[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 47 (Tuesday, March 11, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11250-11251]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-5896]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Research and Special Programs Administration
[Docket No. PS-153; Notice 2]


Toward a Metric America--a Dialogue Open to the Public; Request 
for Comments

AGENCY: Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA), DOT.

ACTION: Further request for comments.

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SUMMARY: On October 23, 1996, RSPA published a notice of public meeting 
(61 FR 55069) to consider issues relating to

[[Page 11251]]

the inclusion of metric equivalents in the pipeline safety regulations 
(49 CFR Part 190-199). The meeting was held on January 10, 1997, in 
Dallas, Texas. RSPA specifically requested public comment on seven 
questions. Among the comments received was a detailed example of how to 
present metric equivalents in the pipeline safety regulations. RSPA is 
providing an additional 30 days to receive comments on this comment.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by April 10, 1997 to be 
considered.

ADDRESSES: Send all comments on this notice to Marvin Fell, DOT, RSPA, 
Office of Pipeline Safety, 400 Seventh Street SW, Room 2335, 
Washington, DC 20590, or via the Internet at [email protected]. A copy 
of the transcript of the public meeting and the comments received from 
the public are available for review at the RSPA Docket Office, Room 
8119, 400 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marvin Fell, (202) 366-6205, U.S. 
Department of Transportation, RSPA, Room 2335, 400 Seventh Street, SW, 
Washington, D.C. 20590, or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 23, 1996, RSPA published a notice 
of a public meeting on Metricating Pipeline Safety Regulations that 
also requested public comment on seven questions. One of the comments 
received was from Mr. Lawrence J. Stempnik, who prepared a complete set 
of metric equivalents of measurements in the pipeline safety 
regulations. Although RSPA is not taking a position on the accuracy or 
validity of his approach, RSPA does recognize the effort that Mr. 
Stempnik put forth to provide his comment to RSPA.
    In particular, RSPA is interested in additional comments on how 
precise the metric equivalents should be. Should the number of decimal 
places be considered, should the number of significant figures be 
considered, or both? For example, is a conversion from 15 feet to 4.6 
meters sufficiently accurate, or is a conversion to 4.57 meters 
necessary? Comments on this issue were requested in question #6 of the 
October 23, 1996 notice. Further comments on the other questions in 
that notice are also encouraged.

    Issued in Washington, DC March 5, 1997.
Richard B. Felder,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 97-5896 Filed 3-10-97; 8:45 am]
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