[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 70 (Tuesday, April 12, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-8689]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: April 12, 1994]


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COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS
[Docket No.: 940365-4065]

 

Termination of Selected National Voluntary Laboratory 
Accreditation Program (NVLAP) Services

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice to terminate specific programs within the National 
Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP).

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SUMMARY: Under the NVLAP Procedures (15 CFR part 7), the Director of 
NIST may terminate a field of testing or a LAP when the Director NIST 
determines that a need no longer exists to accredit laboratories for 
the services covered under the scope of a LAP.
    The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) requests 
comments on proposed termination of selected fields of testing in the 
Computer/Electronics and Product Testing Laboratory Accreditation 
Programs offered by NVLAP, and announces a 60 day comment period for 
that purpose. The fields of testing proposed for termination are High 
Level Protocols, DDN X.25/Blacker Host, Plastics, Seals and Sealants, 
and Solid Fuel Room Heaters.
    A review of all NVLAP programs revealed that these particular 
fields of testing had very small and/or declining laboratory 
enrollments which makes their continuance impractical. NVLAP operates 
solely on a fee reimbursable basis and it was determined that fees from 
laboratories in these fields of testing could not support the costs 
required to maintain the programs.
    After a comment period, the Director of NIST shall determine if 
public support exists for the continuation of the fields of testing. If 
public comments support the continuation of the fields of testing, the 
Director of NIST shall publish a Federal Register Notice announcing 
their continuation. If public support does not exist for continuation, 
the fields of testing will be terminated effective 90 days after the 
date of this notice of intent to terminate the fields of testing.
    Persons interested in commenting on the proposed terminations 
should submit their comments in writing to the address below. All 
comments received in response to this notice will become part of the 
public record and will be available for inspection and copying at the 
NIST Records Inspection Facility.

DATES: Comments on the proposed terminations must be received no later 
than June 13, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the proposed terminations must be submitted to: 
Albert D. Tholen, Chief, National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation 
Program, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Building 411, 
room A162, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, telephone number (301) 975-4016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Albert D. Tholen, Chief, National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation 
Program, (301) 975-4016.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The National Institute of Standards and Technology administers the 
National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program under regulations 
as found in part 7 of title 15 of the Code of Federal Regulations. 
NVLAP provides an unbiased third party evaluation and recognition of 
laboratory performance, as well as expert technical assistance to 
upgrade that performance by accrediting calibration and testing 
laboratories found competent to perform specific tests or calibrations.
    NVLAP accreditation is available to commercial laboratories, 
manufacturer's in-house laboratories, and federal, state and local 
government laboratories. Foreign-based laboratories may also be 
accredited if they meet the same requirements as domestic laboratories.
    NVLAP is comprised of a series of Laboratory Accreditation Programs 
(LAPS) which are established on the basis of requests and demonstrated 
need. Each LAP includes specific test and/or calibration standards and 
related methods and protocols assembled to satisfy the unique needs for 
accreditation in a field of testing, field of calibration, product of 
service.

    Dated: April 4, 1994.
Samuel Kramer,
Associate Director.
[FR Doc. 94-8689 Filed 4-11-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-M