National Conference on Weights and Measures Interim Meeting
| Citation | 85 FR 1302 |
| Record Number | 2020-00205 |
| Published date | 10 January 2020 |
| Section | Notices |
| Court | National Institute Of Standards And Technology |
Federal Register, Volume 85 Issue 7 (Friday, January 10, 2020)
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 7 (Friday, January 10, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1302-1305]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-00205]
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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.
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SUMMARY: The Interim Meeting of the National Conference on Weights and
Measures (NCWM) will be held in Riverside, CA, from Sunday, January 26,
2020, through Wednesday, January 29, 2020. 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.
[[Page 1303]]
DATES: The meeting will be held from Sunday, January 26, 2020, through
Wednesday, January 29, 2020. The meeting schedule will be available on
the NCWM website at www.ncwm.com.
ADDRESSES: This meeting will be held at The Mission Inn & Spa, 3649
Mission Inn Avenue Riverside, CA 92501.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Douglas Olson, NIST, Office of
Weights and Measures, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 2600, Gaithersburg, MD
20899-2600. You may also contact Dr. Olson at (301) 975-2956 or by
email at [email protected]. The meeting is open to the public, but
a paid registration is required. Please see the NCWM website
(www.ncwm.com) 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 and does not itself constitute
an endorsement by the National Institute of Standards and Technology
(NIST) of the content of the notice. NIST participates in the NCWM as
an NCWM member and pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 272(b)(10) and (c)(4) and in
accordance with Federal policy (e.g., OMB Circular A-119 ``Federal
Participation in the Development and Use of Voluntary Consensus
Standards'').
The NCWM is an organization of weights and measures officials of
the states, counties, and cities of the United States, and
representatives from the private sector and federal agencies. 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 in state
laws, regulations, and testing procedures used in the regulatory
control of commercial weighing and measuring devices, packaged goods,
and for other trade and commerce issues.
The NCWM has established multiple committees, task groups, and
other working bodies to address legal metrology issues of interest to
regulatory officials, industry, consumers, and others. The following
are brief descriptions of some of the significant agenda items that
will be considered by some of the NCWM Committees 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 2020
Annual Meeting. The Committees may withdraw or carryover items that
need additional development.
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'' (NIST HB 44). 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 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 Areas of Legal Metrology and 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:
SCL--Scales Code
Item SCL-17.1 S.1.8.5. Recorded Representations, Point of Sale Systems,
Appendix D--Definitions: Tare
This item is a carry-over item from the 2019 NCWM Annual Meeting
that has been on the S&T Committee's Agenda since 2017. The S&T
Committee will consider a proposal requiring additional sales
information to be recorded by cash registers interfaced with a weighing
element for items that are weighed at a checkout stand. This item was
assigned for further development by a Task Group in July 2018. The Task
Group has provided two different versions of the proposal to the S&T
Committee. One version is retroactive and the other is a nonretroactive
version. The version that will be adopted is expected to be part of the
NCWMs 2020 voting process. The retroactive version would be enforceable
on all systems, and the nonretroactive version will be enforceable on
only those systems manufactured and placed in service on or after the
effective date specified. 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 would add ``tare weight'' to the
list of sales information currently required.
Item SCL-16.1 Sections Throughout the Code To Include Provisions for
Commercial Weigh-in-Motion Vehicle Scale Systems
This item is another carry-over item originally appearing on the
S&T's agenda in 2016. The S&T Committee will consider a proposal
drafted by the NCWM's Weigh-In-Motion (WIM) Task Group (TG) to amend
various sections of NIST HB 44, Scales Code to address WIM vehicle
scale systems used for commercial applications. The TG is made up of
representatives of WIM equipment manufacturers, the U.S. Department of
Transportation Federal Highway Administration, NIST Office of Weights
and Measures, truck weight enforcement agencies, state weights and
measures agencies, and others.
The WIM TG was first formed in February 2016 to consider a proposal
to expand NIST HB 44, Weigh-In-Motion Systems Used for Vehicle
Enforcement Screening--Tentative Code to also apply to legal-for-trade
(commercial) and law enforcement applications.
The focus of the TG since July 2016 has been to concentrate on the
development of test procedures that can be used to verify the accuracy
of a WIM vehicle scale system given the different axle and tandem axle
configurations of vehicles that will typically be weighed by a system
and a proposed maintenance and acceptance tolerance of 0.2 percent on
gross (total) vehicle weight. Members of the TG, to date, have been
unsuccessful in agreeing on test procedures, and, as a result, the TG
recently developed a ``White Paper'' during the summer of 2017, which
it distributed to the different regional weights and measures
associations requesting feedback from their fall 2017 conferences on
some different draft test procedures being considered and some other
concerns. The TG is awaiting evidence that will substantiate the
submitter's claims that these types of WIM systems are capable of
meeting NIST HB 44 Scales Code Class III L tolerances.
[[Page 1304]]
SCL-20.12 Multiple Sections To Add Vehicle Weigh-in-Motion to the Code
and Appendix D--Definitions; Vehicle Scale and Weigh-in-Motion Vehicle
Scale
This new item to be considered by the S&T Committee is similar to
the previous SCL-16.1 item in that it proposes to add WIM systems for
motor vehicles to the NIST HB 44 Scales Code. This new proposal differs
from SCL-16.1 however, since it would not apply to axle-load type
scales but instead, would apply to a full-length vehicle scale used for
WIM.
SCL-20.10 S.1.2.2.2. Class I and II Scales Used in Direct Sale and
S.1.2.2.3. Deviation of a ``d'' Resolution.
The S&T Committee will consider a new proposal to replace two
current requirements (S.1.2.2.2. and S.1.2.2.3.) with a new, amended
version of S.1.2.2.2. ``Class III and IIII Scales.'' This item is also
related to two other items (individual item SCL-20.11 and SCL-20.2 that
is included as part of Block 2 on the agenda) on the S&T Agenda in 2020
in that all three items address the value of ``e'' and ``d'' in
precision scales. In 2017, the NCWM adopted a proposal adding a new
paragraph (S.1.2.2.2.) requiring the value of the scale division (d)
and verification scale interval (e) to be equal on Class I and Class II
scales installed into commercial service as of January 1, 2020, when
used in a direct sale application (i.e., both parties of a weighing
transaction are present when the quantity is determined). The S&T
Committee will now consider a new proposal that, if adopted, would
eliminate the requirement adopted in 2017. This item would instead
state that on Class III and IIII scales, the value of ``e'' will be
specified by the manufacturer, and that (except on dynamic monorail
scales) ``e'' must be less than or equal to ``d''. The absence of any
requirement included in this proposal regarding the value of ``e'' and
``d'' for Class I and Class II scales would imply that for those
scales, the values of e and d may differ. The other two items
mentioned, SCL-20.11 and SCL-20.2, propose different approaches on how
the values of ``e'' and ``d'' should be addressed in scales used in
direct sales applications.
LMD--Liquid Measuring Devices
LMD-20.1 Table S.2.2. Categories of Device and Methods of Sealing
The S&T Committee will consider a new proposal to permit the use of
an electronic log in lieu of a printed copy of a Category 3 sealing
method on liquid measuring devices. Current NIST HB 44 LMD requirements
specify that a printed copy of an event logger must be available and
only state that an electronic version of this log can be additionally
provided. This new proposal would amend the language in Table S.2.2.
``Categories of Device and Methods of Sealing'' to permit either form
(printed or electronic) of the event logger to be made available.
VTM--Vehicle Tank Meters
VTM-18.1 S.3.1.1. Means for Clearing the Discharge Hose and UR.2.6.
Clearing the Discharge Hose
The S&T Committee will again consider this carry-over item that
proposes to provide specifications and user requirements for manifold
flush systems designed to eliminate product contamination on VTMs used
for multiple products. This proposal would add specifications on the
design of VTMs under S.3.1.1., ``Means for Clearing the Discharge
Hose,'' and add a new user requirement UR.2.6., ``Clearing the
Discharge Hose.'' During open hearings at previous NCWM meetings,
comments were heard about the design of any system to clear the
discharge hose of a product prior to the delivery of a subsequent
product which could provide opportunities to fraudulently use this type
of system.
EVF--Electric Vehicle Fueling Systems
EVF-20.1 S.1.3.2. EVSE Value of the Smallest Unit
The S&T Committee will consider a new proposal that would specify
the maximum value of the indicated and/or recorded electrical energy
unit used in an EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment). This proposal
would reduce (by a factor of 10) the current specified values of these
units. The current maximum values of 0.005 MJ and 0.001 kWh would be
changed to 0.0005 MJ and 0.0001 kWh respectively. The submitters
contend that testing of these systems would be expedited through these
changes and reduce the amount of time necessary to complete official
tests.
GMA--Grain Moisture Meters 5.56 (A)
GMA-19.1 Table T.2.1. Acceptance and Maintenance Tolerances Air Oven
Method for All Grains and Oil Seeds
The S&T Committee will consider a proposal that would reduce the
tolerances for the air oven reference method. The proposed new
tolerances would apply to all types of grains and oil seeds. This item
is a carry-over proposal from 2019 and would replace the contents of
Table T.2.1. with new criteria. Additional inspection data will be
collected and reviewed to assess whether the proposed change to the
tolerances are appropriate.
Block 3 Items
The S&T Committee will consider changes included in this block
affecting the NIST HB 44 Taximeters Code (Section 5.54.) and the
Transportation Network Measurement Systems (TNMS) Code (Section 5.60.)
that would amend the value of tolerances allowed for distance tests.
The changes proposed in this item would change the Taximeters Code
requirement T.1.1. ``On Distance Tests'' by increasing that tolerance
to 2.5% when the test exceeds one mile. The change to the TNMS Code
affects requirement T.1.1. ``Distance Tests'' by reducing the tolerance
allowed on overregistration under T.1.1.(a) from the current 2.5% to 1%
when the test does not exceed one mile and would increase the tolerance
for underregistration in T.1.1.(b) from 2.5% to 4%. These changes if
adopted would align the tolerances values for distance tests allowed
for taximeters and TNMS.
NCWM L&R Committee
NIST Handbook 130 and NIST Handbook 133
The following items are proposals to amend NIST Handbooks 130 and
133:
Block 1 (B1) Items
NIST Handbook 133, ``Checking the Net Contents of Packaged Goods,''
and NIST Handbook 130, Uniform Packaging and Labeling Regulation
(UPLR), Section 2.8. Multiunit Package.
The L&R Committee will consider a proposal to add a test procedure
in NIST Handbook 133 for addressing the total quantity declaration on
multiunit or variety packages. In addition, in NIST Handbook 130, it
will clarify the definition of Section 2.8. Multiunit package.
NIST Handbook 130, Uniform Method of Sale of Commodities (MOS)
Item MOS-20.4. 2.XX. Ink and Toner Cartridges
The L&R Committee will consider a proposed method of sale for
adoption to clarify the labeling requirements for packaged inkjet and
toner cartridges to ensure that consumers are informed about the net
quantity of contents of these products, value comparisons can be made,
and quantities can be verified to ensure equity between buyer and
seller and fair competition between sellers, including original
equipment manufacturers. Page verification would
[[Page 1305]]
be in accordance to the ISO/IEC standard.
NIST Handbook 133, ``Checking the Net Contents of Packaged Goods''
Item NET-20.2. 4.5. Polyethylene Sheeting, Bags, and Liners
The L&R Committee will consider a proposal under Item NET 20.2. to
consider changes to the equipment that is used to test the thickness of
polyethylene sheeting, bags, and liners. This modification would allow
for electronic instruments to be used for thickness measurements. In
addition, changes to the test procedure would need to be modified for
the use of electronic instruments.
Under Item ODR NEW, the L&R Committee will consider a recommended
proposal to remove the Open Dating Regulation in its entirety from NIST
Handbook 130.
Kevin A. Kimball,
Chief of Staff.
[FR Doc. 2020-00205 Filed 1-9-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-P
