15 U.S.C. § 2056c: Sulfur content in drywall…

Summary

The Consumer Product Safety Commission must make a rule, within two years after January 14, 2013, that limits how much sulfur can be in drywall sold or imported for use in U.S. homes so the sulfur level does not cause higher rates of corrosion. The rule must follow the federal notice-and-comment rulemaking process (the one in section 553 of title 5) and will count as a consumer product safety rule under section 2058. If an ASTM Subcommittee C11.01 voluntary standard that limits sulfur to a safe level is in effect within those two years, the Commission does not have to make a new rule. The Commission must publish that decision in the Federal Register. If the voluntary standard is accepted, its sulfur limit becomes enforceable as the Commission’s rule either 180 days after the Commission publishes its decision or on the voluntary standard’s own effective date, whichever is later. If the voluntary standard is later changed, the standards group must notify the Commission within 60 days, and the revised limit becomes enforceable 180 days after notice unless the Commission rejects it within 90 days. The Commission can later start rulemaking to change the sulfur limit or add other drywall composition rules if needed.

Title 15, §2056c

Commerce and Trade, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Rule on sulfur content in drywall required

Except as provided in subsection (c), not later than 2 years after January 14, 2013, the Consumer Product Safety Commission shall promulgate a final rule pertaining to drywall manufactured or imported for use in the United States that limits sulfur content to a level not associated with elevated rates of corrosion in the home.

(b)Rule making; consumer product safety standard

A rule under subsection (a)—

(1)shall be promulgated in accordance with section 553 of title 5; and

(2)shall be treated as a consumer product safety rule promulgated under section 2058 of this title.

(c)Exception

(1)Voluntary standard

Subsection (a) shall not apply if the Commission determines that—

(A)a voluntary standard pertaining to drywall manufactured or imported for use in the United States limits sulfur content to a level not associated with elevated rates of corrosion in the home;

(B)such voluntary standard is or will be in effect not later than two years after January 14, 2013; and

(C)such voluntary standard is developed by Subcommittee C11.01 on Specifications and Test Methods for Gypsum Products of ASTM International.

(2)Federal Register

Any determination made under paragraph (1) shall be published in the Federal Register.

(d)Treatment of voluntary standard for purposes of enforcement

If the Commission determines that a voluntary standard meets the conditions in subsection (c)(1), the sulfur content limit in such voluntary standard shall be treated as a consumer product safety rule promulgated under section 2058 of this title beginning on the date that is the later of— (1)

(2)the effective date contained in the voluntary standard.

(e)Revision of voluntary standard

If the sulfur content limit of a voluntary standard that met the conditions of subsection (c)(1) is subsequently revised, the organization responsible for the standard shall notify the Commission no later than 60 days after final approval of the revision. The sulfur content limit of the revised voluntary standard shall become enforceable as a Commission rule promulgated under section 2058 of this title, in lieu of the prior version, effective 180 days after the Commission is notified of the revision (or such later date as the Commission considers appropriate), unless within 90 days after receiving that notice the Commission determines that the sulfur content limit of the revised voluntary standard does not meet the requirements of subsection (c)(1)(A), in which case the Commission shall continue to enforce the prior version.

(f)Future rulemaking

The Commission, at any time subsequent to publication of the consumer product safety rule required by subsection (a) or a determination under subsection (c), may initiate a rulemaking in accordance with section 553 of title 5 to modify the sulfur content limit or to include any provision relating only to the composition or characteristics of drywall that the Commission determines is reasonably necessary to protect public health or safety. Any rule promulgated under this subsection shall be treated as a consumer product safety rule promulgated under section 2058 of this title.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was enacted as part of the Drywall Safety Act of 2012, and not as part of the Consumer Product Safety Act which comprises this chapter.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Drywall Labeling Requirement Pub. L. 112–266, § 3, Jan. 14, 2013, 126 Stat. 2437, provided that: “(a) Labeling Requirement.—Beginning 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Jan. 14, 2013], the gypsum board labeling provisions of standard ASTM C1264–11 of ASTM International, as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act, shall be treated as a rule promulgated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission under section 14(c) of the Consumer Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 2063(c)). “(b) Revision of Standard.—If the gypsum board labeling provisions of the standard referred to in subsection (a) are revised on or after the date of the enactment of this Act, ASTM International shall notify the Commission of such revision no later than 60 days after final approval of the revision by ASTM International. The revised provisions shall be treated as a rule promulgated by the Commission under section 14(c) of such Act (15 U.S.C. 2063(c)), in lieu of the prior version, effective 180 days after the Commission is notified of the revision (or such later date as the Commission considers appropriate), unless within 90 days after receiving that notice the Commission determines that the revised provisions do not adequately identify gypsum board by manufacturer and month and year of manufacture, in which case the Commission shall continue to enforce the prior version.” Revision of Remediation Guidance for Drywall Disposal Required Pub. L. 112–266, § 5, Jan. 14, 2013, 126 Stat. 2439, provided that: “Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Jan. 14, 2013], the Consumer Product Safety Commission shall revise its guidance entitled ‘Remediation Guidance for Homes with Corrosion from Problem Drywall’ to specify that problematic drywall removed from homes pursuant to the guidance should not be reused or used as a component in production of new drywall.”

§2056c Sulfur Content in Drywall Standard

Summary

Title 15, §2056c

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Citations & Metadata