81_FR_92153 81 FR 91910 - National Conference on Weights and Measures Interim Meeting

81 FR 91910 - National Conference on Weights and Measures Interim Meeting

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Institute of Standards and Technology

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 243 (December 19, 2016)

Page Range91910-91912
FR Document2016-30436

The Interim Meeting of the National Conference on Weights and Measures (NCWM) will be held in San Antonio, Texas, from Sunday, January 8, 2017, through Wednesday, January 11, 2017. This notice contains information about significant items on the NCWM Committee agendas but does not include all agenda items. As a result, the items are not consecutively numbered.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 243 (Monday, December 19, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 243 (Monday, December 19, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 91910-91912]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-30436]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology


National Conference on Weights and Measures Interim Meeting

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Interim Meeting of the National Conference on Weights and 
Measures (NCWM) will be held in San Antonio, Texas, from Sunday, 
January 8, 2017, through Wednesday, January 11, 2017. This notice 
contains information about significant items on the NCWM Committee 
agendas but does not include all agenda items. As a result, the items 
are not consecutively numbered.

DATES: The meeting will be held from Sunday, January 8, 2017, through 
Wednesday, January 11, 2017, Sunday through Tuesday from 8:00 a.m. to 
5:00 p.m. Central Time, and on Wednesday, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. 
Central Time. The meeting schedule is available at www.ncwm.net.

ADDRESSES: This meeting will be held at the Hyatt Regency San Antonio, 
123 Losoya Street, San Antonio, Texas 78205.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Kenneth Butcher, NIST, Office of 
Weights and Measures, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 2600, Gaithersburg, MD 
20899-2600. You may also contact Mr. Butcher at (301) 975-4859 or by 
email at [email protected]. The meeting is open to the public, 
but a paid registration is required. Please see the NCWM Web site 
(www.ncwm.net) to view the meeting agendas, registration forms, and 
hotel reservation information.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Publication of this notice on the NCWM's 
behalf is undertaken as a public service; NIST does not endorse, 
approve, or recommend any of the proposals or other information 
contained in this notice or in the publications produced by the NCWM.
    The NCWM is an organization of weights and measures officials of 
the states, counties, and cities of the United States, federal 
agencies, and representatives from the private sector. These meetings 
bring together government officials and representatives of business, 
industry, trade associations, and consumer organizations on subjects 
related to the field of weights and measures technology, 
administration, and enforcement. NIST participates to encourage 
cooperation between federal agencies and the states in the development 
of legal metrology requirements. NIST also promotes uniformity among 
the states in laws, regulations, methods, and testing equipment that 
comprise the regulatory control of commercial weighing and measuring 
devices, packaged goods, and other trade and commerce issues.
    The following are brief descriptions of some of the significant 
agenda items that will be considered at the NCWM Interim Meeting. 
Comments will be taken on these and other issues during several public 
comment sessions. At this stage, the items are proposals. This meeting 
also includes work sessions in which the Committees may also accept 
comments, and where recommendations will be developed for consideration 
and possible adoption at the NCWM 2017 Annual Meeting. The Committees 
may withdraw or carryover items that need additional development.
    Some of the items listed below provide notice of projects under 
development by groups working to develop specifications, tolerances, 
and other requirements for devices such as those used in weigh-in-
motion systems for vehicle enforcement screening. These notices are 
intended to make interested parties aware of these development projects 
and to make them aware that reports on the status of the project will 
be given at the Interim Meeting. The notices are also presented to 
invite the participation of manufacturers, experts, consumers, users, 
and others who may be interested in these efforts.
    The Specifications and Tolerances Committee (S&T Committee) will 
consider proposed amendments to NIST Handbook 44, ``Specifications, 
Tolerances, and other Technical Requirements for Weighing and Measuring 
Devices.'' Those items address weighing and measuring devices used in 
commercial applications, that is, devices that are used to buy from or 
sell to the public

[[Page 91911]]

or used for determining the quantity of products or services sold among 
businesses. Issues on the agenda of the NCWM Laws and Regulations 
Committee (L&R Committee) relate to proposals to amend NIST Handbook 
130, ``Uniform Laws and Regulations in the area of Legal Metrology and 
Engine Fuel Quality'' and NIST Handbook 133, ``Checking the Net 
Contents of Packaged Goods.''

NCWM S&T Committee

    The following items are proposals to amend NIST Handbook 44:

General Code

Item 3100-2 G-UR.3.3. Postion of Equipment
    A weighing and measuring device or system equipped with a primary 
indicating element and used in a direct sale application must be 
positioned that its indication can be accurately read and the weighing 
or measuring operation observed from some reasonable customer and 
operator position. That is, both the customer and user must be able to 
observe the operation of the equipment and be provided a view of the 
indication from some reasonable position. The existing paragraph 
provides officials the discretion necessary to determine on a case by 
case basis whether or not these conditions are satisfied. The proposed 
changes, if adopted, would require officials to base their 
determination solely on customer readability and ease of being able to 
conduct a performance test on the equipment. Additionally, in the case 
of vehicle scales, the changes proposed require that a driver of a 
vehicle being weighed be able to observe the weight indication from 
inside the cab of the vehicle. If adopted, this would retroactively 
require a display on some vehicle scale systems, including mechanical 
types with beam or dial indication.

Scales

Item 3200-2 S.1.2.2. Verfication Scale Interval
    Class I and II scales and dynamic monorail scales, any of which 
that are provided with a scale division value (d) that differs from the 
verification scale interval (e) must currently comply with the 
expression: d < e <= 10 d
    The S&T Committee will consider a proposal that adds a new 
subparagraph beneath the Section heading S.1.2.2. Verification Scale 
Interval which would require the value of ``e'' to be less than or 
equal to ``d'' on Class I and II scales used in a direct sale 
application (i.e., an application in which both parties, for example, 
buyer and seller, are present when the quantity is determined). The new 
subparagraph being proposed is nonretroactive with no enforcement date 
yet specified, making evident the submitter's intention that it not 
apply to equipment already in commercial service.
Item 3200-3 S.1.8.5. Recorded Representations, Point-of-Sale Systems 
and S.1.9.3. Recorded Representations, Random Weight Packages Labels
    The S&T Committee will consider a proposal requiring additional 
sales information be recorded by cash registers interfaced with a 
weighing element for items that are weighed at a checkout stand. These 
systems are currently required to record the net weight, unit price, 
total price, and the product class or, in a system equipped with price 
look-up capability, the product name or code number. The change 
proposed adds ``gross weight or tare weight'' to the list of sales 
information already required.
    Additionally, the proposal adds a new paragraph requiring a 
prepackaging scale or device that produces a label for a random weight 
package to generate labels that contain this same sales information.

Weigh-In-Motion Systems Used for Vehiche Enforcement Screening

Item 3205-1 A. Application and Sections Throughout the Code to Address 
Commercial and Law Enforcement Applications
    In February 2016, the NCWM formed a new task group (TG) to consider 
a proposal to expand the NIST Handbook 44, Weigh-In-Motion (WIM) 
Systems Used for Vehicle Enforcement Screening--Tentative Code to also 
apply to legal-for-trade (commercial) and law enforcement applications. 
The TG is made up of representatives of WIM equipment manufacturers; 
the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration; 
truck weight enforcement agencies; state weights and measures agencies; 
and others. Mr. Alan Walker (State of Florida) serves as Chair of the 
TG.
    Members of the TG met face to face for the first time at the NCWM 
Annual Meeting in July 2016. It was agreed at that meeting to eliminate 
from the proposal any mention of a law enforcement application and 
focus solely on WIM systems intended for use in commercial 
applications. The main focus of the TG since the July 2016 meeting has 
been to concentrate on the development of test procedures that can be 
used to verify the accuracy of a slow-speed WIM system while taking 
into consideration the different axle and tandem axle configurations of 
the vehicles that will typically be weighed by the system.

Liquefied Petroleum Gas and Anhydrous Ammonia Liquid-Measuring Devices

Item 3302-1 N.3. Test Drafts
    The S&T Committee will continue to hear updates on the progress of 
a ``Developing'' item on its agenda (carried over from its 2016 agenda) 
that would propose recognizing the use of calibrated transfer standards 
(also called ``master meters'') in the verification and calibration of 
Liquefied Petroleum Gas and Anhydrous Ammonia Liquid-Measuring Devices. 
Currently, most official tests of these devices are conducted using 
volumetric test measures or using gravimetric testing. The proposal 
outlined in this item includes requirements for a minimum test draft 
and would recognize the use of ``master meters'' in both service-
related and official testing. This item is also intended to explore the 
possibility of expanding the use of transfer standards to other types 
of measuring devices, including those used to measure petroleum at 
terminals and retail outlets, and to meters used to deliver home 
heating fuel and other products.

Mass Flow Meters

Item 3307-2 N.3. Test Drafts
    The S&T Committee will continue to hear updates on the progress of 
a ``Developing'' item on its agenda (also carried over from its 2016 
agenda) that would propose recognizing the use of calibrated transfer 
standards (also called ``master meters'') in the verification and 
calibration of Mass Flow Meters. Currently, most official tests of 
these devices are conducted using gravimetric test procedures. The 
proposal outlined in this item includes requirements for a minimum test 
draft, and would recognize the use of ``master meters'' in both 
service-related and official testing.

Taximeters

Item 3504-1 A.2. Exemptions;
Item 3504-2 U.S. National Work Group (USNWG) on Taximeters--Taximeter 
Code Revisions and Global Positioningt System (GPS)-Based Systems for 
Time and Distance Measurement; and
Item 3600-6 5.XX. Transportation Network Systems--Tentative Code and 
Appendix D. Definitions
    For several years, the NIST USNWG on Taximeters has discussed 
possible

[[Page 91912]]

approaches for amending the NIST Handbook 44, Taximeters Code to 
specifically recognize GPS-based time and distance measuring systems 
that are used to assess charges for transportation services such as 
those provided by taxicabs and limousines. Appropriate specifications, 
tolerances, and other technical requirements for these devices must be 
developed for manufacturers and users of these devices, as well for 
weights and measures officials. Such requirements help ensure accuracy 
and transparency for customers and a level playing field for 
transportation service companies, enabling consumers to make value 
comparisons between competing services. In 2016, the USNWG on 
Taximeters submitted a proposal through multiple regional weights and 
measures associations to establish a separate NIST Handbook 44 code to 
address ``Transportation Network Measurement Systems (TNMS).'' Changes 
to the current NIST Handbook 44, Taximeters Code are also needed to 
recognize taximeters that are now being designed to operate using 
similar features and functionality as TNMS; these changes have been 
proposed in a separate item. The S&T Committee will examine these 
proposals to assess how to best address these systems.

NCWM L&R Committee

    The following items are proposals to amend NIST Handbook 130 or 
NIST Handbook 133:

NIST Handbook 130--Section on Uniform Regulation for the Method of Sale 
of Commodities:

Item 2302-6 Section 2.17. Precious Metals
    The L&R Committee will consider a proposal to recommend adoption of 
a uniform method of sale for precious metals that will enhance the 
ability of consumers to whether they are getting a fair price for their 
precious metals. This proposal will allow a consumer to make an 
informed decision in doing an equitable trade or purchase and also make 
value comparisons. This proposal is not for precious metals traded on 
the commodity market. If adopted, the proposal will require sellers to 
prominently display conversion factors and the unit price they will pay 
for items containing various amounts of precious metals.

NIST Handbook 133--``Checking the Net Contents of Packaged Goods:''

Item 2600-4 Section 4.5. Polyethylene Sheeting
    The current test procedure in NIST Handbook 133, Section 4. 
Polyethylene Sheeting has provided a test procedure for only 
polyethylene sheeting and some bag type products. The L&R Committee 
will consider a proposal to expand the requirements to also include 
polyethylene bags (e.g., t-shirt bags that retail stores put consumer 
goods in for carry-out) and can liners. If adopted, this proposal would 
clarify the test procedure and improve the accuracy of length 
determinations when determining test measurements for bags and liners, 
including bags with a cut out (t-shirt bags).

    Authority:  15 U.S.C. 272(b).

Kevin Kimball,
NIST Chief of Staff.
[FR Doc. 2016-30436 Filed 12-16-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-13-P



                                                91910                      Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 243 / Monday, December 19, 2016 / Notices

                                                Scope of the Order                                      conversion to judicial protective order is            approve, or recommend any of the
                                                   The merchandise covered by the                       hereby requested. Failure to comply                   proposals or other information
                                                Order is crystalline silicon photovoltaic               with the regulations and terms of an                  contained in this notice or in the
                                                cells, whether or not assembled into                    APO is a sanctionable violation.                      publications produced by the NCWM.
                                                modules, subject to certain exceptions.4                   We are issuing and publishing this                   The NCWM is an organization of
                                                Merchandise covered by this Order is                    final results notice in accordance with               weights and measures officials of the
                                                currently classified in the Harmonized                  sections 751(b) and 777(i) of the Tariff              states, counties, and cities of the United
                                                Tariff System of the United States                      Act of 1930, as amended, and 19 CFR                   States, federal agencies, and
                                                (‘‘HTSUS’’) under subheadings                           351.216 and 351.221(c)(3).                            representatives from the private sector.
                                                8501.61.0000, 8507.20.80, 8541.40.6020,                   Dated: December 12, 2016.                           These meetings bring together
                                                8541.40.6030, and 8501.31.8000. While                                                                         government officials and representatives
                                                                                                        Paul Piquado,
                                                these HTSUS subheadings are provided                                                                          of business, industry, trade associations,
                                                                                                        Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and               and consumer organizations on subjects
                                                for convenience and customs purposes;                   Compliance.
                                                                                                                                                              related to the field of weights and
                                                the written description of the scope of                 [FR Doc. 2016–30426 Filed 12–16–16; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                                                                              measures technology, administration,
                                                this Order is dispositive.                              BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P                                and enforcement. NIST participates to
                                                Final Results of Changed                                                                                      encourage cooperation between federal
                                                Circumstances Review                                                                                          agencies and the states in the
                                                                                                        DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE                                development of legal metrology
                                                   Because the record contains no
                                                information or evidence that calls into                 National Institute of Standards and                   requirements. NIST also promotes
                                                question the Preliminary Results, for the               Technology                                            uniformity among the states in laws,
                                                reasons stated in the Preliminary                                                                             regulations, methods, and testing
                                                Results, the Department continues to                    National Conference on Weights and                    equipment that comprise the regulatory
                                                find that Zhejiang ERA is the successor-                Measures Interim Meeting                              control of commercial weighing and
                                                in-interest to Era Solar, and is entitled                                                                     measuring devices, packaged goods, and
                                                                                                        AGENCY: National Institute of Standards               other trade and commerce issues.
                                                to Era Solar’s cash deposit rate with                   and Technology, Commerce.
                                                respect to entries of merchandise subject                                                                       The following are brief descriptions of
                                                                                                        ACTION: Notice.                                       some of the significant agenda items
                                                to the AD Order on solar cells from the
                                                                                                                                                              that will be considered at the NCWM
                                                PRC.5                                                   SUMMARY:   The Interim Meeting of the                 Interim Meeting. Comments will be
                                                Instructions to U.S. Customs and                        National Conference on Weights and                    taken on these and other issues during
                                                Border Protection                                       Measures (NCWM) will be held in San                   several public comment sessions. At
                                                                                                        Antonio, Texas, from Sunday, January 8,               this stage, the items are proposals. This
                                                  Based on these final results, we will                 2017, through Wednesday, January 11,
                                                instruct U.S. Customs and Border                                                                              meeting also includes work sessions in
                                                                                                        2017. This notice contains information                which the Committees may also accept
                                                Protection to collect estimated                         about significant items on the NCWM
                                                antidumping duties for all shipments of                                                                       comments, and where recommendations
                                                                                                        Committee agendas but does not include                will be developed for consideration and
                                                subject merchandise exported by                         all agenda items. As a result, the items
                                                Zhejiang ERA and entered, or                                                                                  possible adoption at the NCWM 2017
                                                                                                        are not consecutively numbered.                       Annual Meeting. The Committees may
                                                withdrawn from warehouse, for
                                                                                                        DATES: The meeting will be held from                  withdraw or carryover items that need
                                                consumption on or after the publication
                                                date of this notice in the Federal                      Sunday, January 8, 2017, through                      additional development.
                                                                                                        Wednesday, January 11, 2017, Sunday                     Some of the items listed below
                                                Register at the current AD cash deposit
                                                                                                        through Tuesday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00                provide notice of projects under
                                                rate for Era Solar (i.e., 8.52 percent).6
                                                                                                        p.m. Central Time, and on Wednesday,                  development by groups working to
                                                This cash deposit requirement shall
                                                                                                        from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Central                  develop specifications, tolerances, and
                                                remain in effect until further notice.
                                                                                                        Time. The meeting schedule is available               other requirements for devices such as
                                                Notification to Interested Parties                      at www.ncwm.net.                                      those used in weigh-in-motion systems
                                                  This notice serves as a final reminder                ADDRESSES: This meeting will be held at               for vehicle enforcement screening.
                                                to parties subject to administrative                    the Hyatt Regency San Antonio, 123                    These notices are intended to make
                                                protective order (‘‘APO’’) of their                     Losoya Street, San Antonio, Texas                     interested parties aware of these
                                                responsibility concerning the                           78205.                                                development projects and to make them
                                                disposition of proprietary information                                                                        aware that reports on the status of the
                                                                                                        FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
                                                disclosed under APO in accordance                                                                             project will be given at the Interim
                                                                                                        Kenneth Butcher, NIST, Office of                      Meeting. The notices are also presented
                                                with 19 CFR 351.305(a)(3). Timely                       Weights and Measures, 100 Bureau
                                                written notification of the return/                                                                           to invite the participation of
                                                                                                        Drive, Stop 2600, Gaithersburg, MD                    manufacturers, experts, consumers,
                                                destruction of APO materials or                         20899–2600. You may also contact Mr.                  users, and others who may be interested
                                                                                                        Butcher at (301) 975–4859 or by email                 in these efforts.
                                                   4 For a complete description of the scope of the
                                                                                                        at kenneth.butcher@nist.gov. The                        The Specifications and Tolerances
                                                Order, see Preliminary Decision Memorandum.
                                                   5 For a complete discussion of the Department’s
                                                                                                        meeting is open to the public, but a paid             Committee (S&T Committee) will
                                                findings, which remain unchanged in these final         registration is required. Please see the              consider proposed amendments to NIST
                                                results and which are herein incorporated by            NCWM Web site (www.ncwm.net) to                       Handbook 44, ‘‘Specifications,
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES




                                                reference and adopted by this notice, see generally     view the meeting agendas, registration
                                                the Preliminary Decision Memorandum                                                                           Tolerances, and other Technical
                                                accompanying the Preliminary Results.
                                                                                                        forms, and hotel reservation                          Requirements for Weighing and
                                                   6 See Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Cells,        information.                                          Measuring Devices.’’ Those items
                                                Whether or Not Assembled into Modules, from the         SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                            address weighing and measuring
                                                People’s Republic of China: Final Results of
                                                Antidumping Duty Administrative Review and
                                                                                                        Publication of this notice on the                     devices used in commercial
                                                Final Determination of No Shipments; 2013–2014,         NCWM’s behalf is undertaken as a                      applications, that is, devices that are
                                                81 FR 39905 (June 20, 2016).                            public service; NIST does not endorse,                used to buy from or sell to the public


                                           VerDate Sep<11>2014   20:55 Dec 16, 2016   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00011   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\19DEN1.SGM   19DEN1


                                                                           Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 243 / Monday, December 19, 2016 / Notices                                               91911

                                                or used for determining the quantity of                 example, buyer and seller, are present                speed WIM system while taking into
                                                products or services sold among                         when the quantity is determined). The                 consideration the different axle and
                                                businesses. Issues on the agenda of the                 new subparagraph being proposed is                    tandem axle configurations of the
                                                NCWM Laws and Regulations                               nonretroactive with no enforcement                    vehicles that will typically be weighed
                                                Committee (L&R Committee) relate to                     date yet specified, making evident the                by the system.
                                                proposals to amend NIST Handbook                        submitter’s intention that it not apply to            Liquefied Petroleum Gas and
                                                130, ‘‘Uniform Laws and Regulations in                  equipment already in commercial                       Anhydrous Ammonia Liquid-Measuring
                                                the area of Legal Metrology and Engine                  service.                                              Devices
                                                Fuel Quality’’ and NIST Handbook 133,
                                                ‘‘Checking the Net Contents of Packaged                 Item 3200–3 S.1.8.5. Recorded                         Item 3302–1 N.3. Test Drafts
                                                Goods.’’                                                Representations, Point-of-Sale Systems
                                                                                                        and S.1.9.3. Recorded Representations,                   The S&T Committee will continue to
                                                NCWM S&T Committee                                      Random Weight Packages Labels                         hear updates on the progress of a
                                                                                                                                                              ‘‘Developing’’ item on its agenda
                                                  The following items are proposals to                     The S&T Committee will consider a                  (carried over from its 2016 agenda) that
                                                amend NIST Handbook 44:                                 proposal requiring additional sales                   would propose recognizing the use of
                                                General Code                                            information be recorded by cash                       calibrated transfer standards (also called
                                                                                                        registers interfaced with a weighing                  ‘‘master meters’’) in the verification and
                                                Item 3100–2 G–UR.3.3. Postion of                        element for items that are weighed at a               calibration of Liquefied Petroleum Gas
                                                Equipment                                               checkout stand. These systems are                     and Anhydrous Ammonia Liquid-
                                                   A weighing and measuring device or                   currently required to record the net                  Measuring Devices. Currently, most
                                                system equipped with a primary                          weight, unit price, total price, and the              official tests of these devices are
                                                indicating element and used in a direct                 product class or, in a system equipped                conducted using volumetric test
                                                sale application must be positioned that                with price look-up capability, the                    measures or using gravimetric testing.
                                                its indication can be accurately read and               product name or code number. The                      The proposal outlined in this item
                                                the weighing or measuring operation                     change proposed adds ‘‘gross weight or                includes requirements for a minimum
                                                observed from some reasonable                           tare weight’’ to the list of sales                    test draft and would recognize the use
                                                customer and operator position. That is,                information already required.                         of ‘‘master meters’’ in both service-
                                                both the customer and user must be able                    Additionally, the proposal adds a new              related and official testing. This item is
                                                to observe the operation of the                         paragraph requiring a prepackaging                    also intended to explore the possibility
                                                equipment and be provided a view of                     scale or device that produces a label for             of expanding the use of transfer
                                                the indication from some reasonable                     a random weight package to generate                   standards to other types of measuring
                                                position. The existing paragraph                        labels that contain this same sales                   devices, including those used to
                                                provides officials the discretion                       information.                                          measure petroleum at terminals and
                                                necessary to determine on a case by case                Weigh-In-Motion Systems Used for                      retail outlets, and to meters used to
                                                basis whether or not these conditions                   Vehiche Enforcement Screening                         deliver home heating fuel and other
                                                are satisfied. The proposed changes, if                                                                       products.
                                                adopted, would require officials to base                Item 3205–1 A. Application and
                                                                                                        Sections Throughout the Code to                       Mass Flow Meters
                                                their determination solely on customer
                                                readability and ease of being able to                   Address Commercial and Law                            Item 3307–2 N.3. Test Drafts
                                                conduct a performance test on the                       Enforcement Applications                                 The S&T Committee will continue to
                                                equipment. Additionally, in the case of                   In February 2016, the NCWM formed                   hear updates on the progress of a
                                                vehicle scales, the changes proposed                    a new task group (TG) to consider a                   ‘‘Developing’’ item on its agenda (also
                                                require that a driver of a vehicle being                proposal to expand the NIST Handbook                  carried over from its 2016 agenda) that
                                                weighed be able to observe the weight                   44, Weigh-In-Motion (WIM) Systems                     would propose recognizing the use of
                                                indication from inside the cab of the                   Used for Vehicle Enforcement                          calibrated transfer standards (also called
                                                vehicle. If adopted, this would                         Screening—Tentative Code to also apply                ‘‘master meters’’) in the verification and
                                                retroactively require a display on some                 to legal-for-trade (commercial) and law               calibration of Mass Flow Meters.
                                                vehicle scale systems, including                        enforcement applications. The TG is                   Currently, most official tests of these
                                                mechanical types with beam or dial                      made up of representatives of WIM                     devices are conducted using gravimetric
                                                indication.                                             equipment manufacturers; the U.S.                     test procedures. The proposal outlined
                                                Scales                                                  Department of Transportation Federal                  in this item includes requirements for a
                                                                                                        Highway Administration; truck weight                  minimum test draft, and would
                                                Item 3200–2 S.1.2.2. Verfication Scale                  enforcement agencies; state weights and               recognize the use of ‘‘master meters’’ in
                                                Interval                                                measures agencies; and others. Mr. Alan               both service-related and official testing.
                                                   Class I and II scales and dynamic                    Walker (State of Florida) serves as Chair             Taximeters
                                                monorail scales, any of which that are                  of the TG.
                                                provided with a scale division value (d)                  Members of the TG met face to face                  Item 3504–1       A.2. Exemptions;
                                                that differs from the verification scale                for the first time at the NCWM Annual                 Item 3504–2 U.S. National Work Group
                                                interval (e) must currently comply with                 Meeting in July 2016. It was agreed at                (USNWG) on Taximeters—Taximeter
                                                the expression: d < e ≤ 10 d                            that meeting to eliminate from the                    Code Revisions and Global Positioningt
                                                   The S&T Committee will consider a                    proposal any mention of a law
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                                                                                              System (GPS)-Based Systems for Time
                                                proposal that adds a new subparagraph                   enforcement application and focus                     and Distance Measurement; and
                                                beneath the Section heading S.1.2.2.                    solely on WIM systems intended for use
                                                Verification Scale Interval which would                 in commercial applications. The main                  Item 3600–6 5.XX. Transportation
                                                require the value of ‘‘e’’ to be less than              focus of the TG since the July 2016                   Network Systems—Tentative Code and
                                                or equal to ‘‘d’’ on Class I and II scales              meeting has been to concentrate on the                Appendix D. Definitions
                                                used in a direct sale application (i.e., an             development of test procedures that can                  For several years, the NIST USNWG
                                                application in which both parties, for                  be used to verify the accuracy of a slow-             on Taximeters has discussed possible


                                           VerDate Sep<11>2014   20:55 Dec 16, 2016   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00012   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\19DEN1.SGM   19DEN1


                                                91912                      Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 243 / Monday, December 19, 2016 / Notices

                                                approaches for amending the NIST                        Sheeting has provided a test procedure                Engineers (ASME) Manufacturing
                                                Handbook 44, Taximeters Code to                         for only polyethylene sheeting and some               Science and Engineering Conference
                                                specifically recognize GPS-based time                   bag type products. The L&R Committee                  (MSEC) Organizing Committee, to
                                                and distance measuring systems that are                 will consider a proposal to expand the                familiarize the community with a recent
                                                used to assess charges for transportation               requirements to also include                          standard for modeling manufacturing
                                                services such as those provided by                      polyethylene bags (e.g., t-shirt bags that            processes that was developed under the
                                                taxicabs and limousines. Appropriate                    retail stores put consumer goods in for               ASTM’s E60.13 Subcommittee on
                                                specifications, tolerances, and other                   carry-out) and can liners. If adopted,                Sustainable Manufacturing. The RAMP
                                                technical requirements for these devices                this proposal would clarify the test                  Challenge calls on participants (either as
                                                must be developed for manufacturers                     procedure and improve the accuracy of                 an individual or as a team) to model any
                                                and users of these devices, as well for                 length determinations when                            manufacturing process and demonstrate
                                                weights and measures officials. Such                    determining test measurements for bags                application of the ASTM E3012–16 Unit
                                                requirements help ensure accuracy and                   and liners, including bags with a cut out             Manufacturing Process (UMP)
                                                transparency for customers and a level                  (t-shirt bags).                                       representation for purposes of
                                                playing field for transportation service                  Authority: 15 U.S.C. 272(b).                        information sharing and sustainability
                                                companies, enabling consumers to make                                                                         assessment. The RAMP Challenge will
                                                value comparisons between competing                     Kevin Kimball,                                        provide an opportunity for participants
                                                services. In 2016, the USNWG on                         NIST Chief of Staff.                                  to put this standard into practice in
                                                Taximeters submitted a proposal                         [FR Doc. 2016–30436 Filed 12–16–16; 8:45 am]          modeling a process of their own
                                                through multiple regional weights and                   BILLING CODE 3510–13–P                                interest, and to share experiences in
                                                measures associations to establish a                                                                          applying the standard across a variety of
                                                separate NIST Handbook 44 code to                                                                             processes. Formal methods for acquiring
                                                address ‘‘Transportation Network                        DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE                                and exchanging information about
                                                Measurement Systems (TNMS).’’                                                                                 manufacturing processes will lead to
                                                Changes to the current NIST Handbook                    National Institute of Standards and                   consistent characterizations and help
                                                44, Taximeters Code are also needed to                  Technology                                            establish a collection for reuse of these
                                                recognize taximeters that are now being                 [Docket Number: [161207999–6999–01]                   models. Standard methods will ensure
                                                designed to operate using similar                                                                             effective communication of
                                                features and functionality as TNMS;                     Announcement of Requirements and                      computational analytics and sharing of
                                                these changes have been proposed in a                   Registration for National Institute of                sustainability performance data. Results
                                                separate item. The S&T Committee will                   Standards and Technology Prize                        of the competition will assist in
                                                examine these proposals to assess how                   Competition—Reusable Abstractions                     demonstrating the use of a reusable
                                                to best address these systems.                          of Manufacturing Processes (RAMP)                     standard format leading to models
                                                NCWM L&R Committee                                      Challenge                                             suitable for automated inclusion in a
                                                                                                                                                              system analysis, such as a system
                                                  The following items are proposals to                  AGENCY: National Institute of Standards
                                                                                                                                                              simulation model or an optimization
                                                amend NIST Handbook 130 or NIST                         and Technology, Commerce.
                                                                                                                                                              program.
                                                Handbook 133:                                           ACTION: Notice.
                                                                                                                                                              DATES:  Submission Period: December
                                                NIST Handbook 130—Section on                            SUMMARY:   In March 2016, National                    19, 2016 to March 20, 2017
                                                Uniform Regulation for the Method of                    Institute of Standards and Technology                   Announcement of Finalists: April 17,
                                                Sale of Commodities:                                    (NIST) and ASTM International                         2017
                                                Item 2302–6 Section 2.17. Precious                      announced a new international standard                  Announcement of Winners: June 8,
                                                Metals                                                  that can ‘‘map’’ the critically important             2017
                                                                                                        environmental aspects of manufacturing
                                                   The L&R Committee will consider a                                                                            The Submission Period begins
                                                                                                        processes, leading to significant
                                                proposal to recommend adoption of a                                                                           December 19, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern
                                                                                                        improvements in sustainability while
                                                uniform method of sale for precious                                                                           Time (ET) and ends March 20, 2017, at
                                                                                                        keeping a product’s life cycle low cost
                                                metals that will enhance the ability of                                                                       5:00 p.m. ET. Prize competition dates
                                                                                                        and efficient. Sustainability for
                                                consumers to whether they are getting a                                                                       are subject to change at the discretion of
                                                                                                        manufacturing is beginning to be
                                                fair price for their precious metals. This                                                                    NIST. Entries submitted before or after
                                                                                                        addressed through the recently
                                                proposal will allow a consumer to make                                                                        the Submission Period will not be
                                                                                                        approved ASTM Standard Guide for
                                                an informed decision in doing an                                                                              reviewed or considered for award.
                                                                                                        Characterizing Environmental Aspects
                                                equitable trade or purchase and also                    of Manufacturing Processes (ASTM                        ADDRESSES:Changes or updates to
                                                make value comparisons. This proposal                   E60.13 E3012–16). The standard                        the prize competition rules will be
                                                is not for precious metals traded on the                provides a science-based, systematic                  posted and can be viewed at the Event
                                                commodity market. If adopted, the                       approach to capture and describe                      Web site: https://www.challenge.gov/
                                                proposal will require sellers to                        information about the environmental                   challenge/ramp-reusable-abstractions-
                                                prominently display conversion factors                  aspects for any manufacturing                         of-manufacturing-processes/
                                                and the unit price they will pay for                    production process or group of                          Results of the prize competition will
                                                items containing various amounts of                     processes, and then use that data to                  be announced on the Event Web site
                                                precious metals.                                                                                              and on the NIST Web site,
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                                        make informed decisions on
                                                                                                        improvements.                                         www.nist.gov. Additional information is
                                                NIST Handbook 133—‘‘Checking the
                                                                                                          NIST is announcing the Reusable                     located at: https://www.nist.gov/el/
                                                Net Contents of Packaged Goods:’’
                                                                                                        Abstractions of Manufacturing Processes               systems-integration-division/astm-
                                                Item 2600–4 Section 4.5. Polyethylene                   (RAMP) Challenge, with support from                   sustainable-manufacturing-standards.
                                                Sheeting                                                ASTM International, the National                      FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                   The current test procedure in NIST                   Science Foundation (NSF), and the                     Questions about the prize competition
                                                Handbook 133, Section 4. Polyethylene                   American Society of Mechanical                        can be directed to NIST via the Event


                                           VerDate Sep<11>2014   20:55 Dec 16, 2016   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00013   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\19DEN1.SGM   19DEN1



Document Created: 2016-12-17 03:15:08
Document Modified: 2016-12-17 03:15:08
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice.
DatesThe meeting will be held from Sunday, January 8, 2017, through Wednesday, January 11, 2017, Sunday through Tuesday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Central Time, and on Wednesday, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Central Time. The meeting schedule is available at www.ncwm.net.
ContactMr. Kenneth Butcher, NIST, Office of Weights and Measures, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 2600, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-2600. You may also contact Mr. Butcher at (301) 975-4859 or by email at [email protected] The meeting is open to the public, but a paid registration is required. Please see the NCWM Web site (www.ncwm.net) to view the meeting agendas, registration forms, and hotel reservation information.
FR Citation81 FR 91910 

2025 Federal Register | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy
USC | CFR | eCFR