On Sat, 8 Mar 2003, Terry Simpson wrote: > ... > >MP233 gives equivalents to many more digits. For example: > >1 avdp. dram = 0.001 771 845 195 312 5 kilogram, quoted from page 11. > > However, this is also the same precision in Handbook 44.
So it is in Appendix C! I had not looked recently. I'm surprised that Appendix C does not reference its source, MP 233, as it should to be properly documented. > Since Handbook 44 is online (and MP233 isn't), I would be happy if I could > refer to it for the most precise definitions. If we can establish this, it > would be good. The connected question is: which document has legal authority > (MP233 or Handbooks 44/130)? We should address your questions, and why there is no citation of MP 233 in HB 44, to the principal editor of HB 44: Tina G. Butcher. To be obviously legal, statements must be entered in the US Code (of federal laws and regulations). However, delegation of authority to the Secretary of Commerce and on down to the Director of NIST might be sufficient to sustain the contents of HB 44 in courts of law on the definitions of non-metric units. Are you sufficiently interested to ask legal authorities in the Department of Commerce? (I note that Karen Brown is only the "Acting Director" of NIST as stated in the 2002 Edition of HB 44.) Gene.
