Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 143 / Monday, July 27, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 44259 

System bank and association 

stockholder voting procedures for 

tabulating votes, the use of tellers 

committees, and other items as 

identified. In accordance with 12 U.S.C. 

2252, the effective date of the final rule 

is no earlier than 30 days from the date 

of publication in the Federal Register 

during which either or both Houses of 

Congress are in session. Based on the 

records of the sessions of Congress, the 

effective date of the regulations is July 

27, 2015. 

(12 U.S.C. 2252(a)(9) and (10)) 

Dated: July 21, 2015. 

Dale L. Aultman, 

Secretary, Farm Credit Administration Board. 

[FR Doc. 2015–18285 Filed 7–24–15; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6705–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2015–2962; Directorate 

Identifier 2015–NM–071–AD; Amendment 

39–18221; AD 2012–11–09 R1] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Various 

Transport Category Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule; request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: We are revising Airworthiness 

Directive (AD) 2012–11–09 for certain 

transport category airplanes. AD 2012– 

11–09 required either activating all 

chemical oxygen generators in the 

lavatories until the generator oxygen 

supply is expended, or removing the 

oxygen generator(s); and, for each 

chemical oxygen generator, after the 

generator is expended (or removed), 

removing or restowing the oxygen 

masks and closing the mask dispenser 

door. AD 2012–11–09 also required 

installing a supplemental oxygen system 

in affected lavatories, which terminated 

the requirements of AD 2012–11–09. 

This AD clarifies a certain restriction by 

providing a broader method of 

compliance. This AD was prompted by 

the discovery that the requirement to 

change the instructions for continued 

airworthiness under certain conditions 

may impose an unnecessary burden on 

operators. We are issuing this AD to 

eliminate a hazard that could jeopardize 

flight safety, and to ensure that all 

lavatories have a supplemental oxygen 

supply. 

DATES: This AD is effective July 27, 

2015. 

We must receive any comments on 

this AD by September 10, 2015. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, 

using the procedures found in 14 CFR 

11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following 

methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments. 

• Fax: 202–493–2251. 

• Mail: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, M– 

30, West Building Ground Floor, Room 

W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 

Washington, DC 20590. 

• Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, M– 

30, West Building Ground Floor, Room 

W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 

Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. 

and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 

except Federal holidays. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on 

the Internet at http://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2015– 

2962; or in person at the Docket 

Management Facility between 9 a.m. 

and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 

except Federal holidays. The AD docket 

contains this AD, the regulatory 

evaluation, any comments received, and 

other information. The street address for 

the Docket Office (phone: 800–647– 

5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. 

Comments will be available in the AD 

docket shortly after receipt. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff 

Gardlin, Aerospace Engineer, Airframe 

and Cabin Safety Branch, ANM–115, 

FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 

98057–3356; phone: 425–227–2136; fax: 

425–227–1149; email: jeff.gardlin@

faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion 

On May 23, 2012, we issued AD 

2012–11–09, Amendment 39–17072 (77 

FR 38000, June 26, 2012), for certain 

transport category airplanes. AD 2012– 

11–09 superseded AD 2011–04–09, 

Amendment 39–16630 (76 FR 12556, 

March 8, 2011). AD 2012–11–09 

required either activating all chemical 

oxygen generators in the lavatories until 

the generator oxygen supply is 

expended, or removing the oxygen 

generator(s); and, for each chemical 

oxygen generator, after the generator is 

expended (or removed), removing or 

restowing the oxygen masks and closing 

the mask dispenser door. AD 2012–11– 

09 also required installing a 

supplemental oxygen system in affected 

lavatories, which terminated the 

requirements of AD 2011–04–09. AD 

2012–11–09 was prompted by reports 

that the design of the oxygen generators 

presented a hazard that could jeopardize 

flight safety. We issued AD 2012–11–09 

to eliminate a hazard that could 

jeopardize flight safety, and to ensure 

that all lavatories have a supplemental 

oxygen supply. 

Actions Since Issuance of AD 2012–11– 

09, Amendment 39–17072 (77 FR 

38000, June 26, 2012) 

Since we issued AD 2012–11–09, 

Amendment 39–17072 (77 FR 38000, 

June 26, 2012), we have discovered that 

a certain requirement might have 

imposed an unnecessary burden on 

Boeing and operators. Paragraph (l)(2) of 

AD 2012–11–09 required adding ‘‘an 

airworthiness limitation that prohibits 

the installation of chemical oxygen 

generators in lavatories’’ to the 

operator’s maintenance program, if 

compliance with AD 2012–11–09 was 

shown without a chemical oxygen 

generator. The intent of this provision 

was to have a mechanism in place in the 

operators’ maintenance programs that 

prevents the inadvertent reinstallation 

of a chemical oxygen generator in a 

lavatory. 

That use of the term ‘‘airworthiness 

limitation’’ could be interpreted as the 

Airworthiness Limitations section of the 

Instructions for Continued 

Airworthiness (ICA), as required by 

section 25.1529 of the Federal Aviation 

Regulations (14 CFR 25.1529). While 

that is an acceptable method of 

compliance, the FAA did not intend to 

compel that specific method of 

compliance. We have therefore revised 

paragraph (l)(2) of this AD to remove the 

‘‘airworthiness limitation’’ restriction 

and to instead prohibit installation of a 

chemical oxygen generator in a lavatory. 

We are issuing this AD to correct the 

unsafe condition on certain transport 

category airplanes. 

FAA’s Determination 

We are issuing this AD because we 

evaluated all the relevant information 

and determined the unsafe condition 

described previously is likely to exist or 

develop in other products of these same 

type designs. 

AD Requirements 

This AD continues to require the 

actions specified in AD 2012–11–09, 

Amendment 39–17072 (77 FR 38000, 

June 26, 2012). This AD clarifies a 

certain restriction by providing a 

broader method of compliance. 


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44260 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 143 / Monday, July 27, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 

FAA’s Justification and Determination 

of the Effective Date 

The change provided in this AD 

clarifies the intent of a certain 

requirement of AD 2012–11–09, 

Amendment 39–17072 (77 FR 38000, 

June 26, 2012), by providing a broader 

method of compliance for the 

‘‘airworthiness limitation’’ restriction 

described previously. Therefore, we find 

that notice and opportunity for prior 

public comment are unnecessary and 

that good cause exists for making this 

amendment effective in less than 30 

days. 

Approval Process for AD Compliance 

Using Chemical Oxygen Generators 

(COGs) 

Because of the issues addressed by 

AD 2011–04–09, Amendment 39–16630 

(76 FR 12556, March 8, 2011), COG 

installations will require new 

considerations in order to be found 

acceptable as methods of compliance 

with this AD. The approval for COG 

installations will therefore be in 

accordance with a method approved by 

the FAA as discussed below. 

Approval Process for AD Compliance, 

Using Other Systems 

Chemical oxygen generators are one 

type of system used to provide 

supplemental oxygen. While the 

majority of transport category airplanes 

use this system in lavatories, there are 

other systems as well. If another system 

type is used to meet the requirements of 

this AD, the original unsafe condition is 

not a concern. In that case, the means 

of compliance is straightforward, and 

we have determined that the approval 

method could be more flexible than is 

usually the case for an AD. For example, 

delegated organizations cannot normally 

make compliance findings for ADs; 

service information associated with ADs 

must be adhered to exactly, or else an 

alternative method of compliance 

(AMOC) must be approved. 

For this AD, if the type of system is 

other than a COG, then we have 

determined that these restrictions could 

be relaxed. Therefore, paragraph (l)(2) of 

this AD contains provisions to permit 

existing approval processes to be used, 

as long as the means of compliance is 

other than a COG. This provision takes 

precedence over current limitations in 

operators’ authority to use their 

organizational delegations when 

showing compliance with an AD. In 

addition, if an operator uses service 

information that is approved for such 

installations, deviations from the service 

information can be addressed using the 

operator’s normal procedures without 

requiring an AMOC. 

Oversight Office 

Paragraph (l) of this AD refers to the 

FAA oversight office responsible for 

approval of modifications used to show 

compliance. This will typically be the 

aircraft certification office having 

geographic oversight of the applicant. In 

the case of service instructions from 

design approval holders of other 

countries, this would be the FAA, 

Transport Airplane Directorate 

(Transport Standards Staff). We 

anticipate that modifications to meet 

this AD will require either supplemental 

type certificate or amended type 

certificate approval. 

Comments Invited 

This AD is a final rule that involves 

requirements affecting flight safety, and 

we did not provide you with notice and 

an opportunity to provide your 

comments before it becomes effective. 

However, we invite you to send any 

written data, views, or arguments about 

this AD. Send your comments to an 

address listed under the ADDRESSES

section. Include the docket number 

FAA–2015–2962 and directorate 

identifier 2015–NM–071–AD at the 

beginning of your comments. We 

specifically invite comments on the 

overall regulatory, economic, 

environmental, and energy aspects of 

this AD. We will consider all comments 

received by the closing date and may 

amend this AD because of those 

comments. 

We will post all comments we 

receive, without change, to http://

www.regulations.gov, including any 

personal information you provide. We 

will also post a report summarizing each 

substantive verbal contact we receive 

about this AD. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this AD affects 5,500 

airplanes of U.S. registry. This new AD 

imposes no additional economic 

burden. The current costs for this AD 

are repeated for the convenience of 

affected operators, as follows: 

ESTIMATED COSTS

Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per 

product 

Cost on U.S. 

operators 

Activate COG/expend oxygen supply [retained actions from 

AD 2012–11–09, Amendment 39–17072 (77 FR 38000, 

June 26, 2012)].

Up to 2 work-hours × $85 per 

hour = up to $170.

$0 Up to $170 ..... Up to $935,000. 

Oxygen system installation [retained action from AD 2012– 

11–09, Amendment 39–17072 (77 FR 38000, June 26, 

2012)].

24 work-hours × $85 per 

hour = $2,040.

$6,000 $8,040 ............ $44,220,000. 

Authority for This Rulemaking 

Title 49 of the United States Code 

specifies the FAA’s authority to issue 

rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, 

Section 106, describes the authority of 

the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII, 

Aviation Programs, describes in more 

detail the scope of the Agency’s 

authority. 

We are issuing this rulemaking under 

the authority described in Subtitle VII, 

Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701, 

‘‘General requirements.’’ Under that 

section, Congress charges the FAA with 

promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in 

air commerce by prescribing regulations 

for practices, methods, and procedures 

the Administrator finds necessary for 

safety in air commerce. This regulation 

is within the scope of that authority 

because it addresses an unsafe condition 

that is likely to exist or develop on 

products identified in this rulemaking 

action. 

Regulatory Findings 

This AD will not have federalism 

implications under Executive Order 

13132. This AD will not have a 

substantial direct effect on the States, on 

the relationship between the national 

government and the States, or on the 

distribution of power and 

responsibilities among the various 

levels of government. 

For the reasons discussed above, I 

certify that this AD: 

(1) Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory 

action’’ under Executive Order 12866, 

(2) Is not a ‘‘significant rule’’ under 

DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures 

(44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979), 


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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 143 / Monday, July 27, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 44261 

(3) Will not affect intrastate aviation 

in Alaska, and 

(4) Will not have a significant 

economic impact, positive or negative, 

on a substantial number of small entities 

under the criteria of the Regulatory 

Flexibility Act. 

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39 

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation 

safety, Incorporation by reference, 

Safety. 

Adoption of the Amendment 

Accordingly, under the authority 

delegated to me by the Administrator, 

the FAA amends part 39 of the Federal 

Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as 

follows: 

PART 39—AIRWORTHINESS 

DIRECTIVES 

■ 1. The authority citation for part 39 

continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701. 

§ 39.13 [Amended] 

■ 2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by 

removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 

2012–11–09, Amendment 39–17072 (77 

FR 38000, June 26, 2012), and adding 

the following new AD: 

2012–11–09 R1 Transport Category 

Airplanes: Amendment 39–18221; 

Docket No. FAA–2015–2962; Directorate 

Identifier 2015–NM–071–AD. 

(a) Effective Date 

This AD is effective July 27, 2015. 

(b) Affected ADs 

This AD revises AD 2012–11–09, 

Amendment 39–17072 (77 FR 38000, June 

26, 2012). 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to transport category 

airplanes, in passenger-carrying operations, 

as specified in paragraph (c)(1) or (c)(2) of 

this AD. 

(1) Airplanes that complied with the 

requirements of AD 2011–04–09, 

Amendment 39–16630 (76 FR 12556, March 

8, 2011). 

(2) Airplanes equipped with any chemical 

oxygen generator installed in any lavatory 

and are: 

(i) Operating under part 121 of the Federal 

Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 121); or 

(ii) U.S. registered and operating under 

part 129 of the Federal Aviation Regulations 

(14 CFR part 129), with a maximum 

passenger capacity of 20 or greater. 

(d) Subject 

Air Transport Association (ATA) of 

America Code 35, Oxygen. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by the 

determination that the current design of 

chemical oxygen generators presents a hazard 

that could jeopardize flight safety and the 

discovery that certain existing requirements 

could impose an unnecessary burden on 

operators. We are issuing this AD to 

eliminate a hazard that could jeopardize 

flight safety, and to ensure that all lavatories 

have a supplemental oxygen supply. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Retained Requirements for the Oxygen 

Generator, With No Changes 

This paragraph restates the requirements of 

paragraph (g) of AD 2012–11–09, 

Amendment 39–17072 (77 FR 38000, June 

26, 2012), with no changes. Within 21 days 

after March 14, 2011 (the effective date of AD 

2011–04–09, Amendment 39–16630 (76 FR 

12556, March 8, 2011)), do the actions 

specified in paragraphs (g)(1) and (g)(2) of 

this AD. 

(1) Activate all chemical oxygen generators 

in the lavatories until the generator oxygen 

supply is expended. An operator may also 

remove the oxygen generator(s), in 

accordance with existing maintenance 

practice, in lieu of activating it. 

(2) For each chemical oxygen generator, 

after the generator is expended (or removed), 

remove or re-stow the oxygen masks and 

close the mask dispenser door. 

Note 1 to paragraph (g) of this AD: Design 

approval holders are not expected to release 

service instructions for the actions specified 

in paragraph (g) of this AD. 

(h) Retained Information About Hazardous 

Material, With a Change to the Identification 

of the Code of Federal Regulations Citation 

This paragraph restates the information in 

Note 1 of AD 2011–04–09, Amendment 39– 

16630 (76 FR 12556, March 8, 2011), with a 

change to the identification of the Code of 

Federal Regulations citation. Chemical 

oxygen generators are considered a 

hazardous material and subject to specific 

requirements under Title 49 of the Code of 

Federal Regulations (49 CFR) for shipping. 

Oxygen generators must be expended prior to 

disposal but are considered a hazardous 

waste; therefore, disposal must be in 

accordance with all Federal, State, and local 

regulations. Expended oxygen generators are 

forbidden in air transportation as cargo. For 

more information, contact 1–800–467–4922. 

(i) Retained Compliance With Federal 

Aviation Regulations of AD 2011–04–09, 

Amendment 39–16630 (76 FR 12556, March 

8, 2011), With No Changes 

This paragraph restates the requirements of 

paragraph (h) of AD 2011–04–09, 

Amendment 39–16630 (76 FR 12556, March 

8, 2011), with no changes. Notwithstanding 

the requirements of sections 25.1447, 

121.329, 121.333, and 129.13 of the Federal 

Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 25.1447, 

121.329, 121.333, and 129.13), operators 

complying with this AD are authorized to 

operate affected airplanes until 

accomplishment of the actions specified in 

paragraph (l) of this AD. 

(j) Retained Parts Installation Limitation of 

AD 2011–04–09, Amendment 39–16630 (76 

FR 12556, March 8, 2011), With No Changes 

This paragraph restates the requirements of 

paragraph (i) of AD 2011–04–09, Amendment 

39–16630 (76 FR 12556, March 8, 2011), with 

no changes. After March 14, 2011 (the 

effective date of AD 2011–04–09), and until 

accomplishment of the actions specified in 

paragraph (l) of this AD, no person may 

install a chemical oxygen generator in any 

lavatory on any affected airplane. 

(k) Retained Prohibition of Special Flight 

Permit of AD 2011–04–09, Amendment 39– 

16630 (76 FR 12556, March 8, 2011), With 

No Changes 

This paragraph restates the requirements of 

paragraph (j) of AD 2011–04–09, Amendment 

39–16630 (76 FR 12556, March 8, 2011), with 

no changes. Special flight permits, as 

described in section 21.197 and section 

21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations 

(14 CFR 21.197 and 21.199), are not allowed 

for the accomplishment of the actions 

specified in paragraph (g) of this AD. 

(l) Retained Oxygen System Restoration, 

With Revised Restriction in Paragraph (l)(2) 

of This AD With a Change to the 

Identification of the Federal Aviation 

Regulations Citations in Paragraphs (l)(2) 

and (l)(2)(i) of This AD 

This paragraph restates the requirements of 

paragraph (l) of AD 2012–11–09, Amendment 

39–17072 (77 FR 38000, June 26, 2012), with 

a revised restriction in paragraph (l)(2) of this 

AD and with a change to the identification 

of the Federal Aviation Regulations citations 

in paragraphs (l)(2) and (l)(2)(i) of this AD. 

Within 37 months after August 10, 2012 (the 

effective date of AD 2012–11–09), install a 

supplemental oxygen system that meets all 

applicable sections of parts 25 and 121 of the 

Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 25 

and 14 CFR part 121) in each lavatory, as 

specified in paragraph (l)(1) or (l)(2) of this 

AD, as applicable. 

(1) If compliance with paragraph (l) of this 

AD is achieved using a chemical oxygen 

generator, the actions specified in paragraph 

(l) of this AD must be done in accordance 

with a method approved by the Manager of 

the responsible FAA oversight office having 

responsibility over the modification. For a 

method to be approved, it must meet the 

certification basis of the airplane, and the 

approval must specifically refer to this AD. 

(2) If compliance with paragraph (l) of this 

AD is achieved without a chemical oxygen 

generator, the specifications of paragraphs 

(l)(2)(i) and (l)(2)(ii) of this AD apply. Any 

repairs or alterations to a system installed 

and approved in accordance with this 

paragraph may be accomplished in 

accordance with part 43 of the Federal 

Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 43). The 

installation of chemical oxygen generators is 

prohibited unless approved in accordance 

with the requirements of paragraph (l)(1) of 

this AD. 

(i) The modification must receive FAA 

approval in accordance with part 21 of the 

Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 

21) as a major design change. 

Notwithstanding operations specification 


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44262 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 143 / Monday, July 27, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 

1The UL mark and logo are trademarks of 

Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. 

restrictions to the contrary, organizational 

approval holders may exercise their full 

authority in approving installations that meet 

the installation requirements of this AD. 

(ii) Deviation from approved service 

instructions and subsequent modifications 

may be handled by normal operator 

procedures without requiring approval of an 

alternative method of compliance. 

(m) Retained Minimum Equipment List 

(MEL) Provisions, With a Change to the 

Identification of the Federal Aviation 

Regulations Citations 

This paragraph restates the provision 

specified in paragraph (m) of AD 2012–11– 

09, Amendment 39–17072 (77 FR 38000, 

June 26, 2012), with a change to the 

identification of the Federal Aviation 

Regulations citations. Notwithstanding the 

requirements of sections 121.628(b)(2) and 

129.14 of the Federal Aviation Regulations 

(14 CFR 121.628(b)(2) and 14 CFR 129.14), 

the equipment required by paragraph (l) of 

this AD may be included in the MEL, as 

applicable. 

(n) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, Transport Standards 

Staff, ANM–110, FAA, has the authority to 

approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested 

using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. 

In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your 

request to your principal inspector or local 

Flight Standards District Office, as 

appropriate. If sending information directly 

to the manager of the Transport Standards 

Staff, send it to the attention of the person 

identified in paragraph (o) of this AD. 

(2) Before using any approved AMOC, 

notify your appropriate principal inspector, 

or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 

of the local flight standards district office/

certificate holding district office. 

(3) AMOCs approved previously for AD 

2012–11–09, Amendment 39–17072 (77 FR 

38000, June 26, 2012), are approved as 

AMOCs for the corresponding provisions of 

this AD. 

(o) Related Information 

For more information about this AD, 

contact Jeff Gardlin, Aerospace Engineer, 

Airframe and Cabin Safety Branch, ANM– 

115, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057– 

3356; phone: 425–227–2136; fax: 425–227– 

1149; email: jeff.gardlin@faa.gov. 

(p) Material Incorporated by Reference 

None. 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on July 17, 

2015. 

Jeffrey E. Duven, 

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2015–18155 Filed 7–24–15; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY 

COMMISSION 

16 CFR Part 1120 

[CPSC Docket No. CPSC–2015–0003] 

Substantial Product Hazard List: 

Extension Cords 

AGENCY: Consumer Product Safety 

Commission. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: The Consumer Product Safety 

Commission (‘‘CPSC’’ or ‘‘Commission’’) 

is issuing a final rule to specify that 

extension cords (both indoor and 

outdoor use extension cords) that do not 

contain one or more of five applicable 

readily observable characteristics set 

forth in the rule, as addressed in a 

voluntary standard, are deemed a 

substantial product hazard under the 

Consumer Product Safety Act (‘‘CPSA’’). 

DATES: Effective Date: The rule takes 

effect on August 26, 2015. The 

incorporation by reference of the 

publication listed in this rule is 

approved by the Director of the Federal 

Register as of August 26, 2015. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Mary Kroh, Office of Compliance and 

Field Operations, Consumer Product 

Safety Commission, 4330 East West 

Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814; 

telephone: 301–504–7886; mkroh@

cpsc.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background and Statutory Authority 

A. Statutory Authority 

Section 223 of the Consumer Product 

Safety Improvement Act of 2008 

(‘‘CPSIA’’), amended section 15 of the 

CPSA, 15 U.S.C. 2064, to add a new 

subsection (j). Section 15(j) of the CPSA 

provides the Commission with the 

authority to specify, by rule, for any 

consumer product or class of consumer 

products, characteristics whose 

existence or absence are deemed a 

substantial product hazard under 

section 15(a)(2) of the CPSA. Section 

15(a)(2) of the CPSA defines a 

‘‘substantial product hazard,’’ in 

relevant part, as a product defect which 

(because of the pattern of defect, the 

number of defective products 

distributed in commerce, the severity of 

the risk, or otherwise) creates a 

substantial risk of injury to the public. 

A rule under section 15(j) of the CPSA 

(a ‘‘15(j) rule’’) is not a consumer 

product safety rule that imposes 

performance or labeling requirements 

for newly manufactured products. 

Rather, a 15(j) rule is a Commission 

determination of a product defect, based 

upon noncompliance with specific 

product characteristics that are 

addressed in an effective voluntary 

standard. For the Commission to issue 

a 15(j) rule, the product characteristics 

involved must be ‘‘readily observable’’ 

and have been addressed by a voluntary 

standard. Moreover, the voluntary 

standard must be effective in reducing 

the risk of injury associated with the 

consumer products, and there must be 

substantial compliance with the 

voluntary standard. 

B. Background 

On February 3, 2015, the Commission 

issued a notice of proposed rulemaking 

(‘‘NPR’’) in the Federal Register to 

amend the substantial product hazard 

list in 16 CFR part 1120 (‘‘part 1120’’) 

to add extension cords that lack certain 

readily observable safety characteristics 

addressed by a voluntary standard 

because such products pose a risk of 

electrical shock or fire. 80 FR 5701. The 

comment period on the proposed rule 

closed on April 20, 2015. As detailed in 

section II of this preamble, the 

Commission received four comments on 

the proposed rule, covering three issues. 

The Commission is now issuing a 

final rule to amend part 1120 by adding 

four readily observable characteristics 

that apply to all general-use extension 

cords (indoor and outdoor extension 

cords, including indoor seasonal 

extension cords): 

(1) Minimum wire size; 

(2) sufficient strain relief; 

(3) proper polarity; and 

(4) proper continuity. 

Additionally, the final rule includes 

one characteristic, outlet covers, that 

applies to 2-wire indoor extension 

cords, and one characteristic, jacketed 

cord, that applies to outdoor extension 

cords. Accordingly, as of the effective 

date of this rule, extension cords within 

the scope of the rule that do not 

conform to all five applicable 

characteristics described in the 

voluntary standard, Underwriters 

Laboratories (‘‘UL’’), Standard for Cord 

Sets and Power-Supply Cords, UL 817, 

11th Edition, dated March 16, 2001, as 

revised through February 3, 2014 (‘‘UL 

817’’) will constitute a substantial 

product hazard.1 Nonconforming 

extension cords are deemed to create a 

substantial product hazard under 

section 15(a)(2) of the CPSA because 

such products pose a risk of electrical 

shock or fire. 

The Commission is finalizing the rule 

with two minor clarifications as 

recommended by CPSC staff. First, the 


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