[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 188 (Thursday, September 26, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 50582]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-24106]



  Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 188 / Thursday, September 26, 1996 / 
Notices  

[[Page 50582]]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology
[Docket No: 960726209-6209-01]


Accreditation Body Evaluation Program and NIST Fastener 
Laboratory Accreditation Program

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: As required by section 6 of the Fastener Quality Act (FQA) 
(Pub.L. 101-592, as amended by Public Law 104-113, the National 
Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has established the 
following two programs: The Accreditation Body Evaluation Program 
(ABEP) to evaluate and approve/recognize qualified entities to accredit 
laboratories that perform testing of fastener products or materials, 
implemented in subparts D, E, and F of Part 280 of title 15 of the Code 
of Federal Regulations; and the Fastener Laboratory Accreditation 
Program under the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program 
(NVLAP) to accredit laboratories that perform inspection and testing of 
fastener products or materials, implemented in subpart C of Title 15, 
Part 280 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations. This notice invites 
interested entities to submit applications for accreditation to the 
ABEP, and also invites interested laboratories to submit applications 
for accreditation to the Fastener Laboratory Accreditation Program.

DATES: Applications for the program are available from NIST. NIST will 
begin processing the applications after the effective date of the 
regulations. Completed applications returned to NIST will be scheduled 
for accreditation or assessment visits on a first come first served 
basis.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For the ABEP: Robert L. Gladhill, 
Program Manager ABEP, NIST, Building 820, Room 282, Gaithersburg, MD 
20899; telephone 301-975-4273, telefax 301-963-2871 or E-mail 
[email protected].
    For the Fastener Laboratory Accreditation Program: David F. 
Alderman, Deputy Chief NVLAP, NIST, Building 820, Room 282, 
Gaithersburg, MD 20899; telephone 301-975-4016, telefax 301-926-2884, 
E-mail [email protected] OR by writing to: Chief, NVLAP, 
Building 820, Room 282, Gaithersburg, MD 20899.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Any laboratory accreditation entity or 
testing laboratory which considers that it can demonstrate conformance 
to the criteria published in the relevant subpart of Part 280 of Title 
15 of the Code of Federal Regulations may apply for approval/
recognition or accreditation, respectively. The requirements of the 
programs, application materials, instructions and fee schedules may be 
obtained from the addresses listed above. These programs are required 
to be operated on a cost-reimbursable basis. All costs incurred in the 
evaluation of applicant accreditation entities and testing laboratories 
must be paid by the applicant prior to the granting of approval/
recognition/accreditation.
    To allow time for an adequate number of laboratories to obtain 
accreditation, the FQA regulations will not be applicable to fasteners 
for 180 days after the effective date of publication of the 
regulations. If NIST determines that the number of laboratories is 
insufficient, this period may be extended.

    Dated: September 16, 1996.
Samuel Kramer,
Associate Director.
[FR Doc. 96-24106 Filed 9-25-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-P