[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 46 (Monday, March 10, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11382-11383]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-5600]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology

[Docket No.: 021224331-3049-02]
RIN 0693-AB52


Establishment of a Team Under the National Construction Safety 
Team Act

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, United States 
Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Director of the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology (NIST), Technology Administration, United States Department 
of Commerce, announces the establishment of a National Construction 
Safety Team pursuant to the National Construction Safety Team Act. The 
Team was established to investigate the building failure at The Station 
nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island.

DATES: The Team was established on February 27, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Dr. James E. Hill, Deputy Director, Building and Fire 
Research Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 
Mail Stop 8600, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8600, telephone number (301) 
975-5900. Members of the public are encouraged to submit to the Team 
non-privileged evidence that is relevant to the subject matter of the 
NIST investigation described in this notice. Such evidence may be 
submitted to the address contained in this section. Confidential 
information will only be accepted pursuant to an appropriate 
nondisclosure agreement.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. James E. Hill, Deputy Director, 
Building and Fire Research Laboratory, National Institute of Standards 
and Technology, Mail Stop 8600, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8600, telephone 
number (301) 975-5900.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 7301 et seq., 15 CFR part 270.

Background

    The National Construction Safety Team Act (``Act''), Pub. L. 107-
231, codified at 15 U.S.C. 7301 et seq., was enacted to provide for the 
establishment of investigative teams (``Teams'') to assess building 
performance and emergency response and evacuation procedures in the 
wake of any building failure that has resulted in substantial loss of 
life or that posed significant potential of substantial loss of life. 
The purpose of investigations by Teams is to improve the safety and 
structural integrity of buildings in the United States. As stated in 
the statute, a Team will (1) Establish the likely technical cause or 
causes of the building failure; (2) evaluate the technical aspects of 
evacuation and emergency response procedures; (3) recommend, as 
necessary, specific improvements to building standards, codes, and 
practices based on the findings made pursuant to (1) and (2); and 
recommend any research and other appropriate actions needed to improve 
the structural safety of buildings, and improve evacuation and 
emergency response procedures, based on the findings of the 
investigation.

[[Page 11383]]

    Pursuant to the Act, on February 27, 2003, the Director of the 
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Technology 
Administration, United States Department of Commerce, established a 
Team to investigate the building failure at The Station nightclub in 
Warwick, Rhode Island. The Team may include members who are Federal 
employees and members who are not Federal employees. Team members who 
are Federal employees are governed by the Federal conflict of interest 
laws. Team members who are not Federal employees will be Federal 
government contractors, and conflicts of interest related to their 
service on the Team will be governed by FAR Subpart 9.5, Organizational 
and Consultant Conflicts of Interest, which will be incorporated by 
reference into all such contracts.
    On January 30, 2003, NIST published an interim final rule with a 
request for public comments, establishing 15 CFR part 270, National 
Construction Safety Teams. The interim final rule contains general 
provisions regarding implementation of the Act and establishes 
procedures for the collection and preservation of evidence obtained and 
the protection of information created as part of investigations 
conducted pursuant to the Act, including guiding the disclosure of 
information under section 7 of the Act (Sec. Sec.  270.350, 270.351, 
and 270.352) and guiding the Teams in moving and preserving evidence 
(Sec.  270.330). The interim final rule became effective upon 
publication. The procedures contained in the interim final rule apply 
to the investigation announced in this notice.
    Members of the public are encouraged to submit to the Team non-
privileged evidence that is relevant to the subject matter of the NIST 
investigation described in this notice. Such evidence may be submitted 
to the address contained in the ADDRESSES section of this notice. 
Confidential information will only be accepted pursuant to an 
appropriate nondisclosure agreement.

    Dated: March 4, 2003.
Arden L. Bement, Jr.,
Director.
[FR Doc. 03-5600 Filed 3-7-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-P