Official Performance and Procedural Requirements for Grain Weighing Equipment and Related Grain Handling Systems

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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