yeah i know, my local shop had all thiers removed too, but heres the article, posted on my local series website:
CPSC Won't Enforce Lead Laws on Youth ATVs
By MELANIE TROTTMAN
Wall Street Journal
www.wsj.com
The
Consumer Product Safety Commission's acting chairman told her
compliance staff Friday not to enfore, for now, rules limiting sales of
youth-model all-terrain vehicles that have lead in concealed parts.
The
decision means the federal agency won't hold makers and dealers of
youth-model ATVs accountable for selling products that contain lead
exceeding new federal limits. The ATV industry has sought an exemption
to the law, which covers toys and other children's products, because it
says the lead is found in parts that children can't reach.
Nancy
Nord, the acting chairman, has been at odds with Congress over the law.
She says it was written too vaguely and too broadly in some cases. A
number of children's product makers also say the law is causing them
unnecessary economic harm. The Toy Industry Association says more than
$1 billion of products have already been returned to its members from
retailers or are sitting in warehouses and can't be sold because of the
restrictions.
Ms. Nord voted Friday to deny ATV makers an
exemption to the law, a vote that underscores the conflict between her
and Congress. She says she voted "no" because the language in the law
about exemptions was written too narrowly to allow her to grant one,
but she is effectively granting it by directing her staff to stay
enforcement for 12 months.
Enforcing the law could endanger
children "by forcing youth-sized vehicles off the market and resulting
in children riding the far more dangerous adult-sized ATVs," Ms. Nord
said in a statement Friday.
Youth-model ATVs are smaller, less
powerful versions of full-size models and are aimed at riders ages 6 to
15. The models have varying speed limits of 10 to 30 miles per hour,
depending on the targeted age group. That compares with speeds of up to
60 miles per hour of some full-size models. Many models for the
youngest of children, ages 6-11, have a tether strap that can be
attached to a child's clothing so the engine will stop running if the
child falls off. Youth models also have a speed limiter that parents
can adjust.
In 2008, there were 100,000 youth models sold in
the U.S. and the market was and estimated $1 billion including parts
and servicing, said a spokesman for the Coalition for Safe and
Responsible ATV Use.
Ms. Nord is one of two commissioners at the
agency. The other commissioner still must vote on the exemption, but
even if he votes in favor of it, that wouldn't change the outcome
because a unanimous decision is required. The votes become official
next Wednesday.
Write to Melanie Trottman at
melanie.trottman@wsj.com
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123877278983386849.html
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