[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 206 (Wednesday, October 23, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55069-55070]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-27119]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Toward A Metric America--A Dialogue Open to the Public

AGENCY: Research and Special Programs Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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[[Page 55070]]

SUMMARY: Executive Order 12770 ``Metric Usage in Federal Government 
Programs'', dated July 25, 1991, requires that Federal agencies use 
metric measures in their business related activities as a means to 
implement the metric system of measurement as the preferred system of 
weights and measures for the United States. This Order designates the 
Department of Commerce as lead agency in the metrication process.
    The Department of Commerce's Metric Program at the National 
Institute of Standards and Technology has been holding a series of 
regional dialogues to discuss the ongoing process of national 
metrication. One of these meetings will be at Southern Methodist 
University in Dallas, Texas on January 10-11, 1997. The Research and 
Special Programs Administration (RSPA) of the Department of 
Transportation has asked and received permission from the Department of 
Commerce to include a panel on metric implementation concerns facing 
the pipeline community. RSPA is specifically inviting interested 
parties from the pipeline community to attend this meeting which will 
provide a forum to discuss concerns about the impact of metricating the 
Department of Transportation's Pipeline Safety Regulations, 49 CFR 
Parts 190-199.

DATES: The regional metric dialogue meeting will be held on Friday, 
January 10, 1997 from 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. and on Saturday, January 11, 
1997 from 9:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m. The Pipeline Safety Regulation panel will 
be scheduled for January 10, at a time to be determined.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at Southern Methodist University's 
Umphrey Lee Center in Dallas, Texas.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marvin Fell, (202) 366-6205, U.S. 
Department of Transportation, RSPA, 400 Seventh St., S.W. Washington, 
D.C. 20590 regarding the subject matter of this notice, or the Dockets 
Unit (202) 366-5046, regarding copies of this notice or other material 
referenced in this notice. For information concerning national 
metrication issues, excluding pipelines, call the Department of 
Commerce at (301) 975-3690 or e-mail [email protected] or read the 
Department of Commerce's metric program world wide web site at
http://www.nist.gov/metric or contact by fax (301) 948-1416.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In order to fulfill its requirements under 
Executive Order 12270, RSPA plans to update its pipeline safety 
regulations (49 CFR Parts 190-199) by introducing the use of the metric 
system. RSPA is seeking public input to assist in converting its 
regulations from inch-pound measures to metric measures. The specific 
guidance RSPA is seeking includes answers to the questions detailed 
below. RSPA will consider the comments presented during the Dallas 
public meeting to prepare a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on its 
transition to the metric system.
    (1) What method should RSPA use in converting from inch-pound 
measures to metric measures? (A) Soft conversion (an exact mathematical 
conversion which gives the same degree of precision in either system of 
measures), showing both metric and inch-pound measures with the inch-
pound units in parentheses, (B) Soft conversion with metric only, (C) 
Hard conversion (conversions which are made for a particular purpose to 
produce measures that are meaningful in practical application or to 
conform to international standard or convention) with metric only, (D) 
Hard conversion showing both metric and inch-pound measures, with the 
inch-pound units in parentheses.
    (2) What technical problems would the pipeline industry face in 
implementing metric measures to comply with RSPA regulations?
    (3) What are the costs and benefits of the four alternatives 
described in question 1?
    (4) Will the metrication process unduly burden small entities? If 
yes, what could be done to reduce the burden on these entities?
    (5) What impact will the metrication process have on state pipeline 
safety programs?
    (6) What degree of precision should be maintained in the conversion 
from inch-pound to metric, i.e., accurate to one decimal place, two 
decimal places, or more than two decimal places?
    (7) If RSPA decides to use a transition period during which its 
regulations will display both metric and inch-pound measures, how long 
should this interim period last before a complete conversion to metric 
measures only?
    Interested persons are invited to attend the meeting and present 
oral or written statements on metric conversion issues. Any person who 
wishes to speak should notify Marvin Fell at the above address. Please 
estimate the time that will be needed to speak. RSPA reserves the right 
to limit the time of each speaker, if necessary, to ensure that 
everyone who requests an opportunity to speak is given one. Interested 
parties that are not scheduled to comment will have an opportunity to 
comment only after approval of the meeting officer.

    Issued in Washington, D.C., on October 17, 1996.
Richard Felder,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 96-27119 Filed 10-22-96; 8:45 am]
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