ATV/Motorcycle Industry Response to CPSC Chairman Nancy Nord Statement on Lead Standard Exclusion Petition.

WASHINGTON -- The Coalition for Safe and Responsible ATV Use, the Motorcycle Industry Council, Inc. and the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America is disappointed that Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Acting Chairman Nancy Nord announced today that she intended to vote against the petition that our industry submitted for an exclusion for all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) motorcycles and snowmobiles from the lead content limits found in the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). We believe that the petition submitted to the agency was based on sound science and showed that there is no measurable risk to children resulting from lead exposure from these products.

Regarding a proposed stay of enforcement, we need to review the actual text of such a stay before we can comment. In addition, it is important to note that CPSC Commissioner Thomas Moore has not yet commented on the petition, nor do we know the position of the state attorneys general on this matter. We agree with Chairman Nord that "all stakeholders--industry, users, Congress, and the Commission--need to come together to fix the statutory problems that have become so apparent, in a common sense approach that does not unnecessarily burden those regulated, yet provides safety for American families."

We are also in agreement with Chairman's Nord's comment that "the lead content mandates of the CPSIA to the productsOmay have the perverse effect of actually endangering children by forcing youth-sized vehicles off the market and resulting in children riding the far more dangerous adult-sized ATV's." 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.

It is now obvious that the only permanent solution to this problem is that Congress needs to fix the CPSIA and put the safety of our children first. Congress needs to end the ban as soon as possible so parents once again have access to appropriate-sized youth model ATVs, motorcycles and snowmobiles for their children.

The Coalition for Safe and Responsible ATV Use is comprised of American Honda Motor Co., America Suzuki Motor Corporation, Arctic Cat Inc., Bombardier Recreational Products, Inc., Kawasaki Motor Corp., U.S.A., Polaris Industries, Inc. and Yamaha Motor Corporation.

The Motorcycle Industry Council is a not-for-profit, national trade association representing manufacturers and distributors of motorcycles, scooters, motorcycle/ATV/ROV parts and accessories, and members of allied trades such as publishing companies, advertising agencies, insurance firms and consultants.

The MIC is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., with a government relations office adjacent to Washington, D.C. First called the MIC in 1970, the organization has been in operation since 1914.

Since 1983, the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America[R] has promoted the safe and responsible use of All-Terrain Vehicles through rider training programs, public awareness campaigns, and state legislation. The SVIA also serves as a resource for ATV research, statistics, and vehicle standards. The SVIA, based in Irvine, Calif., is a not-for-profit trade association sponsored by Arctic Cat, BRP, Honda, Kawasaki, KTM, KYMCO, Polaris, Suzuki, Tomberlin, Tomoto and Yamaha. For membership information, call [phone]. For safety information or to enroll in the ATV RiderCourse(SM) nearest you, visit www.atvsafety.org and click on "Online Enrollment" or call [phone].