[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 127 (Wednesday, July 7, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35750-35751]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-14392]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology


Establishment of a Team Under the National Construction Safety 
Team Act

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, 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 collapse of the Champlain Towers South Condominium in 
Surfside, FL that occurred on June 24, 2021.

DATES: The National Construction Safety Team was established on June 
30, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Dr. Joannie Chin, Engineering Laboratory, National Institute 
of Standards and Technology, Mail Stop 8600, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-
8600, telephone number (301) 975-6815. 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. Joannie Chin, Engineering 
Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Mail Stop 
8600, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8600, telephone number (301) 975-6815.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background: The National Construction Safety 
Team Act (``Act''), Public Law 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 shall (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. In addition, NIST has 
promulgated regulations implementing the Act. The regulations are found 
at 15 CFR part 270.
    NIST sent a preliminary reconnaissance team to collect information 
and data related to the collapse of the Champlain Towers South 
Condominium in Surfside, FL that occurred on June 24, 2021. 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 30, 2021, the Director of 
the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), United 
States Department of Commerce, established a Team to study the collapse 
of the Champlain Towers South Condominium in Surfside, FL. 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.

[[Page 35751]]

    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.

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

Alicia Chambers,
NIST Executive Secretariat.
[FR Doc. 2021-14392 Filed 7-6-21; 8:45 am]
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