[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 212 (Wednesday, November 3, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 59616-59617]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-28665]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Institute of Standards and Technology
15 CFR Part 285
[Docket No. 990927264.9264.01]
National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program; Amendment of
Regulations
AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST),
Commerce.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: On February 20, 1996, the Director of NIST delegated certain
designated authorities under the National Voluntary Laboratory
Accreditation Program (NVLAP) regulations to the Chief of the
Laboratory Accreditation Program at NIST. This document amends the
NVLAP regulations to reflect the delegation of authority. The
amendments will only affect Agency organization, procedure and
practice.
EFFECTIVE DATE: November 3, 1999.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chief, Laboratory Accreditation
Program, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau
Drive, Stop 2140, Gaithersburg, MD, 20899-2140; or, by e-mail at
nvlap@nist.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Title 15 Part 285 of the Code of Federal Regulations sets out
procedures and general requirements under which the National Voluntary
Laboratory
[[Page 59617]]
Accreditation Program (NVLAP) operates as an unbiased third party to
accredit both calibration laboratories and testing laboratories. NVLAP
accredits laboratories in response to (a) mandates by the Federal
Government; (b) requests from a government agency; and (c) requests
from a private sector organization.
The NVLAP procedures were first published in the Federal Register
on February 25, 1976, and have been revised several times since then.
Certain authorities under the NVLAP regulations were given to the
Director of NIST. In accordance with 15 CFR subpart A, section 285.5,
the Director of NIST delegated these authorities to the Chief of the
National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program on February 20,
1996, in a memorandum to the Director of the Office of Standards
Services. The delegation of authority was not extended to the
conclusion of any agreements with the governments of other countries
referenced in Section 285.11(f) of Title 15 of the Code of Federal
Regulations.
Purpose
The purpose of this rule is to amend Part 285 of Title 15 of the
CFR so that it conforms to the current delegation of authority.
Rulemaking Requirements
Under Title 5 United States Code Section 553, this rule is not
subject to the notice and comment requirements of the Administrative
Procedure Act. This rule only relates to Agency organization,
management or personnel (5 USC 553 (a)(2)).
PRA Clearance. This rule does not contain a collection of
information for purposes of the Paperwork Reduction Act.
Executive Order 12866: This rule is exempt under Section 3(d)(3) of
E.O. 12866.
Regulatory Flexibility Act. This action is exempt from the
analytical requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act because
notice and comment are not required for this action by Section 553 of
the Administrative Procedure Act or any other law.
List of Subjects in 15 CFR Part 285
Business and industry, Commerce, Laboratories, Measurement
standards.
Dated: October 26, 1999.
Karen H. Brown,
Deputy Director.
For the reasons set forth in the preamble, Title 15 of the Code of
Federal Regulations (CFR), part 285 is amended as follows:
PART 285--NATIONAL VOLUNTARY LABORATORY ACCREDITATION PROGRAM
1. The authority citation for 15 CFR part 285 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 15 U.S.C. 272 et seq.
Sec. 285.3 [Amended]
2. In Sec. 285.3(c) remove the phrase, ``Director of the National
Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)'' and add, in its place,
the phrase ``Chief of NVLAP.''
Sec. 285.11 [Amended]
3. In Sec. 285.11 (a) and (d) introductory text, remove the phrase,
``Director of NIST'' and add, in its place, the phrase ``Chief of
NVLAP.''
4. In Sec. 285.11(e) introductory text, remove the phrase,
``Director'' and add, in its place, the phrase ``Chief of NVLAP.''
Sec. 285.12 [Amended]
5. In Sec. 285.12(a) introductory text, (b) introductory text
(twice), (c), (d), and (e), remove the phrase, ``Director of NIST'' and
add, in its place, the phrase ``Chief of NVLAP.''
Sec. 285.13 [Amended]
6. In 285.13 (a) and (d), remove the phrase, ``Director of NIST''
and add, in its place, the phrase ``Chief of NVLAP.''
Sec. 285.14 [Amended]
7. In Sec. 285.14(a) introductory text and (d), remove the phrase,
``Director of NIST'' and add, in its place, the phrase ``Chief of
NVLAP.''
Sec. 285.19 [Amended]
8. In Sec. 285.19(a) (twice) and (c) (twice), remove the phrase,
``Director of NIST'' and add, in its place, the phrase ``Chief of
NLAP.''
[FR Doc. 99-28665 Filed 11-2-99; 8:45 am]
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