Fastener Quality Act: Statutorily required study,

[Federal Register: November 17, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 221)]

[Notices]

[Page 63834]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr17no98-28]

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Office of the Secretary

[Docket Number: 980929249-8283-02]

Fastener Quality Act; Statutorily Required Study; Re-Opening of Comment Period

AGENCY: United States Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of inquiry; re-opening of comment period.

SUMMARY: On October 7, 1998, the Commerce Department published a request for comment concerning a study of the Fastener Quality Act (FQA) mandated by Pub. L. No. 105-234 (63 FR 53870). The comment period of that request for comment closed on November 6, 1998. This notice re- opens the comment period for that request, through November 30, 1998. In addition, this notice makes clear that comments received between November 6 and today will be considered as timely filed.

DATES: Comments must be received no later than November 30, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments must be submitted to: Dr. James E. Hill; Chief, Building Environment Division; Building and Fire Research Laboratory; National Institute of Standards and Technology; Building 226, Room B- 306; Gaithersburg, MD 20899. Comments may also be submitted by e-mail to: fqastudy@nist.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. James Hill; Telephone: 301-975- 5851; E-mail: james.hill@nist.gov. The Fastener Quality Act and the existing implementing regulations can be viewed at NIST's FQA website: http://www.nist.gov/fqa/fqa.htm.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 14, 1998, President Clinton signed Public Law 105-234. This law amended the Fastener Quality Act (FQA) by creating an exemption for certain aircraft fasteners. The new law also requires the Secretary of Commerce to submit to Congress a report on: (1) Changes in fastener manufacturing processes that have occurred since the enactment of the Fastener Quality Act; (2) a comparison of the Fastener Quality Act to other regulatory programs that regulate the various categories of fasteners, and an analysis of any duplication that exists among programs; and (3) any changes in that Act that may be warranted because of the changes reported under paragraphs (1) and (2). By notice published on October 7, 1998, the Commerce Department solicited public comments, through November 6, 1998, on the issues raised by the Secretary's reporting requirement (63 FR 53870).

Today's notice re-opens the period for public comment first announced in the October 7 notice, through November 30, 1998, and makes clear that comments received between November 6 and today will be considered as timely filed. For further information on the topics raised in the Secretary's reporting requirement and specific questions for which the Department seeks information, please refer to the October 7 notice.

Authority: Pub. L. No. 105-234.

Dated: November 10, 1998. Andrew J. Pincus, General Counsel.

[FR Doc. 98-30725Filed11-16-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-BW-P