[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 4 (Thursday, January 6, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 754-756]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-00036]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology


National Conference on Weights and Measures 2022 Interim Meeting

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: The 2022 Interim Meeting of the National Conference on Weights 
and Measures (NCWM) will be held using a virtual meeting platform and 
in-person at the Westin Tampa Waterside Hotel, Tampa Florida, from 
Sunday, January 9 through Wednesday, January 12, 2022. 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 2022 Interim Meeting will be held from Sunday, January 9, 
through Wednesday, January 12, 2022. The meeting schedule will be 
available on the NCWM website at www.ncwm.com.

ADDRESSES: This meeting will be held using a virtual meeting platform 
and in-person at the Westin Tampa Waterside Hotel, Tampa Florida.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Katrice Lippa, NIST, Office of 
Weights and Measures, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 2600, Gaithersburg, MD 
20899-2600. You may also contact Dr. Lippa at (301) 975-3116 or by 
email at [email protected]. The meeting is open to the public, but 
a paid registration is required. Please see the NCWM website 
(www.ncwm.com) 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 and does not itself constitute 
an endorsement by the National Institute of Standards and Technology 
(NIST) of the content of the notice. NIST participates in the NCWM as 
an NCWM member and pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 272(b)(10) and (c)(4) and in 
accordance with Federal policy (e.g., OMB Circular A-119 ``Federal 
Participation in the Development and Use of Voluntary Consensus 
Standards'').
    The NCWM is an organization of weights and measures officials of 
the states, counties, and cities of the United States, and 
representatives from the private sector and federal regulatory 
agencies. These meetings can bring these government officials together 
with representatives of business, industry, trade associations, and 
consumer organizations to discuss proposed laws and regulations and 
other subjects related to the field of weights and measures technology, 
administration, and enforcement. NIST hosted the first meeting of the 
NCWM in 1905. Since then, the conference has provided a model of 
cooperation between Federal, State, and local governments and the 
private sector. NIST participates to encourage cooperation between 
federal agencies and the states in the development of legal metrology 
requirements. NIST also promotes uniformity in state laws, regulations, 
and testing procedures used in the regulatory control of commercial 
weighing and measuring devices, packaged goods, and for other trade and 
commerce issues.
    The NCWM has established multiple committees, task groups, and 
other working bodies to address legal metrology issues of interest to 
regulatory officials, industry, consumers, and others. The following 
are brief descriptions of some of the significant agenda items that 
will be considered by some of the NCWM Committees 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 accept comments, and where recommendations will be developed for 
consideration and possible adoption at the NCWM 2022, 107th Annual 
Meeting. The Committees may withdraw or carryover items that need 
additional development.
    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 following are brief descriptions of some of the significant 
agenda items that will be considered at the 2022 Interim Meeting. 
Comments will be taken on these and other recommendations to amend NIST 
Handbook 44, ``Specifications, Tolerances, and other Technical

[[Page 755]]

Requirements for Weighing and Measuring Devices'' (NIST Handbook 44 or 
HB 44), NIST Handbook 130, ``Uniform Laws and Regulations in the areas 
of Legal Metrology and Fuel Quality'' (NIST Handbook 130 or HB 130), 
and NIST Handbook 133, ``Checking the Net Contents of Packaged Goods'' 
(NIST Handbook 133 or HB 133). These NIST Handbooks are regularly 
adopted by reference or through the administrative procedures of all 
the states.

NCWM S&T Committee (S&T 2022 Interim Meeting)

    The Specifications and Tolerances Committee (S&T Committee) will 
consider proposed amendments to NIST Handbook 44. 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.

Item Block 2 (B2): Define True Value for Use in Error Calculations
BLK-2: (SCL-20.3, SCL-20.4, SCL-20.5, SCL-20.6, SCL-20.7, and SCL-20.8)

    The S&T Committee will further consider a proposal that has been 
designated as an ``Informational'' item meaning that the committee 
wants to allow more time for review by stakeholders and possibly 
further development to address concerns. This ``block'' proposal 
includes six individual items related to the application of NIST 
Handbook 44 requirements based on the values of a scale's verification 
scale division ``e'' or the minimum scale division ``d''. Adoption of 
this proposal would have a significant impact on scales, particularly 
in cases where the values of ``e'' and ``d'' are not equal.

Item Block 4 (B4): Electronically Captured Tickets or Receipts

    The S&T Committee will further consider a proposal to allow for the 
expanded use of electronically captured tickets and receipts by 
amending NIST HB 44 Sections 1.10. General, 3.30. LMD, 3.31. VTM, 3.32. 
LPG, 3.34. CLM, 3.37. MFM, 3.38. CDL, 3.39. HGM, 3.35. Milk Meters, and 
the definition of ``recorded representation'' in Appendix D, 
Definitions. The committee amended this carry-over block of items 
during the 2020 Interim Meeting based on comments it received 
expressing a continued need for printed tickets. As a result, the 
proposal now references NIST HB 44 paragraph G-S.5.6. in various 
specific codes. At the 2021 NCWM Annual Meeting, the S&T Committee 
designated this ``block'' proposal as ``developing'' for further 
comment and consideration.

LMD--Liquid Measuring Devices

LMD-21.1: Table S.2.2. Categories of Device Method of Sealing

    The S&T Committee will further consider a proposal to amend NIST HB 
44 Section 3.30. Liquid-Measuring Devices to permit the use of an 
electronic log, in lieu of a printed copy for devices with Category 3 
sealing. The current ``Category 3'' sealing requirements in HB 44 
Liquid-Measuring Devices Code Section 3.30. specify that a printed copy 
of an event logger must be available on demand through the device or 
through another on-site device and that the information may also be 
available electronically. The new proposal would amend the language in 
Table S.2.2. ``Categories of Device and Methods of Sealing'' to permit 
either a printed or electronic form of the event logger be made 
available. This item, LMD-21.1 was previously a ``block'' item with LMD 
20.1. Both items were similar proposals, so the submitters of both 
items agreed to withdraw LMD-20.1 and further develop LMD 21.1. At the 
2021 NCWM Interim Meeting, the committee agreed to withdraw item LMD-
20.1 from the previous block of items and designated LMD-21.1 as a 
developing item so that the submitters of both items could work 
together to further develop item LMD-21.1. At the 2021 NCWM Annual 
Meeting the committee agreed to a developing status for this item for 
further comments and consideration.

VTM--Vehicle Tank Meters
VTM-18.1: S.3.1.1. Means for Clearing the Discharge Hose and UR.2.6. 
Clearing the Discharge Hose

    The S&T Committee will further consider this item, which proposes 
to provide specifications and user requirements for manifold flush 
systems designed to eliminate product contamination on VTMs used for 
multiple products. This proposal would add specifications on the design 
of VTMs under S.3.1.1. ``Means for Clearing the Discharge Hose.'' and 
add a new user requirement UR.2.6. ``Clearing the Discharge Hose.'' 
During open hearings of previous NCWM meetings, comments were heard 
about the design of any system to clear the discharge hose of a product 
prior to the delivery of a subsequent product which could provide 
opportunities to fraudulently use this type of system. At the 2021 NCWM 
Annual Meeting the committee agreed to keep this item developing for 
further comments and consideration.

EVF--Electric Vehicle Fueling Systems

EVF-20.1: S.1.3.2. EVSE Value of the Smallest Unit

    The S&T Committee will further consider a proposal that would 
specify the maximum value of the indicated and/or recorded electrical 
energy unit used in an EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment). This 
proposal would reduce (by a factor of 10) the current specified values 
of these units. The current maximum values of 0.005 MJ and 0.001 kWh 
would be changed to 0.0005 MJ and 0.0001 kWh respectively. The 
submitters contend that testing of these systems would be expedited 
through these changes and reduce the amount of time necessary to 
complete official tests. During the 2021 NCWM Annual Meeting, 
additional changes were proposed to the Electric Vehicle Fueling System 
Code to add a new paragraph S.1.3.X to address how the value of the 
quantity unit shall be expressed and at this meeting the committee 
recommended a developing status for this item for further comments and 
consideration.

GMA--Grain Moisture Meters 5.56. (A)
GMA-19.1: Table T.2.1. Acceptance and Maintenance Tolerances Air Oven 
Method for All Grains and Oil Seeds

    The S&T Committee will further consider a proposal that would 
reduce the tolerances for the air oven reference method in the Grain 
Moisture Meter Code. The proposed new tolerances would apply to all 
types of grains and oil seeds. This item is a carry-over proposal from 
2019 and would replace the contents of Table T.2.1. with new criteria. 
Additional inspection data will be collected and reviewed to assess 
whether or not the proposed changes to the tolerances are appropriate. 
At the 2021 Annual Meeting the Committee recommended a developing 
status for this item to review the results of additional data.

TMS/TNMS--Taxi Meters and Transportation Network Measurement Systems
Item BLOCK 3 (B3): Tolerances for Distance Testing in Taximeters and 
Transportation Network Systems.

    The S&T Committee will further consider changes included in this 
block affecting the HB 44 Taximeters Code (Section 5.54.) and the 
Transportation Network Measurement Systems (TNMS) Code (Section 5.60.) 
that would amend the value of tolerances allowed for distance tests. 
The changes proposed in this item would change the Taximeters Code 
requirement T.1.1. ``On Distance Tests'' by increasing that tolerance 
to 2.5% when the test exceeds one mile. The change to the TNMS Code 
affects requirement T.1.1. ``Distance Tests'' by

[[Page 756]]

reducing the tolerance allowed on overregistration under T.1.1.(a) from 
the current 2.5% to 1% when the test does not exceed one mile and would 
increase the tolerance for underregistration in T.1.1.(b) from 2.5% to 
4%. These changes if adopted would align the tolerances values for 
distance tests allowed for taximeters and TNMS. At the 2021 NCWM Annual 
Meeting it was noted that these items were being discussed with the 
USNWG and the Committee agreed to a developing status for this item for 
further comment and consideration.

NCWM L&R Committee

NIST Handbook 130 and NIST Handbook 133

    The following items are proposals for NIST HB 130 Uniform Method of 
Sale (MOS) and the Uniform Fuels and Automotive Lubricants Regulation 
(FLR):

Item Block 1 (B1)--

    NIST HB 130, PAL-19.1. UPLR, Sec. 2.8. Multiunit Package. NET-19.2. 
NIST HB 133 Modify ``scope'' for Chapters 2 through 4, add a note 
following Sections 2.3.7.1. and 2.7.3., NET-19.3. NIST HB 133 create a 
Chapter 5. Specialized Test Procedures. The L&R Committee will also be 
addressing a proposal to include adoption of a test procedure for the 
total quantity declaration on multiunit or variety packages. In 
addition, in NIST HB 130, Uniform Packaging and Labeling Regulation, 
the proposal would clarify Section 2.8. Multiunit.

Item MOS-22.4. Section 2.16. Compressed or Liquefied Gasses in 
Refillable Cylinders

    The L&R Committee will consider a proposal to modify the existing 
language for the method of sale of Compressed or Liquefied Gases in 
Refillable Cylinders. The proposed amendments are being considered so 
that current HB 130 requirements are not in conflict between the tare 
weight and other labeling requirements for compressed gas cylinders in 
the Method of Sale of Commodities Regulation and similar Federal 
regulations published by the U.S. DOT.

Item MOS-20.5 Section 2.21 Liquefied Petroleum Gas

    The L&R Committee will consider a proposal to modify the existing 
language for the method of sale of Liquefied Petroleum Gas. Consider 
changes to the existing language that references a value of ``15.6 
[deg]C'' for temperature determinations in metric units. According to 
the current industry practice for sales of petroleum products, the 
reference temperature for sales in metric are based on 15 [deg]C rather 
than the exact conversion from 60 [deg]F (which is 15.6 [deg]C). Thus, 
the temperature reference in metric should be 15 [deg]C. This will also 
add language for metered sales with a maximum capacity equal to or 
greater than 20 gal/min will have a metering system that automatic 
temperature compensates. For metering system with a maximum capacity 
less than 20 gal/min. Effective January 2030, all metered sales, shall 
be accomplished using a metering system that automatic temperature 
compensates.

Item MOS 22.3. Section 2.4. Fireplace and Stove Wood

    The Committee will consider a proposal to modify the language to 
clarify the language as to how compressed firewood bricks shall be 
sold. This also clarifies the terms for plural and singular 
representation for the units.

Item 22.1. Uniform Regulation for E-commerce Products

    The L&R Committee will consider a proposal to add a new regulation 
into HB 130 for Uniform Labeling for E-commerce for consumer 
commodities and non-consumer commodities. This regulation will provide 
guidance to those state that adopt such a regulation. It also provides 
for required information that shall be provided when the product is 
delivered. This regulation would also lay out the terms that shall 
appear on an e-commerce website.

Item Block 3 Cannabis

    B3: PALS-22.1. Section XX. Cannabis and Cannabis-Containing 
Products. The Committee will consider a proposal to establish 
definitions within HB 130 Packaging and Labeling Requirements for 
Cannabis and Cannabis containing products. In addition, PAL-22.2 
Section 10.XX. Cannabis and Cannabis-Containing Products. will 
establish labeling requirements. B3: NET-22.1. Section 1.XX. Cannabis 
and Cannabis-Containing Products and 2.XX. Cannabis and Cannabis-
Containing Products. provides for a 3% moisture allowance for Cannabis 
containing more than 0.3% total Delta-9 THC or containing 0.3% less 
total Delta-9 THC (hemp). B3: MOS-22.2. HB 130 Section 1.XX. and 
Section 2.XX. Cannabis and Cannabis-Containing Products. The Committee 
will consider a proposal to amend these two sections to include 
language for a method of sale for Cannabis. Included within this 
proposal is also a water activity limit of 0.6  -0.5, when 
unprocessed Cannabis is sold or transferred.

Alicia Chambers,
NIST Executive Secretariat.
[FR Doc. 2022-00036 Filed 1-5-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-P