Page Range | 50238-50239 | |
FR Document | 2015-20454 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 160 (Wednesday, August 19, 2015)] [Proposed Rules] [Pages 50238-50239] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-20454] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION 16 CFR Part 1500 [Docket No. CPSC-2015-0022] Petition Requesting Rulemaking on Products Containing Organohalogen Flame Retardants AGENCY: Consumer Product Safety Commission. ACTION: Notice of petition for rulemaking. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (``CPSC'' or ``Commission'') received a petition requesting that the Commission initiate rulemaking under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (``FHSA'') to declare several categories of products containing additive organohalogen flame retardants to be ``banned hazardous substances.'' The Commission invites written comments concerning the petition. DATES: The Office of the Secretary must receive comments on the petition by October 19, 2015. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by Docket No. CPSC-2015- 0022, by any of the following methods: Electronic Submissions: Submit electronic comments to the Federal eRulemaking Portal at: http://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 proposed rulemaking. All comments received may be posted without change, including any personal identifiers, contact information, or other personal information provided, to: http://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: http://www.regulations.gov, and insert the docket number, CPSC-2015-0022, into the ``Search'' box, and follow the prompts. A copy of the petition is available at http://www.regulations.gov under Docket No. CPSC-2015-0022, Supporting and Related Materials. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Todd Stevenson, Office of the Secretary, U.S. Consumer Product Safety [[Page 50239]] Commission, Room 820, 4330 East West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814; telephone (301) 504-6833. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commission received a petition requesting that the Commission initiate rulemaking under the FHSA to declare several categories of products containing additive organohalogen flame retardants to be ``banned hazardous substances.'' Specifically, the request asks the Commission to declare that:Any durable infant or toddler product, children's toy, child care article, or other children's product (other than children's car seats) that contains additive organohalogen flame retardants, is a ``banned hazardous substance''; Any article of upholstered furniture sold for use in residences and containing additive organohalogen flame retardants is a ``hazardous substance'' and a ``banned hazardous substance''; Any mattress or mattress pad with additive organohalogen flame retardants is a ``hazardous substance'' and a ``banned hazardous substance''; and Any electronic device with additive organohalogen flame retardants in its plastic casing is a ``hazardous substance'' and a ``banned hazardous substance.'' The petition was filed by Earthjustice and the Consumer Federation of America, which are joined by American Academy of Pediatrics, American Medical Women's Association, Consumers Union, Green Science Policy Institute, International Association of Fire Fighters, Kids in Danger, Philip Landrigan, M.D., M.P.H., League of United Latin American Citizens, Learning Disabilities Association of America, and Worksafe. Petitioners assert that additive organohalogen flame retardants are used extensively in the consumer products categories that would be covered by their rulemaking request. Petitioners further assert that, based on the physico-chemical properties of additive organohalogen flame retardants, all such chemicals in this class will migrate out of consumer products and persist in the indoor environment. According to petitioners, because organohalogen flame retardants are, as a class, foreign to the human body and inherently toxic due to their physical, chemical, and biological properties, human exposure to these chemicals will result in adverse human health impacts. Finally, petitioners provide data and information regarding adverse human health impacts, which include reproductive impairment, neurological impacts, endocrine disruption and interference with thyroid hormone action, genotoxicity, cancer, and immune disorders. Petitioners assert that declaring the specified categories of products containing additive organohalogen flame retardants to be ``banned hazardous substances'' is necessary to adequately protect public health and safety. More specifically, petitioners assert that action short of a ban under the FHSA would not adequately protect the public health and safety because warning labeling cannot adequately prevent or control exposure to flame retardants that migrate from products into homes. Furthermore, petitioners argue that the ban must apply to the entire class of additive organohalogen flame retardants because banning only individual chemicals within that class would allow other inherently toxic chemicals within that class to be used. By this notice, the Commission seeks comments concerning this petition. Interested parties may obtain a copy of the petition by writing or calling the Office of the Secretary, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Room 820, 4330 East West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814; telephone (301) 504-7923. A copy of the petition is also available for viewing under ``Supporting and Related Materials'' in www.regulations.gov under this docket number, Docket No. CPSC-2015- 0022. Dated: August 14, 2015. Todd A. Stevenson, Secretary, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. [FR Doc. 2015-20454 Filed 8-18-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6355-01-P
Category | Regulatory Information | |
Collection | Federal Register | |
sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
Section | Proposed Rules | |
Action | Notice of petition for rulemaking. | |
Dates | The Office of the Secretary must receive comments on the petition by October 19, 2015. | |
Contact | Todd Stevenson, Office of the Secretary, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Room 820, 4330 East West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814; telephone (301) 504-6833. | |
FR Citation | 80 FR 50238 |