[Federal Register: April 22, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 77)]
[Notices]               
[Page 19789-19790]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr22ap03-37]                         

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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 2005, which begins October 1, 
2004, and about its draft strategic plan, to be submitted to Congress 
September 30, 2003, 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 2005, and strategic plan will become part of 
the public record.

DATES: The hearing will begin at 10 a.m. on June 9, 2003. 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 May 27, 2003. Persons desiring to make oral presentations at this 
hearing must submit a written text of their

[[Page 19790]]

presentations not later than June 2, 2003.

ADDRESSES: The hearing will be in room 420 of the Bethesda 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, DC 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 May 5, 2003), or to request an 
opportunity to make an oral presentation, call or write Rockelle 
Hammond, Office of the Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission, 
Washington, DC 20207; telephone (301) 504-6833; telefax (301) 504-0127.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 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.
    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 2005, which begins on October 1, 2004. This budget request 
must reflect the contents of the agency's strategic plan developed 
under GPRA.
    Accordingly, the Commission will conduct a public hearing on June 
9, 2003 to receive comments from the public concerning its draft GPRA 
strategic plan, and agenda and priorities for fiscal year 2005. 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.
    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.
    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.
    Persons who desire to make oral presentations at the hearing on 
June 9, 2003, should call or write Rockelle Hammond, Office of the 
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, DC 20207, 
telephone (301) 504-6833, telefax (301) 504-0127, not later than May 
27, 2003. Persons who desire a copy of the draft strategic plan 
(available May 5, 2003) may call or write Rockelle Hammond, Office of 
the Secretary CPSC, Washington, DC 20207, telephone (301) 504-6833, 
telefax (301) 504-0127, e-mail: rhammond@cpsc.gov, or cpsc-os@cpsc.gov.
    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 June 
2, 2003. 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 June 
9, 2003 and will conclude the same day.
    Written comments on the Commission's draft strategic plan, and 
agenda and priorities for fiscal year 2005, should be received in the 
Office of the Secretary not later than May 27, 2003.

    Dated: April 17, 2003.
Todd A. Stevenson,
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission.
[FR Doc. 03-9954 Filed 4-21-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6355-01-P