National Conference on Weights and Measures 106th Annual Meeting
| Published date | 20 May 2021 |
| Citation | 86 FR 27387 |
| Record Number | 2021-10677 |
| Section | Notices |
| Court | National Institute Of Standards And Technology |
Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 96 (Thursday, May 20, 2021)
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 96 (Thursday, May 20, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27387-27389]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-10677]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Institute of Standards and Technology
National Conference on Weights and Measures 106th Annual Meeting
AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The 106th Annual Meeting of the National Conference on Weights
and Measures (NCWM) will be held using a combined video conferencing
platform for on-line attendance, and in-person at the Hyatt Regency
Rochester in Rochester, New York, from Sunday, July 18, 2021, through
Friday, July 23, 2021. 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 106th Annual Meeting will be held from Sunday, July 18,
2021, through Friday, July 23, 2021. The meeting schedule will be
available on the NCWM website at www.ncwm.com.
ADDRESSES: This meeting will be held using a combined video
conferencing (virtual) platform and in-person at the Hyatt Regency
Rochester, 125 E Main St., Rochester, New York 14604.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Douglas Olson, NIST, Office of
Weights and Measures (OWM), 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 regulatory
agencies. These meetings can bring these government officials together
with representatives of business, industry, trade associations, and
consumer organizations to discuss proposed laws and regulations and
other subjects related to the field of weights and measures technology,
administration, and enforcement. NIST hosted the first meeting of the
NCWM in 1905. Since then, the conference has provided a model of
cooperation between Federal, State, and local governments and the
private sector. 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 Annual
Meeting. Comments will be taken on these and other issues during
several public comment sessions. At this stage, the items are
proposals.
This meeting will also have a voting session to ratify results of
the 105th NCWM Annual Meeting virtual Vote. 85 FR 77170 (Dec. 1, 2020).
The NCWM was unable to conduct an in-person meeting due to the COVID-19
pandemic and therefore held the 105th Annual Meeting using a video
conferencing platform. Under the NCWM Bylaws and Roberts Rules of Order
in effect at the time of the 105th NCWM Annual Meeting, items approved
by a virtual vote are effective upon ratification at the next in-person
meeting. NCWM petitioned the District Court of Lancaster County,
Nebraska and received a court order allowing conducting virtual votes
to ratify the results of the 105th NCWM Annual Meeting and to conduct
virtual votes of all items of the 106th Annual Meeting.
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 2021 Annual 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'' (NIST HB 130) and NIST
Handbook 133, ``Checking the Net Contents of Packaged Goods'' (NIST HB
133).
NCWM S&T Committee (S&T 106th Annual Meeting)
The following items are proposals to amend NIST HB 44:
Block 2 Items (B2) Define True Value for Use in Error Calculations
BLK-2: (SCL-20.3, SCL-20.4, SCL-20.5, SCL-20.6, SCL-20.7, and SCL-20.8)
The S&T Committee will further consider a proposal that has been
designated as an ``Assigned'' item, meaning that further development
will be done by a Task Group formed by the NCWM. The Task Group
assigned to this item has submitted a ``Final Report'' to the
Committee; however, the Task Group noted also that the report may
benefit from further vetting. This ``block'' proposal includes six
individual items related to the application of requirements based on
that application to either ``e'' (the verification scale division) or
``d'' (the minimum scale division). Adoption of this proposal will have
a significant effect on the regulation of scales, particularly where
the values of ``e'' and ``d'' are not equal.
[[Page 27388]]
SCL--Scales
SCL-17.1 S.1.8.5. Recorded Representations, Point of Sale (POS) Systems
S.1.8.5. Recorded Representations, POS Systems, Appendix D--
Definitions: Tare
Following a vote to not adopt this proposal during the 2020 NCWM
Annual Meeting, this item was returned to the S&T Committee. This
proposal would require additional sales information to be recorded by
cash registers interfaced with a weighing element for items that are
weighed at a checkout stand (i.e., a POS system). 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 sales information currently required. There
was a presumption by the S&T Committee following the vote in January
2021, that last minute amendments to the proposal possibly resulted in
the failure to be adopted.
Changes in this proposal are presented as a nonretroactive
requirement with an enforcement date of January 1, 2022. Adoption of
this proposal would require additional information (i.e., the tare
weight) to appear on the sales receipt for items weighed at a checkout
stand (POS Systems) on equipment installed into commercial service as
of January 1, 2022. This proposed change would not affect equipment
already in service.
SCL-20.12 Multiple Sections To Add Vehicle Weigh-in-Motion (WIM) to the
Code and Appendix D
During the 2020 NCWM Annual Meeting, the Committee supported the
proposal as being fully developed; however, the most recent version of
the proposal may not have been given sufficient time to be vetted among
the weights and measures community. The proposal was, however, given a
voting status at the 2021 NCWM Interim Meeting. The S&T Committee will
consider this proposal that would amend multiple sections in NIST HB 44
Scales Code so that it could be applied to WIM vehicle scales. This
proposal is similar to another item that was withdrawn during the 2021
NCWM Interim Meeting (former item SCL-16.1). However, this proposal
would only permit commercial weights from WIM equipment when the
vehicles are weighed as a single draft and would not allow the summing
of axle weights or axle group weights to determine a gross vehicle
weight. The submitter of this proposal had provided an opportunity in
March 2020 for several state regulatory officials, NCWM, and NIST OWM
to witness testing performed on a single-draft vehicle scale. That
demonstration provided results that this type of system is capable of
producing weight values that comply with current NIST HB 44 Class III L
tolerances.
Block 4 Items (B4) Electronically Captured Tickets or Receipts
The S&T Committee will consider a proposal to permit electronic
captured tickets and receipts in NIST HB 44 Sections 1.10. General,
3.30. LMD, 3.31. VTM, 3.32. LPG, 3.34. CLM, 3.37. MFM, 3.38. CDL, 3.39.
HGM, and 3.35. milk meters codes, and Appendix D Definitions to add
electronic to the definition of recorded representation. The proposed
language removes the term printed and replaces it with recorded
representation so that there is an option to receive a printed ticket/
receipt or an electronic ticket/receipt. The language was changed
during the Interim Meeting based on comments expressing the need for
printed tickets and now the proposal references NIST HB 44 G-S.5.6. in
various specific codes. At the 2021 Interim Meeting, the S&T Committee
designated this as a developing item for further comment and
consideration.
OTH-21.1 Appendix A--2.1. Acceptance and Maintenance Tolerances
The S&T Committee will consider a proposal recommended to clarify
if acceptance tolerances are to be applied to devices that have
undergone routine accuracy adjustment not initiated by an official
rejection. The submitter of this proposal submitted a different
proposal in 2019 that was withdrawn by the Committee. However, the
submitter has submitted a new item to fulfill that same purpose.
This item would amend NIST HB 44 Appendix A (Fundamental
Considerations), section 2.1. to delete the verbiage ``or adjusted'' in
the second paragraph of that section. The proposal would also add
language in the same sentence stating, ``. . . equipment returned to
service following official rejection, or equipment undergoing NTEP
evaluation,'' to clarify when it is appropriate to apply acceptance
tolerances.
The Committee accepted additional wording to the proposed language
at the 2021 Interim Meeting and gave this item a Voting status for the
2021 Annual Meeting.
Block 5 Items (B5) Category 3 Methods of Sealing Blk-5: (LMD-20.1 W,
LMD-21.1 D)
The S&T Committee will consider a 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. The current ``Category 3'' sealing
requirements in NIST HB 44 Liquid-Measuring Devices Code (Section
3.30.) specify that a printed copy of an event logger must be available
on demand through the device or through another on-site device and that
the information may also be available electronically. The new proposal
would amend the language in Table S.2.2. ``Categories of Device and
Methods of Sealing'' of the Liquid-Measuring Devices Code (Section
3.30.) to permit either a printed or electronic form of the event
logger to be made available. At the 2021 Interim Meeting, the Committee
agreed to withdraw item LMD-20.1 from the block that was a similar
proposal and designated this item as a developing item so that the
submitters of both items could work together to further develop item
LMD-21.1. EVF-21.4
S.3.3. Provision for Sealing
The S&T Committee will consider a proposal that will permit those
systems that feature either a Category 2 or Category 3 method of
sealing metrological features to provide that information in an
electronic format during an inspection by weights and measures
officials, in lieu of an electric vehicle fueling system providing a
printed copy of its audit trail event records. At the 2021 Interim
Meeting, the S&T Committee agreed to a voting status for this item at
the 2021 Annual Meeting.
EVF-21.6 Definitions: Minimum Measured Quantity (MMQ)
The S&T Committee will consider a proposal to include a definition
in NIST HB 44 Section 3.40. Electric Vehicle Fueling Systems--Tentative
code to address the special meaning of MMQ for these systems in that it
is the smallest unit declared by the manufacturer that is suitable for
delivery and that will be in compliance. At the 2021 Interim Meeting,
the S&T Committee designated these as Voting Items at the 2021 Annual
Meeting.
NCWM L&R Committee
Issues on the 106th Annual agenda of the NCWM Laws and Regulations
Committee (L&R Committee) relate to proposals to amend NIST HB 130.
The following items are proposals for modifying NIST HB 130 Uniform
[[Page 27389]]
Method of Sale (MOS) and the Uniform Fuels and Automotive Lubricants
Regulation (FLR):
Item Block (B1)--NIST HB 130, PAL-19.1. UPLR, Sec. 2.8. Multiunit
Package. NET-19.2. NIST HB 133
Modify ``scope'' for Chapters 2 through 4, add a note following
Sections 2.3.7.1. and 2.7.3., NET-19.3. and create a Chapter 5.
Specialized Test Procedures in NIST HB 133. The L&R Committee will also
be addressing a proposal to include adoption of a test procedure for
the total quantity declaration on multiunit or variety packages. In
addition, in NIST HB 130, Uniform Packaging and Labeling Regulation,
the proposal would clarify Section 2.8. Multiunit.
Item MOS-20.5 Section 2.21 Liquefied Petroleum Gas
The L&R Committee will consider a proposal to modify the existing
language for the method of sale of Liquefied Petroleum Gas. The
language was changed during the NCWM Interim Meeting and is a Voting
Item. Recommended changes to the existing language reference a value of
``15.6 [deg]C'' for temperature determinations in metric units.
According to the current industry practice for sales of petroleum
products, the reference temperature for sales in metric are based on 15
[deg]C rather than the exact conversion from 60 [deg]F (which is 15.6
[deg]C). Thus, the temperature reference in metric should be 15 [deg]C.
Item--FLR-20.5 Section 2.1.2.(a) Gasoline-Ethanol Blends
The L&R Committee will consider a proposal to modify the existing
NIST HB130 FLR, Sec. 2.1.2.(a) Gasoline-Ethanol Blends to include a
statement to clarify the maximum vapor pressure limits by more than 1.0
psi for blends ``containing at least 9 and not more than 15 vol %
ethanol'' from June 1 through September 15 as allowed by EPA 40 CFR
80.27(d).
The Fuels and Lubricants Subcommittee will consider modifications
to modify Item Block 3--MOS 21.1. and FLR-21.2 Labeling and
Identification of Transmission Fluid, a proposal to modify the language
to include a cautionary statement of package labels of obsolete
transmission fluids.
Authority: 15 U.S.C. 272(b).
Alicia Chambers,
NIST Executive Secretariat.
[FR Doc. 2021-10677 Filed 5-19-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-P
