[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 124 (Wednesday, June 29, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37330-37331]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-12782]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; National 
Voluntary Conformity Assessment System Evaluation (NVCASE) Program

ACTION: Notice.

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

[[Page 37331]]


DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before August 29, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet 
at [email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information 
should be directed to the attention of Jogindar S. Dhillon, National 
Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 
2150, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-2150, telephone: (301) 975-5521 or via e-
mail to [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

I. Abstract

    The National Voluntary Conformity Assessment System Evaluation 
(NVCASE) Program is a voluntary program to evaluate organizations that 
carry out activities related to laboratory testing, product 
certification, and quality system registration. Any interested 
organizations provide information to the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology (NIST) to support their conformance with 
established criteria for any of these activities. The information 
provided is used to conduct a 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 
facilitates the 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(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 10.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 3 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Respondent Burden Hours: 30.
    Estimated Total Annual Respondent Cost Burden: $1,050.

IV. Request 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 will have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
(including hours and cost) 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, e.g., the use of automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized or 
included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: June 23, 2005.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 05-12782 Filed 6-28-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-P