Extension of Time; Rule Concerning Incandescent Lamp (Light Bulb) Industry

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION

16 CFR Part 409

Extension of Time; Rule Concerning Incandescent Lamp (Light Bulb)

Industry

AGENCY: Federal Trade Commission.

ACTION: Extension of time for filing public comments.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Trade Commission (the ``Commission''), as part of

a systematic review of all its current regulations and guides,

requested public comments on April 6, 1995 about the Rule Concerning

the Incandescent Lamp (Light Bulb) Industry (``Light Bulb Rule''), 60

FR 17491. The Commission solicited comments until June 6, 1995. In

response to a petition from an industry group, the Commission grants an

extension of the comment period.

DATES: Written comments will be accepted until August 7, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Kent C. Howerton, Attorney, Federal Trade Commission, Sixth Street &

Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20580, (202) 326-3013 (voice),

(202) 326-3259 (fax).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As part of its periodic review of the

overall costs and benefits, as well as the overall regulatory and

economic impact, of all of its rules and guides, the Commission

published a notice on April 6, 1995 requesting comments until June 6,

1995 concerning the Light Bulb Rule, 16 CFR Part 409. The Commission

received a petition on May 9, 1995, from the Lamp Section of the

National Electrical Manufacturers Association (``NEMA''), a trade

association that represents light bulb manufacturers, requesting that

the Commission extend the comment period for at least 60 days.\1\

\1\ Petition for Extension of the Public Comment Period Filed by

the Lamp Section of the National Electrical Manufacturers

Association, May 9, 1995, submitted by Mark L. Perlis, Counsel to

NEMA Lamp Section, Dickstein, Shapiro & Morin, L.L.P., 2101 L Street

NW, Washington, DC 20037-1526. The petition and Mr. Perlis' cover

letter dated May 9, 1995 to Donald S. Clark, Secretary of the

Commission, have been placed on the Commission's public record of

this proceeding.

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NEMA requests the additional time to develop consensus industry

recommendations among its members regarding various differences between

the Light Bulb Rule and the new lamp labeling requirements of the Rule

Concerning Disclosures Regarding Energy Consumption and Water Use of

Certain Home Appliances and Other Products Required under the Energy

Policy and Conservation Act (``Appliance Labeling Rule''), 16 CFR Part

305. See Final rule, 59 FR 25176 (1994). NEMA believes that an

extension of the comment period is justified in light of further

amendments to the lamp labeling requirements of the Appliance Labeling

Rule that the Commission proposed on March 22, [[Page 28555]] 1995, 60

FR 15200 (1995), in response to a separate petition from NEMA.\2\

\2\ NEMA also notes that the U.S. Department of Energy (``DOE'')

has published ``interim final rules'' regarding test procedures for

incandescent light bulbs (and for other lamp products covered by the

Appliance Labeling Rule). See Interim final rule, 59 FR 49468

(1994). NEMA states that, given the interim final status of the DOE

testing rules, an extension of the comment period in the review of

the Light Bulb Rule ``would more likely enable the commentators to

base their comments and recommendations upon final Department of

Energy test procedure regulations.'' The Commission stated in the

Statement of Basis and Purpose for the lamp labeling amendments to

the Appliance Labeling Rule that it would consider testing performed

according to the test procedures mandated by DOE in its final

testing rules as meeting the reasonable basis standard required by

the Appliance Labeling Rule, 59 FR 25176, 25200 (1994). Therefore,

final action by DOE on its testing rules is not necessary for the

Commission to conduct the current review of the Light Bulb Rule.

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In light of overlapping labeling requirements of the Light Bulb

Rule and the Appliance Labeling Rule for incandescent light bulbs

(other than incandescent reflector bulbs) and the pending proposed

amendments to the labeling requirements for incandescent light bulbs

(including incandescent reflector bulbs) under the Appliance Labeling

Rule, the Commission has determined that an extension of the comment

period is appropriate. Therefore, to allow all interested persons the

opportunity to supply the Commission with written data, views and

arguments concerning the Commission's review of the Light Bulb Rule,

the Commission grants an extension of the comment period to August 7,

1995.

List of Subjects in 16 CFR Part 409

Advertising, Consumer protection, Energy conservation, Household

appliances, Labeling, Lamp products, Trade practices.

Authority: 15 U.S.C. 41-58.

By direction of the Commission.

Donald S. Clark,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 95-13361 Filed 5-31-95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6750-01-M