Small Business Ombudsman U.S. CPSC Washington, D.C. 20207 Tele. (888) 531-9070 Fax: (301) 504-0121 E-mail: tmurr@cpsc.gov
Acts as a liaison to answer inquiries concerning information on, and
advice about, compliance with the statutes and regulations under the
jurisdiction of the CPSC, and provides technical assistance to small businesses
attempting to resolve problems being handled by the Office of Compliance and
Office of Hazard Identification and Reduction;
Provides guidance on interpreting and applying CPSC's statutes and
regulations;
Regularly consults with the Office of Compliance and the Office of the
General Counsel regarding compliance or enforcement actions being taken or under
consideration by the Commission having a significant impact on small businesses,
including preliminary determinations, product recalls, corrective actions,
actions taken under Section 15 of the Consumer Product Safety Act, actions taken
on regulated products and civil and criminal enforcement actions;
Regularly consults with the Office of Hazard Identification and Reduction
and the Office of the General Counsel regarding any standards activities having
a significant impact on small businesses, including the development of domestic
or international voluntary standards and the development of mandatory standards;
Performs a semi-annual review of CPSC's regulatory agenda for actions
likely to have a significant impact on small business;
Maintains an ongoing liaison with appropriate officials at the Small
Business Administration, including the SBA Small Business Ombudsman;
Maintains an ongoing dialogue with national trade associations that
represent small businesses;
Represents CPSC at small business-related meetings and functions that bear
on consumer product safety;
Maintains a Small Business component to CPSC's existing "Hotline" --
800 638- 2772 -- to provide small businesses with "one stop
shopping" for "plain language" technical assistance and
information regarding CPSC programs and regulations, or put callers directly in
touch with the Ombudsman;
Maintains and distributes to small businesses, information about CPSC
programs and policies.
