2018-10163. National Construction Safety Team Advisory Committee Meeting

AGENCY:

National Institute of Standards and Technology, Department of Commerce.

ACTION:

Notice of open meeting.

SUMMARY:

The National Construction Safety Team (NCST) Advisory Committee (Committee) will hold a meeting via webinar on Wednesday, May 16, 2018 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The primary purpose of this meeting is to update the Committee on the progress of the NCST investigation of Hurricane Maria's effects on the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico. The goals of the investigation will be to characterize: (1) The wind environment and technical conditions associated with deaths and injuries; (2) the performance of representative critical buildings, and designated safe areas in those buildings, including their dependence on lifelines; and (3) the performance of emergency communications systems and the public's response to such communications. The agenda may change to accommodate Committee business. The final agenda will be posted on the NIST website at https://www.nist.gov/​topics/​disaster-failure-studies/​national-construction-safety-team-ncst/​advisory-committee.

DATES:

The NCST Advisory Committee will meet on Wednesday, May 16, 2018 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

ADDRESSES:

The meeting will be held via webinar. For instructions on how to participate in the meeting, please see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Benjamin Davis, Management and Program Analyst, Community Resilience Program, Engineering Laboratory, NIST, 100 Bureau Drive, Mail Stop 8615, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-8604. Mr. Davis' email address is [e-mail]; and his phone number is [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Committee was established pursuant to Section 11 of the NCST Act (Pub. L. 107-231, codified at 15 U.S.C. 7301 et seq.). The Committee is currently composed of six members, appointed by the Director of NIST, who were selected on the basis of established records of distinguished service in their professional community and their knowledge of issues affecting the National Construction Safety Teams. The Committee advises the Director of NIST on carrying out the NCST Act; reviews the procedures developed for conducting investigations; and reviews the reports issued documenting investigations. Background information on the NCST Act and information on the NCST Advisory Committee is available at https://www.nist.gov/​topics/​disaster-failure-studies/​national-construction-safety-team-ncst/​advisory-committee.

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended, 5 U.S.C. App., notice is hereby given that the NCST Advisory Committee will meet on Wednesday, May 16, 2018 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The meeting will be open to the public. The meeting will be held via webinar. The primary purpose of this meeting is to update the Committee on the progress of the NCST investigation of Hurricane Maria's effects on the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico. The goals of the investigation will be to characterize: (1) The wind environment and technical conditions associated with deaths and injuries; (2) the performance of representative critical buildings, and designated safe areas in those buildings, including their dependence on lifelines; and (3) the performance of emergency communications systems and the public's response to such communications. The agenda may change to accommodate Committee business. The final agenda will be posted on the NIST website at https://www.nist.gov/​topics/​disaster-failure-studies/​national-construction-safety-team-ncst/​advisory-committee-meetings.

Individuals and representatives of organizations who would like to offer comments and suggestions related to items on the Committee's agenda for this meeting are invited to request a place on the agenda. Approximately 15 minutes will be reserved near the conclusion of the meeting for public comments, and speaking times will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. The amount of time per speaker will be determined by the number of requests received, but is likely to be three minutes each. Questions from the public will not be considered during this period. All those wishing to speak must submit their request by email to the attention of Mr. Benjamin Davis, [e-mail], by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Friday, May 11, 2018. Speakers who wish to expand upon their oral statements, those who had wished to speak but could not be accommodated on the agenda, and those who were unable to attend are invited to submit written statements to the NCST, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, MS 8604, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-8604, or electronically by email to [e-mail].

To participate in the meeting, please submit your first and last name, email address, and phone number to Benjamin Davis at [e-mail] or [phone]. After pre-registering, participants will be provided with detailed instructions on how to join the meeting remotely. Anyone wishing to attend this meeting must register by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Friday, May 11, 2018, to attend. Please submit your full name, email address, and phone number to Benjamin Davis at [e-mail]; his phone number is [phone].

Kevin A. Kimball,

Chief of Staff.