer Product Safety Commission

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 28 (Monday, February 12, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 6535]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-2316]


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CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION


Collection of Information; Proposed Extension of Approval; 
Comment Request --Safety Standard for Bicycle Helmets

AGENCY: Consumer Product Safety Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
Chapter 35), the Consumer Product Safety Commission requests comments 
on a proposed extension of approval of a collection of information from 
manufacturers and importers of bicycle helmets. The collection of 
information is in regulations implementing the Safety Standard for 
Bicycle Helmets. 16 CFR Part 1203. These regulations establish testing 
and recordkeeping requirements for manufacturers and importers of 
bicycle helmets subject to the standard. The Commission will consider 
all comments received in response to this notice before requesting an 
extension of approval of this collection of information from the Office 
of Management and Budget.

DATES: Written comments must be received by the Office of the Secretary 
not later than April 13, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be captioned ``Bicycle Helmets'' and 
e-mailed to cpsc-os@cpsc.gov. Comments may also be sent by facsimile to 
(301) 504-0127, or by mail to the Office of the Secretary, Consumer 
Product Safety Commission, 4330 East West Highway, Bethesda, Maryland 
20814.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about the proposed 
renewal of this collection of information, or to obtain a copy of the 
pertinent regulations, call or write Linda L. Glatz, Division of Policy 
and Planning, Office of Information Technology and Technology Services, 
Consumer Product Safety Commission, 4330 East West Highway, Bethesda, 
Maryland 20814; (301) 504-7671, or by e-mail to lglatz@cpsc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 1994, Congress passed the ``Child Safety 
Protection Act,'' which, among other things, included the ``Children's 
Bicycle Helmet Safety Act of 1994'' Public Law 103-267, 108 Stat. 726. 
This law directed the Commission to issue a final standard applicable 
to bicycle helmets that would replace several existing voluntary 
standards with a single uniform standard that would include provisions 
to protect against the risk of helmets coming off the heads of bicycle 
riders, address the risk of injury to children, and cover other issues 
as appropriate. The Commission issued the final bicycle helmet standard 
in 1998. It is codified at 16 CFR Part 1203.
    The standard requires all bicycle helmets manufactured after March 
10, 1999, to meet impact-attenuation and other requirements. The 
standard also contains testing and recordkeeping requirements to ensure 
that bicycle helmets meet the standard's requirements. Certification 
regulations implementing the standard require manufacturers, importers, 
and private labelers of bicycle helmets subject to the standard to (1) 
Perform tests to demonstrate that those products meet the requirements 
of the standard, (2) maintain records of those tests, and (3) affix 
durable labels to the helmets stating that the helmet complies with the 
applicable standard. The certification regulations are codified at 16 
CFR Part 1203, Subpart B.
    The Commission uses the information compiled and maintained by 
manufacturers, importers, and private labelers of bicycle helmets 
subject to the standard to help protect the public from risks of injury 
or death associated with head injury associated with bicycle riding. 
More specifically, this information helps the Commission determine 
whether bicycle helmets subject to the standard comply with all 
applicable requirements. The Commission also uses this information to 
obtain corrective actions if bicycle helmets fail to comply with the 
standard in a manner that creates a substantial risk of injury to the 
public.
    The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approved the collection 
of information in the certification regulations under control number 
3041-0127. The Commission now proposes to request an extension of 
approval for the collection of information in the certification 
regulations.

A. Estimated Burden

    The Commission staff estimates that approximately 30 firms 
manufacture or import bicycle helmets subject to the standard. There 
are an estimated 200 different models of bicycle helmets currently 
marketed in the U.S. The Commission staff estimates that the time 
required to comply with the collection of information requirements is 
approximately 100 to 150 hours per model per year. The total amount of 
time estimated for compliance with these requirements will be 20,000 to 
30,000 hours per year (200 models x 100-150 hours/model = 20,000-30,000 
hours). The annualized cost to respondents for the hour burden for 
collection of information is $896,000-$1,345,000 based on 20,000-30,000 
hours times $44.82/hour (based on total compensation of all civilian 
workers in managerial and professional positions in the U.S., July 
2006, Bureau of Labor Statistics).

B. Request for Comments

    The Commission solicits written comments from all interested 
persons about the proposed collection of information. The Commission 
specifically solicits information relevant to the following topics:

--Whether the collection of information described above is necessary 
for the proper performance of the Commission's functions, including 
whether the information would have practical utility;
--Whether the estimated burden of the proposed collection of 
information is accurate;
--Whether the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be 
collected could be enhanced; and
--Whether the burden imposed by the collection of information could be 
minimized by use of automated, electronic or other technological 
collection techniques, or other forms of information technology.

    Dated: February 7, 2007.
Todd A. Stevenson,
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission.
 [FR Doc. E7-2316 Filed 2-9-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6355-01-P