[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
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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.

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

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        
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             1990 Amendments                            
                                                                        
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.                                                               
                                                                        
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 31909]]
                                                                        
                         1991 Editorial Changes                         
                                                                        
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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                            
                                                                        
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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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