[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 15, Volume 1]
[Revised as of January 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 15CFR10.14]

[Page 128-129]
 
                  TITLE 15--COMMERCE AND FOREIGN TRADE
 
PART 10--PROCEDURES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF VOLUNTARY PRODUCT STANDARDS--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 10.14  Appeals.

    (a) Any person directly affected by a procedural action taken by 
NIST or the Standard Review Committee under Secs. 10.5, 10.6 or 10.7 
regarding the development of a standard, by NIST or the Standing 
Committee under Sec. 10.10 regarding the review of a published standard, 
or under Sec. 10.11 regarding the revision of a standard, or under 
Sec. 10.13 regarding the withdrawal of a standard, may appeal such 
action.
    (b) Such appeal shall be filed in written form with the body taking 
the action complained of (NIST, the Standard Review Committee, or the 
Standing Committee) within 30 days after the date of announcement of the 
action.
    (c) If appeal is filed with the Standard Review Committee or the 
Standing Committee, the Committee shall attempt to resolve the appeal 
informally. If the appeal is filed with NIST, NIST with the consultation 
and advice of the Standard Review Committee or the Standing Committee, 
whichever is appropriate, shall attempt to resolve the appeal 
informally.
    (d) If the appeal is to the Standard Review Committee or the 
Standing Committee and the Committee is unable to resolve such an appeal 
informally, the Committee shall hold a hearing regarding the appeal. 
Announcement of the hearing shall be made to members of the Standard 
Review Committee or the Standing Committee and all the acceptors of 
record, when appropriate, as well as other known interests. Notice of 
the hearing shall be published in the Federal Register. The hearing will 
be an informal, nonadversary proceeding at which there will be no formal 
pleadings or adverse parties. Written statements will be furnished by 
witnesses prior to the hearing. A record of the hearing will be made. 
Copies of the written statements and the record of the hearing will be 
available at cost.
    (e) Those members of the Committee hearing the appeal will develop a 
recommendation to the Committee concerning the resolution of the appeal. 
NIST will review the recommendation and if found acceptable will subject 
it to a letter ballot of the Committee. Approval by three-fourths of the 
members of the Committee eligible to vote will constitute acceptance by 
the Committee and by NIST. Notice of the Committee decision will be 
published in the Federal Register.
    (f) If the appeal is to NIST and the attempt to resolve the appeal 
informally under paragraph (c) of this section is not successful, the 
Deputy Director of NIST will schedule a hearing with an appeals panel at 
an appropriate location. Announcement of the hearing shall be made to 
members of the Standard Review Committee or Standing Committee and all 
acceptors of record, when appropriate, as well as to other known 
interests. Notice of the hearing shall be published in the Federal 
Register.
    (g) The Deputy Director of NIST will name two other persons, who 
have not been directly involved in the matter in dispute and who will 
not be directly or materially affected by any decision made or to be 
made in the dispute, to sit on the panel with the Deputy Director, who 
will act as presiding officer. The presiding officer will have the right 
to exercise such authority as necessary to ensure the equitable and 
efficient conduct of the hearing and to maintain an orderly proceeding.
    (h) The hearing will be an informal, nonadversary proceeding at 
which there will be no formal pleadings or adverse parties. The hearing 
will be open to the public. Witnesses shall submit a written 
presentation for the record seven days prior to the hearing. A record 
will be made of the hearing. Copies of the written statements and the 
record of the hearing will be available at cost.

[[Page 129]]

    (i) The appeals panel will make a recommendation to the Director of 
NIST. The Director's decision on the appeal will be announced within 60 
days following the hearing and will be communicated to the complainant 
and other interested parties by letter. Notice of the Director's 
decision shall be published in the Federal Register.

[51 FR 22497, June 20, 1986, as amended at 55 FR 38315, Sept. 18, 1990]