[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 218 (Thursday, November 10, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78994-78995]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-27164]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


New Policy and Procedures Documents Announcing a Change in the 
Calibration Base Line Program

AGENCY: National Geodetic Survey (NGS), National Ocean Service (NOS), 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of Change in the Calibration Base Line Program; Notice 
of Public Comment.

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SUMMARY: NOAA's National Geodetic Survey (NGS) conducts a Calibration 
Base Line (CBL) program for electronic distance measuring 
instrumentation, hereafter referred to as the CBL Program. The CBL 
Program provides the surveying and engineering community with a locally 
accessible standard for measuring length and a means for quantifying 
and correcting for errors associated with this type of instrumentation. 
Currently, the CBL Program requires use of NGS equipment and direct 
participation by NGS personnel when establishing and reestablishing 
CBLs. NGS is considering changes to the CBL Program which will enable 
our partners to establish and reestablish their local CBLs using their 
own instrumentation, with NGS providing a quality review function. NGS 
invites written comments on the CBL Program draft policy (http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/CBLINES/For_review_CBL_Program_Policy.pdf) and draft 
procedures (http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/CBLINES/For_review_CBL_Program_Procedures.pdf) documents.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
comments should be directed to Mr. Kendall Fancher, Instrumentation and 
Methodologies Branch Chief, National Geodetic Survey, 15351 Office 
Drive, Woodford, VA 22580; phone: 540-373-1243, Email: 
[email protected] or [email protected].
    You may submit your comments or concerns to NGS by Tuesday, January 
17, 2017.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Since the CBL Program's inception in 1974, 
NGS

[[Page 78995]]

has established more than 400 CBLs throughout the United States in 
cooperation with various government agencies, universities, 
professional societies, and others. All data and products associated 
with this nationwide program are available at the CBL Program Web page: 
http://www.geodesy.noaa.gov/CBLINES/calibration.html.
    Currently the establishment/reestablishment of a local CBL requires 
on-site supervision by NGS personnel and the use of NGS-owned 
instrumentation. NGS resource constraints can limit administration of 
the program and the number of CBLs that can be established and 
reestablished.
    The Director of NOAA's National Geodetic Survey invites interested 
parties to submit comments to assist NGS as it decides how to maintain 
the CBL Program into the future. Comments may address any aspect of the 
CBL Program. Specifically, the Director seeks comments regarding:
    1. CBLs located within your local area or state that are important 
to your organizational activities.
    2. Whether proposed changes in the CBL Program policy and 
procedures impose a hardship on your organization.
    3. Whether proposed changes in the CBL Program policy and 
procedures will be beneficial to your organization.

    Dated: November 1, 2016.
Juliana P. Blackwell,
Director, Office of National Geodetic Survey, National Ocean Service, 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2016-27164 Filed 11-9-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-JE-P