[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: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4d0b2829283f2c21120e0c0d23243e39632a223b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f3b596979681929facb0b2b39d9a8087dd949c85">[email protected]</span></a>.

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]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-P


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