[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 138 (Tuesday, July 19, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 42683]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-18114]


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 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology

[Docket No.: 110701366-1365-01]


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), 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 
study the effects of the tornado that touched down in Joplin, MO, on 
May 22, 2011.

DATES: The National Construction Safety Team was established on June 
29, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Tina Faecke, Engineering Laboratory, National Institute of 
Standards and Technology, Mail Stop 8604, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8604, 
telephone number (301) 975-5911. 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: Eric Letvin, Director, Disaster 
Failure and Studies Program, Engineering Laboratory, National Institute 
of Standards and Technology, Mail Stop 8611, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-
8611, telephone number (301) 975-5412.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

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

Background

    The National Construction Safety Team Act (Act), 15 U.S.C. 7301 et 
seq., authorizes the Director of the National Institute of Standards 
and Technology (NIST) to establish 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 (4) 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. NIST has promulgated regulations implementing the 
Act, which are found at 15 CFR Part 270.
    NIST sent a preliminary reconnaissance team to collect information 
and data related to the tornado that touched down in Joplin, MO, on May 
22, 2011. Based on the recommendations of the preliminary 
reconnaissance team and evaluation of the criteria listed in the 
regulations implementing the Act, specifically in 15 CFR 270.102, on 
June 29, 2011, the Director of the NIST, United States Department of 
Commerce, established a Team to study the effects of the tornado that 
touched down in Joplin, MO, on May 22. The NIST Director will appoint 
the members of the Team. 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.
    Members of the public are encouraged to submit to the Team non-
privileged data and artifacts that are relevant to the subject matter 
of the NIST investigation described in this notice. Such data and 
artifacts 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: July 12, 2011.
Charles H. Romine,
Acting Associate Director for Laboratory Programs.
[FR Doc. 2011-18114 Filed 7-18-11; 8:45 am]
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