O The custody, maintenance, and development of the national standards of measurement, and the provision of means and methods for making measurements consistent with those standards, including the comparison of standards used in scientific investigations, engineering, manufacturing, commerce, and educational institutions with the standards adopted or recognized by the Government. O The determination of physical constants and properties of materials when such data are of great importance to scientific or manufacturing interests and are not to be obtained of sufficient accuracy elsewhere. O The development of methods for testing materials, mechanisms, and structures, and the testing of materials, supplies, and equipment, including items purchased for use of Government departments and independent establishments. O Cooperation with other governmental agencies and with private organizations in the establishment of standard practices, incorporated in codes and specifications. O Advisory service to Government agencies on scientific and technical problems. Invention and development of devices to serve special needs of the Government. Authority: All activities performed by Bureau under Organic Act are result of dele-. gation of authority from the Secretary of Commerce (by Departmental or Executive Orders). Funding: NBS operates under a continuing authorization for appropriations and positions (excepting Standard Reference Data and Fire Program). Operations are conducted through the NBS Working Capital Fund for both direct appropriations and reimbursements from other agencies. 23-301 - 78 - 12 2 2. MAJOR ORGANIC ACT AMENDMENTS 1950 - First complete restatement of NBS function since its original enactment. Establishment of the Working Capital Fund. 1972 - Enlarged Bureau's "audience" for which it could perform its functions from essentially domestic groups to include friendly foreign governments and their institutions. Authorizing NBS scientists and technical personnel to teach or train at institutions of higher education on part-time noncompensated basis. Authorized Secretary of Commerce to obtain copyright of standard reference data for United States. Authority: National Standard Reference Data System has been established at NBS O Administered by Office of Standard Reference Data Composed of a network of data centers located in Government agencies, academic institutions, and nongovernment laboratories throughout the Nation. Initiated publication of Journal of Physical and Chemical Reference Data; 32 of top 50 industrial corporations subscribe. Funding: Authorizing appropriations for three fiscal years; NBS authorization renewed through 1978 (P.L. 94-49). 3 Authority: EPA to cooperate with NBS in developing improved methods and standards for measurement and monitoring of noise. Funding: Other Agency Agreement (EPA to pay for services of NBS). Direct appropriations. Authority for this program delegated by Secretary of Commerce to Director of National Bureau of Standards. 4 Authority: Established Institute for Computer Sciences and Technology: Since 1966, program has produced 46 standards and guidelines as Federal Funding: Direct appropriations. 7. Purpose: RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND RECOVERY ACT OF 1976 (S. 2150) (P.L. 94-580). To provide technical and financial assistance for the development of management plans and facilities for the recovery of energy and other resources from discarded materials and for safe disposal of discarded materials, and to regulate management of hazardous waste. Provisions: Establishes in EPA an Office of Solid Waste to provide technical and financial assistance to State and regional agencies and to utilize information, facilities, personnel, and other resources of Federal agencies, including National Bureau of Standards and Census Bureau, on reimbursable basis, to perform research and analyses and conduct studies and investigations related to resource recovery and conservation and to otherwise carry out Administrator's functions under this Act. EPA shall collect and coordinate information on discarded materials, management practices, resource recovery, hazardous substances, etc., and maintain a central reference library. EPA shall study and report on discarded material from mining, including disposal, sources and volume, potential dangers, alternatives. EPA, ERDA, FEA, FPC to study solid waste disposal on land, including sludge and effects on air and water, etc. EPA to identify and classify hazardous wastes and develop standards applicable to generators of hazardous waste, operators of hazardous waste treatment, storage and disposal facilities. Duties of Secretary of Commerce in Resource Conservation and Recovery. Development of Specifications for Secondary Materials DOC, acting through NBS, and in conjunction with national standards-setting organizations in resource recovery, shall, after public hearings, and not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, publish guidelines for the development of specifications for the classification of materials recovered from waste which were destined' for disposal. The specifications shall pertain to the physical and chemical properties and 5 characteristics of such materials with regard to their use in replacing virgin materials in various industrial, commercial, and Governmental uses. In establishing such guidelines, the Secretary shall also, to the extent feasible, provide such information as may be necessary to assist Federal agencies with procurement of items containing recovered materials. Secretary shall continue to cooperate with national standards-setting organizations, as may be necessary, to encourage the publication, promulgation and updating of standards for recovered materials and for the use of recovered materials in various industrial, commercial, and Governmental uses. Federal Procurement Each Federal procuring agency shall procure items composed of highest percentage of recovered materials practicable. GSA to make determinations on basis of NBS guidelines. B. AUTHORIZE NBS ACTIVITY (DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY) 1. FIRE PREVENTION AND CONTROL ACT OF 1974 Provisions: Established within DoC a Fire Research Center, now at NBS. "Secretary is authorized to conduct ... a fire (1) basic and applied fire research Authority: (A) physics and chemistry of combustion processes extinguishment (C) composition of combustion products (D) early stages of fires in buildings and other structures structures, contents (F) biological, physiological, and psychological factors Fire Research Center officially established on April 28, 1975. Two large divisions organized around Fire Science and Fire Safety Engineering. 2. FIRE PREVENTIONS AND CONTROL ACT (AMENDMENTS) (P.L. 94-411). Provisions: Authorizes to be appropriated sums to carry out the provision of the |