[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 10 (Tuesday, January 17, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2524-2525]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-414]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology


National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program Workshop for 
Laboratories Interested in Testing Radiation Detection Instruments for 
Homeland Security Applications

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program 
(NVLAP) will hold a public workshop on Thursday, January 26, 2006, at 
the Doubletree Paradise Valley Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona. The 
purpose of the workshop is to exchange information among NVLAP, 
laboratories interested in testing radiation detection instruments for 
Department of Homeland Security applications, and other interested 
parties. The results of the workshop will be used in the development of 
the Radiation Detection Instruments Laboratory Accreditation Program. 
There is no charge for the workshop.

DATES: The workshop is scheduled for Thursday, January 26, 2006.

ADDRESSES: National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program, 100 
Bureau Drive/MS 2140, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-2140.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Betty Ann Torres, Senior Program 
Manager, NVLAP, 100 Bureau Drive/MS2140, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-2140, 
Phone: (301) 975-8446 or e-mail: [email protected]; Charlie 
Brannon, Physics Laboratory, Phone: (301) 975-3855 or e-mail: 
[email protected].
    Information regarding NVLAP and the accreditation process can be 
viewed at http://www.nist.gov/nvlap.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has 
requested that a laboratory accreditation program be established for 
laboratories that test radiation detection instruments used in homeland 
security applications. The National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation 
Program (NVLAP) is establishing an accreditation program to meet DHS 
requirements.
    NVLAP accreditation criteria are established in accordance with the 
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR, title 15, Part 285), NVLAP Procedures 
and General Requirements. Laboratories conducting this testing will be 
required to meet ISO/IEC International Standard 17025, General 
Requirements for the Competence of Testing and Calibration 
Laboratories; the requirements of the ANSI/IEEE N42 series of standards 
and their corresponding Test and Evaluation Protocols; and any other 
criteria deemed necessary by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
    For each new laboratory accreditation program (LAP), NVLAP works 
with the affected testing community to develop program-specific 
technical requirements. These requirements tailor the general 
accreditation criteria referenced in Sections 4 and 5 of NIST Handbook 
150 to the tests and services in the new LAP. Program-specific 
requirements include the details of the Scope of Accreditation, test 
and measurement equipment, personnel requirements, validation of test 
methods, and reporting test results.


[[Page 2525]]


    Dated: January 11, 2006.
Hratch G. Semerjian,
Deputy Director.
 [FR Doc. E6-414 Filed 1-13-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-33-P