Occupational Safety and Health Administration

[Docket No. NRTL-2-91]

GTE TestMark Laboratories

AGENCY: Occuaptional Safety and Health Administration, Department of Labor.

ACTION: Additional comments on the GTE TestMark Laboratories' application for recognition as a nationally recognized testing laboratory; request for 30-day extension.

SUMMARY: This notice allows an additional 30-day extension in the reopening of the record for comments concerning whether GTE TestMark Laboratories can meet the independence requirement for recognition as a nationally recognized testing laboratory (NRTL) under 29 CFR 1910.7.

DATES: This extension allows additional comments to be submitted by no later than November 12, 1993.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to: NRTL Recognition Program, Office of Variance Determination, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, Third Street and Constitution Avenue NW., Room N3653, Washington, DC 20210.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Henry Woodcock, Acting Director, Office of Variance Determination, NRTL Recognition Program, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, Third Street and Constitution Avenue NW., room N3653, Washington, DC 20210.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

A Notice of Application for the recognition of GTE TestMark Laboratories (TML) for recognition as a nationally recognized testing laboratory (NRTL) and Preliminary Finding was published in the Federal Register, July 8, 1992 (57 FR 30235). The American Council of Independent Laboratories, Inc. (ACIL), raised several issues concerning the independence of GTE TestMark and opposed the Laboratory's application for recognition (Exhibit 4-1). OSHA's request for additional comments on the independence issue prior to determining GTE TestMark Laboratories' eligibility for recognition as an NRTL was published in the Federal Register, July 13, 1993 (58 FR 37750).

In its response dated August 12, 1993, (Ex. 6-1), the ACIL requested additional time to more completely respond to OSHA's request for comments.

OSHA agrees that the ACIL's request had merit and is, therefore, extending the comment period.

Copies of the TML application, the laboratory survey report, and all comments submitted in response to OSHA's request for additional comments on the independence issue published in the Federal Register, July 13, 1993 (58 FR 37750), and a copy of the Federal Register, July 13, 1993 (58 FR 37750), (Docket No. NRTL-2-91), are available for inspection and duplication at the Docket Office, Room N 2634, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, at the above address.

Authority And Signature

This document was prepared under the direction of David C. Zeigler, Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210. It is issued pursuant to section 6(b) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 655).

Signed at Washington, DC this 5th day of October 1993.

David C. Zeigler,

Acting Assistant Secretary.

[FR Doc. 93-24878 Filed 10-8-93; 8:45 am]