[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 50 (Wednesday, March 15, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13403-13404]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-3720]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 
(NIOSH) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 
announces the following: Availability of opportunity for the public to 
enter into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) to 
reduce noise emissions from powered hand tools.
    Notice: This notice invites manufacturers of electric and 
pneumatic-powered hand tools to enter into a cooperative research and 
development agreement (CRADA) with NIOSH and some of the leading 
technical experts on noise control engineering in the United States to 
reduce noise emissions from powered hand tools. By reducing the noise 
emissions of electric and pneumatic powered hand tools, the risk of 
noise-induced hearing loss among construction workers may be lowered.

[[Page 13404]]

Additional efficiency in tool performance may also be realized as tool 
designs are optimized to reduce vibration and noise emissions.
    This effort will identify sources of noise emissions in powered 
hand tools and will investigate ways to reduce the noise emissions 
through engineering noise control. NIOSH has successfully worked with 
university partners to analyze several classes of tools (e.g. table 
saws, pneumatic nail guns, and air compressors) and demonstrated that 
significant reductions in noise levels can be achieved through 
application of noise control engineering. Furthermore, NIOSH expects to 
partner with academic programs that have advanced technical expertise, 
acoustic test facilities and specialized equipment, software and data 
analysis necessary for such an effort. NIOSH is seeking an industrial 
partner in a CRADA so that particular problems of interest can be 
targeted for investigation. The industry partners will provide power 
tools for investigation of noise source identification, product life 
cycle testing of new designs, and nominal funding of $50,000 to defray 
expenses in the effort.
    NIOSH expects to provide up to $50,000 per year over a three-year 
CRADA agreement. The CRADA defines the role of the various partners 
regarding intellectual rights, publications, and the material and 
financial resources that are exchanged during the period of the 
agreement. At this time, this announcement seeks to identify potential 
partners in the effort. Detailed development of the CRADA will occur 
over the next eight months, with the partnership beginning in October 
2006.
    This announcement does not obligate NIOSH to enter into an 
agreement with any respondent. NIOSH reserves the right to establish a 
partnership based on engineering analysis and capabilities found by way 
of this announcement or other searches, if determined to be in the best 
interest of the government.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charles S. Hayden, NIOSH, Hearing Loss 
Prevention Team, 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226, 513/
533-8152. Information requests can also be submitted by e-mail to 
[email protected].
    The Director, Management Analysis and Services Office, has been 
delegated the authority to sign Federal Register notices pertaining to 
announcements of meetings and other committee management activities for 
both CDC and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

    Dated: March 9, 2006.
Alvin Hall,
Director, Management Analysis and Services Office, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention.
 [FR Doc. E6-3720 Filed 3-14-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P