[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 65 (Tuesday, April 6, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 16711]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-8496]


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CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION


Petition Requesting Labeling Rule for Polyurethane Foam in 
Upholstered Furniture

AGENCY: Consumer Product Safety Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Commission has received a petition from the National 
Association of State Fire Marshals requesting that the Commission 
require labels warning that polyurethane foam in upholstered furniture 
poses a fire hazard under the Flammable Fabrics Act. The Commission 
solicits written comments concerning the petition.

DATES: Comments on the petition should be received in the Office of the 
Secretary by June 7, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Comments, preferably in five copies, on the petition should 
be mailed to the Office of the Secretary, Consumer Product Safety 
Commission, Washington, DC 20207, telephone (301) 504-0800, or 
delivered to the Office of the Secretary, Room 501, 4330 East-West 
Highway, Bethesda, Maryland 20814. Comments may also be filed by 
telefacsimile to (301) 504-0127 or by email to [email protected]. 
Comments should be captioned ``Petition FP 99-1, Petition for Labeling 
of Polyurethane Foam.'' A copy of the petition is available for 
inspection at the Commission's Public Reading Room, Room 419, 4330 
East-West Highway, Bethesda, Maryland.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rockelle Hammond, Office of the 
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, D.C. 20207; 
telephone (301) 504-0800, ext. 1232.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commission has received correspondence 
from the National Association of State Fire Marshals (``NASFM'') that 
requests the Commission to issue a rule under the Flammable Fabrics Act 
(``FFA'').1 NASFM asserts that polyurethane foam in 
upholstered furniture poses an unreasonable risk of fire because once 
ignited it burns rapidly and emits toxic gases. NASFM asks the 
Commission to require that upholstered furniture manufacturers and 
retailers provide flammability warnings to the public. The Commission 
is docketing the correspondence as a petition under provisions of the 
FFA, 15 U.S.C. 1191-1204.
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    \1\ The Commission voted 2-1 to publish this notice requesting 
comments on the petition. Chairman Ann Brown and Commissioner Thomas 
Moore voted in favor of publication while Commissioner Mary Sheila 
Gall voted against it for the reason provided in a separate 
statement. A copy of Commissioner Gall's statement is available from 
the Office of the Secretary.
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    Interested parties may obtain a copy of the petition by writing or 
calling the Office of the Secretary, Consumer Product Safety 
Commission, Washington, DC 20207; telephone (301) 504-0800. A copy of 
the petition is also available for inspection from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, in the Commission's Public Reading Room, Room 
419, 4330 East West Highway, Bethesda, Maryland.

    Dated: April 1, 1999.
Sadye E. Dunn,
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission.
[FR Doc. 99-8496 Filed 4-5-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6355-01-P