[Federal Register: January 8, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 5)]
[Notices]               
[Page 1127]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr08ja98-79]

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration
[Docket No. NRTL-3-92]

 
TUV Rheinland of North America, Inc., Request for Expansion of 
Recognition

AGENCY: Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Notice of request for expansion of recognition as a Nationally 
Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL), and preliminary finding.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the application of TUV Rheinland of 
North America, Inc. for expansion of its recognition as a NRTL under 29 
CFR 1910.7, for programs and procedures, and presents the Agency's 
preliminary finding.

DATES: The last date for interested parties to submit comments is March 
9, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Send comments concerning this notice to: NRTL Program, 
Office of Technical Programs and Coordination Activities, Occupational 
Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 
Constitution Avenue, N.W., Room N3653 Washington, D.C. 20210.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bernard Pasquet, NRTL Recognition 
Program at the above address, or phone (202) 219-7056.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Notice of Application

    Notice is hereby given that TUV Rheinland of North America, Inc. 
(TUV) has made application pursuant to 29 CFR 1910.7, for expansion of 
its recognition as a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory for the 
programs and procedures listed below. TUV previously made application 
pursuant to 29 CFR 1910.7, for recognition as a Nationally Recognized 
Testing Laboratory (58 FR 61101, 11/19/93), and was so recognized (60 
FR 42594, 8/16/95).
    The address of the TUV laboratory covered by this application is: 
TUV Rheinland of North America, Inc., 12 Commerce Road, Newton, 
Connecticut 06470.

Background

    This Federal Register notice announces TUV's application for 
additional programs and procedures, dated September 15, 1997 (see 
Exhibit 13D). This application supplements TUV's request for expansion 
of its recognition for additional test standards, received on January 
13, 1997 (see Exhibit 13C), and since modified by TUV. OSHA announced 
this request of January 13 in a separate notice, which incorrectly 
shows May 12, 1997 as the date of the request. The final notice(s) for 
the overall expansion will reflect the correct information.
    TUV requests expansion of its recognition, based upon the 
conditions as detailed in the Federal Register document titled 
``Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories; Clarification of the 
Types of Programs and Procedures,'' (60 FR 12980, 3/9/95), for the 
following programs and procedures:
    1. Acceptance of testing data from independent organizations, other 
than NRTLs.
    2. Acceptance of product evaluations from independent 
organizations, other than NRTLs.
    3. Acceptance of witnessed testing data.
    4. Acceptance of product evaluations from organizations that 
function as part of the International Electrotechnical Commission 
Certification Body (IEC-CB) Scheme.
    5. Acceptance of services (other than testing or evaluation) 
performed by subcontractors or agents.
    In a recommendation dated November 25, 1997, the NRTL staff 
recommended that TUV's recognition be expanded to include these 
additional programs and procedures.

Preliminary Finding

    Based upon a review of the complete application, and the 
recommendations of the staff, including the recommendation dated 
November 25, 1997, the Assistant Secretary has made a preliminary 
finding that TUV Rheinland of North America, Inc. can meet the 
requirements as prescribed by 29 CFR 1910.7 for the expansion of its 
recognition to include the five (5) programs and procedures previously 
listed.
    All interested members of the public are invited to supply detailed 
reasons and evidence supporting or challenging the sufficiency of the 
applicant's having met the requirements for expansion of its 
recognition as a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory, as required 
by 29 CFR 1910.7 and Appendix A to 29 CFR 1910.7. Submission of 
pertinent written documents and exhibits shall be made no later than 
the last date for comments (see DATES above), and submitted to the 
address provided above (see ADDRESSES). Copies of the TUV application 
letters and supporting documentation, the recommendation on the 
programs and procedures, and all submitted comments, as received, are 
available for inspection and duplication (under Docket No. NRTL-3-92) 
at the Docket Office, Room N2634, Occupational Safety and Health 
Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, at the above address.
    The Assistant Secretary's final decision on whether the applicant 
(TUV Rheinland of North America, Inc.) satisfies the requirements for 
expansion of its recognition as an NRTL will be made on the basis of 
the entire record including the public submissions and any further 
proceedings that the Assistant Secretary may consider to be appropriate 
in accordance with Appendix A to Section 1910.7.

    Signed at Washington, D.C. this 23rd day of December, 1997.
Charles N. Jeffress,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 98-410 Filed 1-7-98; 8:45 am]
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