• Publication Date:
  • Publication Type:
    Notice
  • Fed Register #:
    88:87460-87461
  • Standard Number:
  • Title:
    Intertek Testing Services NA, Inc.: Application for Expansion of
    Recognition
    [Federal Register Volume 88, Number 241 (Monday, December 18, 2023)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 87460-87461]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 2023-27697]
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
    
    Occupational Safety and Health Administration
    
    [Docket No. OSHA-2007-0039]
    
    
    Intertek Testing Services NA, Inc.: Application for Expansion of 
    Recognition
    
    AGENCY: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Labor.
    
    ACTION: Notice.
    
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    SUMMARY: In this notice, OSHA announces the application of Intertek 
    Testing Services NA, Inc., for expansion of the recognition as a 
    Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) and presents the 
    agency's preliminary finding to grant the application.
    
    DATES: Submit comments, information, and documents in response to this 
    notice, or requests for an extension of time to make a submission, on 
    or before January 2, 2024.
    
    ADDRESSES: Submit comments by any of the following methods:
        Electronically: Submit comments and attachments electronically at 
   http://www.regulations.gov, which is the Federal eRulemaking Portal. 
    Follow the instructions online for making electronic submissions.
        Docket: To read or download comments or other material in the 
    docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov or the OSHA Docket Office. All 
    documents in the docket (including this Federal Register notice) are 
    listed in the http://www.regulations.gov index; however, some 
    information (e.g., copyrighted material) is not publicly available to 
    read or download through the website. All submissions, including 
    copyrighted material, are available for inspection through the OSHA 
    Docket Office. Contact the OSHA Docket Office at (202) 693-2350 (TTY 
    (877) 889-5627) for assistance in locating docket submissions.
        Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and the 
    OSHA docket number (OSHA-2007-0039). OSHA places comments and other 
    materials, including any personal information, in the public docket 
    without revision, and these materials will be available online at 
   http://www.regulations.gov. Therefore, the agency cautions commenters 
    about submitting statements they do not want made available to the 
    public, or submitting comments that contain personal information 
    (either about themselves or others) such as Social Security numbers, 
    birth dates, and medical data.
        Extension of comment period: Submit requests for an extension of 
    the comment period on or before January 2, 2024 to the Office of 
    Technical Programs and Coordination Activities, Directorate of 
    Technical Support and Emergency Management, Occupational Safety and 
    Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution 
    Avenue NW, Room N-3653, Washington, DC 20210, or by fax to (202) 693-
    1644.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Information regarding this notice is 
    available from the following sources:
        Press inquiries: Contact Mr. Frank Meilinger, Director, OSHA Office 
    of Communications, phone: (202) 693-1999 or email: 
    meilinger.francis2@dol.gov.
        General and technical information: Contact Mr. Kevin Robinson, 
    Director, Office of Technical Programs and Coordination Activities, 
    Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency Management, Occupational 
    Safety and Health Administration, phone: (202) 693-1911 or email: 
    robinson.kevin@dol.gov.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    
    I. Notice of the Application for Expansion
    
        OSHA is providing notice that Intertek Testing Services NA, Inc. 
    (ITSNA), is applying for expansion of the current recognition as a 
    NRTL. ITSNA requests the addition of one test standard to the NRTL 
    scope of recognition.
        OSHA recognition of a NRTL signifies that the organization meets 
    the requirements specified in 29 CFR 1910.7. Recognition is an 
    acknowledgment that the organization can perform independent safety 
    testing and certification of the specific products covered within the 
    scope of recognition. Each NRTL's scope of recognition includes: (1) 
    the type of products the NRTL may test, with each type specified by the 
    applicable test standard; and (2) the recognized site(s) that has/have 
    the technical capability to perform the product-testing and product-
    certification activities for test standards within the NRTL's scope. 
    Recognition is not a delegation or grant of government authority; 
    however, recognition enables employers to use products approved by the 
    NRTL to meet OSHA standards that require product testing and 
    certification.
        The agency processes applications by a NRTL for initial recognition 
    and for an expansion or renewal of this recognition, following 
    requirements in Appendix A to 29 CFR 1910.7. This appendix requires 
    that the agency
    
    publish two notices in the Federal Register in processing an 
    application. In the first notice, OSHA announces the application and 
    provides a preliminary finding. In the second notice, the agency 
    provides a final decision on the application. These notices set forth 
    the NRTL's scope of recognition or modifications of that scope. OSHA 
    maintains an informational web page for each NRTL, including ITSNA, 
    which details the NRTL's scope of recognition. These pages are 
    available from the OSHA website at http://www.osha.gov/dts/otpca/nrtl/index.html.
        ITSNA currently has thirty-five facilities (sites) recognized by 
    OSHA for product testing and certification, with the headquarters 
    located at: Intertek Testing Services NA, Inc., 545 East Algonquin 
    Road, Suite F, Arlington Heights, Illinois 60005. A complete list of 
    ITSNA's scope of recognition is available at https://www.osha.gov/nationally-recognized-testing-laboratory-program/its.
    
    II. General Background on the Application
    
        ITSNA submitted an application dated April 5, 2023 (OSHA-2007-0039-
    0051), requesting the addition of one test standard to the NRTL scope 
    of recognition. OSHA staff performed a detailed analysis of the 
    application packet and reviewed other pertinent information. OSHA did 
    not perform any on-site reviews in relation to this application.
        Table 1, below, lists the appropriate test standard found in 
    ITSNA's application for expansion for testing and certification of 
    products under the NRTL Program.
    
      Table 1--Proposed Appropriate Test Standard for Inclusion in ITSNA's
                            NRTL Scope of Recognition
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Test standard                     Test standard title
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    UL 2225...........................  Cables and Cables Fittings for Use
                                         in Hazardous (Classified)
                                         Locations.
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    III. Preliminary Findings on the Application
    
        ITSNA submitted an acceptable application for expansion of the 
    scope of recognition. OSHA's review of the application files and 
    pertinent documentation indicates that ITSNA can meet the requirements 
    prescribed by 29 CFR 1910.7 for expanding the recognition to include 
    the addition of this one test standard for NRTL testing and 
    certification listed in Table 1. This preliminary finding does not 
    constitute an interim or temporary approval of ITSNA's application.
        OSHA seeks comment on this preliminary determination.
    
    IV. Public Participation
    
        OSHA welcomes public comment as to whether ITSNA meets the 
    requirements of 29 CFR 1910.7 for expansion of recognition as a NRTL. 
    Comments should consist of pertinent written documents and exhibits.
        Commenters needing more time to comment must submit a request in 
    writing, stating the reasons for the request by the due date for 
    comments. OSHA will limit any extension to 10 days unless the requester 
    justifies a longer time period. OSHA may deny a request for an 
    extension if it is not adequately justified.
        To review copies of the exhibits identified in this notice, as well 
    as comments submitted to the docket, contact the Docket Office, 
    Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of 
    Labor. These materials also are generally available online at https://www.regulations.gov under Docket No. OSHA-2007-0039 (for further 
    information, see the ``Docket'' heading in the section of this notice 
    titled ADDRESSES).
        OSHA staff will review all comments to the docket submitted in a 
    timely manner. After addressing the issues raised by these comments, 
    staff will make a recommendation to the Assistant Secretary of Labor 
    for Occupational Safety and Health on whether to grant ITSNA's 
    application for expansion of the scope of recognition. The Assistant 
    Secretary will make the final decision on granting the application. In 
    making this decision, the Assistant Secretary may undertake other 
    proceedings prescribed in Appendix A to 29 CFR 1910.7.
        OSHA will publish a public notice of the final decision in the 
    Federal Register.
    
    V. Authority and Signature
    
        James S. Frederick, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for 
    Occupational Safety and Health, authorized the preparation of this 
    notice. Accordingly, the agency is issuing this notice pursuant to 29 
    U.S.C. 657(g)(2), Secretary of Labor's Order No. 8-2020 (85 FR 58393, 
    Sept. 18, 2020), and 29 CFR 1910.7.
    
        Signed at Washington, DC.
    James S. Frederick,
    Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health.
    [FR Doc. 2023-27697 Filed 12-15-23; 8:45 am]
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