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

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.

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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: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. James Hill; Telephone: 301-975-

5851; E-mail: [email protected]. 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. 98-30725 Filed 11-16-98; 8:45 am]

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