Request for Information Regarding Measurement Science Needs for Water Use Efficiency and Water Quality in Premise Plumbing Systems, 50897-50899 [2018-21920]
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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 196 / Wednesday, October 10, 2018 / Notices
with section 751(a)(3)(A) of the Tariff
Act of 1930, as amended (the Act).4
Scope of the Order
The product covered by the Lined
Paper Order is certain lined paper
products from India. For a full
description of the scope of this order,
see the Preliminary Decision
Memorandum.5
Methodology
Commerce is conducting this CVD
review in accordance with section
751(a)(1)(A) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as
amended (the Act). For each of the
subsidy programs found
countervailable, we determine that there
is a subsidy, i.e., a financial
contribution by an ‘‘authority’’ that
confers a benefit to the recipient, and
that the subsidy is specific.6 For a full
description of the methodology
underlying our preliminary conclusions,
including our reliance, in part, on
adverse facts available pursuant to
sections 776(a) and (b) of the Act, see
the Preliminary Decision Memorandum.
A list of topics included in the
Preliminary Decision Memorandum is
included as an Appendix to this notice.
The Preliminary Decision
Memorandum is a public document and
is on file electronically via Enforcement
and Compliance’s Antidumping and
Countervailing Duty Centralized
Electronic Service System (ACCESS).
ACCESS is available to registered users
at https://access.trade.gov, and to all
parties in the Central Records Unit,
Room B8024 of the main Department of
Commerce building. In addition, a
complete version of the Preliminary
Decision Memorandum can be accessed
directly at https://enforcement.trade.gov/
frn. The signed and electronic versions
of the Preliminary Decision
Memorandum are identical in content.
Preliminary Results of Review
As a result of this review, we
preliminarily determine the net
countervailable subsidy rate to be:
Manufacturer/exporter
Goldenpalm Manufacturers PVT Ltd.
Net subsidy rate
188.70 percent
ad valorem
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1
4 See
Memorandum, ‘‘Extension of Deadline for
Preliminary Results of Countervailing Duty
Administrative Review,’’ dated May 31, 2018.
5 See ‘‘Decision Memorandum for Preliminary
Results of 2016 Countervailing Duty Administrative
Review: Certain Lined Paper Products from India,’’
dated concurrently with, and hereby adopted by,
this notice (Preliminary Decision Memorandum).
6 See sections 771(5)(B) and (D) of the Act
regarding financial contribution; section 771(5)(E)
of the Act regarding benefit; and, section 771(5A)
of the Act regarding specificity.
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21:20 Oct 09, 2018
Jkt 247001
Public Comment
Interested parties may submit case
briefs within 30 days of publication of
this notice.7 Rebuttal briefs, limited to
issues raised in the case briefs, may be
filed no later than five days after the
time limit for filing case briefs.8 Parties
who submit case or rebuttal briefs are
requested to submit with the argument:
(1) A statement of the issue; (2) a brief
summary of the argument; and (3) a
table of authorities.9
Interested parties who wish to request
a hearing must do so within 30 days of
publication of these preliminary results
by submitting a written request to the
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and
Compliance, U.S. Department of
Commerce, using Enforcement and
Compliance’s ACCESS system.10
Hearing requests should contain: (1) The
party’s name, address, and telephone
number; (2) the number of participants;
and (3) a list of the issues to be
discussed. If a request for a hearing is
made, we will inform parties of the
scheduled date for the hearing which
will be held at the U.S. Department of
Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue
NW, Washington, DC 20230, at a time
and location to be determined.11 Parties
should confirm by telephone the date,
time, and location of the hearing. Issues
addressed at the hearing will be limited
to those raised in the briefs.12 All briefs
and hearing requests must be filed
electronically and received successfully
in their entirety through ACCESS by
5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the due date.
Unless the deadline is extended,
pursuant to section 751(a)(3)(A) of the
Act, we intend to issue the final results
of this administrative review, including
the results of our analysis of the issues
raised by the parties in their comments,
within 120 days after issuance of these
preliminary results.
Assessment Rates and Cash Deposit
Requirement
In accordance with 19 CFR
351.221(b)(4)(i), we preliminarily
assigned the subsidy rate in the amount
shown above for the producer/exporter
shown above. Upon issuance of the final
results, Commerce shall determine, and
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
(CBP) shall assess, CVDs on all
appropriate entries covered by this
review. We intend to issue instructions
to CBP 15 days after publication of the
final results of review.
7 See
19 CFR 351.309(c)(l)(ii).
19 CFR 351.309(c)(l)(ii) and 351.309(d).
9 See 19 CFR 351.309(c)(2) and (d)(2).
10 See 19 CFR 351.310(c).
11 Id.
12 See 19 CFR 351.310(c).
8 See
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50897
Pursuant to section 751(a)(2)(C) of the
Act, Commerce also intends to instruct
CBP to collect cash deposits of
estimated CVDs, in the amount shown
above for the company shown above, on
shipments of subject merchandise
entered, or withdrawn from warehouse,
for consumption on or after the date of
publication of the final results of this
review. For all non-reviewed firms, we
will instruct CBP to continue to collect
cash deposits at the most-recent
company-specific or all-others rate
applicable to the company, as
appropriate. These cash deposit
requirements, when imposed, shall
remain in effect until further notice.
These preliminary results are issued
and published in accordance with
sections 751(a)(1) and 777(i)(1) of the
Act, and 19 CFR 351.221(b)(4).
Dated: October 3, 2018.
Gary Taverman,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping
and Countervailing Duty Operations,
performing the non-exclusive functions and
duties of the Assistant Secretary for
Enforcement and Compliance.
Appendix
List of Topics Discussed in the Preliminary
Decision Memorandum
I. Summary
II. Background
III. Scope of the Order
IV. Use of Facts Otherwise Available and
Application of Adverse Inferences
V. Discussion and Analysis of Programs
VI. Recommendation
[FR Doc. 2018–21984 Filed 10–9–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Institute of Standards and
Technology
[Docket Number: 180904815–8815–01]
Request for Information Regarding
Measurement Science Needs for Water
Use Efficiency and Water Quality in
Premise Plumbing Systems
National Institute of Standards
and Technology, Department of
Commerce.
ACTION: Request for Information (RFI).
AGENCY:
Premise plumbing systems are
key to the built environment, given that
our ability to live and thrive in
buildings is highly dependent on
efficient and sustainable access to
potable water. The design of premise
plumbing systems in the U.S. is based
in part on decades-old data embodied in
building codes, much of which was
developed at the National Institute of
Standards and Technology (NIST).
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\10OCN1.SGM
10OCN1
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1
50898
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 196 / Wednesday, October 10, 2018 / Notices
However, many important factors
affecting these systems have changed
considerably in recent years. Per capita
water demand has declined, new
materials have been introduced into
plumbing systems, and there are
growing concerns regarding human
exposure to opportunistic pathogens in
plumbing systems and other water
quality issues. New information is
needed to ensure that premise plumbing
systems are designed, installed, and
operated such that the goals of water
efficiency, water quality, and energy
efficiency are considered in an
integrated manner. NIST requests
information from the public regarding
measurement science needs that must
be addressed to inform future code
revisions, green building standards, and
guidance documents in ways that enable
safe, reliable and efficient plumbing
systems in buildings. Responses to this
RFI will assist NIST in its execution of
a project to investigate approaches that
can reduce water and energy
consumption and reduce or prevent
water quality problems by informing
improvements in plumbing system
design, codes and standards.
DATES: Comments must be received by
5:00 p.m. Eastern time on November 9,
2018. Written comments in response to
the RFI should be submitted according
to the instructions in the ADDRESSES and
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION sections
below. Submissions received after that
date may not be considered.
ADDRESSES: Responses to this RFI can be
submitted by either of the following
methods:
• Agency Website: [https://
www.nist.gov/el/energy-andenvironment-division-73200/rfiresponse]. Follow the instructions for
sending comments on the agency
website.
• Email: safeandsustainable
plumbing@
nist.gov. Include ‘‘RFI Response:
Regarding Measurement Science Needs
for Water Use Efficiency and Water
Quality in Premise Plumbing Systems’’
in the subject line of the message.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr.
David Yashar, Deputy Chief, Energy and
Environment Division, Engineering
Laboratory, National Institute of
Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau
Drive, MS 2201, Gaithersburg, MD
20899, 301–975–5868, or by email to
dyashar@nist.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Premise plumbing systems are key to
the built environment, given that our
ability to live and thrive in buildings is
VerDate Sep<11>2014
21:20 Oct 09, 2018
Jkt 247001
highly dependent on efficient and
sustainable access to potable water. The
design of premise plumbing systems in
the U.S. is based in part on decades-old
data embodied in building codes, much
of which was developed at NIST.
However, as described below, many
important factors affecting these systems
have changed considerably in recent
years. Per capita water demand has
declined and concerns exist regarding
human exposure to opportunistic
pathogens in plumbing systems and
other water quality issues. New
technical information is needed to
ensure that premise plumbing systems
are designed, installed, and operated
such that the goals of water efficiency,
water quality, and energy efficiency are
considered in an integrated manner,
based in part on the following
considerations:
• Population growth and concerns
over the scarcity of water and the ability
to deliver potable water through an
aging treatment and distribution
infrastructure have led Americans to
implement measures that reduced
indoor household water use by 22%
since the late 1990’s.1 As a result, new
premise plumbing systems are being
designed and installed with water flow
rates that are significantly lower than
those corresponding to the design data
in building codes and other guidance.
• Many existing plumbing systems
are being operated at lower flow rates
than those for which they were designed
to operate. These low flow rates create
situations where water remains in
distribution and building plumbing
systems for longer periods of time,
potentially rendering water treatment
practices less effective and leading to
conditions that can promote the growth
of opportunistic waterborne pathogens.
• Materials used in piping networks
and fixtures have changed, and there is
insufficient information about their
performance and impacts over time.
• Water stressed areas are considering
on-site reuse for non-potable uses.
However, there is some uncertainty
regarding design criteria to implement
these systems in a healthy and
sustainable manner.
• The distribution and consumption
of water inside a building has
significant influence on the amount of
energy that a building consumes. Efforts
to advance energy efficiency may affect
how water moves in a building as well
as its resulting water quality.
• The need to use water more
efficiently to supply a growing
1 Water
Research Foundation, Residential End
Uses of Water, 2016. https://www.waterrf.org/
PublicReportLibrary/4309A.pdf.
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
population and economy will not
diminish as water shortages, most
notably in the western U.S., become
more frequent and/or severe. The U.S.
Government Accountability Office
predicts that water shortages in nondrought conditions will be experienced
in 40 of the 50 states by 2024.2
Based on these factors and trends, it
is clear that research is needed to
advance the state of knowledge that
supports the design of new premise
plumbing systems and the operation
and retrofit of existing systems to
conserve water resources, protect public
health, and support community
resilience.
The input received through this RFI
may be incorporated into a long-term
research agenda to develop the codes,
standards, and guidance to advance
building water use efficiency and water
quality which will be accessible to
multiple public and private sector
organizations. This research agenda will
target the following core issues:
• Updated data and models to
support the codes, standards, and
guidance necessary for the design of
new premise plumbing systems based
on the lower water flow rates, the use
of new materials, and the increased
awareness of opportunistic pathogens
and other water quality issues.
• Information to inform codes,
standards, and guidance for the
operation and potential retrofit of
existing plumbing systems that are
subject to lower water flow rates than
those for which they were designed and
which may be affected by degradation in
system materials over time.
• Codes, standards, and guidance for
future plumbing systems based on
increasing demands for water efficiency
and water quality, employing
technologies such as onsite reuse, and
different scales of delivery and
treatment.
• Codes, standards, and guidance for
human factors related to water use as
well as system operation and
maintenance.
For the purposes of this RFI, premise
plumbing is defined as all potable and
non-potable, piping and appurtenances
(e.g., water heaters, chillers) within a
property line, and includes reuse,
collection system, and onsite storage
within a residential or commercial
facility. NIST is interested in issues
related to the following aspects and
features of premise plumbing systems:
• All premise plumbing systems in
residential, commercial and industrial
2 U.S. Government Accountability Office,
Freshwater: Supply Concerns Continue, and
Uncertainties Complicate Planning, May 22, 2014.
https://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-14-430.
E:\FR\FM\10OCN1.SGM
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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 196 / Wednesday, October 10, 2018 / Notices
•
•
•
•
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1
•
buildings, per the above definition,
including but not limited to irrigation
systems, fire suppression systems,
cooling towers, water features and
data centers
Materials used in plumbing systems,
their resistance to corrosion, their
ability to maintain structural integrity,
and their interaction with
contaminants and treatment
chemicals
System operation and maintenance,
and occupant water use
Water quality conditions at point of
entry into the building
Data needed for design and operation,
including water demand assumptions
Models for designing new systems
and evaluating existing systems
II. Request for Information
NIST requests information from the
public regarding measurement science
needs that must be addressed to inform
future code revisions, green building
standards, and guidance documents in
ways that enable safe, reliable and
efficient plumbing systems in buildings.
Responses to this RFI will assist NIST
in its execution of a project to
investigate approaches that can reduce
water and energy consumption and
reduce or prevent water quality
problems by informing improvements in
plumbing system design, codes and
standards.
Respondents are encouraged—but are
not required—to respond to each
question and to present their answers
after each question. The following
questions cover the major areas about
which NIST seeks comment.
Respondents may organize their
submissions in response to this RFI in
any manner, and all responses that
comply with the requirements listed in
the DATES and ADDRESSES sections of
this RFI will be considered.
Attachments will be accepted in plain
text, Microsoft Word, or Adobe PDF
formats. Comments sent by any method
other than those specified in this notice,
to any address or individual other than
those specified in this notice, or
received after the end of the comment
period, may not be considered.
Comments containing references,
studies, research, and other empirical
data that are not widely published
should include copies or electronic
links of the referenced materials.
All submissions, including
attachments and other supporting
materials, will become part of the public
record and subject to public disclosure.
NIST reserves the right to publish
comments publicly, unedited and in
their entirety. Sensitive personal
information, such as account numbers
VerDate Sep<11>2014
21:20 Oct 09, 2018
Jkt 247001
or Social Security numbers, or names of
other individuals, should not be
included. Submissions will not be
edited to remove any identifying or
contact information. Do not submit
confidential business information, or
otherwise sensitive or protected
information. Comments that contain
profanity, vulgarity, threats, or other
inappropriate language or content will
not be considered.
NIST is interested in receiving
information from the stakeholder
community to answer the following
questions:
(1) What are the most important
issues to design and operate safe,
healthy, reliable, and efficient plumbing
systems?;
(2) In the context of the core issues
listed above or any other issues
identified in this notice, what are the
research needs that should be
considered in developing this research
agenda?;
(3) Is there any other information
respondents want to provide regarding
this effort?
Authority: 15 U.S.C. 272(b)(10).
Kevin A. Kimball,
Chief of Staff.
[FR Doc. 2018–21920 Filed 10–9–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–13–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XG525
Fisheries of the Caribbean; Southeast
Data, Assessment, and Review
(SEDAR); Public Meeting
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of SEDAR 57 Assessment
Webinar II for Caribbean spiny lobster.
AGENCY:
The SEDAR 57 stock
assessment process for Caribbean spiny
lobster will consist of a Data Workshop,
a series of data and assessment
webinars, and a Review Workshop. See
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
DATES: The SEDAR 57 Assessment
Webinar II will be held October 24,
2018, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Eastern
Time.
SUMMARY:
ADDRESSES:
Meeting address: The meeting will be
held via webinar. The webinar is open
to members of the public. Those
interested in participating should
PO 00000
Frm 00016
Fmt 4703
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50899
contact Julie A. Neer at SEDAR (see FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT) to
request an invitation providing webinar
access information. Please request
webinar invitations at least 24 hours in
advance of each webinar.
SEDAR address: 4055 Faber Place
Drive, Suite 201, North Charleston, SC
29405.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julie
A. Neer, SEDAR Coordinator; phone:
(843) 571–4366; email: Julie.neer@
safmc.net
The Gulf
of Mexico, South Atlantic, and
Caribbean Fishery Management
Councils, in conjunction with NOAA
Fisheries and the Atlantic and Gulf
States Marine Fisheries Commissions
have implemented the Southeast Data,
Assessment and Review (SEDAR)
process, a multi-step method for
determining the status of fish stocks in
the Southeast Region. SEDAR is a multistep process including: (1) Data
Workshop, (2) a series of assessment
webinars, and (3) A Review Workshop.
The product of the Data Workshop is a
report that compiles and evaluates
potential datasets and recommends
which datasets are appropriate for
assessment analyses. The assessment
webinars produce a report that describes
the fisheries, evaluates the status of the
stock, estimates biological benchmarks,
projects future population conditions,
and recommends research and
monitoring needs. The product of the
Review Workshop is an Assessment
Summary documenting panel opinions
regarding the strengths and weaknesses
of the stock assessment and input data.
Participants for SEDAR Workshops are
appointed by the Gulf of Mexico, South
Atlantic, and Caribbean Fishery
Management Councils and NOAA
Fisheries Southeast Regional Office,
HMS Management Division, and
Southeast Fisheries Science Center.
Participants include data collectors and
database managers; stock assessment
scientists, biologists, and researchers;
constituency representatives including
fishermen, environmentalists, and
NGO’s; International experts; and staff
of Councils, Commissions, and state and
federal agencies.
1. Using datasets and initial
assessment analysis recommended from
the Data Webinar, panelists will employ
assessment models to evaluate stock
status, estimate population benchmarks
and management criteria, and project
future conditions.
2. Participants will recommend the
most appropriate methods and
configurations for determining stock
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
E:\FR\FM\10OCN1.SGM
10OCN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 196 (Wednesday, October 10, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50897-50899]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-21920]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Institute of Standards and Technology
[Docket Number: 180904815-8815-01]
Request for Information Regarding Measurement Science Needs for
Water Use Efficiency and Water Quality in Premise Plumbing Systems
AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Department of
Commerce.
ACTION: Request for Information (RFI).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Premise plumbing systems are key to the built environment,
given that our ability to live and thrive in buildings is highly
dependent on efficient and sustainable access to potable water. The
design of premise plumbing systems in the U.S. is based in part on
decades-old data embodied in building codes, much of which was
developed at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
[[Page 50898]]
However, many important factors affecting these systems have changed
considerably in recent years. Per capita water demand has declined, new
materials have been introduced into plumbing systems, and there are
growing concerns regarding human exposure to opportunistic pathogens in
plumbing systems and other water quality issues. New information is
needed to ensure that premise plumbing systems are designed, installed,
and operated such that the goals of water efficiency, water quality,
and energy efficiency are considered in an integrated manner. NIST
requests information from the public regarding measurement science
needs that must be addressed to inform future code revisions, green
building standards, and guidance documents in ways that enable safe,
reliable and efficient plumbing systems in buildings. Responses to this
RFI will assist NIST in its execution of a project to investigate
approaches that can reduce water and energy consumption and reduce or
prevent water quality problems by informing improvements in plumbing
system design, codes and standards.
DATES: Comments must be received by 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on November
9, 2018. Written comments in response to the RFI should be submitted
according to the instructions in the ADDRESSES and SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION sections below. Submissions received after that date may
not be considered.
ADDRESSES: Responses to this RFI can be submitted by either of the
following methods:
Agency Website: [https://www.nist.gov/el/energy-and-environment-division-73200/rfi-response]. Follow the instructions for
sending comments on the agency website.
Email: [email protected]. Include ``RFI
Response: Regarding Measurement Science Needs for Water Use Efficiency
and Water Quality in Premise Plumbing Systems'' in the subject line of
the message.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. David Yashar, Deputy Chief, Energy
and Environment Division, Engineering Laboratory, National Institute of
Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, MS 2201, Gaithersburg, MD
20899, 301-975-5868, or by email to [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Premise plumbing systems are key to the built environment, given
that our ability to live and thrive in buildings is highly dependent on
efficient and sustainable access to potable water. The design of
premise plumbing systems in the U.S. is based in part on decades-old
data embodied in building codes, much of which was developed at NIST.
However, as described below, many important factors affecting these
systems have changed considerably in recent years. Per capita water
demand has declined and concerns exist regarding human exposure to
opportunistic pathogens in plumbing systems and other water quality
issues. New technical information is needed to ensure that premise
plumbing systems are designed, installed, and operated such that the
goals of water efficiency, water quality, and energy efficiency are
considered in an integrated manner, based in part on the following
considerations:
Population growth and concerns over the scarcity of water
and the ability to deliver potable water through an aging treatment and
distribution infrastructure have led Americans to implement measures
that reduced indoor household water use by 22% since the late
1990's.\1\ As a result, new premise plumbing systems are being designed
and installed with water flow rates that are significantly lower than
those corresponding to the design data in building codes and other
guidance.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Water Research Foundation, Residential End Uses of Water,
2016. https://www.waterrf.org/PublicReportLibrary/4309A.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Many existing plumbing systems are being operated at lower
flow rates than those for which they were designed to operate. These
low flow rates create situations where water remains in distribution
and building plumbing systems for longer periods of time, potentially
rendering water treatment practices less effective and leading to
conditions that can promote the growth of opportunistic waterborne
pathogens.
Materials used in piping networks and fixtures have
changed, and there is insufficient information about their performance
and impacts over time.
Water stressed areas are considering on-site reuse for
non-potable uses. However, there is some uncertainty regarding design
criteria to implement these systems in a healthy and sustainable
manner.
The distribution and consumption of water inside a
building has significant influence on the amount of energy that a
building consumes. Efforts to advance energy efficiency may affect how
water moves in a building as well as its resulting water quality.
The need to use water more efficiently to supply a growing
population and economy will not diminish as water shortages, most
notably in the western U.S., become more frequent and/or severe. The
U.S. Government Accountability Office predicts that water shortages in
non-drought conditions will be experienced in 40 of the 50 states by
2024.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ U.S. Government Accountability Office, Freshwater: Supply
Concerns Continue, and Uncertainties Complicate Planning, May 22,
2014. https://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-14-430.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Based on these factors and trends, it is clear that research is
needed to advance the state of knowledge that supports the design of
new premise plumbing systems and the operation and retrofit of existing
systems to conserve water resources, protect public health, and support
community resilience.
The input received through this RFI may be incorporated into a
long-term research agenda to develop the codes, standards, and guidance
to advance building water use efficiency and water quality which will
be accessible to multiple public and private sector organizations. This
research agenda will target the following core issues:
Updated data and models to support the codes, standards,
and guidance necessary for the design of new premise plumbing systems
based on the lower water flow rates, the use of new materials, and the
increased awareness of opportunistic pathogens and other water quality
issues.
Information to inform codes, standards, and guidance for
the operation and potential retrofit of existing plumbing systems that
are subject to lower water flow rates than those for which they were
designed and which may be affected by degradation in system materials
over time.
Codes, standards, and guidance for future plumbing systems
based on increasing demands for water efficiency and water quality,
employing technologies such as onsite reuse, and different scales of
delivery and treatment.
Codes, standards, and guidance for human factors related
to water use as well as system operation and maintenance.
For the purposes of this RFI, premise plumbing is defined as all
potable and non-potable, piping and appurtenances (e.g., water heaters,
chillers) within a property line, and includes reuse, collection
system, and onsite storage within a residential or commercial facility.
NIST is interested in issues related to the following aspects and
features of premise plumbing systems:
All premise plumbing systems in residential, commercial and
industrial
[[Page 50899]]
buildings, per the above definition, including but not limited to
irrigation systems, fire suppression systems, cooling towers, water
features and data centers
Materials used in plumbing systems, their resistance to
corrosion, their ability to maintain structural integrity, and their
interaction with contaminants and treatment chemicals
System operation and maintenance, and occupant water use
Water quality conditions at point of entry into the building
Data needed for design and operation, including water demand
assumptions
Models for designing new systems and evaluating existing
systems
II. Request for Information
NIST requests information from the public regarding measurement
science needs that must be addressed to inform future code revisions,
green building standards, and guidance documents in ways that enable
safe, reliable and efficient plumbing systems in buildings. Responses
to this RFI will assist NIST in its execution of a project to
investigate approaches that can reduce water and energy consumption and
reduce or prevent water quality problems by informing improvements in
plumbing system design, codes and standards.
Respondents are encouraged--but are not required--to respond to
each question and to present their answers after each question. The
following questions cover the major areas about which NIST seeks
comment. Respondents may organize their submissions in response to this
RFI in any manner, and all responses that comply with the requirements
listed in the DATES and ADDRESSES sections of this RFI will be
considered.
Attachments will be accepted in plain text, Microsoft Word, or
Adobe PDF formats. Comments sent by any method other than those
specified in this notice, to any address or individual other than those
specified in this notice, or received after the end of the comment
period, may not be considered. Comments containing references, studies,
research, and other empirical data that are not widely published should
include copies or electronic links of the referenced materials.
All submissions, including attachments and other supporting
materials, will become part of the public record and subject to public
disclosure. NIST reserves the right to publish comments publicly,
unedited and in their entirety. Sensitive personal information, such as
account numbers or Social Security numbers, or names of other
individuals, should not be included. Submissions will not be edited to
remove any identifying or contact information. Do not submit
confidential business information, or otherwise sensitive or protected
information. Comments that contain profanity, vulgarity, threats, or
other inappropriate language or content will not be considered.
NIST is interested in receiving information from the stakeholder
community to answer the following questions:
(1) What are the most important issues to design and operate safe,
healthy, reliable, and efficient plumbing systems?;
(2) In the context of the core issues listed above or any other
issues identified in this notice, what are the research needs that
should be considered in developing this research agenda?;
(3) Is there any other information respondents want to provide
regarding this effort?
Authority: 15 U.S.C. 272(b)(10).
Kevin A. Kimball,
Chief of Staff.
[FR Doc. 2018-21920 Filed 10-9-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-P
