Help Stop the Youth ATV Ban!

[SinCityFJC]

Just a FYI for you guys on ExPo. I do feel we do need to reach young & old OHV users with Tread Lightly & trail manners education. Looking like best option in reaching them is via licensing or sticker programs.

Cheers
Brian

BLUERIBBON COALITION ACTION ALERT!

HELP STOP THE FEBRUARY 10TH BAN ON YOUTH OHVS

On February 10, 2009, a new law regulating lead content in certain products will go into effect. This could adversely affect companies that manufacture or distribute youth model all-terrain vehicles and off-highway motorcycles. Dealers that sell and service those products would be impacted as well.

The Specialty Vehicle Institute of America (SVIA) and the Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) have urgently requested the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and federal legislators to take a common sense approach to implementation of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act's lead provisions.

SVIA and MIC have announced their intention to join several of their member companies in filing petitions with the CPSC for emergency relief from the provisions. They are also seeking a temporary final rule to exempt ATV and motorcycle parts in order to avoid major disruptions to enthusiasts, to the member companies' businesses, and to the companies' dealer network of thousands of small, independent businesses, which employ tens of thousands of Americans.

BRC is asking all OHV users to contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission and their elected officials today!

Use the following links to send your comments and to contact your Congressional Representatives.
Included below is a sample letter regarding the potential ban of all youth-oriented OHVs, which starts February 10, 2009.

CPSC Comment Page
http://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/info.aspx

BRC Rapid Response Center to contact Members of Congress
http://www.sharetrails.org/rapid_response/

Thanks in advance for your support,
Ric Foster
Public Lands Department Manager
BlueRibbon Coalition

PS: BRC needs your support via membership and donations to help us continue our efforts to champion responsible OHV access to public lands. To sign up as a member or to make a donation, https://www.sharetrails.org/secure/join_or_contribute/?c=1

_______________________________________________________________

Sample Letter:

As a member of the OHV community, I want to voice my strong support for petitions filed recently by the Motorcycle Industry Council and Specialty Vehicle Institute of America to seek emergency relief from provisions, which go into effect on February 10, 2009.

While I do support efforts by the Consumer Product Safety Commission to protect children from lead content in products that truly present a risk to children, I do not believe the Commission intended that metal parts on ATVs and motorcycles be included in that regulation because they do not present a lead risk to children.

As the spring OHV recreation season rapidly approaches, I ask you to support efforts to exclude youth-oriented OHVs - and the businesses that sell and service them - from being unnecessarily impacted by this ban, especially during this economic crisis.

Sincerely,

Your name &
Address

 

[H2O_Doc]

can someone provide more informative links? These dont help much in understanding the issue other than "oppose the ban"

 

[SinCityFJC]

can someone provide more informative links? These dont help much in understanding the issue other than "oppose the ban"

More info here - http://www.mic.org/news012609.cfm

I'll also check into getting more than just oppose this type of info.

 

[luk4mud]

This stuff is nuts. It's hard enough to get the manufacturers to make youth ATVs and MCs at an affordable price now.

 

[SinCityFJC]

This thread I started as a FYI just to make others aware of this being implemented very soon.

My understanding is that this lead safety law is about things that have lead that are dangerous to children.

Everyone wants our kids protected from unnecessary lead exposure, but the law was written without considering common sense here and forgot to exclude atv’s and dirt bikes.

We’re talking about tire valves and battery cables. These do not present a lead issue for us or kids, but under this law as written, it would put these things in that category and shut down an industry, not to mention be silly in its implementation.

 

[jammyauto]

I just read the info you posted. Included is this statement;
Congress included an exclusion process in the CPSIA expressly to allow relief for parts that are unlikely to harm children, such as those contained in an ATV or motorcycle,” Vitrano said.

Is this opposition by the motorcycle industry just because it will cost a little more to manufacture some parts? Kind of like the opposition to ban lead ammo in california because it would make ammo a littel more expensive?

Just asking

 

[SinCityFJC]

I just read the info you posted. Included is this statement;
Congress included an exclusion process in the CPSIA expressly to allow relief for parts that are unlikely to harm children, such as those contained in an ATV or motorcycle,” Vitrano said.

Is this opposition by the motorcycle industry just because it will cost a little more to manufacture some parts? Kind of like the opposition to ban lead ammo in california because it would make ammo a littel more expensive?

Just asking

Hey somebody from my old hometown SB.

I don't know but great question but will forward this thread to someone that might have more info & insight on this than I.

 

[SinCityFJC]

Del Albright was 1st to reply in my request for more info, His reply is as follows:

More info for you perhaps:

This was more of an oversight than anything else. The exemption process is there but left out this obvious condition (ATV, Dirt Bikes). The small amounts of lead in a tire value or motorcycle battery terminal in the prescribed use outdoors does not present a threat to our kids or us. Groups like BlueRibbon and the Motorcycle Industry Council do not see this as someone trying to get around lead paint in a house or public building. We just need to bring pressure so they don’t let this un-thought-out law go into effect as is. It just needs that dose of common sense, while still allowing the rest of the provisions to protect our kids stand.

D.

 

[SinCityFJC]

Maybe this thread belongs in:

Motorcycle
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=41

Or
Fireside
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=17

Doesn't seem like much of a conservation issue to me.

Mods & Admins feel free to move & or modify this thread as needed. Looks like I put it the wrong place :bike_rider:

A bit more info:

Dear NOHVCC Network,

As you are aware, we don't send out many action alerts, but we believe this issue warrants immediate action. As you'll see below, an action by the CPSC would make it illegal to sell youth model OHVs containing any lead products after February 10th. Many OHV frames are coated with paint that contains small quantities of lead and items like battery terminals and valve stem cores contain lead. This will have a negative effect on riders ability to buy youth models, and will result in dealers and manufacturers holding inventory that will hurt an already ailing market.

NOHVCC is a strong advocate of child protection, but the lead contained in youth OHVs poses absolutely no threat to children. Please take time now to read and take action on the attached Blue Ribbon Coalition action alert. Please redistribute this message it to your individual networks also.

Russ Ehnes

Executive Director, NOHVCC - http://www.nohvcc.org/index.asp

 

[SinCityFJC]

Saturday, January 31, 2009
VICTORY - One Year Reprieve on CPSC Youth OHV Ban
From the Blog of Don Amador - http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com/2009/01/victory-one-year-reprieve-on-cpsc-youth.html

VICTORY - CPSC Votes One Year Reprieve on Youth OHV Ban

The General congratulates all the troops for making thousands of phone calls to the Consumer Product Safety Commission and to their elected representatives asking them for emergency relief from the proposed Feb 10 ban on all youth-OHVs.

OHV Victory in the following article from the LA Times today

Full Article - http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-consumer-lead31-2009jan31,0,7966719.story

SAFETY
Children's product sellers get 1-year reprieve on lead testing
The Consumer Product Safety Commission votes to hold off on some requirements that would have forced many firms to spend tens of thousands of dollars to check toys, clothing and other goods.
By Alana Semuels

January 31, 2009
Federal regulators on Friday postponed some testing requirements that would have forced many companies to pay ten of thousands of dollars to check children's products for lead content, giving manufacturers and retailers a one-year reprieve.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission deferred the deadline, originally Feb. 10, by which manufacturers and importers of children's goods needed to test every item to ensure it didn't contain more than 600 parts per million of lead. They also have an extra year to test for phthalates, chemicals often used in plastic.

 

[SinCityFJC]

The last post was um premature - here is the latest.

UPDATE Friday, February 6, 2009
Feb. 6 CPSC News Release Offers No Help for OHV Ban

The CPSC’s News Release today
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09121.html

is of little help to the Powersports community. The General believes that totally inaccessible parts have always been excluded from the lead content limits. However, the problem is, there are many components/parts on ATVs and motorcycles that contain lead and are accessible (e.g. levers; tire valves; suspension parts; external engine parts; etc.). The MIC petition expressly seek an exclusion only for accessible lead-containing parts, components and accessories

MIC News Release on Petition Info
http://www.mic.org/news012609.cfm

Please continue to send letters to Congress, the Administration, and CPSC asking them to support the MIC’s petition. See my previous blogs for sample letter, etc.

More- http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com/2009/02/feb-6-cpsc-news-release-offers-no-help.html

 

[SinCityFJC]

This may seem an odd section to post this but I as a youth on a ATV started learning about trail manners & treading lightly. Long before Tread Lightly existed my parents & my grandfather a past president of the Wildlife Federation taught me to be a steward for our lands. I'm concerned this may have many unforeseen consequences that could be years away.

Also looks Like your going to have a hard time just getting some parts for already sold youth OHVs.


UPDATE Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Continue Fight Against CPSC Ban on Youth OHVs


OHV families and dealers got hit hard on Feb. 10 with a "ban" on the sale of youth OHVs. Many riders and shop owners could not believe that their government would want to put them out of business.


However, don't think your letters and visits to congressional district offices did not matter - they did. A number of congressional members issued strong letters of opposition to the CPSC or introduced legislation such as Sen. Jim DeMint's S.374. Be assured the national OHV groups have this high on their radar screen and will continue efforts as well. They continue to need the grassroots support and effort.


We may have lost round one with the Feb. 10 ban, but we have several more rounds to go. Please continue to make those personal visits to congressional district offices. Also SEND letters to Congress using the BlueRibbon Coalition's


BRC Rapid Response Center (just type in ZIP code and cut and paste letter)

http://www.sharetrails.org/rapid_response/

More - http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com/2009/02/continue-fight-against-cpsc-ban-on.html

 

[SinCityFJC]

KEEP UP THE PRESSURE ON THE CPSC AND CONGRESS

On February 10, 2009, a new law regulating lead content in certain products went into effect. This is adversely affecting companies that manufacture or distribute youth model all-terrain vehicles and off-highway motorcycles. Dealers that sell and service those products are being impacted as well.

The Specialty Vehicle Institute of America (SVIA) and the Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) have urgently requested the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and federal legislators to take a common sense approach to implementation of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act's lead provisions.

SVIA and MIC have filed petitions with the CPSC for emergency relief from the provisions. They are also seeking a temporary final rule to exempt ATV and motorcycle parts in order to avoid major disruptions to enthusiasts, to the member companies' businesses, and to the companies' dealer network of thousands of small, independent businesses, which employ tens of thousands of Americans.

BRC is asking all OHV users to continue this contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission and their elected officials today!

Use the following links to send your comments and to contact your Congressional Representatives and the CPSC. Included below is a sample letter regarding the functional ban of all youth-oriented OHVs, which started February 10, 2009.

BRC Letter to CPSC
http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/BRC_Letter_to_CPSC_02.19.09_FINAL.pdf

CPSC Comment Page
http://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/info.aspx

BRC Rapid Response Center to contact Members of Congress
http://www.sharetrails.org/rapid_response/

Missouri State Representative Tom Self
http://www.tomself.com

Congressional Western Caucus Letter
http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/CPSC_Western_Caucus_Letter_Feb_6_20090001.pdf

CPSC NAM Request for Emergency Stay
http://www.sharetrails.org/files/CPSC-NAM-Request-for-Emergency-Stay.pdf

Thanks in advance for your support,
Don Amador
Western Representative
BlueRibbon Coalition
(925) 625-6287

PS: BRC needs your support via membership and donations to help us continue our efforts to champion responsible OHV access to public lands. To sign up as a member or to make a donation, Click Here:

_______________________________________________________________

Sample Letter:

As a member of the OHV community, I want to voice my strong support for petitions filed by the Motorcycle Industry Council and Specialty Vehicle Institute of America to seek emergency relief from provisions, which went into effect on February 10, 2009.

While I do support efforts by the Consumer Product Safety Commission to protect children from lead content in products that truly present a risk to children, I do not believe the Commission intended that metal parts on ATVs and motorcycles be included in that regulation because they do not present a lead risk to children.

As the spring OHV recreation season rapidly approaches and dealers face the prospect of being put out of business, I ask you to support efforts to exclude youth-oriented OHVs from being unnecessarily impacted by this ban.

Sincerely,

Your name &
Address


Get BRC's Latest News & Alerts via RSS!
http://feeds.feedburner.com/BlueRibbonCoalition

 

[SinCityFJC]

http://www.nohvcc.org/

Consumer Product Safety Commission may not act on Industry petition for Exemption

A congressional act may be the only way to get the ban of youth ATVs and motorcycles lifted. A new MIC/SVIA website has been created to help solve this issue.

Paul Vitrano, General Counsel for the Motorcycle Industry Council announced a new website called "Stop the Ban" website (http://www.mic.org/letters.cfm) for several ways to contact Congress to request relief for the powersports industry. In addition, MIC issued the following regarding the lead ban that has affected business and riders across the nation:

Statement of the Motorcycle Industry Council and Specialty Vehicle Institute of America regarding CPSC Ruling on CPSIA.



At a press conference hosted by Rep. Tom Self of Missouri on March 4, Paul Vitrano, General Counsel, Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) and Specialty Vehicle Institute of America (SVIA) stated that the powersports industry is being severely harmed by the ban on most youth all-terrain vehicles and off-highway motorcycles. The ban is a result, unintended or otherwise from the CPSIA legislation and is a very serious concern because of the consequences.

Serious because:

With these ATVs unavailable to families, we may see more kids on adult ATVs. We know this leads to crashes. The CPSC, the ATV industry, consumer groups, safety advocates and parents all agree: It’s critical to keep riders under the age of 16 off of large ATVs designed for adults. The CPSC, consumer advocates and industry have worked for years to get kids onto youth model ATVs, many of which are now not available because of the unintended consequences of this legislation.

In addition, families with smaller dirt bike enthusiasts may be tempted to put young riders on motorcycles that are too large for them. This also raises the risk of injury.

It’s serious because:

The potential losses for the industry are massive – up to $1 billion in retail economic value annually. This at a time when our industry, along with thousands of big and small businesses, are struggling because of the economic downturn. Tens of thousands of small businesses across America have been severely hurt because these vehicles are sitting in warehouses and not on showroom floors. Meanwhile, the sales of goods like protective gear, accessories, and parts and services, are virtually non-existent.

Thanks to the efforts of Tom Self and the thousands of dealers in the industry, the media is starting to report on the obvious, that kids won’t eat or lick their ATVs and motorcycles.

While that is true, it is also important to note that the industry has submitted scientific evidence using the analytical method required by the legislation. This evidence proves that the lead-containing components, parts and accessories of these vehicles – essential for safety or functionality issues – pose no risk of causing measurable increase in blood lead levels in children aged 12 and younger.

Unfortunately the signals from CPSC are not good. CPSC Commissioners voted just last night on procedures for determining exclusions. Based on both Commissioners' interpretations of the law, we are not optimistic that the exclusion for youth model ATVs and dirt bikes will be granted.

Now the industry is caught in the middle of a fight between Congress and the CPSC. Congress gave the CPSC the power to grant merited, common-sense exclusions, such as ATVs and off-highway motorcycles, from the lead standards. We urge the CPSC to grant our requests for exclusions.

If CPSC believes its hands are tied because of the way the legislation was written, Congress needs to amend the law to restore common sense and make exclusions available for youth ATVs and dirt bikes.

These products present no health risk to children. There is no practical reason for our industry to be harmed by an unintended effect of this law. Each day this ban continues compounds the severe hardship on businesses and families, and works against the ATV safety efforts of CPSC, industry and consumer advocates. And it could well contribute to more crashes among young dirt bike riders.

Congress and the CPSC need to end this ban – NOW.

 

[SinCityFJC]

This may seem an odd section to post this but I as a youth on a ATV started learning about trail manners & treading lightly. Long before Tread Lightly existed my parents & my grandfather a past president of the Wildlife Federation taught me to be a steward for our lands. I'm concerned this may have many unforeseen consequences that could be years away.

This was my rational/thoughts of why I put it here.