National Conference on Weights and Measures 100th Interim Meeting, 865-867 [2015-00020]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 4 / Wednesday, January 7, 2015 / Notices all-others rate established in the lessthan-fair-value investigation.8 These cash deposit requirements, when imposed, shall remain in effect until further notice. Notification to Importers This notice also serves as a preliminary reminder to importers of their responsibility under 19 CFR 351.402(f)(2) to file a certificate regarding the reimbursement of antidumping duties prior to liquidation of the relevant entries during this review period. Failure to comply with this requirement could result in the Department’s presumption that reimbursement of antidumping duties occurred and the subsequent assessment of double antidumping duties. We are issuing and publishing these results in accordance with sections 751(a)(1) and 777(i)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.214. Dated: December 24, 2014. Paul Piquado, Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance. Appendix I List of Topics Discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum Summary Background Scope of the Order Methodology Bona Fide Sales Analysis Fair Value Comparisons Product Comparisons Determination of Comparison Method Date of Sale U.S. Price Normal Value Currency Conversion Conclusion [FR Doc. 2014–30848 Filed 1–6–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Institute of Standards and Technology National Conference on Weights and Measures 100th Interim Meeting National Institute of Standards and Technology, Commerce. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: The 100th Interim Meeting of the National Conference on Weights and Measures (NCWM) will be held in Daytona Beach, Florida, from Sunday, January 18, 2015 through Wednesday, rljohnson on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: 8 See Notice of Antidumping Duty Order and Amended Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value: Certain Pasta From Turkey, 61 FR 38545 (July 24, 1996). VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:01 Jan 06, 2015 Jkt 235001 January 21, 2015. 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 18, 2015 through Wednesday, January 21, 2015, meeting schedule is available at www.ncwm.net. ADDRESSES: This meeting will be held at the Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort 100 North Atlantic Avenue, Daytona Beach, Florida 32118. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Carol Hockert, Chief, NIST, Office of Weights and Measures, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 2600, Gaithersburg, MD 20899–2600. You may also contact Ms. Hockert at (301) 975–5507 or by email at carol.hockert@nist.gov. The meeting is open to the public, but a paid registration is required. Please see NCWM Publication 15 ‘‘Interim Meeting Agenda’’ (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 of 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 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 865 possible adoption at the NCWM 2015 Annual Meeting. The Committees may withdraw or carryover items that need additional development. The 100th Annual Meeting of the NCWM will be held July 19 to 23, 2015, at The Sheraton Philadelphia Society Hill Hotel, 1 Dock Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19106. Some of the items listed below provide notice of projects under development by groups working to develop specifications, tolerances, and other requirements for devices used in the retail sales of engine fuels and the establishment of approximate gallon and liter equivalents to diesel fuel that would be used in marketing both compressed and liquefied natural gas. 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 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 Specifications and Tolerances Committee The following items are proposals to amend NIST Handbook 44: Scales (including weigh-in-motion vehicle scales for use in the enforcement of highway load limits) Item 320–4 Weigh-in-Motion Vehicle Scales for Use in Highway Weight Enforcement The S&T Committee will consider recommending adoption of a new code to be included in NIST Handbook 44 that will include the specifications, tolerances, and other technical E:\FR\FM\07JAN1.SGM 07JAN1 866 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 4 / Wednesday, January 7, 2015 / Notices requirements for the vehicle scales used by highway weight enforcement agencies to determine the axle weights and gross weights of trucks and other large highway vehicles while they are in motion. The proposed code includes recommended tests and tolerances for static and dynamic weighing modes as well as user requirements that will ensure devices are maintained properly, allowing weighing results to be used to carry out highway weight enforcement programs across the nation. Belt-Conveyor Scale Systems Item 321–1 Systems Belt-Conveyor Scale Belt-conveyor scales are used in a wide variety of applications for weighing coal, grain, ore, and many other raw materials or products. Currently, only scales that are fully integrated into a conveyor system are permitted under NIST Handbook 44. The S&T Committee will consider adoption of new definitions and proposals to broaden the scope of the requirements to allow fully ‘‘selfcontained weigh-belt systems’’ to be covered by the specifications, tolerances, and other technical requirements in NIST Handbook 44 so these devices may be utilized in commercial transactions. Automatic Bulk Weighing Systems rljohnson on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Item 322–1 N.1. Testing Procedures The S&T Committee will consider a proposal to change the test procedures and tolerances for automatic bulk weighing systems to reflect that these devices are generally operating in a ‘‘dynamic’’ mode when commercial weight determinations are made. When these devices weigh in a ‘‘dynamic’’ mode, the accuracy of the weighment can be affected by many additional factors (e.g., vibration, mechanical timing of the systems’ filling and emptying mechanisms); this may result in differences when compared to the weight determinations obtained in ‘‘static’’ weighing mode. The proposed procedures require ‘‘as used’’ testing to verify the accuracy of these devices. Requiring ‘‘as used’’ testing would improve the weighing accuracy of these devices and bring this code into agreement with requirements in other NIST Handbook 44 codes where dynamic weighing is allowed. Liquid Measuring Devices Item 330–2 S.2.2. Categories of Device and Methods of Sealing The S&T Committee will consider a proposal that would allow device VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:01 Jan 06, 2015 Jkt 235001 manufacturers to supply required security and configuration related data in ‘‘event loggers’’ (i.e., digital systems that keep track of the number of times a calibration event occurs) to weights and measures officials and service personnel utilizing digital communications (e.g., cellular or Internet connections) or other electronic means (e.g., USB flash memory drive) in lieu of providing a printed record. This information is used to ascertain how many and what type of calibrations and configuration changes were made to a weighing and measuring device since the last official inspection or service. The S&T Committee will evaluate the costs, practicality, and other aspects of the proposal in addition to considering the data security and privacy concerns that may arise if this proposal is adopted. Item 330–3 N.4.1.3. Normal Tests on Wholesale Multi-Point Calibration Devices The S&T Committee will consider a proposal to update the LiquidMeasuring Devices Code to include test procedures that recognize technological advances in meter calibration and improve the accuracy of meters used to measure petroleum, chemicals, and other liquids. The intent of the proposal is to prescribe test procedures for meters with multi-point calibration (i.e., their measurement accuracy is adjusted to account for variations in volume, which result from the meter being operated at different flow rates). The S&T Committee will also consider requirements that will govern how users utilize the optional features found on these systems. See also Item 331–1 which addresses these features on vehicle-tank meters used to measure products such as home heating fuel and other fuel deliveries. Liquefied Petroleum Gas and Anhydrous Ammonia LiquidMeasuring Devices Item 332–2 N.3. Test Drafts—Use of Transfer Standards for Calibration and Verification The S&T Committee will consider a proposal to recognize the use of calibrated transfer standards (also called ‘‘master meters’’) in the verification and calibration of Liquefied Petroleum Gas and Anhydrous Ammonia LiquidMeasuring Devices. Currently, most official tests of these devices are conducted using volumetric test measures or using gravimetric testing. Adoption of this proposal, which includes requirements for a minimum test draft, would allow the use of PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 ‘‘master meters’’ in both service-related and official testing. The S&T Committee will also consider 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 337–1 Diesel Energy Equivalents for Compressed and Liquefied Natural Gas Natural gas is sold in the marketplace in both compressed (CNG) and liquefied (LNG) states as alternative fuel choices to gasoline and diesel fuel. The S&T Committee will consider proposed revisions to NIST Handbook 44 to define volume units for CNG and LNG in terms of the energy equivalents for a liter or gallon of diesel fuel. The availability of these values should enable consumers to compare the cost and mileage economy of different fuels so enable informed purchasing decisions when considering the use, purchase, or lease of vehicles equipped to operate on different fuels. Taximeters (and GPS Devices When Used in Transportation Services) Items 354–1, 354–2, 354–3, 354–4, and 354–5 The S&T Committee will consider this group of proposals (listed above) which includes proposed revisions and updates to the Taximeter Code in NIST Handbook 44 to address changes in technology related to indicating and recording elements (i.e., printers) and operational features including the indications required to be presented to passengers. Item 354–6 U.S. National Working Group on Taximeters and Global Positioning System-Based Systems for Time and Distance Measurement The S&T Committee will consider a progress report from a national working group that is studying the use of Global Positioning Systems and smart phone/ web based applications in transportations services in order to develop proposed specifications, tolerances, and other technical requirements to ensure accuracy and transparency for passengers, drivers, and businesses for inclusion in NIST Handbook 44. Other Items Item 360–1 Proposed Definition for a ‘‘Batching System’’ The S&T Committee will consider a proposed definition for ‘‘batching E:\FR\FM\07JAN1.SGM 07JAN1 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 4 / Wednesday, January 7, 2015 / Notices NIST Handbook 130—Section on Uniform Regulation for the Method of Sale of Commodities DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Item 232–3 [Docket ID: USA–2015–0003] Item 360–5 Electric Vehicle Fueling and Submetering rljohnson on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES systems.’’ These systems are used daily in a wide variety of industries to produce concrete (sold by the cubic yard) used in buildings, bridge and highway construction, and ‘‘blacktop’’ or asphalt pavement (sold by the short ton) used for road surfaces. Batching systems are also used in the production of animal food, agricultural seed and many other commodities. These systems (which can operate automatically or manually) often include multiple components such as weighing and measuring devices, which fall under different codes in NIST Handbook 44. When these multiple-component systems are used, it is sometimes difficult to categorize the system as a whole as a scale, a measuring device, or an automatic weighing system. Confusion over what requirements to apply from the various codes sometimes occurs. The definition is intended to clarify that weights and measures officials and users may apply different NIST Handbook 44 codes to the components of a batching system without classifying the device as an ‘‘automatic bulk weighing system’’ because that code includes operational and other requirements that manufacturers may not design a system to meet. See also Items 320–1—A.1. General; 324–1—A.1. General; and 330– 1—A.1. General. Item 260–1 867 The S&T Committee will consider recommending adoption of a draft code for use in electric vehicle charging and submetering for inclusion in NIST Handbook 44. The code was developed by a national working group that continues to further refine the specifications, tolerances, and other technical requirements to ensure accuracy and transparency for drivers of electric vehicles and power resellers. The S&T Committee will also consider proposed changes to the section 5.55. ‘‘Timing Devices’’ in NIST Handbook 44 to address requirements for the timing mechanisms that are likely to be used in some recharging systems to determine additional charges for other services (e.g., parking). NCWM Laws and Regulations Committee (L & R Committee) The following items are proposals to amend NIST Handbook 130 or NIST Handbook 133: VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:01 Jan 06, 2015 Jkt 235001 Animal Bedding Animal Bedding is generally defined as any material, except for baled straw, that is kept, offered or exposed for sale or sold to retail consumers for primary use as a medium for any pet or companion or livestock animal to nest or eliminate waste. The purpose of this proposal is to provide a uniform method of sale for animal bedding that will enhance the ability of consumers to make value comparisons and will ensure fair competition. If adopted, the proposal will require packers to advertise and sell packages of animal bedding on the basis of the expanded volume of the bedding. Most packages of animal bedding are compressed during packaging and the expanded volume is the amount of product that consumers will recover through unwrapping and decompressing the bedding according to the instructions provided by the packer. See also Item 260–3 for proposed Test Procedures for Verifying the Expanded Volume Declaration on Packages of Animal Bedding NIST Handbook 133—‘‘Checking the Net Contents of Packaged Goods’’ Chitterling Test Procedure This proposal will add a test procedure and purge allowance to NIST Handbook 133 so that the drainage equipment and methods used by state and local weights and measures officials are identical to those used by the Food Safety and Inspection Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in packing plants. Currently neither a purge allowance nor test procedure are contained in the handbook so state and local weights and measures inspectors use a modified test procedure developed for frozen seafood and information provided in a USDA response to a consumer inquiry to carry out inspections of these food products. This test procedure will also be used in verifying the amount of purge from beef tripe. Dated: December 30, 2014. Willie E. May, Acting Director. [FR Doc. 2015–00020 Filed 1–6–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–13–P PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Department of the Army Proposed Collection; Comment Request Army & Air Force Exchange Service (Exchange), DoD. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service announces a proposed public information collection and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. DATES: Consideration will be given to all comments received by March 9, 2015. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number and title, by any of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. • Mail: Federal Docket Management System Office, 4800 Mark Center Drive, East Tower, Suite 02G09, Alexandria, VA 22350–3100. Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name, docket number and title for this Federal Register document. The general policy for comments and other submissions from members of the public is to make these submissions available for public viewing on the Internet at https:// www.regulations.gov as they are received without change, including any personal identifiers or contact information. Any associated form(s) for this collection may be located within this same electronic docket and downloaded for review/testing. Follow the instructions at https:// www.regulations.gov for submitting comments. Please submit comments on any given form identified by docket number, form number, and title. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request more information on this proposed information collection or to SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\07JAN1.SGM 07JAN1

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[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 4 (Wednesday, January 7, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 865-867]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-00020]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology


National Conference on Weights and Measures 100th Interim Meeting

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: The 100th Interim Meeting of the National Conference on 
Weights and Measures (NCWM) will be held in Daytona Beach, Florida, 
from Sunday, January 18, 2015 through Wednesday, January 21, 2015. 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 18, 2015 through 
Wednesday, January 21, 2015, meeting schedule is available at 
www.ncwm.net.

ADDRESSES: This meeting will be held at the Hilton Daytona Beach 
Oceanfront Resort 100 North Atlantic Avenue, Daytona Beach, Florida 
32118.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Carol Hockert, Chief, NIST, Office 
of Weights and Measures, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 2600, Gaithersburg, MD 
20899-2600. You may also contact Ms. Hockert at (301) 975-5507 or by 
email at carol.hockert@nist.gov. The meeting is open to the public, but 
a paid registration is required. Please see NCWM Publication 15 
``Interim Meeting Agenda'' (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 of 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 2015 Annual Meeting. The Committees 
may withdraw or carryover items that need additional development. The 
100th Annual Meeting of the NCWM will be held July 19 to 23, 2015, at 
The Sheraton Philadelphia Society Hill Hotel, 1 Dock Street, 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19106.
    Some of the items listed below provide notice of projects under 
development by groups working to develop specifications, tolerances, 
and other requirements for devices used in the retail sales of engine 
fuels and the establishment of approximate gallon and liter equivalents 
to diesel fuel that would be used in marketing both compressed and 
liquefied natural gas. 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 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 Specifications and Tolerances Committee

    The following items are proposals to amend NIST Handbook 44:

Scales (including weigh-in-motion vehicle scales for use in the 
enforcement of highway load limits)

Item 320-4 Weigh-in-Motion Vehicle Scales for Use in Highway Weight 
Enforcement

    The S&T Committee will consider recommending adoption of a new code 
to be included in NIST Handbook 44 that will include the 
specifications, tolerances, and other technical

[[Page 866]]

requirements for the vehicle scales used by highway weight enforcement 
agencies to determine the axle weights and gross weights of trucks and 
other large highway vehicles while they are in motion. The proposed 
code includes recommended tests and tolerances for static and dynamic 
weighing modes as well as user requirements that will ensure devices 
are maintained properly, allowing weighing results to be used to carry 
out highway weight enforcement programs across the nation.

Belt-Conveyor Scale Systems

Item 321-1 Belt-Conveyor Scale Systems

    Belt-conveyor scales are used in a wide variety of applications for 
weighing coal, grain, ore, and many other raw materials or products. 
Currently, only scales that are fully integrated into a conveyor system 
are permitted under NIST Handbook 44. The S&T Committee will consider 
adoption of new definitions and proposals to broaden the scope of the 
requirements to allow fully ``self-contained weigh-belt systems'' to be 
covered by the specifications, tolerances, and other technical 
requirements in NIST Handbook 44 so these devices may be utilized in 
commercial transactions.

Automatic Bulk Weighing Systems

Item 322-1 N.1. Testing Procedures

    The S&T Committee will consider a proposal to change the test 
procedures and tolerances for automatic bulk weighing systems to 
reflect that these devices are generally operating in a ``dynamic'' 
mode when commercial weight determinations are made. When these devices 
weigh in a ``dynamic'' mode, the accuracy of the weighment can be 
affected by many additional factors (e.g., vibration, mechanical timing 
of the systems' filling and emptying mechanisms); this may result in 
differences when compared to the weight determinations obtained in 
``static'' weighing mode. The proposed procedures require ``as used'' 
testing to verify the accuracy of these devices. Requiring ``as used'' 
testing would improve the weighing accuracy of these devices and bring 
this code into agreement with requirements in other NIST Handbook 44 
codes where dynamic weighing is allowed.

Liquid Measuring Devices

Item 330-2 S.2.2. Categories of Device and Methods of Sealing

    The S&T Committee will consider a proposal that would allow device 
manufacturers to supply required security and configuration related 
data in ``event loggers'' (i.e., digital systems that keep track of the 
number of times a calibration event occurs) to weights and measures 
officials and service personnel utilizing digital communications (e.g., 
cellular or Internet connections) or other electronic means (e.g., USB 
flash memory drive) in lieu of providing a printed record. This 
information is used to ascertain how many and what type of calibrations 
and configuration changes were made to a weighing and measuring device 
since the last official inspection or service. The S&T Committee will 
evaluate the costs, practicality, and other aspects of the proposal in 
addition to considering the data security and privacy concerns that may 
arise if this proposal is adopted.

Item 330-3 N.4.1.3. Normal Tests on Wholesale Multi-Point Calibration 
Devices

    The S&T Committee will consider a proposal to update the Liquid-
Measuring Devices Code to include test procedures that recognize 
technological advances in meter calibration and improve the accuracy of 
meters used to measure petroleum, chemicals, and other liquids. The 
intent of the proposal is to prescribe test procedures for meters with 
multi-point calibration (i.e., their measurement accuracy is adjusted 
to account for variations in volume, which result from the meter being 
operated at different flow rates). The S&T Committee will also consider 
requirements that will govern how users utilize the optional features 
found on these systems. See also Item 331-1 which addresses these 
features on vehicle-tank meters used to measure products such as home 
heating fuel and other fuel deliveries.

Liquefied Petroleum Gas and Anhydrous Ammonia Liquid-Measuring Devices

Item 332-2 N.3. Test Drafts--Use of Transfer Standards for Calibration 
and Verification

    The S&T Committee will consider a proposal to recognize 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. Adoption of this proposal, which includes 
requirements for a minimum test draft, would allow the use of ``master 
meters'' in both service-related and official testing. The S&T 
Committee will also consider 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 337-1 Diesel Energy Equivalents for Compressed and Liquefied 
Natural Gas

    Natural gas is sold in the marketplace in both compressed (CNG) and 
liquefied (LNG) states as alternative fuel choices to gasoline and 
diesel fuel. The S&T Committee will consider proposed revisions to NIST 
Handbook 44 to define volume units for CNG and LNG in terms of the 
energy equivalents for a liter or gallon of diesel fuel. The 
availability of these values should enable consumers to compare the 
cost and mileage economy of different fuels so enable informed 
purchasing decisions when considering the use, purchase, or lease of 
vehicles equipped to operate on different fuels.

Taximeters (and GPS Devices When Used in Transportation Services)

Items 354-1, 354-2, 354-3, 354-4, and 354-5

    The S&T Committee will consider this group of proposals (listed 
above) which includes proposed revisions and updates to the Taximeter 
Code in NIST Handbook 44 to address changes in technology related to 
indicating and recording elements (i.e., printers) and operational 
features including the indications required to be presented to 
passengers.

Item 354-6 U.S. National Working Group on Taximeters and Global 
Positioning System-Based Systems for Time and Distance Measurement

    The S&T Committee will consider a progress report from a national 
working group that is studying the use of Global Positioning Systems 
and smart phone/web based applications in transportations services in 
order to develop proposed specifications, tolerances, and other 
technical requirements to ensure accuracy and transparency for 
passengers, drivers, and businesses for inclusion in NIST Handbook 44.

Other Items

Item 360-1 Proposed Definition for a ``Batching System''

    The S&T Committee will consider a proposed definition for 
``batching

[[Page 867]]

systems.'' These systems are used daily in a wide variety of industries 
to produce concrete (sold by the cubic yard) used in buildings, bridge 
and highway construction, and ``blacktop'' or asphalt pavement (sold by 
the short ton) used for road surfaces. Batching systems are also used 
in the production of animal food, agricultural seed and many other 
commodities. These systems (which can operate automatically or 
manually) often include multiple components such as weighing and 
measuring devices, which fall under different codes in NIST Handbook 
44. When these multiple-component systems are used, it is sometimes 
difficult to categorize the system as a whole as a scale, a measuring 
device, or an automatic weighing system. Confusion over what 
requirements to apply from the various codes sometimes occurs. The 
definition is intended to clarify that weights and measures officials 
and users may apply different NIST Handbook 44 codes to the components 
of a batching system without classifying the device as an ``automatic 
bulk weighing system'' because that code includes operational and other 
requirements that manufacturers may not design a system to meet. See 
also Items 320-1--A.1. General; 324-1--A.1. General; and 330-1--A.1. 
General.

Item 360-5 Electric Vehicle Fueling and Submetering

    The S&T Committee will consider recommending adoption of a draft 
code for use in electric vehicle charging and submetering for inclusion 
in NIST Handbook 44. The code was developed by a national working group 
that continues to further refine the specifications, tolerances, and 
other technical requirements to ensure accuracy and transparency for 
drivers of electric vehicles and power resellers. The S&T Committee 
will also consider proposed changes to the section 5.55. ``Timing 
Devices'' in NIST Handbook 44 to address requirements for the timing 
mechanisms that are likely to be used in some recharging systems to 
determine additional charges for other services (e.g., parking).
    NCWM Laws and Regulations Committee (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 232-3 Animal Bedding

    Animal Bedding is generally defined as any material, except for 
baled straw, that is kept, offered or exposed for sale or sold to 
retail consumers for primary use as a medium for any pet or companion 
or livestock animal to nest or eliminate waste. The purpose of this 
proposal is to provide a uniform method of sale for animal bedding that 
will enhance the ability of consumers to make value comparisons and 
will ensure fair competition. If adopted, the proposal will require 
packers to advertise and sell packages of animal bedding on the basis 
of the expanded volume of the bedding. Most packages of animal bedding 
are compressed during packaging and the expanded volume is the amount 
of product that consumers will recover through unwrapping and 
decompressing the bedding according to the instructions provided by the 
packer. See also Item 260-3 for proposed Test Procedures for Verifying 
the Expanded Volume Declaration on Packages of Animal Bedding

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

Item 260-1 Chitterling Test Procedure

    This proposal will add a test procedure and purge allowance to NIST 
Handbook 133 so that the drainage equipment and methods used by state 
and local weights and measures officials are identical to those used by 
the Food Safety and Inspection Service of the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) in packing plants. Currently neither a purge 
allowance nor test procedure are contained in the handbook so state and 
local weights and measures inspectors use a modified test procedure 
developed for frozen seafood and information provided in a USDA 
response to a consumer inquiry to carry out inspections of these food 
products. This test procedure will also be used in verifying the amount 
of purge from beef tripe.

    Dated: December 30, 2014.
Willie E. May,
Acting Director.
[FR Doc. 2015-00020 Filed 1-6-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-P
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