80_FR_42513 80 FR 42376 - Toys: Determination Regarding Heavy Elements Limits for Unfinished and Untreated Wood

80 FR 42376 - Toys: Determination Regarding Heavy Elements Limits for Unfinished and Untreated Wood

CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 137 (July 17, 2015)

Page Range42376-42381
FR Document2015-17413

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (``Commission,'' or ``CPSC'') is issuing a direct final rule determining that unfinished and untreated trunk wood does not contain heavy elements that would exceed the limits specified in the Commission's toy standard, ASTM F963-11. Based on this determination, unfinished and untreated wood in toys does not require third party testing for the heavy element limits in ASTM F963.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 137 (Friday, July 17, 2015)
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 137 (Friday, July 17, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 42376-42381]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-17413]


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CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION

16 CFR Part 1251

[Docket No. CPSC-2011-0081]


Toys: Determination Regarding Heavy Elements Limits for 
Unfinished and Untreated Wood

AGENCY: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

ACTION: Direct final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Consumer Product Safety Commission (``Commission,'' or 
``CPSC'') is issuing a direct final rule determining that unfinished 
and untreated trunk wood does not contain heavy elements that would 
exceed the limits specified in the Commission's toy standard, ASTM 
F963-11. Based on this determination, unfinished and untreated wood in 
toys does not require third party testing for the heavy element limits 
in ASTM F963.

DATES: The rule is effective on September 15, 2015, unless we receive a 
significant adverse comment by August 17, 2015. If we receive a timely 
significant adverse comment, we will publish notification in the 
Federal Register, withdrawing this direct final rule before its 
effective date.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by Docket No. CPSC-2011-
0081, by any of the following methods:
    Electronic Submissions: Submit electronic comments to the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal at: www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for 
submitting comments. The Commission does not accept comments submitted 
by electronic mail (email), except through www.regulations.gov. The 
Commission encourages you to submit electronic comments by using the 
Federal eRulemaking Portal, as described above.
    Written Submissions: Submit written submissions by mail/hand 
delivery/courier to: Office of the Secretary, Consumer Product Safety 
Commission, Room 820, 4330 East West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814; 
telephone (301) 504-7923.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name 
and docket number for this notice. All comments received may be posted 
without change, including any personal identifiers, contact 
information, or other personal information provided, to: 
www.regulations.gov. Do not submit confidential business information, 
trade secret information, or other sensitive or protected information 
that you do not want to be available to the public. If furnished at 
all, such information should be submitted in writing.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received, go to: www.regulations.gov, and insert the docket 
number CPSC-2011-0081, into the ``Search'' box, and follow the prompts.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Randy Butturini, Project Manager, 
Office of Hazard Identification and Reduction U.S. Consumer Product 
Safety Commission, 4330 East West Hwy, Room 814, Bethesda, MD 20814; 
301-504-7562: email; [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

1. Third Party Testing

    Section 14(a) of the Consumer Product Safety Act, (``CPSA''), as 
amended by the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 
(``CPSIA''), requires that manufacturers of products subject to a 
consumer product safety rule or similar rule, ban, standard or 
regulation enforced by the CPSC must certify that the product complies 
with all applicable CPSC-enforced requirements. 15 U.S.C. 2063(a). For 
children's products, certification must be based on testing conducted 
by a CPSC-accepted third party conformity assessment body. Id. Pub. L. 
112-28 (August 12, 2011), directed the CPSC to seek comment on 
``opportunities to reduce the cost of third party testing requirements 
consistent with assuring compliance with any applicable consumer 
product safety rule, ban, standard, or regulation.'' In response to 
Pub. L. 112-28, the Commission published in the Federal Register a 
Request for Comment (``RFC''). See http://www.cpsc.gov//PageFiles/103251/3ptreduce.pdf. As directed by the Commission, staff submitted a 
briefing package to the Commission that described opportunities that 
the Commission

[[Page 42377]]

could pursue to potentially reduce the third party testing costs 
consistent with assuring compliance. See http://www.cpsc.gov/PageFiles/129398/reduce3pt.pdf.
    In addition to soliciting and reviewing comments as required by 
Pub. L. 112-28, the Commission published in the Federal Register on 
April 16, 2013 a Request for Information (``RFI'') on four potential 
opportunities to reduce testing burdens. See http://www.thefederalregister.org/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-04-16/pdf/2013-08858.pdf. In February 2014, the Commission 
also published a notice in the Federal Register of a CPSC workshop on 
potential ways to reduce third party testing costs through 
determinations consistent with assuring compliance. See http://www.thefederalregister.org/fdsys/pkg/FR-2014-02-27/pdf/2014-04265.pdf. The workshop 
was held on April 3, 2014.
    As discussed further in this preamble, if the Commission determines 
that, due to the nature of a particular material, children's products 
made of that material will comply with CPSC's requirements with a high 
degree of assurance, manufacturers do not need to have those materials 
tested by a third party conformity assessment body.

2. CPSC's Toy Standard

    Section 106 of the CPSIA states that the provisions of ASTM 
International (``ASTM''), Consumer Safety Specifications for Toy Safety 
(``ASTM F963'' or ``toy standard''), ``shall be considered to be 
consumer product safety standards issued by the Commission under 
section 9 of the CPSA (15 U.S.C. 2058).'' \1\ Thus, toys subject to 
ASTM F963-11, the current mandatory version of the standard, must be 
tested by a CPSC-accepted third party conformity assessment body and 
demonstrate compliance with all applicable CPSC requirements for the 
manufacturer to issue a Children's Product Certificate (``CPC'') before 
the toys can be entered into commerce.
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    \1\ ASTM F963-11 is a consumer product safety standard, except 
for section 4.2 and Annex 4, or any provision that restates or 
incorporates an existing mandatory standard or ban promulgated by 
the Commission or by statute.
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    The toy standard has numerous requirements. Among them, section 
4.3.5 requires that surface coating materials and accessible substrates 
of toys \2\ that can be sucked, mouthed, or ingested, comply with the 
solubility limits on eight heavy elements. (We refer to these elements 
as the ``ASTM heavy elements.'') One of the eight ASTM heavy elements 
is lead. The Commission previously determined that certain materials do 
not exceed lead content limits, and therefore, those materials do not 
require third party testing when used in children's products (including 
toys). 16 CFR 1500.91. Thus, CPSC staff focused its work on the 
remaining seven ASTM heavy elements. The eight ASTM heavy elements and 
their solubility limits are shown below.
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    \2\ ASTM F963-11 contains the following note regarding the scope 
of the solubility requirement: NOTE 3--For the purposes of this 
requirement, the following criteria are considered reasonably 
appropriate for the classification of toys or parts likely to be 
sucked, mouthed or ingested: (1) All toy parts intended to be 
mouthed or contact food or drink, components of toys which are 
cosmetics, and components of writing instruments categorized as 
toys; (2) Toys intended for children less than 6 years of age, that 
is, all accessible parts and components where there is a probability 
that those parts and components may come into contact with the 
mouth.
    \3\ The method to assess the solubility of a listed element is 
detailed in section 8.3.2, Method to Dissolve Soluble Matter for 
Surface Coatings, of ASTM F963-11. Modeling clays included as part 
of a toy have different solubility limits for several of the 
elements.

   Table 1--Maximum Soluble Migrated Element in Parts-Per-Million for
        Surface Coatings and Substrates Included as Part of a Toy
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              Solubility
                                                                limit,
                          Element                             parts per
                                                               million,
                                                             (``ppm'') 3
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Antimony, (``Sb'').........................................           60
Arsenic, (``As'')..........................................           25
Barium, (``Ba'')...........................................         1000
Cadmium, (``Cd'')..........................................           75
Chromium, (``Cr'').........................................           60
Lead, (``Pb'').............................................           90
Mercury, (``Hg'')..........................................           60
Selenium, (``Se'').........................................          500
------------------------------------------------------------------------

3. Possible Determinations Regarding the ASTM Heavy Elements

    For some materials, the concentrations of all the listed heavy 
elements might always be below their respective solubility limits due 
to biological, manufacturing, or other constraints. For example, one of 
the specified elements may be sequestered in a portion of a plant, such 
as the roots, that is not used in textile manufacturing. Additionally, 
a manufacturing process step may remove a specified element, if the 
element is present, from the material being processed. For these 
materials, compliance with the limits stated in section 4.3.5 of ASTM 
F963-11 is assured without requiring third party testing because the 
material is intrinsically compliant.
    The third party testing burden could only be reduced if all heavy 
elements listed in section 4.3.5 have concentrations below their 
solubility limits. Because third party conformity assessment bodies 
typically run one test for all of the ASTM heavy elements, no testing 
burden reduction would be achieved if any one of the heavy elements 
requires testing.

B. Contractor's Research

1. Overview

    CPSC hired a contractor to conduct a literature search to assess 
whether the Commission potentially could determine that wood and other 
natural materials do not contain any of the seven specified heavy 
elements in concentrations above the ASTM F963-11 maximum solubility 
limits (excluding the eighth element, lead which is already subject to 
a determination). The contractor researched the following materials:
     Unfinished and untreated wood (ash, beech, birch, cherry, 
maple, oak, pine, poplar, and walnut);
     Bamboo;
     Beeswax;
     Undyed and untreated fibers and textiles (cotton, wool, 
linen, and silk); and
     Uncoated or coated paper (wood or other cellulosic fiber).
    Staff chose these materials for research because they met two 
criteria:
     Materials the Commission previously determined not to 
contain lead in concentrations above 100 ppm; and
     Materials more likely to be used in toys subject to the 
ASTM F963-11 solubility limits.
    The contractor's report is available on the Commission's Web site 
at: http://www.cpsc.gov//Global/Research-and-Statistics/Technical-Reports/Toys/TERAReportASTMElements.pdf. CPSC staff reviewed the 
contractor's report and prepared a briefing package providing 
recommendations to the Commission. The staff's briefing package is also 
available on the Commission's Web site. http://www.cpsc.gov//Global/Newsroom/FOIA/CommissionBriefingPackages/2015/DFRandNPRDeterminationsontheASTMElementsUnfinishedWoods%20June302015.pdf
.
    In conducting this research, the contractor considered the 
following factors:
     The concentrations of the seven heavy elements in the 
material under study;
     The presence and concentrations of the elements in the 
environmental

[[Page 42378]]

media (e.g., soil, water, air), and in the base materials for the 
textiles and paper;
     Whether processing has the potential to introduce any of 
the seven heavy elements into the material under study; and
     The potential for contamination after production, such as 
through packaging.
    The contractor examined secondary sources and reviewed articles to 
identify the available data regarding the elements' concentrations in 
the materials listed above. The contractor summarized the relevant data 
on bioavailability and presence/concentrations in environmental media 
(i.e., soil, air, and water) from the most recent Agency for Toxic 
Substances and Disease Registry (``ATSDR'') \4\ toxicological profile, 
supplemented with more recent authoritative reviews. The contractor 
conducted a literature search for data on concentrations of the 
chemical elements in each of the specific materials. Potentially 
relevant papers for information on concentrations of chemical elements 
in each product were identified and reviewed. The contractor used the 
references from reviewed articles to identify other articles to examine 
and used the references in those articles to find other sources 
recursively, to uncover relevant cited references.\5\ The literature 
screening was to examine whether there is a potential for an ASTM heavy 
element to be present in the natural material at levels above its 
solubility limit. When the contractor determined there was sufficient 
information to indicate the potential for an ASTM heavy element to be 
present, the contractor stopped that particular line of inquiry and 
reported the results.
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    \4\ The congressionally mandated Agency for Toxic Substances and 
Disease Registry produces toxicological profiles for hazardous 
substances found at National Priorities List sites.
    \5\ This method is often referred to as ``tree searching.''
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    As discussed in the staff's briefing package, the contractor's 
report does not support a Commission determination for any material 
other than unfinished and untreated wood. The literature reviewed by 
the contractor did not provide sufficient information to determine that 
any of the reviewed materials, other than unfinished and untreated 
wood, do not contain the heavy elements in concentrations above the 
limits stated in the toy standard.

2. Findings Regarding Wood

    Of the materials reviewed, the contractor identified the most 
studies for wood. Although the contractor could not examine every study 
concerning wood, the contractor reported that the studies examined 
constitute a representative sample of studies. The contractor studied 
measurements taken from trees in natural settings, samples from trees 
grown on contaminated soils, hydroponically grown \6\ seedlings, 
experimental studies with seedlings grown in pots in which the soil had 
some of the elements intentionally added, and seedlings soaked in 
solutions containing one or more of the ASTM heavy elements.
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    \6\ Hydroponics is a subset of hydroculture and is a method of 
growing plants using mineral nutrient solutions, in water, without 
soil.
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    The contractor examined measurements on roots, shoots, bark, 
trunks, branches, and leaves (or needles, for evergreens). Not every 
study conducted measurements on each part of the tree. Many studies 
showed concentrations of the ASTM heavy elements at levels below their 
solubility limits.
    Antimony. For antimony, the studies examined showed that roots, 
shoots, branches, and leaves contained antimony in concentrations 
greater than the ASTM solubility limit of 60 ppm. No tree trunks showed 
antimony concentrations above the ASTM solubility limit. One study's 
measurements of tree trunks showed that the trunks were nearly free of 
antimony.
    Arsenic. For arsenic, trunks, roots shoots, leaves, stems, bark, 
and branches of trees were characterized. An experimental study showed 
roots with more than 25 ppm arsenic. A study at a contaminated mining 
site showed roots, branches, leaves/needles, and shoots with arsenic 
concentrations above the ASTM solubility limit. However, no tree trunk 
measurement showed arsenic in concentrations above 25 ppm. In the two 
tested cases, tree trunks contained only trace levels of arsenic 
(levels well below the solubility limit).
    One study measured levels of arsenic in sawdust sampled from 15 
sawmill locations in the Sapele metropolis (a port city in Nigeria). 
The highest arsenic concentration measured was 93.0 ppm. The study's 
authors did not specify what types of trees or wood were processed at 
the sawmills. However, the authors noted that a major industry in the 
study area is Africa Timber Plywood Industry and mentioned that arsenic 
and chromium are used as wood preservatives. Plywood is a manufactured 
wood and could contain materials not found in natural wood. The authors 
did not report what woods these sawmills were processing. Therefore, we 
cannot draw any conclusions from this study.
    Barium. For barium, measurements of leaves, leaf litter, wood, and 
sawdust all showed barium concentrations below the ASTM solubility 
limit of 1,000 ppm.
    Cadmium. For cadmium, the studies examined showed cadmium in tree 
core samples and wood at levels below the ASTM solubility limit of 75 
ppm. Studies that measured cadmium in hydroponic samples showed cadmium 
levels in root, stem bark, stem wood, and leaf parts above 75 ppm. In a 
similar manner, shoots grown in pots containing varying amounts of 
cadmium added, showed cadmium concentrations above the ASTM solubility 
limit in leaves, stems, and roots.
    Chromium. For chromium, one study at a chromate-contaminated site 
found chromium concentrations above the ASTM solubility limit of 60 ppm 
in roots, but measurements were below the detection limit for leaves, 
wood, and bark. Hydroponic studies by the same researcher showed that 
tree roots can concentrate chromium, but translocation (the movement of 
a material from one place to another) of chromium from the roots to 
other parts of the tree, is very low.
    Mercury. For mercury, the contractor reviewed studies that measured 
mercury uptake in the roots, shoots, leaves, bark, trunks, limbs, 
fruits, branches, stems, and nuts of trees. The studies included both 
experimental tests and trees sampled from natural areas. Only an 
experimental study with seedlings grown in pots, to which either 
mercuric nitrate, methyl mercury chloride, or both, had been added, 
showed mercury in concentrations above the ASTM solubility limit in 
shoots and leaves of sycamore seedlings. The other studies did not show 
mercury levels above the ASTM solubility limit of 60 ppm in samples, 
even at contaminated sites.
    Selenium. For selenium, one study showed measured concentrations of 
1.4 ppm selenium in tree rings growing in contaminated soil. Other 
studies showed selenium at concentrations of 10 ppm or less, well below 
the ASTM solubility limit of 500 ppm. Only an experimental study with 
tree cuttings grown hydroponically in either sodium selenate or sodium 
selenite for 6 days, showed root concentrations above the ASTM 
solubility limit. All other parts of the cuttings had selenium levels 
below the ASTM solubility limit.
    Conclusions. The contractor's report provides sufficient 
information for the Commission to determine that unfinished and 
untreated wood from tree trunks does not contain the ASTM heavy 
elements in concentrations above

[[Page 42379]]

their respective solubility limits, and are, therefore, not required to 
be third party tested to assure compliance with the ASTM F963-11 
solubility test. The studies examined multiple species of trees grown 
on several continents. No study examined by the contractor found any of 
the ASTM heavy elements in tree trunks at concentrations beyond the 
element's solubility limit.
    The contractor's report indicates that heavy elements could be 
present in wood from other portions of the tree: The roots, bark, 
leaves, or fruit. The studies examined by the contractor showed high 
levels of one or more of the ASTM heavy elements in portions of trees 
other than trunks. However, commercial timber harvesting involves the 
process of ``delimbing'' The tree to create logs that can be 
transported and cut at a sawmill or lumberyard.\7\ Often, the sawmill 
creates uniform-length planks from the delivered logs. These planks are 
sold to wood wholesalers or retailers, and are bought by wooden toy and 
other manufacturers. Because commercial practice creates logs from only 
the trunks of harvested trees, the wood available for use in toys and 
other wooden objects is sourced from these logs, or trunks of trees, 
and not the other parts of trees that could contain the ASTM elements 
above the limits in the toy standard.\8\
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    \7\ A succinct description of timber logging can be found at 
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Logging&redirect=no. A 
more comprehensive review of timber harvesting can be found at 
http://www.amazon.com/Tree-Harvesting-Techniques-Forestry-Sciences/dp/9048182824/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1433193105&sr=1-1&keywords=tree+harvesting+techniques%2C+wiksten.
    \8\ Often, the sawmill creates uniform-length planks from the 
delivered logs. These planks are sold to wood wholesalers or 
retailers, and are bought by wooden toy and other manufacturers. Two 
references to the woods used in toys are: http://www.ehow.com/list_6896897_kinds-wood-toys-made-from_.html, and http://www.woodtoyz.com/WTCat/LearnMaterials.html.
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C. Determination for Unfinished and Untreated Wood for ASTM F963 Limits 
for Heavy Elements

1. Legal Requirements for a Determination

    As noted above, section 14(a)(2) of the CPSA requires third party 
testing for children's products that are subject to a children's 
product safety rule. 15 U.S.C. 2063(a)(2). Toys must comply with the 
toy standard, including the specified limits on heavy elements. 15 
U.S.C. 2056b. In response to statutory direction, the Commission has 
investigated approaches that would reduce the burden of third party 
testing while also assuring compliance with CPSC requirements. As part 
of that endeavor, the Commission has considered whether certain 
materials used in toys would not require third party testing.
    To issue a determination that a material does not require third 
party testing, the Commission must have sufficient evidence to conclude 
that the material would consistently comply with the CPSC requirement 
that the material is subject to so that third party testing is 
unnecessary to provide a high degree of assurance of compliance. 16 CFR 
part 1107. Section 1107.2, defines ``a high degree of assurance'' as 
``an evidence-based demonstration of consistent performance of a 
product regarding compliance based on knowledge of a product and its 
manufacture.''
    For a material determination, a high degree of assurance of 
compliance means that the material will comply with the specified 
chemical limits due to the nature of the material, or due to a 
processing technique (e.g., harvesting, smelting, cleaning, filtering, 
sorting) that reduces the chemical concentration below its limit. For 
materials determined to comply with a chemical limit, the material must 
continue to comply with that limit if it is used in a children's 
product subject to that requirement. A material on which a 
determination has been made cannot be altered or adulterated to render 
it noncompliant and then used in a children's product.
    Based on the information discussed in section B of this preamble, 
the Commission determines that unfinished and untreated trunk wood 
complies with the solubility requirements for the heavy elements in 
section 4.3.5 of ASTM F963-11 with a high degree of assurance. This 
determination means that third party testing for compliance to the 
solubility requirements is not required for certification purposes for 
unfinished and untreated trunk wood. The Commission makes this 
determination to reduce the third party testing burden on children's 
product certifiers while continuing to ensure compliance.

2. Potential for Third Party Testing Burden Reduction

    CPSC staff assessed the burden reduction that could result from a 
determination that unfinished and untreated trunk wood does not require 
third party testing for compliance with the limits on heavy elements in 
the toy standards. Testing the soluble concentration of the ASTM heavy 
elements requires placing the toy (or component part of the toy) in a 
solution of hydrochloric acid for 2 hours. After 2 hours, the solids 
are separated from the solution, and the solution is analyzed for the 
presence of any of the ASTM F963-11 heavy elements using atomic 
spectroscopy. The cost of this testing can vary by factors such as 
geography and the volume of testing that a manufacturer obtains from a 
testing laboratory. Based on published invoices and price lists, the 
cost of a third party test for the ASTM heavy elements ranges from 
around $60 in China, up to around $190 in the United States.
    Staff cannot estimate with any certainty what the total potential 
burden reduction would be from a determination that unfinished and 
untreated wood will not contain concentrations of antimony, arsenic, 
barium, cadmium, mercury, and selenium in excess of the limits in ASTM 
F963-11. Most of the approximately 80,000 kinds of toys on the market 
\9\ probably do not contain any wood components. If we assume that 10 
percent of the approximately 80,000 different kinds of toys on the 
market have at least one wood component that requires third party 
testing, and we also assume that the average cost of a third party test 
is about $125 (representing the approximate midpoint of the range for 
the test's cost), then the potential total burden reduction from a 
determination for unfinished and untreated wood from tree trunks would 
be about $1 million annually. This estimate assumes that only one type 
of wood was used in a product so that the manufacturer would not have 
to test each individual unfinished and untreated wood component part in 
a product, as allowed by the component part testing rule (16 CFR part 
1109). The estimated benefits could be lower if some manufacturers 
certify that their wood components comply with the ASTM F963-11 heavy 
elements requirements, based on third party tests of their raw 
materials instead of the finished product, as allowed by the component 
part testing rule. Moreover, the assumption that 10 percent of the toys 
have wood components is intended only to illustrate the potential 
benefits; the

[[Page 42380]]

assumption is not based on any formal study of the toy market.
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    \9\ The estimate that there are 80,000 different kinds of toys 
is based on the number of toys listed on the Amazon.com Web site on 
June 2, 2015, for which Amazon.com was listed as the seller and 
recommended for children 13 years old or younger. Examples of toys 
that might include wood components include building blocks, various 
wood pull toys, some toy cars and trucks, train sets, some games and 
puzzles, some toy figures, and some toys for toddlers and infants.
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3. Statutory Authority

    Section 3 of the CPSIA grants the Commission general rulemaking 
authority to issue regulations, as necessary, to implement the CPSIA. 
Public Law 110-314, Sec.  3, Aug. 14, 2008. As noted previously, 
section 14 of the CPSA, which was amended by the CPSIA, requires third 
party testing for children's products that are subject to a children's 
product safety rule. 15 U.S.C. 2063(a)(2). Section 14(d)(3)(B) of the 
CPSA, as amended by Public Law 112-28, gives the Commission the 
authority to ``prescribe new or revised third party testing regulations 
if it determines that such regulations will reduce third party testing 
costs consistent with assuring compliance with the applicable consumer 
product safety rules, bans, standards, and regulations.'' Id. 
2063(d)(3)(B). These statutory provisions authorize the Commission to 
issue this rule determining that unfinished and untreated trunk wood 
will not exceed the limits for heavy elements stated in the toy 
standard, and therefore, unfinished and untreated trunk wood does not 
require third party conformity assessment body testing to assure 
compliance with the heavy elements limits stated in the toy standard.
    This determination relieves unfinished and untreated trunk wood 
from the third party testing requirement of section 14 of the CPSA for 
purposes of supporting the required certification. However, if the 
unfinished and untreated wood is altered so that the material exceeds 
the heavy elements limits of ASTM F963, the determination is not 
applicable to that material. The changed or altered material or product 
must then be tested and meet the heavy element requirements of ASTM 
F963.
    The determination only lifts the obligation to have unfinished and 
untreated trunk wood tested by a third party conformity assessment 
body. The underlying requirement that products subject to the toy 
standard must comply with the toy standard's limits on heavy elements 
remains in place.

4. Description of the Rule

    This rule creates a new Part 1251 for ``Toys; Determination 
Regarding Heavy Elements Limits for Unfinished and Untreated Wood.'' 
Section 1251.1 of the rule explains the statutorily-created 
requirements for toys under ASTM F963 and the third party testing 
requirements for children's products.
    Section 1251.2(a) of the rule establishes the Commission's 
determination that unfinished and untreated trunk wood does not exceed 
the limits for the heavy elements established in section 4.3.5 of the 
toy standard with a high degree of assurance as that term is defined in 
16 CFR part 1107. The determination only applies if the material has 
not been treated or adulterated with the addition of any materials that 
could result in the addition of any of the heavy elements listed in the 
toy standard at levels above their respective solubility limits. In 
section 1251.2(b) of the rule, unfinished and untreated trunk wood 
means wood harvested from trees with no added surface coatings (e.g., 
varnish, paint, shellac, polyurethane) and no materials added to the 
wood substrate (e.g., stains, dyes, preservatives, antifungals, 
insecticides). Because commercial practice creates wood from only the 
trunks of harvested trees, unfinished and untreated wood as used in the 
rule means wood that is generally commercially available. Unfinished 
and untreated wood does not include manufactured or engineered woods 
such as pressed wood, plywood, particle board, or fiberboard.

D. Direct Final Rule Process

    The Commission is issuing this rule as a direct final rule 
(``DFR''). The Administrative Procedure Act (``APA'') generally 
requires notice and comment rulemaking 5 U.S.C. 553(b). In 
Recommendation 95-4, the Administrative Conference of the United States 
(``ACUS'') endorsed direct final rulemaking as an appropriate procedure 
to expedite promulgation of rules that are noncontroversial and that 
are not expected to generate significant adverse comment. See 60 FR 
43108 (August 18, 1995). Consistent with the ACUS recommendation, the 
Commission is publishing this rule as a direct final rule because we 
believe the determination will not be controversial. The rule will not 
impose any new obligations, but will relieve companies from the 
requirement of having toys (or materials that are component parts of 
toys) tested by a third party conformity assessment body if the toys or 
materials are made of unfinished and untreated wood. We expect that the 
determination will be supported by stakeholders. The determination 
responds to the desire expressed by numerous stakeholders and Congress 
that the Commission provide relief from the burdens of third party 
testing while also ensuring that products will comply with all 
applicable children's product safety rules. The rule establishes a 
discrete determination that a specific material (unfinished and 
untreated wood) in a particular type of product (toys) will always 
comply with the toy standard's limits on heavy elements. We expect that 
this focused action will not engender any significant adverse comments.
    Unless we receive a significant adverse comment within 30 days, the 
rule will become effective on September 15, 2015. In accordance with 
ACUS's recommendation, the Commission considers a significant adverse 
comment to be one where the commenter explains why the rule would be 
inappropriate, including an assertion challenging the rule's underlying 
premise or approach, or a claim that the rule would be ineffective or 
unacceptable without change.
    Should the Commission receive a significant adverse comment, the 
Commission will withdraw this direct final rule. A notice of proposed 
rulemaking (``NPR''), providing an opportunity for public comment, is 
also being published in this same issue of the Federal Register.

E. Effective Date

    The APA generally requires that a substantive rule must be 
published not less than 30 days before its effective date. 5 U.S.C. 
553(d)(1). Because the final rule provides relief from existing testing 
requirements under the CPSIA, the effective date is September 15, 2015. 
However, as discussed in section D of the preamble, if the Commission 
receives a significant adverse comment the Commission will withdraw the 
DFR and proceed with the NPR published in this same issue of the 
Federal Register.

F. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (``RFA'') generally requires that 
agencies review proposed and final rules for the rules' potential 
economic impact on small entities, including small businesses, and 
prepare regulatory flexibility analyses. 5 U.S.C. 603 and 604.
    The rule would relieve toy manufacturers and importers of the 
responsibility of obtaining third party tests for compliance with the 
limits on the ASTM elements for components of toys consisting of 
unfinished and untreated wood. Although the impact will be to reduce 
testing costs, we expect that the rule would have only limited impact 
on toy manufacturers and importers for two reasons. First, the rule 
will affect only those companies that manufacture or import toys that 
contain unfinished and untreated wood components. We expect that 
relatively few of the approximately 80,000 toys on the market contain 
any unfinished and

[[Page 42381]]

untreated wood components. Therefore this rule would be expected to 
impact only a small number of manufacturers and importers or at most, a 
small portion of the toys in the market.
    Second, manufacturers of toys containing unfinished and untreated 
wood components still would be required to test to other aspects of the 
ASTM toy standard, so the impact of this rule relative to production 
costs for most firms should be small. Due to the small number of 
entities affected and the limited scope of the impact, the Commission 
certifies that this rule will not have a significant impact on a 
substantial number of small entities pursuant to section 605(b) of the 
RFA, 5 U.S.C. 605(b).

G. Environmental Considerations

    The Commission's regulations provide a categorical exclusion for 
Commission rules from any requirement to prepare an environmental 
assessment or an environmental impact statement because they ``have 
little or no potential for affecting the human environment.'' 16 CFR 
1021.5(c)(2). This rule falls within the categorical exclusion, so no 
environmental assessment or environmental impact statement is required. 
The Commission's regulations state that safety standards for products 
normally have little or no potential for affecting the human 
environment. 16 CFR 1021.5(c)(1). Nothing in this rule alters that 
expectation.

List of Subjects

    Business and industry, Infants and children, Consumer protection, 
Imports, Product testing and certification, Toys.

    Accordingly, 16 CFR part 1251 is added to read as follows:

PART 1251--TOYS: DETERMINATIONS REGARDING HEAVY ELEMENTS LIMITS FOR 
CERTAIN MATERIALS

Sec.
1251.1 The toy standard and testing requirements.
1251.2 Wood.

    Authority: Sec. 3, Pub. L. 110-314, 122 Stat. 3016; 15 U.S.C. 
2063(d)(3)(B).


Sec.  1251.1  The toy standard and testing requirements.

    The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (``CPSIA'') 
made provisions of ASTM F963, Consumer Product Safety Specifications 
for Toy Safety (``toy standard''), a mandatory consumer product safety 
standard. Among the mandated provisions is section 4.3.5 of ASTM F963 
which requires that surface coating materials and accessible substrates 
of toys that can be sucked, mouthed, or ingested, must comply with 
solubility limits that the toy standard establishes for eight heavy 
elements. Materials used in toys subject to section 4.3.5 of the toy 
standard must comply with the third party testing requirements of 
section 14(a)(2) of the Consumer Product Safety Act (``CPSA''), unless 
listed in Sec.  1251.2.


Sec.  1251.2  Wood.

    (a) Unfinished and untreated wood does not exceed the limits for 
the heavy elements established in section 4.3.5 of the toy standard 
with a high degree of assurance as that term is defined in 16 CFR part 
1107, provided that the material has been neither treated nor 
adulterated with materials that could result in the addition of any of 
the heavy elements listed in the toy standard at levels above their 
respective solubility limits.
    (b) For purposes of this section, unfinished and untreated wood 
means wood harvested from the trunks of trees with no added surface 
coatings (such as, varnish, paint, shellac, or polyurethane) and no 
materials added to the wood substrate (such as, stains, dyes, 
preservatives, antifungals, or insecticides). Unfinished and untreated 
wood does not include manufactured or engineered woods (such as pressed 
wood, plywood, particle board, or fiberboard).

    Dated: July 13, 2015.
Todd A. Stevenson,
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission.
[FR Doc. 2015-17413 Filed 7-16-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6355-01-P



                                                  42376                Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 137 / Friday, July 17, 2015 / Rules and Regulations

                                                  certificate holding district office. The AMOC            National Archives and Records                         Room 820, 4330 East West Highway,
                                                  approval letter must specifically reference              Administration (NARA). For information on             Bethesda, MD 20814; telephone (301)
                                                  this AD.                                                 the availability of this material at NARA, call       504–7923.
                                                    (2) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any               202–741–6030, or go to: http://
                                                  requirement in this AD to obtain corrective
                                                                                                                                                                   Instructions: All submissions received
                                                                                                           www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-
                                                  actions from a manufacturer, the action must             locations.html.                                       must include the agency name and
                                                  be accomplished using a method approved                                                                        docket number for this notice. All
                                                  by the Manager, New York ACO, ANE–170,                     Issued in Renton, Washington, on June 29,           comments received may be posted
                                                                                                           2015.
                                                  FAA; or Transport Canada Civil Aviation                                                                        without change, including any personal
                                                  (TCCA); or Bombardier, Inc.’s TCCA Design                Jeffrey E. Duven,                                     identifiers, contact information, or other
                                                  Approval Organization (DAO). If approved by              Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate,              personal information provided, to:
                                                  the DAO, the approval must include the                   Aircraft Certification Service.                       www.regulations.gov. Do not submit
                                                  DAO-authorized signature.                                [FR Doc. 2015–16580 Filed 7–16–15; 8:45 am]           confidential business information, trade
                                                  (l) Related Information                                  BILLING CODE 4910–13–P                                secret information, or other sensitive or
                                                     (1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing                                                                           protected information that you do not
                                                  Airworthiness Information (MCAI) Canadian                                                                      want to be available to the public. If
                                                  Airworthiness Directive CF–2007–32R2,                    CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY                               furnished at all, such information
                                                  dated June 27, 2013, for related information.                                                                  should be submitted in writing.
                                                  This MCAI may be found in the AD docket
                                                                                                           COMMISSION
                                                                                                                                                                   Docket: For access to the docket to
                                                  on the Internet at http://
                                                  www.regulations.gov/
                                                                                                           16 CFR Part 1251                                      read background documents or
                                                  #!documentDetail;D=FAA-2014-0570-0002.                                                                         comments received, go to:
                                                                                                           [Docket No. CPSC–2011–0081]
                                                     (2) Service information identified in this                                                                  www.regulations.gov, and insert the
                                                  AD that is not incorporated by reference is              Toys: Determination Regarding Heavy                   docket number CPSC–2011–0081, into
                                                  available at the addresses specified in                  Elements Limits for Unfinished and                    the ‘‘Search’’ box, and follow the
                                                  paragraphs (m)(3) and (m)(4) of this AD.                                                                       prompts.
                                                                                                           Untreated Wood
                                                  (m) Material Incorporated by Reference                                                                         FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                                                                           AGENCY: U.S. Consumer Product Safety
                                                     (1) The Director of the Federal Register                                                                    Randy Butturini, Project Manager,
                                                  approved the incorporation by reference                  Commission.
                                                                                                                                                                 Office of Hazard Identification and
                                                  (IBR) of the service information listed in this          ACTION: Direct final rule.                            Reduction U.S. Consumer Product
                                                  paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR                                                                      Safety Commission, 4330 East West
                                                  part 51.                                                 SUMMARY:   The Consumer Product Safety
                                                     (2) You must use this service information             Commission (‘‘Commission,’’ or                        Hwy, Room 814, Bethesda, MD 20814;
                                                  as applicable to do the actions required by              ‘‘CPSC’’) is issuing a direct final rule              301–504–7562: email; rbutturini@
                                                  this AD, unless this AD specifies otherwise.             determining that unfinished and                       cpsc.gov.
                                                     (i) Bombardier Temporary Revision AWL                 untreated trunk wood does not contain                 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                                  2–43, dated August 31, 2007, to Part 2,
                                                                                                           heavy elements that would exceed the
                                                  ‘‘Airworthiness Limitations,’’ of the                                                                          A. Background
                                                  Bombardier Dash 8 Series 200 Maintenance                 limits specified in the Commission’s toy
                                                  Program Manual, PSM 1–82–7.                              standard, ASTM F963–11. Based on this                 1. Third Party Testing
                                                     (ii) Bombardier Temporary Revision AWL                determination, unfinished and                            Section 14(a) of the Consumer
                                                  2–47, dated February 16, 2011, to Part 2,                untreated wood in toys does not require               Product Safety Act, (‘‘CPSA’’), as
                                                  ‘‘Airworthiness Limitations,’’ of the                    third party testing for the heavy element
                                                  Bombardier Dash 8 Series 200 Maintenance                                                                       amended by the Consumer Product
                                                                                                           limits in ASTM F963.                                  Safety Improvement Act of 2008
                                                  Program Manual, PSM 1–82–7.
                                                                                                           DATES: The rule is effective on                       (‘‘CPSIA’’), requires that manufacturers
                                                     (iii) Bombardier Temporary Revision AWL
                                                  3–109, dated August 31, 2007, to Part 2,                 September 15, 2015, unless we receive                 of products subject to a consumer
                                                  ‘‘Airworthiness Limitations,’’ of the                    a significant adverse comment by                      product safety rule or similar rule, ban,
                                                  Bombardier Dash 8 Series 300 Maintenance                 August 17, 2015. If we receive a timely               standard or regulation enforced by the
                                                  Program Manual, PSM 1–83–7.                              significant adverse comment, we will                  CPSC must certify that the product
                                                     (iv) Bombardier Temporary Revision AWL                publish notification in the Federal                   complies with all applicable CPSC-
                                                  3–117, dated February 16, 2011, to Part 2,               Register, withdrawing this direct final
                                                  ‘‘Airworthiness Limitations,’’ of the
                                                                                                                                                                 enforced requirements. 15 U.S.C.
                                                                                                           rule before its effective date.                       2063(a). For children’s products,
                                                  Bombardier Dash 8 Series 300 Maintenance
                                                  Program Manual, PSM 1–83–7.                              ADDRESSES: You may submit comments,                   certification must be based on testing
                                                     (v) Subject 5–FSL of Section 5, ‘‘Fuel                identified by Docket No. CPSC–2011–                   conducted by a CPSC-accepted third
                                                  System Limitations,’’ of the ‘‘Airworthiness             0081, by any of the following methods:                party conformity assessment body. Id.
                                                  Limitations List,’’ of the Bombardier Dash 8                Electronic Submissions: Submit                     Pub. L. 112–28 (August 12, 2011),
                                                  Series 100 Maintenance Program Manual,                   electronic comments to the Federal                    directed the CPSC to seek comment on
                                                  PSM 1–8–7, Revision 18, dated February 23,               eRulemaking Portal at:                                ‘‘opportunities to reduce the cost of
                                                  2012.
                                                     (3) For service information identified in
                                                                                                           www.regulations.gov. Follow the                       third party testing requirements
                                                  this AD, contact Bombardier, Inc., Q-Series              instructions for submitting comments.                 consistent with assuring compliance
                                                  Technical Help Desk, 123 Garratt Boulevard,              The Commission does not accept                        with any applicable consumer product
                                                  Toronto, Ontario M3K 1Y5, Canada;                        comments submitted by electronic mail                 safety rule, ban, standard, or
                                                  telephone 416–375–4000; fax 416–375–4539;                (email), except through                               regulation.’’ In response to Pub. L. 112–
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with RULES




                                                  email thd.qseries@aero.bombardier.com;                   www.regulations.gov. The Commission                   28, the Commission published in the
                                                  Internet http://www.bombardier.com.                      encourages you to submit electronic                   Federal Register a Request for Comment
                                                     (4) You may view this service information             comments by using the Federal                         (‘‘RFC’’). See http://www.cpsc.gov//
                                                  at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate,
                                                  1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For
                                                                                                           eRulemaking Portal, as described above.               PageFiles/103251/3ptreduce.pdf. As
                                                  information on the availability of this                     Written Submissions: Submit written                directed by the Commission, staff
                                                  material at the FAA, call 425–227–1221.                  submissions by mail/hand delivery/                    submitted a briefing package to the
                                                     (5) You may view this service information             courier to: Office of the Secretary,                  Commission that described
                                                  that is incorporated by reference at the                 Consumer Product Safety Commission,                   opportunities that the Commission


                                             VerDate Sep<11>2014   17:58 Jul 16, 2015   Jkt 235001   PO 00000   Frm 00004   Fmt 4700   Sfmt 4700   E:\FR\FM\17JYR1.SGM   17JYR1


                                                                        Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 137 / Friday, July 17, 2015 / Rules and Regulations                                             42377

                                                  could pursue to potentially reduce the                   ingested, comply with the solubility                     The third party testing burden could
                                                  third party testing costs consistent with                limits on eight heavy elements. (We                   only be reduced if all heavy elements
                                                  assuring compliance. See http://                         refer to these elements as the ‘‘ASTM                 listed in section 4.3.5 have
                                                  www.cpsc.gov/PageFiles/129398/                           heavy elements.’’) One of the eight                   concentrations below their solubility
                                                  reduce3pt.pdf.                                           ASTM heavy elements is lead. The                      limits. Because third party conformity
                                                     In addition to soliciting and reviewing               Commission previously determined that                 assessment bodies typically run one test
                                                  comments as required by Pub. L. 112–                     certain materials do not exceed lead                  for all of the ASTM heavy elements, no
                                                  28, the Commission published in the                      content limits, and therefore, those                  testing burden reduction would be
                                                  Federal Register on April 16, 2013 a                     materials do not require third party                  achieved if any one of the heavy
                                                  Request for Information (‘‘RFI’’) on four                testing when used in children’s                       elements requires testing.
                                                  potential opportunities to reduce testing                products (including toys). 16 CFR
                                                                                                                                                                 B. Contractor’s Research
                                                  burdens. See http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/                   1500.91. Thus, CPSC staff focused its
                                                  pkg/FR-2013-04-16/pdf/2013-08858.pdf.                    work on the remaining seven ASTM                      1. Overview
                                                  In February 2014, the Commission also                    heavy elements. The eight ASTM heavy                           CPSC hired a contractor to conduct a
                                                  published a notice in the Federal                        elements and their solubility limits are                    literature search to assess whether the
                                                  Register of a CPSC workshop on                           shown below.                                                Commission potentially could
                                                  potential ways to reduce third party                                                                                 determine that wood and other natural
                                                  testing costs through determinations                          TABLE 1—MAXIMUM SOLUBLE MI-                            materials do not contain any of the
                                                  consistent with assuring compliance.                         GRATED ELEMENT IN PARTS-PER- seven specified heavy elements in
                                                  See http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-                         MILLION FOR SURFACE COATINGS concentrations above the ASTM F963–
                                                  2014-02-27/pdf/2014-04265.pdf. The                           AND SUBSTRATES INCLUDED AS 11 maximum solubility limits
                                                  workshop was held on April 3, 2014.                          PART OF A TOY                                           (excluding the eighth element, lead
                                                     As discussed further in this preamble,                                                                            which is already subject to a
                                                  if the Commission determines that, due                                                                 Solubility    determination). The contractor
                                                  to the nature of a particular material,                                                                   limit,     researched the following materials:
                                                  children’s products made of that                                        Element                        parts per
                                                                                                                                                                          • Unfinished and untreated wood
                                                  material will comply with CPSC’s                                                                         million,
                                                                                                                                                         (‘‘ppm’’) 3   (ash, beech, birch, cherry, maple, oak,
                                                  requirements with a high degree of                                                                                   pine, poplar, and walnut);
                                                  assurance, manufacturers do not need to                  Antimony, (‘‘Sb’’) .......................               60    • Bamboo;
                                                  have those materials tested by a third                   Arsenic, (‘‘As’’) ..........................             25    • Beeswax;
                                                  party conformity assessment body.                        Barium, (‘‘Ba’’) ..........................           1000     • Undyed and untreated fibers and
                                                                                                           Cadmium, (‘‘Cd’’) ......................                 75 textiles (cotton, wool, linen, and silk);
                                                  2. CPSC’s Toy Standard                                   Chromium, (‘‘Cr’’) ......................                60
                                                                                                           Lead, (‘‘Pb’’) ..............................            90
                                                                                                                                                                       and
                                                     Section 106 of the CPSIA states that
                                                                                                           Mercury, (‘‘Hg’’) ........................               60    • Uncoated or coated paper (wood or
                                                  the provisions of ASTM International
                                                                                                           Selenium, (‘‘Se’’) .......................              500 other  cellulosic fiber).
                                                  (‘‘ASTM’’), Consumer Safety                                                                                             Staff chose these materials for
                                                  Specifications for Toy Safety (‘‘ASTM                                                                                research because they met two criteria:
                                                  F963’’ or ‘‘toy standard’’), ‘‘shall be                  3. Possible Determinations Regarding
                                                                                                           the ASTM Heavy Elements                                        • Materials the Commission
                                                  considered to be consumer product                                                                                    previously determined not to contain
                                                  safety standards issued by the                               For some materials, the                                 lead in concentrations above 100 ppm;
                                                  Commission under section 9 of the                        concentrations of all the listed heavy                      and
                                                  CPSA (15 U.S.C. 2058).’’ 1 Thus, toys                    elements might always be below their                           • Materials more likely to be used in
                                                  subject to ASTM F963–11, the current                     respective solubility limits due to                         toys subject to the ASTM F963–11
                                                  mandatory version of the standard, must                  biological, manufacturing, or other                         solubility limits.
                                                  be tested by a CPSC-accepted third party                 constraints. For example, one of the                           The contractor’s report is available on
                                                  conformity assessment body and                           specified elements may be sequestered                       the Commission’s Web site at: http://
                                                  demonstrate compliance with all                          in a portion of a plant, such as the roots, www.cpsc.gov//Global/Research-and-
                                                  applicable CPSC requirements for the                     that is not used in textile                                 Statistics/Technical-Reports/Toys/
                                                  manufacturer to issue a Children’s                       manufacturing. Additionally, a                              TERAReportASTMElements.pdf. CPSC
                                                  Product Certificate (‘‘CPC’’) before the                 manufacturing process step may remove staff reviewed the contractor’s report
                                                  toys can be entered into commerce.                       a specified element, if the element is                      and prepared a briefing package
                                                     The toy standard has numerous                         present, from the material being                            providing recommendations to the
                                                  requirements. Among them, section                        processed. For these materials,                             Commission. The staff’s briefing
                                                  4.3.5 requires that surface coating                      compliance with the limits stated in                        package is also available on the
                                                  materials and accessible substrates of                   section 4.3.5 of ASTM F963–11 is                            Commission’s Web site. http://
                                                  toys 2 that can be sucked, mouthed, or                   assured without requiring third party                       www.cpsc.gov//Global/Newsroom/
                                                                                                           testing because the material is                             FOIA/CommissionBriefingPackages/
                                                     1 ASTM F963–11 is a consumer product safety
                                                                                                           intrinsically compliant.                                    2015/DFRandNPRDeterminations
                                                  standard, except for section 4.2 and Annex 4, or any
                                                  provision that restates or incorporates an existing                                                                  ontheASTMElementsUnfinished
                                                  mandatory standard or ban promulgated by the             toys; (2) Toys intended for children less than 6            Woods%20June302015.pdf.
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                                                  Commission or by statute.                                years of age, that is, all accessible parts and                In conducting this research, the
                                                     2 ASTM F963–11 contains the following note            components where there is a probability that those
                                                  regarding the scope of the solubility requirement:       parts and components may come into contact with             contractor considered the following
                                                  NOTE 3—For the purposes of this requirement, the         the mouth.                                                  factors:
                                                  following criteria are considered reasonably                3 The method to assess the solubility of a listed           • The concentrations of the seven
                                                  appropriate for the classification of toys or parts      element is detailed in section 8.3.2, Method to             heavy elements in the material under
                                                  likely to be sucked, mouthed or ingested: (1) All toy    Dissolve Soluble Matter for Surface Coatings, of
                                                  parts intended to be mouthed or contact food or          ASTM F963–11. Modeling clays included as part of
                                                                                                                                                                       study;
                                                  drink, components of toys which are cosmetics, and       a toy have different solubility limits for several of          • The presence and concentrations of
                                                  components of writing instruments categorized as         the elements.                                               the elements in the environmental


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                                                  42378                Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 137 / Friday, July 17, 2015 / Rules and Regulations

                                                  media (e.g., soil, water, air), and in the               wood, the contractor reported that the                Therefore, we cannot draw any
                                                  base materials for the textiles and paper;               studies examined constitute a                         conclusions from this study.
                                                     • Whether processing has the                          representative sample of studies. The                    Barium. For barium, measurements of
                                                  potential to introduce any of the seven                  contractor studied measurements taken                 leaves, leaf litter, wood, and sawdust all
                                                  heavy elements into the material under                   from trees in natural settings, samples               showed barium concentrations below
                                                  study; and                                               from trees grown on contaminated soils,               the ASTM solubility limit of 1,000 ppm.
                                                     • The potential for contamination                     hydroponically grown 6 seedlings,                        Cadmium. For cadmium, the studies
                                                  after production, such as through                        experimental studies with seedlings                   examined showed cadmium in tree core
                                                  packaging.                                               grown in pots in which the soil had                   samples and wood at levels below the
                                                     The contractor examined secondary                     some of the elements intentionally                    ASTM solubility limit of 75 ppm.
                                                  sources and reviewed articles to identify                added, and seedlings soaked in                        Studies that measured cadmium in
                                                  the available data regarding the                         solutions containing one or more of the               hydroponic samples showed cadmium
                                                  elements’ concentrations in the                          ASTM heavy elements.                                  levels in root, stem bark, stem wood,
                                                  materials listed above. The contractor                      The contractor examined                            and leaf parts above 75 ppm. In a
                                                  summarized the relevant data on                          measurements on roots, shoots, bark,                  similar manner, shoots grown in pots
                                                  bioavailability and presence/                            trunks, branches, and leaves (or needles,             containing varying amounts of cadmium
                                                  concentrations in environmental media                    for evergreens). Not every study                      added, showed cadmium concentrations
                                                  (i.e., soil, air, and water) from the most               conducted measurements on each part                   above the ASTM solubility limit in
                                                  recent Agency for Toxic Substances and                   of the tree. Many studies showed                      leaves, stems, and roots.
                                                  Disease Registry (‘‘ATSDR’’) 4                           concentrations of the ASTM heavy                         Chromium. For chromium, one study
                                                  toxicological profile, supplemented                      elements at levels below their solubility             at a chromate-contaminated site found
                                                  with more recent authoritative reviews.                  limits.                                               chromium concentrations above the
                                                  The contractor conducted a literature                       Antimony. For antimony, the studies                ASTM solubility limit of 60 ppm in
                                                  search for data on concentrations of the                 examined showed that roots, shoots,                   roots, but measurements were below the
                                                  chemical elements in each of the                         branches, and leaves contained                        detection limit for leaves, wood, and
                                                  specific materials. Potentially relevant                 antimony in concentrations greater than               bark. Hydroponic studies by the same
                                                  papers for information on                                the ASTM solubility limit of 60 ppm.                  researcher showed that tree roots can
                                                  concentrations of chemical elements in                   No tree trunks showed antimony                        concentrate chromium, but
                                                  each product were identified and                         concentrations above the ASTM                         translocation (the movement of a
                                                  reviewed. The contractor used the                        solubility limit. One study’s                         material from one place to another) of
                                                  references from reviewed articles to                     measurements of tree trunks showed                    chromium from the roots to other parts
                                                  identify other articles to examine and                   that the trunks were nearly free of                   of the tree, is very low.
                                                  used the references in those articles to                 antimony.                                                Mercury. For mercury, the contractor
                                                  find other sources recursively, to                          Arsenic. For arsenic, trunks, roots                reviewed studies that measured mercury
                                                  uncover relevant cited references.5 The                  shoots, leaves, stems, bark, and                      uptake in the roots, shoots, leaves, bark,
                                                  literature screening was to examine                      branches of trees were characterized. An              trunks, limbs, fruits, branches, stems,
                                                  whether there is a potential for an                      experimental study showed roots with                  and nuts of trees. The studies included
                                                  ASTM heavy element to be present in                      more than 25 ppm arsenic. A study at                  both experimental tests and trees
                                                  the natural material at levels above its                 a contaminated mining site showed                     sampled from natural areas. Only an
                                                  solubility limit. When the contractor                    roots, branches, leaves/needles, and                  experimental study with seedlings
                                                  determined there was sufficient                          shoots with arsenic concentrations                    grown in pots, to which either mercuric
                                                  information to indicate the potential for                above the ASTM solubility limit.                      nitrate, methyl mercury chloride, or
                                                  an ASTM heavy element to be present,                     However, no tree trunk measurement                    both, had been added, showed mercury
                                                  the contractor stopped that particular                   showed arsenic in concentrations above                in concentrations above the ASTM
                                                  line of inquiry and reported the results.                25 ppm. In the two tested cases, tree                 solubility limit in shoots and leaves of
                                                     As discussed in the staff’s briefing                  trunks contained only trace levels of                 sycamore seedlings. The other studies
                                                  package, the contractor’s report does not                arsenic (levels well below the solubility             did not show mercury levels above the
                                                  support a Commission determination for                   limit).                                               ASTM solubility limit of 60 ppm in
                                                  any material other than unfinished and                      One study measured levels of arsenic               samples, even at contaminated sites.
                                                  untreated wood. The literature reviewed                  in sawdust sampled from 15 sawmill                       Selenium. For selenium, one study
                                                  by the contractor did not provide                        locations in the Sapele metropolis (a                 showed measured concentrations of 1.4
                                                  sufficient information to determine that                 port city in Nigeria). The highest arsenic            ppm selenium in tree rings growing in
                                                  any of the reviewed materials, other                     concentration measured was 93.0 ppm.                  contaminated soil. Other studies
                                                  than unfinished and untreated wood, do                   The study’s authors did not specify                   showed selenium at concentrations of
                                                  not contain the heavy elements in                        what types of trees or wood were                      10 ppm or less, well below the ASTM
                                                  concentrations above the limits stated in                processed at the sawmills. However, the               solubility limit of 500 ppm. Only an
                                                  the toy standard.                                        authors noted that a major industry in                experimental study with tree cuttings
                                                                                                           the study area is Africa Timber Plywood               grown hydroponically in either sodium
                                                  2. Findings Regarding Wood                                                                                     selenate or sodium selenite for 6 days,
                                                                                                           Industry and mentioned that arsenic
                                                     Of the materials reviewed, the                                                                              showed root concentrations above the
                                                                                                           and chromium are used as wood
                                                  contractor identified the most studies                                                                         ASTM solubility limit. All other parts of
                                                                                                           preservatives. Plywood is a
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                                                  for wood. Although the contractor could                                                                        the cuttings had selenium levels below
                                                                                                           manufactured wood and could contain
                                                  not examine every study concerning                                                                             the ASTM solubility limit.
                                                                                                           materials not found in natural wood.
                                                                                                                                                                    Conclusions. The contractor’s report
                                                                                                           The authors did not report what woods
                                                    4 The congressionally mandated Agency for Toxic
                                                                                                                                                                 provides sufficient information for the
                                                  Substances and Disease Registry produces                 these sawmills were processing.
                                                                                                                                                                 Commission to determine that
                                                  toxicological profiles for hazardous substances
                                                  found at National Priorities List sites.                   6 Hydroponics is a subset of hydroculture and is    unfinished and untreated wood from
                                                    5 This method is often referred to as ‘‘tree           a method of growing plants using mineral nutrient     tree trunks does not contain the ASTM
                                                  searching.’’                                             solutions, in water, without soil.                    heavy elements in concentrations above


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                                                                       Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 137 / Friday, July 17, 2015 / Rules and Regulations                                                  42379

                                                  their respective solubility limits, and                  CPSC requirements. As part of that                    of hydrochloric acid for 2 hours. After
                                                  are, therefore, not required to be third                 endeavor, the Commission has                          2 hours, the solids are separated from
                                                  party tested to assure compliance with                   considered whether certain materials                  the solution, and the solution is
                                                  the ASTM F963–11 solubility test. The                    used in toys would not require third                  analyzed for the presence of any of the
                                                  studies examined multiple species of                     party testing.                                        ASTM F963–11 heavy elements using
                                                  trees grown on several continents. No                       To issue a determination that a                    atomic spectroscopy. The cost of this
                                                  study examined by the contractor found                   material does not require third party                 testing can vary by factors such as
                                                  any of the ASTM heavy elements in tree                   testing, the Commission must have                     geography and the volume of testing
                                                  trunks at concentrations beyond the                      sufficient evidence to conclude that the              that a manufacturer obtains from a
                                                  element’s solubility limit.                              material would consistently comply                    testing laboratory. Based on published
                                                     The contractor’s report indicates that                with the CPSC requirement that the                    invoices and price lists, the cost of a
                                                  heavy elements could be present in                       material is subject to so that third party            third party test for the ASTM heavy
                                                  wood from other portions of the tree:                    testing is unnecessary to provide a high              elements ranges from around $60 in
                                                  The roots, bark, leaves, or fruit. The                   degree of assurance of compliance. 16                 China, up to around $190 in the United
                                                  studies examined by the contractor                       CFR part 1107. Section 1107.2, defines                States.
                                                  showed high levels of one or more of the                 ‘‘a high degree of assurance’’ as ‘‘an
                                                  ASTM heavy elements in portions of                       evidence-based demonstration of                          Staff cannot estimate with any
                                                  trees other than trunks. However,                        consistent performance of a product                   certainty what the total potential burden
                                                  commercial timber harvesting involves                    regarding compliance based on                         reduction would be from a
                                                  the process of ‘‘delimbing’’ The tree to                 knowledge of a product and its                        determination that unfinished and
                                                  create logs that can be transported and                  manufacture.’’                                        untreated wood will not contain
                                                  cut at a sawmill or lumberyard.7 Often,                     For a material determination, a high               concentrations of antimony, arsenic,
                                                  the sawmill creates uniform-length                       degree of assurance of compliance                     barium, cadmium, mercury, and
                                                  planks from the delivered logs. These                    means that the material will comply                   selenium in excess of the limits in
                                                  planks are sold to wood wholesalers or                   with the specified chemical limits due                ASTM F963–11. Most of the
                                                  retailers, and are bought by wooden toy                  to the nature of the material, or due to              approximately 80,000 kinds of toys on
                                                  and other manufacturers. Because                         a processing technique (e.g., harvesting,             the market 9 probably do not contain
                                                  commercial practice creates logs from                    smelting, cleaning, filtering, sorting)               any wood components. If we assume
                                                  only the trunks of harvested trees, the                  that reduces the chemical concentration               that 10 percent of the approximately
                                                  wood available for use in toys and other                 below its limit. For materials                        80,000 different kinds of toys on the
                                                  wooden objects is sourced from these                     determined to comply with a chemical                  market have at least one wood
                                                  logs, or trunks of trees, and not the other              limit, the material must continue to                  component that requires third party
                                                  parts of trees that could contain the                    comply with that limit if it is used in               testing, and we also assume that the
                                                  ASTM elements above the limits in the                    a children’s product subject to that                  average cost of a third party test is about
                                                  toy standard.8                                           requirement. A material on which a                    $125 (representing the approximate
                                                                                                           determination has been made cannot be                 midpoint of the range for the test’s cost),
                                                  C. Determination for Unfinished and                      altered or adulterated to render it
                                                  Untreated Wood for ASTM F963 Limits                                                                            then the potential total burden
                                                                                                           noncompliant and then used in a                       reduction from a determination for
                                                  for Heavy Elements                                       children’s product.                                   unfinished and untreated wood from
                                                  1. Legal Requirements for a                                 Based on the information discussed in              tree trunks would be about $1 million
                                                  Determination                                            section B of this preamble, the                       annually. This estimate assumes that
                                                     As noted above, section 14(a)(2) of the               Commission determines that unfinished                 only one type of wood was used in a
                                                  CPSA requires third party testing for                    and untreated trunk wood complies                     product so that the manufacturer would
                                                  children’s products that are subject to a                with the solubility requirements for the              not have to test each individual
                                                  children’s product safety rule. 15 U.S.C.                heavy elements in section 4.3.5 of                    unfinished and untreated wood
                                                  2063(a)(2). Toys must comply with the                    ASTM F963–11 with a high degree of                    component part in a product, as allowed
                                                  toy standard, including the specified                    assurance. This determination means                   by the component part testing rule (16
                                                  limits on heavy elements. 15 U.S.C.                      that third party testing for compliance to            CFR part 1109). The estimated benefits
                                                  2056b. In response to statutory                          the solubility requirements is not                    could be lower if some manufacturers
                                                  direction, the Commission has                            required for certification purposes for               certify that their wood components
                                                  investigated approaches that would                       unfinished and untreated trunk wood.                  comply with the ASTM F963–11 heavy
                                                  reduce the burden of third party testing                 The Commission makes this                             elements requirements, based on third
                                                  while also assuring compliance with                      determination to reduce the third party               party tests of their raw materials instead
                                                                                                           testing burden on children’s product                  of the finished product, as allowed by
                                                    7 A succinct description of timber logging can be      certifiers while continuing to ensure
                                                                                                                                                                 the component part testing rule.
                                                  found at                                                 compliance.
                                                  http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=
                                                                                                                                                                 Moreover, the assumption that 10
                                                  Logging&redirect=no. A more comprehensive                2. Potential for Third Party Testing                  percent of the toys have wood
                                                  review of timber harvesting can be found at http://      Burden Reduction                                      components is intended only to
                                                  www.amazon.com/Tree-Harvesting-Techniques-                                                                     illustrate the potential benefits; the
                                                  Forestry-Sciences/dp/9048182824/ref=sr_1_1?s=               CPSC staff assessed the burden
                                                  books&ie=UTF8&qid=1433193105&sr=1-                       reduction that could result from a
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                                                  1&keywords=tree+harvesting+techniques                    determination that unfinished and                       9 The estimate that there are 80,000 different

                                                  %2C+wiksten.                                                                                                   kinds of toys is based on the number of toys listed
                                                    8 Often, the sawmill creates uniform-length
                                                                                                           untreated trunk wood does not require                 on the Amazon.com Web site on June 2, 2015, for
                                                  planks from the delivered logs. These planks are         third party testing for compliance with               which Amazon.com was listed as the seller and
                                                  sold to wood wholesalers or retailers, and are           the limits on heavy elements in the toy               recommended for children 13 years old or younger.
                                                  bought by wooden toy and other manufacturers.            standards. Testing the soluble                        Examples of toys that might include wood
                                                  Two references to the woods used in toys are:                                                                  components include building blocks, various wood
                                                  http://www.ehow.com/list_6896897_kinds-wood-
                                                                                                           concentration of the ASTM heavy                       pull toys, some toy cars and trucks, train sets, some
                                                  toys-made-from_.html, and http://                        elements requires placing the toy (or                 games and puzzles, some toy figures, and some toys
                                                  www.woodtoyz.com/WTCat/LearnMaterials.html.              component part of the toy) in a solution              for toddlers and infants.



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                                                  42380                Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 137 / Friday, July 17, 2015 / Rules and Regulations

                                                  assumption is not based on any formal                    determination that unfinished and                     particular type of product (toys) will
                                                  study of the toy market.                                 untreated trunk wood does not exceed                  always comply with the toy standard’s
                                                                                                           the limits for the heavy elements                     limits on heavy elements. We expect
                                                  3. Statutory Authority
                                                                                                           established in section 4.3.5 of the toy               that this focused action will not
                                                     Section 3 of the CPSIA grants the                     standard with a high degree of                        engender any significant adverse
                                                  Commission general rulemaking                            assurance as that term is defined in 16               comments.
                                                  authority to issue regulations, as                       CFR part 1107. The determination only                    Unless we receive a significant
                                                  necessary, to implement the CPSIA.                       applies if the material has not been                  adverse comment within 30 days, the
                                                  Public Law 110–314, § 3, Aug. 14, 2008.                  treated or adulterated with the addition              rule will become effective on September
                                                  As noted previously, section 14 of the                   of any materials that could result in the             15, 2015. In accordance with ACUS’s
                                                  CPSA, which was amended by the                           addition of any of the heavy elements                 recommendation, the Commission
                                                  CPSIA, requires third party testing for                  listed in the toy standard at levels above            considers a significant adverse comment
                                                  children’s products that are subject to a                their respective solubility limits. In                to be one where the commenter explains
                                                  children’s product safety rule. 15 U.S.C.                section 1251.2(b) of the rule, unfinished             why the rule would be inappropriate,
                                                  2063(a)(2). Section 14(d)(3)(B) of the                   and untreated trunk wood means wood                   including an assertion challenging the
                                                  CPSA, as amended by Public Law 112–                      harvested from trees with no added                    rule’s underlying premise or approach,
                                                  28, gives the Commission the authority                   surface coatings (e.g., varnish, paint,               or a claim that the rule would be
                                                  to ‘‘prescribe new or revised third party                shellac, polyurethane) and no materials               ineffective or unacceptable without
                                                  testing regulations if it determines that                added to the wood substrate (e.g., stains,            change.
                                                  such regulations will reduce third party                 dyes, preservatives, antifungals,                        Should the Commission receive a
                                                  testing costs consistent with assuring                   insecticides). Because commercial                     significant adverse comment, the
                                                  compliance with the applicable                           practice creates wood from only the                   Commission will withdraw this direct
                                                  consumer product safety rules, bans,                     trunks of harvested trees, unfinished                 final rule. A notice of proposed
                                                  standards, and regulations.’’ Id.                        and untreated wood as used in the rule                rulemaking (‘‘NPR’’), providing an
                                                  2063(d)(3)(B). These statutory                           means wood that is generally                          opportunity for public comment, is also
                                                  provisions authorize the Commission to                   commercially available. Unfinished and                being published in this same issue of
                                                  issue this rule determining that                         untreated wood does not include                       the Federal Register.
                                                  unfinished and untreated trunk wood                      manufactured or engineered woods such                 E. Effective Date
                                                  will not exceed the limits for heavy                     as pressed wood, plywood, particle
                                                  elements stated in the toy standard, and                 board, or fiberboard.                                    The APA generally requires that a
                                                  therefore, unfinished and untreated                                                                            substantive rule must be published not
                                                                                                           D. Direct Final Rule Process                          less than 30 days before its effective
                                                  trunk wood does not require third party
                                                  conformity assessment body testing to                       The Commission is issuing this rule                date. 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(1). Because the
                                                  assure compliance with the heavy                         as a direct final rule (‘‘DFR’’). The                 final rule provides relief from existing
                                                  elements limits stated in the toy                        Administrative Procedure Act (‘‘APA’’)                testing requirements under the CPSIA,
                                                  standard.                                                generally requires notice and comment                 the effective date is September 15, 2015.
                                                     This determination relieves                           rulemaking 5 U.S.C. 553(b). In                        However, as discussed in section D of
                                                  unfinished and untreated trunk wood                      Recommendation 95–4, the                              the preamble, if the Commission
                                                  from the third party testing requirement                 Administrative Conference of the                      receives a significant adverse comment
                                                  of section 14 of the CPSA for purposes                   United States (‘‘ACUS’’) endorsed direct              the Commission will withdraw the DFR
                                                  of supporting the required certification.                final rulemaking as an appropriate                    and proceed with the NPR published in
                                                  However, if the unfinished and                           procedure to expedite promulgation of                 this same issue of the Federal Register.
                                                  untreated wood is altered so that the                    rules that are noncontroversial and that
                                                                                                           are not expected to generate significant              F. Regulatory Flexibility Act
                                                  material exceeds the heavy elements
                                                  limits of ASTM F963, the determination                   adverse comment. See 60 FR 43108                         The Regulatory Flexibility Act
                                                  is not applicable to that material. The                  (August 18, 1995). Consistent with the                (‘‘RFA’’) generally requires that agencies
                                                  changed or altered material or product                   ACUS recommendation, the                              review proposed and final rules for the
                                                  must then be tested and meet the heavy                   Commission is publishing this rule as a               rules’ potential economic impact on
                                                  element requirements of ASTM F963.                       direct final rule because we believe the              small entities, including small
                                                     The determination only lifts the                      determination will not be controversial.              businesses, and prepare regulatory
                                                  obligation to have unfinished and                        The rule will not impose any new                      flexibility analyses. 5 U.S.C. 603 and
                                                  untreated trunk wood tested by a third                   obligations, but will relieve companies               604.
                                                  party conformity assessment body. The                    from the requirement of having toys (or                  The rule would relieve toy
                                                  underlying requirement that products                     materials that are component parts of                 manufacturers and importers of the
                                                  subject to the toy standard must comply                  toys) tested by a third party conformity              responsibility of obtaining third party
                                                  with the toy standard’s limits on heavy                  assessment body if the toys or materials              tests for compliance with the limits on
                                                  elements remains in place.                               are made of unfinished and untreated                  the ASTM elements for components of
                                                                                                           wood. We expect that the determination                toys consisting of unfinished and
                                                  4. Description of the Rule                               will be supported by stakeholders. The                untreated wood. Although the impact
                                                     This rule creates a new Part 1251 for                 determination responds to the desire                  will be to reduce testing costs, we
                                                  ‘‘Toys; Determination Regarding Heavy                    expressed by numerous stakeholders                    expect that the rule would have only
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                                                  Elements Limits for Unfinished and                       and Congress that the Commission                      limited impact on toy manufacturers
                                                  Untreated Wood.’’ Section 1251.1 of the                  provide relief from the burdens of third              and importers for two reasons. First, the
                                                  rule explains the statutorily-created                    party testing while also ensuring that                rule will affect only those companies
                                                  requirements for toys under ASTM F963                    products will comply with all                         that manufacture or import toys that
                                                  and the third party testing requirements                 applicable children’s product safety                  contain unfinished and untreated wood
                                                  for children’s products.                                 rules. The rule establishes a discrete                components. We expect that relatively
                                                     Section 1251.2(a) of the rule                         determination that a specific material                few of the approximately 80,000 toys on
                                                  establishes the Commission’s                             (unfinished and untreated wood) in a                  the market contain any unfinished and


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                                                                       Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 137 / Friday, July 17, 2015 / Rules and Regulations                                          42381

                                                  untreated wood components. Therefore                     ingested, must comply with solubility                 Substances Act. This action is based on
                                                  this rule would be expected to impact                    limits that the toy standard establishes              a finding by the Administrator that the
                                                  only a small number of manufacturers                     for eight heavy elements. Materials used              placement of this opioid substance into
                                                  and importers or at most, a small                        in toys subject to section 4.3.5 of the toy           schedule I of the Controlled Substances
                                                  portion of the toys in the market.                       standard must comply with the third                   Act is necessary to avoid an imminent
                                                    Second, manufacturers of toys                          party testing requirements of section                 hazard to the public safety. As a result
                                                  containing unfinished and untreated                      14(a)(2) of the Consumer Product Safety               of this order, the regulatory controls and
                                                  wood components still would be                           Act (‘‘CPSA’’), unless listed in § 1251.2.            administrative, civil, and criminal
                                                  required to test to other aspects of the                                                                       sanctions applicable to schedule I
                                                  ASTM toy standard, so the impact of                      § 1251.2   Wood.                                      controlled substances will be imposed
                                                  this rule relative to production costs for                  (a) Unfinished and untreated wood                  on persons who handle (manufacture,
                                                  most firms should be small. Due to the                   does not exceed the limits for the heavy              distribute, import, export, engage in
                                                  small number of entities affected and                    elements established in section 4.3.5 of              research, or possess), or propose to
                                                  the limited scope of the impact, the                     the toy standard with a high degree of                handle, acetyl fentanyl.
                                                  Commission certifies that this rule will                 assurance as that term is defined in 16               DATES: This final order is effective on
                                                  not have a significant impact on a                       CFR part 1107, provided that the                      July 17, 2015.
                                                  substantial number of small entities                     material has been neither treated nor
                                                                                                                                                                 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John
                                                  pursuant to section 605(b) of the RFA,                   adulterated with materials that could
                                                  5 U.S.C. 605(b).                                                                                               R. Scherbenske, Office of Diversion
                                                                                                           result in the addition of any of the
                                                                                                                                                                 Control, Drug Enforcement
                                                  G. Environmental Considerations                          heavy elements listed in the toy
                                                                                                                                                                 Administration; Mailing Address: 8701
                                                                                                           standard at levels above their respective
                                                     The Commission’s regulations                                                                                Morrissette Drive, Springfield, Virginia
                                                                                                           solubility limits.
                                                  provide a categorical exclusion for                                                                            22152, Telephone: (202) 598–6812.
                                                                                                              (b) For purposes of this section,
                                                  Commission rules from any requirement                    unfinished and untreated wood means                   SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                                  to prepare an environmental assessment                   wood harvested from the trunks of trees               Legal Authority
                                                  or an environmental impact statement                     with no added surface coatings (such as,
                                                  because they ‘‘have little or no potential                                                                        The Drug Enforcement
                                                                                                           varnish, paint, shellac, or polyurethane)
                                                  for affecting the human environment.’’                                                                         Administration (DEA) implements and
                                                                                                           and no materials added to the wood
                                                  16 CFR 1021.5(c)(2). This rule falls                                                                           enforces titles II and III of the
                                                                                                           substrate (such as, stains, dyes,
                                                  within the categorical exclusion, so no                                                                        Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention
                                                                                                           preservatives, antifungals, or
                                                  environmental assessment or                                                                                    and Control Act of 1970, as amended.
                                                                                                           insecticides). Unfinished and untreated
                                                  environmental impact statement is                                                                              Titles II and III are referred to as the
                                                                                                           wood does not include manufactured or
                                                  required. The Commission’s regulations                                                                         ‘‘Controlled Substances Act’’ and the
                                                                                                           engineered woods (such as pressed
                                                  state that safety standards for products                                                                       ‘‘Controlled Substances Import and
                                                                                                           wood, plywood, particle board, or
                                                  normally have little or no potential for                                                                       Export Act,’’ respectively, and are
                                                                                                           fiberboard).
                                                  affecting the human environment. 16                                                                            collectively referred to as the
                                                                                                             Dated: July 13, 2015.                               ‘‘Controlled Substances Act’’ or the
                                                  CFR 1021.5(c)(1). Nothing in this rule
                                                  alters that expectation.                                 Todd A. Stevenson,                                    ‘‘CSA’’ for the purpose of this action. 21
                                                                                                           Secretary, Consumer Product Safety                    U.S.C. 801–971. The DEA publishes the
                                                  List of Subjects                                         Commission.                                           implementing regulations for these
                                                    Business and industry, Infants and                     [FR Doc. 2015–17413 Filed 7–16–15; 8:45 am]           statutes in title 21 of the Code of Federal
                                                  children, Consumer protection, Imports,                  BILLING CODE 6355–01–P                                Regulations (CFR), chapter II. The CSA
                                                  Product testing and certification, Toys.                                                                       and its implementing regulations are
                                                    Accordingly, 16 CFR part 1251 is                                                                             designed to prevent, detect, and
                                                  added to read as follows:                                DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE                                 eliminate the diversion of controlled
                                                                                                                                                                 substances and listed chemicals into the
                                                  PART 1251—TOYS: DETERMINATIONS                           Drug Enforcement Administration                       illicit market while ensuring an
                                                  REGARDING HEAVY ELEMENTS                                                                                       adequate supply is available for the
                                                  LIMITS FOR CERTAIN MATERIALS                             21 CFR Part 1308                                      legitimate medical, scientific, research,
                                                                                                                                                                 and industrial needs of the United
                                                  Sec.                                                     [Docket No. DEA–413F]
                                                  1251.1 The toy standard and testing                                                                            States. Controlled substances have the
                                                       requirements.                                       Schedules of Controlled Substances:                   potential for abuse and dependence and
                                                  1251.2 Wood.                                             Temporary Placement of Acetyl                         are controlled to protect the public
                                                    Authority: Sec. 3, Pub. L. 110–314, 122                Fentanyl Into Schedule I                              health and safety.
                                                  Stat. 3016; 15 U.S.C. 2063(d)(3)(B).                                                                              Under the CSA, every controlled
                                                                                                           AGENCY:  Drug Enforcement                             substance is classified into one of five
                                                  § 1251.1 The toy standard and testing                    Administration, Department of Justice.                schedules based upon its potential for
                                                  requirements.                                            ACTION: Final order.                                  abuse, its currently accepted medical
                                                    The Consumer Product Safety                                                                                  use in treatment in the United States,
                                                  Improvement Act of 2008 (‘‘CPSIA’’)                      SUMMARY:    The Administrator of the Drug             and the degree of dependence the drug
                                                  made provisions of ASTM F963,                            Enforcement Administration is issuing                 or other substance may cause. 21 U.S.C.
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                                                  Consumer Product Safety Specifications                   this final order to temporarily schedule              812. The initial schedules of controlled
                                                  for Toy Safety (‘‘toy standard’’), a                     the synthetic opioid, N-(1-                           substances established by Congress are
                                                  mandatory consumer product safety                        phenethylpiperidin-4-yl)-N-                           found at 21 U.S.C. 812(c), and the
                                                  standard. Among the mandated                             phenylacetamide (acetyl fentanyl), and                current list of all scheduled substances
                                                  provisions is section 4.3.5 of ASTM                      its optical, positional, and geometric                is published at 21 CFR part 1308.
                                                  F963 which requires that surface coating                 isomers, salts and salts of isomers, into                Section 201 of the CSA, 21 U.S.C. 811,
                                                  materials and accessible substrates of                   schedule I pursuant to the temporary                  provides the Attorney General with the
                                                  toys that can be sucked, mouthed, or                     scheduling provisions of the Controlled               authority to temporarily place a


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Document Created: 2018-02-23 09:21:47
Document Modified: 2018-02-23 09:21:47
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionRules and Regulations
ActionDirect final rule.
DatesThe rule is effective on September 15, 2015, unless we receive a significant adverse comment by August 17, 2015. If we receive a timely significant adverse comment, we will publish notification in the Federal Register, withdrawing this direct final rule before its effective date.
ContactRandy Butturini, Project Manager, Office of Hazard Identification and Reduction U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 4330 East West Hwy, Room 814, Bethesda, MD 20814; 301-504-7562: email; [email protected]
FR Citation80 FR 42376 

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