[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 205 (Tuesday, October 23, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53586-53587]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-26697]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology


National Voluntary Conformity Assessment Systems Evaluation

ACTION: Request for comment on proposed information collection.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted by December 24, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Madeleine Clayton, 
Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 
6086, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Jogindar S. Dhillon, National Institute of 
Standards and Technology (NIST), 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 2100, 
Gaithersburg, MD 20899-2100, telephone: (301) 975-5521.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The National Voluntary Conformity Assessment Systems Evaluation 
(NVCASE) Program is a voluntary program to evaluate organizations that 
carry out activities related to laboratory testing, product 
certification, and quality system registration. Interested 
organizations provide information to NIST to support their conformance 
with established criteria for any of these activities. The information 
provided is used to conduct an NVCASE evaluation. Based on NVCASE 
evaluations, NIST provides recognition to qualified U.S. organizations. 
The ultimate goal is to help U.S. manufacturers satisfy applicable 
product requirements mandated by other countries through conformity 
assessment procedures conducted in this country prior to export.
    NVCASE recognition (1) provides other governments with a basis for 
having confidence that qualifying U.S. conformity assessment bodies 
(CABs) are competent, and (2) facilitates the acceptance of U.S. 
products in foreign regulated markets based on U.S. conformity 
assessment results.
    The NVCASE recognition program facilitates U.S. trade with Europe, 
Asia and the Americas under government-to-government agreements, and 
allows the unhindered flow of U.S. products to countries in those 
regions.

II. Method of Collection

    Applicants submit written information to NIST.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0693-0019.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission for an extension of a currently 
approved collection.
    Affected Public: Accreditation Bodies.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 100.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 1 hour.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 100.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: The estimate of the total annual cost 
to submit this information for fiscal year 2001 and future years is 
$3500. The cost is borne by the entities submitting the information. 
The small increase in cost from the previous estimate is due to cost 
escalation and experience in working with these organizations.

IV. Requests for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
(including hours and costs) of the proposed collection of information; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB

[[Page 53587]]

approval of this information collection; they will also become a matter 
of public record.

    Dated: October 16, 2001.
Karen H. Brown,
Acting Director.
[FR Doc. 01-26697 Filed 10-22-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-M