[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 203 (Thursday, October 21, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 61866]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-23531]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Antitrust Division


Notice Pursuant to the National Cooperative Research and 
Production Act of 1993--ASTM International--Cement and Concrete 
Reference Laboratory

    Notice is hereby given that, on September 14, 2004, pursuant to 
section 6(a) of the National Cooperative Research and Production Act of 
1993, 15 U.S.C. 4301 et seq. (``the Act''), ASTM International--The 
Cement and Concrete Reference Laboratory (``CCRL'') has filed written 
notifications simultaneously with the Attorney General and the Federal 
Trade Commission disclosing (1) the name and principal place of 
business of the standards development organization and (2) the nature 
and scope of its standards development activities. The notifications 
were filed for the purpose of invoking the Act's provisions limiting 
the recovery of antitrust plaintiffs to actual damages under specified 
circumstances.
    Pursuant to section 6(b) of the Act, the name and principal place 
of business of the standards development organization is: ASTM 
International--The Cement and Concrete Reference Laboratory, 
Gaithersburg, MD. The nature and scope of CCRL's standards development 
activities are: CCRL provides conformity assessment activities. CCRL is 
a National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Research 
Associate Program sponsored by ASTM International. ASTM Committees C-1 
on Cement and C-9 on Concrete and Concrete Aggregates provide 
programmatic oversight to CCRL. CCRL operates two programs that promote 
the quality of testing in construction materials laboratories. These 
are the (1) Laboratory Inspection and (2) Proficiency Sample programs 
which provide laboratories with a mechanism for determining the quality 
of their testing of hydraulic cement, Portland cement concrete and 
aggregates, steel reinforcing bars, pozzolans and masonry materials 
using ASTM International standards.
    The Laboratory Inspection Program provides a laboratory with a 
comprehensive account of how its procedures, practices, equipment and 
facilities compare with ASTM standards requirements. The CCRL 
laboratory inspector checks critical equipment dimensions and operating 
characteristics; watches a technician demonstrate test procedures; and 
reviews the quality system when covered by appropriate ASTM standards.
    The Proficiency Sample Programs are a means for a laboratory to 
monitor the quality of its testing between CCRL on-site assessments. 
The test procedures to be performed are taken from current ASTM 
specifications. The specified tests are performed and the results 
reported to the CCRL for review and evaluation.
    For additional information, please contact Thomas B. O'Brien, Jr., 
General Counsel, ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West 
Conshohocken, PA 10428-2959, telephone no. (610) 832-9597, e-mail 
address [email protected].

Dorothy B. Fountain,
Deputy Director of Operations, Antitrust Division.
[FR Doc. 04-23531 Filed 10-20-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-11-M