Multi-Purpose Lighters; Notice of Opportunity for Oral Presentation of Comments

CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION

16 CFR Part 1212

Multi-Purpose Lighters; Notice of Opportunity for Oral

Presentation of Comments

AGENCY: Consumer Product Safety Commission.

ACTION: Notice of opportunity for oral presentation of comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Commission announces that there will be an opportunity for

interested parties to present oral comments on a proposed rule that, if

issued, would require that multi-purpose lighters resist operation by

children under age 5. Oral comments will become part of the rulemaking

record.

DATES: Requests to present oral comments must be received by January 4,

1998. Persons requesting an oral presentation must file a written text

of their presentations no later than January 11, 1999. If requests for

oral presentations of comments are received, the presentations will

begin at 10 a.m., January 20, 1999, in Room 420 in the Commission's

offices at 4330 East-West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814.

ADDRESSES: Requests for oral presentations of comments should be mailed

to the Office of the Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission,

Washington, DC 20207-0001, or delivered to the Office of the Secretary,

Consumer Product Safety Commission, Room 502, 4330 East-West Highway,

Bethesda, Maryland; telephone (301) 504-0800. Requests may also be

filed by telefacsimile to (301) 504-0127 or by email to cpsc-

[email protected]. Requests to make oral presentations and texts of

presentations should be captioned ``Oral Comment; NPR for Multi-Purpose

Lighters.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Concerning the substance of the

proposed rule: Barbara Jacobson, Project

[[Page 69031]]

Manager, Directorate for Epidemiology and Health Sciences, Consumer

Product Safety Commission, Washington, DC 20207; telephone (301) 504-

0477, ext. 1206; email [email protected]. Concerning requests and

procedures for oral presentations of comments: Rockelle Hammond, Docket

Control and Communications Specialist, Consumer Product Safety

Commission, Washington, DC 20207; telephone: (301) 504-0800 ext. 1232.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Multi-purpose lighters are hand-held, flame-

producing products that have ignition mechanisms and operate on fuel.

Typically, they are used to light devices such as charcoal and gas

grills and fireplaces. These products include those referred to as

utility lighters or micro-torches. Devices intended primarily for

igniting smoking materials are excluded; such products are already

subject to a child-resistance standard at 16 CFR part 1210.

In the Federal Register of September 30, 1998, the Commission

proposed a rule that, if issued, would require that multi-purpose

lighters resist operation by children under age 5. 63 FR 52397; see

also 63 FR at 52394. The Commission proposed this rule because it

believes that unreasonable risks of injury and death from fire are

associated with multi-purpose lighters that can be operated by young

children. Written comments on the proposal should be received by

December 14, 1998.

As required by section 9(d)(2) of the Consumer Product Safety Act,

15 U.S.C. 2058(d)(2), there will be an opportunity for interested

parties to present oral comments on the proposal. If requests for oral

presentations of comments are received, the presentations will be at 10

a.m., January 20, 1999, in the Room 420 in the Commission's offices at

4330 East-West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814.

Requests for oral presentations of comments must be received by

January 4, 1998. Persons requesting an oral presentation must file the

text of their presentation on or before January 11, 1999.

Commenters should limit their presentations to approximately 10

minutes, exclusive of any periods of questioning by the Commissioners

or the CPSC staff. The Commission reserves the right to further limit

the time for any presentation and to impose restrictions to avoid

excessive duplication of presentations.

Dated: December 9, 1998.

Sadye E. Dunn,

Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission.

[FR Doc. 98-33122 Filed 12-14-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6355-01-P