[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 117 (Monday, June 19, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 31907-31910]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-14624]
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Rules and Regulations
Federal Register
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This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains regulatory documents
having general applicability and legal effect, most of which are keyed
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Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 117 / Monday, June 19, 1995 / Rules
and Regulations
[[Page 31907]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration
7 CFR Part 802
RIN 0580-AA39
Official Performance and Procedural Requirements for Grain
Weighing Equipment and Related Grain Handling Systems
AGENCY: Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration, USDA.
ACTION: Direct final rule.
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SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirements for periodic review of
existing regulations, the Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS), of
the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration is amending
the regulations under the United States Grain Standards Act, as
amended, entitled Performance and Procedural Requirements for Grain
Weighing Equipment and Related Grain Handling Systems. FGIS is
incorporating by reference the applicable requirements of the National
Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Handbook 44,
``Specifications, Tolerances, and Other Technical Requirements for
Weighing and Measuring Devices,'' 1994 edition (Handbook 44) and
continues to adopt all of the requirements of NIST Handbook 105-1,
``Specifications and Tolerances for Reference Standard Weights and
Measures,'' 1990 revision (Handbook 105-1). Currently, the 1990 Edition
of Handbook 44 and the 1990 edition of Handbook 105-1 are incorporated
by reference.
DATES: This rule will be effective on August 18, 1995, unless we
receive written adverse comments or written notice of intent to submit
adverse comments on or before July 19, 1995. If adverse comments are
received, we will publish a document in the Federal Register.
ADDRESSES: Please send any adverse comments or notice of intent to
submit adverse comments to George Wollam, GIPSA-FGIS, USDA, Room 0623-
S, P.O. Box 96454, Washington, DC 20090-6454; FAX (202) 720-4628. All
comments received will be made available for public inspection at the
above address during business hours (7 CFR 1.27(b)).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
George Wollam, address as above, telephone (202) 720-0292.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Executive Order 12866
This rule has been determined to be not-significant for the
purposes of Executive Order 12866 and, therefore, has not been reviewed
by OMB.
Executive Order 12778
This amended rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12778,
Civil Justice Reform. This action is not intended to have a retroactive
effect. The United States Grain Standards Act provides in section 87g
that no State or subdivision may require or impose any requirements or
restrictions concerning the inspection, weighing, or description of
grain under the Act. Otherwise, this proposed rule will not preempt any
State or local laws, regulations, or policies unless they present
irreconcilable conflicts with this rule. There are no administrative
procedures which must be exhausted prior to any judicial challenge to
the provisions of this rule.
Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification
James R. Baker, Administrator, FGIS, has determined that this
proposed rule will not have a significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities. Most users of the official
inspection and weighing services and those persons that perform those
services do not meet the requirements for small entities as defined in
the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.). Further, the
standards are applied equally to all entities.
Information Collection and Recordkeeping Requirements
In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980 (44 U.S.C.
chapter 35), the information collection and recordkeeping requirements
in Part 68 have been approved previously by OMB and assigned OMB No.
0580-0013.
Background
Part 802 of the regulations, Official Performance and Procedural
Requirements for Grain Weighing Equipment and Related Grain Handling
Systems (7 CFR 802.0-802.1), sets forth certain procedures,
specifications, tolerances, and other technical requirements for grain
weighing equipment and related grain handling systems used in
performing Class X, and Class Y weighing services. This review of the
regulations includes a determination of continued need for and
consequences of the regulations. An objective of the review is to
ensure that the regulations are consistent with FGIS policy and
authority and are up-to-date. FGIS has determined that, in general,
these regulations are serving their intended purpose, are consistent
with FGIS policy and authority, and should remain in effect. FGIS,
therefore, will incorporate the 1994 edition of Handbook 44 by
reference into Part 802 of the regulations and the 1990 revision of
Handbook 105-1 continues to be adopted in order to update the
regulations.
Effective December 4, 1991, FGIS incorporated by reference into
Part 802 of the regulations most provisions in the National Institute
of Standards and Technology (NIST) Handbook 44, ``Specifications,
Tolerances, and Other Technical Requirements for Weighing and Measuring
Devices,'' 1990 edition (Handbook 44), and all provisions in NIST
Handbook 105-1, ``Specifications and Tolerances for Reference Standards
and Field Standard Weights and Measures,'' 1990 edition (Handbook 105-
1) NIST rule (53 FR 37727). Those provisions in Handbook 44 that
obviously did not pertain to FGIS services were not incorporated by
reference. The provisions that were not incorporated are listed in
section 802.0(b) of the regulations.
We are publishing this rule without a prior proposal because we
regularly update this portion of the regulations and view this action
as noncontroversial and anticipate no adverse public comment. This rule
will be effective, as published in this document, 60 days after the
date of publication in the [[Page 31908]] Federal Register unless we
receive written adverse comments or written notice of intent to submit
adverse comments within 30 days of the date of publication of this rule
in the Federal Register.
Adverse comments are comments that suggest the rule should not be
adopted or suggest the rule should be changed.
If we receive written adverse comments or written notice of intent
to submit adverse comments, we will publish a document in the Federal
Register withdrawing this rule before the effective date. We will then
publish a proposed rule for public comment. Following the close of that
comment period, the comments will be considered, and a final rule
addressing the comments will be published.
As discussed above, if we receive no written adverse comments nor
written notice of intent to submit adverse comments within 30 days of
publication of this direct final rule, this direct final rule will
become effective 60 days following its publication. We will publish a
document to this effect in the Federal Register, before the effective
date of this direct final, confirming that it is effective on the date
indicated in this document.
Direct Final Action
In 1991 FGIS incorporated by reference the 1990 edition of Handbook
105-1. FGIS will continue to adopt this edition by reference in section
802.0(a) of the regulations.
The 1990 edition of Handbook 44 has been changed annually by NIST
as new items are adopted, deleted, or revised by the National
Conference on Weights and Measures. Many of these changes were for
clarity. Further, most State weights and measures organizations
automatically adopt each new edition of Handbook 44 and Handbook 105-1.
FGIS will revise section 802.0(a) by incorporating by reference the
1994 edition of Handbook 44 including the following sections:
Section 1.10 General Code
Section 2.20 Scales
Section 2.22 Automatic Bulk Weighing Systems
Section 2.23 Weights
In addition, recent amendments to the U.S. Grain Standards Act
(Public Law 103-156) have included the authority to provide for the
testing of weighing equipment used for other than weighing grain. FGIS
is referring to this type of testing as commercial testing and is
including references to commercial services in its regulations.
The following table lists those relevant codes and paragraphs, but
not definitions, in which amendments and editorial changes were made in
1991 through 1994 by the 75th, 76th, 77th, and 78th National Conference
on Weights and Measures as they appeared in the 1991 through 1994
editions of Handbook 44. The column headed ``Action'' indicates changes
noted as ``added'', ``amended'', ``deleted'', ``renumbered'', or
provides an explanation.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Code Paragraph Action
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1990 Amendments
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General................ G-S.5.3.1 & G-S.5.6.... Retroactive.
Scales................. S.1.7.................. Amended.
Scales................. S.2.1.5................ Added.
Scales................. S.6.1., S.6.2.1, Deleted.
S.6.3., S.6.4.
Scales................. S.6.5., S.6.6., S.6.7., Deleted.
S.6.7.1.
Scales................. S.6.7.2., S.6.8., Deleted.
S.6.10.
Scales................. S.6.11................. Deleted.
Scales................. S.6.1. and S.6.2....... Renumbered.
Scales................. S.6.3.................. Added.
Scales................. Tables S.6.3.a & b..... Added.
Scales................. S.6.11................. Amended.
Scales................. N.3.1.................. Amended.
Scales................. N.3.1.1................ Deleted.
Scales................. N.3.1.1., N.3.1.2, Added.
N.3.1.3.
Scales................. N.4.-N.4.3.1.4......... Added.
Scales................. T.N.3.6.-T.N.3.6.4..... Amended.
Scales................. T.N.3.7................ Renumbered.
Scales................. T.N.3.8................ Renumbered.
Scales................. UR.5................... Added.
Scales................. Section T.1............ Amended.
Scales................. Table T.1.1............ Added.
Scales................. T.N.8.1.3.............. Amended.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1990 Editorial Changes
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scales................. T.1.1.1................ Deleted.
Scales................. Table 8................ Class III entries
restored.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1991 Amendments
------------------------------------------------------------------------
General................ G-S.1.................. Amended.
General................ G-UR.2.3............... Amended.
General................ G-UR.4.1............... Amended.
Scales................. S.1.11................. Amended.
Scales................. S.2.4.................. Amended.
Scales................. N.1.3.4................ Amended.
Scales................. N.4.................... Footnote Added.
Scales................. N.4.3.1.3.............. Amended.
Automatic Bulk Weighing UR.4................... Amended.
Systems.
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[[Page 31909]]
1991 Editorial Changes
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General................ G-S.5.2.1.............. Deleted recorded
representation
reference.
Scales................. S.6.1.................. Deleted reference to
T.1.3.
Scales................. Table S.6.3.a.......... Symbols added.
Scales................. Table S.6.3.b.......... Added Note 17
nonretroactive.
Scales................. S.6.4.................. Added from 1989
Handbook.
Scales................. Table T.1.1............ Corrected T.N.3.7 to
T.N.3.8.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1992 Amendments
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scales................. S.1.1.1................ Amended.
Scales................. S.1.7.................. Amended.
Scales................. S.1.12................. Added.
Scales................. S.2.4.1................ Added.
Scales................. Tables S.6.3.a. and Amended.
S.6.3.b.
Scales................. N.1.3.7................ Added.
Scales................. N.1.3.7. to N.1.3.8.... Renumbered.
Scales................. Table T.1.1............ Amended.
Scales................. T.N.3.6................ Amended.
Scales................. T.N.3.6.2.............. Amended.
Scales................. T.N.3.6.4.............. Amended.
Scales................. T.N.3.7................ Amended.
Scales................. UR.1.4................. Added.
Scales................. Table 7a............... Amended.
Scales................. UR.3.3................. Added note at end of
section.
Scales................. UR.3.7................. Amended.
Scales................. UR.3.9................. Added.
Scales................. UR.5................... Amended.
Automatic Bulk
Weighing:
Systems............ UR.1.1 Table........... Deleted.
Systems............ UR.1.1................. Amended.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1992 Editorial Changes
------------------------------------------------------------------------
All.................... ....................... Changes made to
include SI units.
Scales................. Table T.1.1............ New headings second
line.
Scales................. T.3.................... Deleted T.3.1 in the
1st paragraph.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1993 Amendments
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General................ G-S.8.................. Amended.
Scales................. S.1.1.................. Amended.
Scales................. Table S.1.11........... Amended.
Scales................. S.1.13................. Added.
Scales................. S.5.4.................. Added.
Scales................. N.4.3.1.1.............. Amended.
Scales................. Renumber N.5 to N.6.... Renumbered.
Scales................. N.5 (New).............. Added.
Scales................. UR.2.6.1............... Amended.
Automatic Bulk
Weighing:
Systems............ S.3.2.................. Deleted.
Systems............ S.3.3.................. Added.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1993 Editorial Changes
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scales................. Table 4................ Deleted
``recommended''.
Scales................. Index.................. Index added for scales
code.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Changes in Handbook 44 also necessitate a revision to 802.0(b).
Therefore, FGIS revises section 802.0(b) by revising the list of those
provisions that do not pertain to FGIS services. These provisions are
as follows:
S.1.8. Computing Scales
N.3. Recommended Minimum Test Weights and Test Loads
N.5. Nominal Capacity of Prescription Scales
T.2.3. Prescription Scales
T.2.4. Jewelers' Scales (all sections)
T.2.5. Dairy--Product-Test Scales (all sections)
T.N.3.9. Materials Test on Customer-Operated Bulk-Weighing Systems for
Recycled Materials
List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 802
Administrative practice and procedure, Export, Grain, Incorporation
by reference, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
For reasons set out in the preamble, 7 CFR Part 802 is amended as
follows: [[Page 31910]]
PART 802--OFFICIAL PERFORMANCE AND PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENTS FOR
GRAIN WEIGHING EQUIPMENT AND RELATED GRAIN HANDLING SYSTEMS
1. The authority citation for Part 802 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: Pub. L. 94-582, 90 Stat. 2867, as amended (7 U.S.C.
71 et seq.).
2. Section 802.0 is revised to read as follows:
Sec. 802.0 Applicability.
(a) The requirements set forth in this Part 802 describe certain
specifications, tolerances, and other technical requirements for grain
weighing equipment and related grain handling systems used in
performing Class X and Class Y weighing services, official inspection
services, and commercial services under the Act. All scales used for
official grain weight and inspection certification services provided by
FGIS shall meet applicable requirements contained in the FGIS Weighing
Handbook, the General Code, the Scales Code, the Automatic Bulk
Weighing Systems Code, and the Weights Code of the 1994 edition of
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Handbook 44,
``Specifications, Tolerances, and Other Technical Requirements for
Weighing and Measuring Devices'' (Handbook 44); and NIST HANDBOOK 105-1
(1990 Edition), ``Specifications and Tolerances for Reference Standards
and Field Standard Weights and Measures'' (Handbook 105-1). These
requirements are confirmed to be met by having National Type Evaluation
Program or Federal Grain Inspection Service type approval. Scales used
for commercial purposes will be required to meet only the applicable
requirements of the 1994 edition of the NIST Handbook-44. Pursuant to
the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552(a), with the exception of the Handbook
44 requirements listed in paragraph (b) of this section, the materials
in Handbooks 44 and 105-1 are incorporated by reference as they exist
on the date of approval and a notice of any change in these materials
will be published in the Federal Register. The NIST Handbooks are for
sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing
Office, Washington, DC 20403. They are also available for inspect at
the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW.,
suite 700, Washington, DC.
(b) The following Handbook 44 requirements are not incorporated by
reference:
Scales Code (2.20)
S.1.8. Computer Scales
S.1.8.2. Money-Value Computation
S.1.8.3. Customer's Indications
S.1.8.4. Recorded Representations, Point of Sale
S.2.5.2. Jeweler's, Prescription, & Class I & II Scales
S.3.3. Scoop Counterbalance
N.1.3.2 Dairy-Product Test Scales
N.1.5. Discrimination Test (Not adopted for Grain Test Scales only)
N.1.8. Material Tests
N.3.1.2. Interim Approval
N.3.1.3. Enforcement Action for Inaccuracy
N.4. Coupled-in-Motion Railroad Weighing Systems
N.5. Nominal Capacity of Prescription Scales
T.1.2. Postal and Parcel Post Scales
T.2.3. Prescription Scales
T.2.4. Jewelers' Scales (all sections)
T.2.5. Dairy--Product-Test Scales (all sections)
T.N.3.9. Materials Test on Customer-Operated Bulk-Weighing Systems
for Recycled Materials
UR.1.4. Grain Test Scales: Value of Scale Divisions
UR.3.1. Recommended Minimum Load
UR.3.1.1. Minimum Load, Grain Dockage
Automatic Bulk Weighing Systems (2.22): UR.1.1. Selection
Requirements for Systems Used to Weight Grain.
Dated: June 6, 1995.
James R. Baker,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 95-14624 Filed 6-16-95; 8:45 am]
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