[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 52 (Friday, March 16, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 15719]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-6373]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Public Workshop to Seek Comment on Federal Conformity Assessment
Guidance
AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST),
Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of Public Workshop.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Commerce's (DOC) National Institute of
Standards and Technology (NIST) will hold a free public workshop titled
``Conformity Assessment--Approaches and Best Practices'' on Wednesday,
April 11, 2012 at 9 a.m. Eastern Time (ET) at NIST in Gaithersburg,
Maryland. The purpose of the NIST public workshop is (1) to examine
current approaches to conformity assessment among Federal agencies and
the private sector and (2) to provide a forum for discussion with NIST
on conformity assessment practices, challenges and the means by which
these challenges are being addressed.
ADDRESSES: NIST, Building 101, Green Auditorium, 100 Bureau Drive in
Gaithersburg, MD 20899.
DATES: Wednesday, April 11, 2012; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET. Please see
registration information and deadlines in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
section below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gordon Gillerman, NIST Standards
Coordination Office (SCO), Standards Services Division (SSD), 100
Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD; Email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 12(b) of the National Technology
Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA--Pub. L. 104-113) requires NIST to
coordinate Federal, State, and local standards activities and
conformity assessment activities with the private sector, with the goal
of eliminating unnecessary duplication and complexity. OMB A119, which
provides additional policy guidance on implementation of the NTTAA,
directed the Secretary of Commerce to issue guidance to Federal
agencies on conformity assessment related issues. In response, NIST
published regulations entitled ``Guidance on Federal Conformity
Assessment Activities'' in August 2000 (15 CFR part 287). The
regulations outline Federal agencies' responsibility for evaluating the
efficiency and effectiveness of their conformity assessment activities
and are intended to help Federal agencies improve the management and
coordination of their own conformity assessment activities in support
of their regulatory, procurement and other mission objectives.
Discussions at the workshop will inform NIST conformity assessment
guidance to Federal agencies. The conference will include presentations
from key government officials, regulators, and industry and conformity
assessment experts. Time will be allotted for participant input and
discussions.
Registration Information: U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents
wishing to attend the meeting must register by 5 p.m. ET April 3, 2012.
Non-U.S. Citizens that do not hold a green card must register by 5 p.m.
ET March 27, 2012. There will be no onsite registration. To register,
please go to the NIST Conference Services registration link: https://www-s.nist.gov/CRS/conf_disclosure.cfm?&conf_id=5282.
There is no registration fee.
Dated: March 8, 2012.
Kevin Kimball,
Chief of Staff.
[FR Doc. 2012-6373 Filed 3-15-12; 8:45 am]
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