[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 48 (Wednesday, March 12, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11417-11418]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-6229]


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CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION


Commission Agenda and Priorities/Government Performance and 
Results Act (GPRA); Public Hearing

AGENCY: Consumer Product Safety Commission.

ACTION: Notice of public hearing.

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SUMMARY: The Commission will conduct a public hearing to receive views 
from all interested parties about its agenda and priorities for 
Commission attention during fiscal year 1999, which begins October 1, 
1998, and about its draft strategic plan, to be submitted to Congress 
September 30, 1997, pursuant to the Government Performance and Results 
Act (GPRA). Participation by members of the public is invited. Written 
comments and oral presentations concerning the Commission's agenda and 
priorities for fiscal year 1999, and strategic plan will become part of 
the public record.

DATES: The hearing will begin at 10 a.m. on May 13, 1997. Written 
comments and requests from members of the public desiring to make oral 
presentations must be received by the Office of the Secretary not later 
than April 29, 1997. Persons desiring to make oral presentations at 
this hearing must submit a written text of their presentations not 
later than May 6, 1997.

ADDRESSES: The hearing will be in room 420 of the East-West Towers 
Building, 4330 East-West Highway, Bethesda, Maryland 20814. Written 
comments, requests to make oral presentations, and texts of oral 
presentations should be captioned ``Agenda, Priorities and Strategic 
Plan'' and mailed to the Office of the Secretary, Consumer Product 
Safety Commission, Washington, D.C. 20207, or delivered to that office, 
room 502, 4330 East-West Highway, Bethesda, Maryland 20814.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about the hearing, a 
copy of the strategic plan (available April 1, 1997), or to request an 
opportunity to make an oral presentation, call or write Rockelle 
Hammond, Office of the Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission, 
Washington, D.C. 20207; telephone (301) 504-0800; telefax (301) 504-
0127.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Statutory Requirements

    Section 4(j) of the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA) (15 U.S.C. 
2053(j)) requires the Commission to establish an agenda for action 
under the laws it

[[Page 11418]]

administers, and, to the extent feasible, to select priorities for 
action at least 30 days before the beginning of each fiscal year. 
Section 4(j) of the CPSA provides further that before establishing its 
agenda and priorities, the Commission shall conduct a public hearing 
and provide an opportunity for the submission of comments. In addition, 
section 306(d) of the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) (5 
U.S.C. 306(d)) requires the Commission to seek comments from interested 
parties on the agency's proposed strategic plan. The strategic plan is 
a GPRA requirement. The plan will provide an overall guide to the 
formulation of future agency actions and budget requests. A final 
strategic plan is required to be submitted to the Office of Management 
and Budget and Congress not later than September 30, 1997. (5 U.S.C. 
306(a)).
    The Office of Management and Budget requires all Federal agencies 
to submit their budget requests 13 months before the beginning of each 
fiscal year. The Commission is formulating its budget request for 
fiscal year 1999, which begins on October 1, 1998. This budget request 
must reflect the contents of the agency's strategic plan developed 
under GPRA.
    The Commission is charged by Congress with protecting the public 
from unreasonable risks of injury associated with consumer products. 
The Commission enforces and administers the Consumer Product Safety Act 
(15 U.S.C. 2051 et seq.); the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (15 
U.S.C. 1261 et seq.); the Flammable Fabrics Act (15 U.S.C. 1191 et 
seq.); the Poison Prevention Packaging Act (15 U.S.C. 1471 et seq.); 
and the Refrigerator Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 1211 et seq.). Standards and 
regulations issued under provisions of those statutes are codified in 
the Code of Federal Regulations, title 16, chapter II.

Purpose of the Public Hearing

    The Commission will conduct a public hearing on May 13, 1997 to 
receive comments from the public concerning its draft GPRA strategic 
plan, and agenda and priorities for fiscal year 1999. The Commissioners 
desire to obtain the views of a wide range of interested persons 
including consumers; manufacturers, importers, distributors, and 
retailers of consumer products; members of the academic community; 
consumer advocates; and health and safety officers of state and local 
governments.
    While the Commission has broad jurisdiction over products used by 
consumers, its staff and budget are limited. Section 4(j) of the CPSA 
expresses Congressional direction to the Commission to establish an 
agenda for action each fiscal year and, if feasible, to select from 
that agenda some of those projects for priority attention. These 
priorities are reflected in the draft strategic plan developed under 
GPRA.

Participation in the Hearing

    Persons who desire to make oral presentations at the hearing on May 
13, 1997, should call or write Rockelle Hammond, Office of the 
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, D.C. 20207, 
telephone (301) 504-0800, telefax (301) 504-0127, not later than April 
29, 1997. Persons who desire a copy of the draft strategic plan 
(available April 1, 1997) may call or write Rockelle Hammond, office of 
the Secretary CPSC, Washington DC 20207, telephone (301) 504-0800, 
(301) 504-0127.
    Presentations should be limited to approximately ten minutes. 
Persons desiring to make presentations must submit the written text of 
their presentations to the Office of the Secretary not later than May 
6, 1997. The Commission reserves the right to impose further time 
limitations on all presentations and further restrictions to avoid 
duplication of presentations. The hearing will begin at 10 a.m. on May 
13, 1997 and will conclude the same day.

Written Comments

    Written comments on the Commission's draft strategic plan, and 
agenda and priorities for fiscal year 1999, should be received in the 
Office of the Secretary not later than April 29, 1997.

    Dated: March 7, 1997.
Sadye E. Dunn,
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission.
[FR Doc. 97-6229 Filed 3-11-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6335-01-P