[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 179 (Friday, September 16, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-23012]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: September 16, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Chapter I, 46 CFR Chapter I, and 49 CFR Chapter IV

[CGD 94-067]

 

Metrication

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard will hold a public meeting to discuss 
strategies for converting Coast Guard regulations in titles 33, 46, and 
49 of the Code of Federal Regulations to the metric system. The Coast 
Guard is converting to the metric system because this system of 
measurement has been designated as the preferred system of measurement 
for the United States under Executive Order 12770 and the Omnibus Trade 
and Competitive Act of 1988.

DATES: The meeting will be held on November 2, 1994, between 9 a.m. and 
3 p.m. Comments concerning this public meeting must be received on or 
before November 15, 1994.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, 
room 2415, 2100 Second Street, SW., Washington, DC 20593-0001.

    Comments may be mailed to the Executive Secretary, Marine Safety 
Council (G-LRA/3406) (CGD 91-231), U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, 2100 
Second Street, SW., Washington, DC 20593-0001 or may be delivered to 
room 3406 at the above address between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone number is (202) 
267-1477.

    The Executive Secretary maintains the public docket for this 
rulemaking. Comments concerning this public meeting will become part of 
this docket (CGD 91-231) and will be available for inspection or 
copying in room 3406, U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mr. Randall N. Crenwelge, Project Manager, Oil Pollution Act (OPA 90) 
Staff, (G-MS-A), (202) 267-6740. This number is equipped to record 
messages on a 24-hour basis. The fax number is (202) 267-4624. Anyone 
wishing to make a presentation is requested to call this number or to 
fax a request with the following information: docket number (CGD 94-
067); name; company or organizational affiliation (if any); and the 
estimated amount of time needed for the presentation.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Drafting Information

    The principal persons involved in drafting this notice are Randall 
N. Crenwelge, Project Manager, and Mary-Jo Cooney, Project Counsel, OPA 
90 Staff, (G-MS-A).

Background and Discussion

    Executive Order 12770 (E.O. 12770), signed on July 25, 1991, and 
the Omnibus Trade and Competitive Act of 1988 (Pub. L. 100-418) both 
designate the metric system as the preferred system of measurement for 
U.S. trade and commerce. E.O. 12770 requires Federal departments and 
agencies to use the metric system in their activities, including 
procurements, grants, regulations, and agency programs and functions 
related to trade, industry, and commerce. Metric usage must be in 
accordance with section 3 of the Metric Conversion Act (Pub. L. 94-168, 
89 Stat. 1007), as amended by section 5164(b) of the Omnibus Trade and 
Competitive Act of 1988.

    Federal departments and agencies may claim an exemption from the 
requirement to convert, if use of the metric system would be 
impractical or likely to cause significant inefficiencies or loss of 
markets to U.S. firms. Proposed exceptions to metric usage must follow 
an effective process of review by heads of departments and agencies.

    The U.S. Coast Guard's Metric Transition Plan, as required by E.O. 
12770, is specified in COMDTINST 5711.2. The Chief of the Office of 
Marine Safety, Security and Environmental Protection has established 
the strategy and procedures for metrication in the ``Procedures for 
Metrication in the Office of Marine Safety, Security and Environmental 
Protection,'' dated February 26, 1993. A future rulemaking will 
implement a portion of that strategy.

English to Metric Conversion Methods

    The Coast Guard is considering several methods for converting the 
English system measurements in its regulations to the metric system.

    The ``soft'' conversion method is also known as ``exact 
mathematical conversion.'' It is used to obtain an exact change in 
measurement units only. The metric equivalent to an English unit is 
determined by multiplying by the appropriate conversion factor. It is 
then rounded off to the degree of precision reflected by the original 
English value. For example, a soft conversion of 55 miles per hour 
(mph) yields 89 kilometers per hour (km/hr).

    The ``hard'' metric conversion method is known as ``size 
substitution.'' Using this method, an English unit is replaced with an 
accepted metric standard size used for a particular purpose. Where 
possible, this method is used to convert an English unit to a metric 
unit that conforms to an internationally recognized standard. For 
example, a hard conversion of the 55 mph yields a speed of 90 km/hr.

    The ``dual'' system of measurement and weights is also known as 
``adaptive conversion.'' It changes a magnitude in one system to a 
magnitude in another that is reasonably equivalent. This process should 
result in conversions to magnitudes that are meaningful and practical 
in application. Thus, an adaptive conversion of 55 mph equates to 89 
km/hr. With the dual method, an equivalent English unit would be placed 
in parenthesis after the metric unit.

    The Coast Guard also is considering a fourth method of metric 
conversion called the ``hybrid'' method which combines both the hard 
and dual conversion methods. Using the hybrid method, all English units 
would be converted to metric using the hard conversion method. 
Additionally, an English unit of approximate equivalency, typically the 
English standard measurement, would be placed in parenthesis after the 
metric unit.
    When converting the regulations, existing English standards will be 
replaced with metric standards where possible. When industry consensus 
standards are used, the Coast Guard will attempt to incorporate by 
reference industry standards which use standard metric sizes that are 
equivalent to the original English standards. The Coast Guard also will 
encourage organizations that establish standards to convert English 
standards that are currently incorporated into Coast Guard regulations 
to metric. All conversions will be made so that the final values are 
within the original safe limits or constraints of the engineering 
equation. Conversions will be made so that vessels will not be required 
to meet a different set of standards or new requirements.
    Some statutes under which the Coast Guard operates contain 
measurements in English units. In such cases, the Coast Guard would 
apply a direct mathematical conversion so that use of the metric 
measurement would not change the statutory measurement. For example, 79 
feet would be converted to 24.3 meters. This soft conversion method 
would also be implemented where adoption of the hard conversion method 
might cause a change in magnitude and inadvertently result in 
application of a different regulatory standard. The Coast Guard does 
not intend conversion to the metric system to result in the application 
of different compliance standards.

Request for Comments

    The Coast Guard is interested in obtaining information on the 
impacts on commercial ship operators, shipyards, and marine suppliers 
of converting its regulations to metric units and dimensions. The Coast 
Guard is especially interested in the public's evaluation of the 
impacts of metric conversion on vessel design and personnel safety, and 
the economic feasibility of converting to the metric system for all 
segments of the marine industry.
    The Coast Guard requests additional information on costs, required 
retooling or replacement of equipment or materials, extra work 
requirements, current metric system usage, and the impact of 
metrication on small entities. The Coast Guard also requests comments 
on which system of metric conversion is most appropriate for the type 
of vessel and its trade, or any other appropriate considerations. The 
Coast Guard is concerned that conversion to the metric system using 
specific conversion methods may result in industry's converting without 
the necessary training for its personnel.
    To adequately address the issues and obtain additional information, 
the Coast Guard will hold a public meeting at the time and place 
indicated in this notice. Responses to the following questions would be 
particularly useful in developing a future notice of proposed 
rulemaking (NPRM).
    1. In what areas, if any, do you currently use the metric system in 
your business?
    2. What method of metric conversion would be most appropriate for 
your business (hard, soft, dual, or hybrid)?
    3. Is it more important to have an exact mathematical conversion 
(soft) or a convenient unit of measurement (hard)?
    4. What potential benefits do you see in using the metric system?
    5. Would a conversion to the metric system require the replacement 
of any equipment or material currently in use? If so, what equipment or 
material would be replaced, would it be replaced by new equipment, and 
at what costs?
    6. What is the estimated cost of dollars and hours for your company 
to convert to the metric system?
    7. Would conversion to the metric system affect the cost of your 
day-to-day operations? If so, how much and why?
    8. Would a conversion to the metric system present an extra burden 
of compliance hours? If so, what areas would be burdensome, and how 
many hours of extra work would you expect to result from a conversion 
to the metric system?
    9. What section(s) of the Code of Federal Regulations do you use 
most frequently?

    Dated: September 12, 1994.
J.C. Card,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard Chief, Office of Marine Safety, Security 
and Environmental Protection.
[FR Doc. 94-23012 Filed 9-15-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M