[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 71 (Thursday, April 13, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22408-22409]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-07815]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology


Hydrometer Calibrations

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Department of 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of workshop; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), an 
agency of the United States Department of Commerce, is examining the 
economic impact and continued need for Hydrometer calibration services 
as provided to U.S. industry by the Fluid Metrology Group on NIST's 
campus in Gaithersburg, Maryland. NIST is also interested in whether 
there is a need for liquid density calibration services not presently 
offered by NIST. NIST publishes this notice to announce a workshop that 
will guide NIST planning for the future of its hydrometer calibration 
capabilities, and to request comments on government and industry 
interest in and needs for hydrometer calibrations. This is part of the 
effort to systematically review NIST's Measurement Services to assess 
gaps and ensure alignment with stakeholders' needs as discussed in the 
Government Accounting Office report GAO-18-445.

DATES: 
    For Comments: NIST will accept written responses to this request 
for information until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on May 2, 2023. 
Submissions received after that date may not be considered. Written 
comments in response to this notice should be submitted according to 
the instructions in the ADDRESSES section below.
    For Workshop: A public workshop will be held on Tuesday May 2, 
2023, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time, virtually by web 
conferencing. Interested parties must register to participate in the 
public workshop no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday May 1, 
2023, by sending an email to [email protected].

ADDRESSES: 
    For Comments: Comments should be submitted to Sherry Sheckels, 
Sensor Science Division, Physical Measurement Laboratory, National 
Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Mail Stop 
8361, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, or by electronic mail to 
[email protected]. Comments referencing studies, research, and 
other empirical data should include copies of the referenced materials. 
All comments, including attachments and other supporting materials, 
submitted in response to this document will become part of the public 
record and may be subject to public disclosure. Therefore, do not 
submit confidential business information or otherwise sensitive, 
protected, or personal information, such as account numbers, Social 
Security numbers, or names of other individuals.
    For tours: Individuals or groups interested in touring the liquid 
density standard laboratories in person are welcome and can schedule 
tours by writing to the email address, [email protected], before 
or after the workshop.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mail: Fluid Metrology Group, Attn: 
Sherry Sheckels, Hydrometer Calibrations, 100 Bureau Drive, Mail Stop 
8361, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899. Email: Sherry Sheckels at 
[email protected]. Phone number: 301 975-5940.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NIST provides calibration services for 
reference hydrometers to measure liquid density. These reference 
standard hydrometers are generally used as laboratory standards to 
calibrate other hydrometers.
    Reference hydrometers accepted for calibration include specific 
gravity, proof spirit for alcohol solutions, API degrees for petroleum 
measurements, degrees Baume heavy and degrees Baume light, and other 
arbitrary scales, all subject to discussion with the technical 
contacts. Specific gravity hydrometers cover the specific gravity range 
of 0.65 to 2.
    NIST is seeking comments on the following topics; however, NIST 
does not intend to limit the responses to the topics listed below, 
provided that the responses address topics that would be useful in 
planning NIST offerings for liquid density calibrations service. When 
addressing the topics below, respondents may describe the practices of 
their organization or organizations with which they are familiar. 
Providing such information is optional and will not affect NIST's full 
consideration of the comment.
    Topics of Interest:
    1. Have you purchased hydrometer calibrations, if any, including:
    a. If you have purchased calibrations from NIST, whether you 
purchased from NIST due to convenience, accuracy, cost, customer 
service, regulatory requirement, or some other reason;
    b. If NIST was to terminate the hydrometer calibration service(s) 
you presently use, whether you have another source lined up that would 
meet your requirements; and

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    c. Whether it would pose a problem to your organization if the 
calibration service was not available at NIST.
    2. How NIST calibration results are applied in your organization, 
including numerical examples of ``leverage'' to assess the economic 
impact of NIST hydrometer calibration services.
    3. Whether hydrometer calibrations in your organization are 
traceable to NIST, including:
    a. Whether you refer to NIST hydrometer publications or research to 
support your hydrometer measurements; and
    b. If not directly traceable to NIST, whether you know how your 
hydrometer measurements compare to NIST hydrometer standards (for 
example by comparison against a hydrometer traceable to a NIST 
calibration).
    4. Feedback on the cost, availability, turn-around time, business 
systems, and customer service provided by NIST hydrometer calibration 
services.
    5. Whether you purchase hydrometer calibrations from another 
National Metrology Institute (NMI) or from another calibration 
laboratory, and your organization's experience with this approach.
    6. Your opinions about the range, uncertainty, quality and cost of 
the NIST hydrometer calibration services.
    7. Whether you manufacture and sell hydrometers or sell 
calibrations of such hydrometers; if so, whether your hydrometer 
calibration values are traceable to NIST; and, if not NIST, whether you 
use a secondary laboratory, another NMI, or have your own primary 
standard(s).
    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 272(b) & (c).

Alicia Chambers,
NIST Executive Secretariat.
[FR Doc. 2023-07815 Filed 4-12-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-P